Hi I'm a Black British man. Racism, if you ever encounter it in the UK it is usually subtle, but on the whole the British are welcoming and accepting of others. Racism tends to manifest itself more in our institutions, e.g. legal profession, and a very small number of individuals. Having said that the British use their intellect and learn from the past. I am extremely proud to be a Black British man and I love my country.
I’m a white British man who grew up in South London (Streatham) and I’ve lived in the US for 12 years. One of the things I miss most about home is it’s way more racially mixed. Growing up, I had lots of black friends as my school was very mixed, but in the US it feels so much more segregated.
That's not racism as such though. At the last census only 5% of the UK is black, 7% Asian, there will be more now, but even so, over 80% of the UK population will be white, it's just a numbers thing that more people applying for a job will be white and the probability that the most qualified will also be white.
My ex who is from Nigeria said the lack of racism in banks, shops etc when he lived in Manchester was a big surprise for him, he didn't have the same experience when he lived in London unfortunately.
as a black scottish girl. i’d say classism is far more prevalent in the uk rather than racism, it of course still exists but 85% of the things i’ve been judged/discriminated for has been because i’m from a deprived area and not because i’m black
You might be black and you might be from a deprived area but ... Scottish ... good grief, forget about it! Over thing that I am most proud of being British is our use of humour and a generally kind and tolerant approach to people were come across. I completely agree with you though, I think social mobility is a continuing problem without any easy answers, unfortunately.
@@SteveLBMK i mean i think it always have been a battle of class, even when women got the right to vote in america you had to be white, in the uk you had to be rich. it’s always existed but i don’t think it’ll ever stop cause we have too many tories 💀
@@isla1687 All political parties are the same. Their job is to confuse you and dived you from fellow man. Saying you can eliminate racism is like saying you can stop crime. In all cultures you have evil people who do disgusting things but it's a very small population %... Minorities in Western countries are controlled by this narrative. This farse that everyone is a racist sexist is absurd, it like calling an entire country criminals or rapists. If you walk around and think people in general are racist or people who support certain political groups are racist I feel sorry for your mind as you have been mentally enslaved. The British stopped the slave trade which every country was doing but the British went around and free'd the slaves which was also a class problem. Slavery exists in Africa and Asia today but the media will never profile this because they want people of different skin colours to fight. Minorities who are mentally enslaved care more about injustice from 100's of years ago then what is happening in the here and now. It has always been We the people against our ruling overlords. As mentioned above, classism is the real issue. I don't think people in general in the west are racist at all. The East is far more racist in my opinion due to dictator rule. Try and take your own culture and religion to somewhere like China or the U A E and demands they cater to you and see how far you get. Most people don't travel the world and have no idea how free the west is. Yes I know things in the west are very far from perfect but there are many places on earth that make places like the UK and USA seem like heaven.
As a real American native American I came to live with my Welsh father at the age of 14 I never once had any racist problems people were very nice to me and in other parts of the UK infact they were more interested in my native American history and culture
I grew up in rural Scotland and there was one black kid in my school. People would call him the n word and make monkey noises at him to bully him. The teachers did what they could to stop it, but kids being kids; it wasn’t that effective. In high school I was bullied for being gay. I think a big part of it was just because we didn’t fit the idealised norm. One of my buddies took on an apprentice last year and I met him a few times. I asked him if he had ever seen homophobia or racism in school and much to my surprise, he hadn’t. That’s not to say that it doesn’t exist anymore, but it’s undoubtedly less common. For reference, my buddy’s apprentice went to the same schools as me and is 18. I’m 25. It’s such a strange thought knowing that what I grew up and others too had to deal with is dying off. It’s good to know, but such an alien thought none the less. Anyway, the black kid from my school now has his own accountancy business and is now doing great for himself from the last I’ve heard. Glad the bullying never got in his way!
@@fattyMcGee97 See that's what bothers me it seems like we had an age of progress and now it seems like we've stopped and are starting to roll backwards.
@@danny1ft1 I know this might sound weird, but I've been thinking about this a lot, and I honestly think it's because we took God out of the center of it all. God is Love. In Christianity God is the source of all love, and he is unconditionally all-loving. When we try and build a secular world we're basically saying "we want to make a better world but we want to take the thing out of it that actually makes things better", it's doomed to failure. You can't make a better world without Love. Not to say we couldn't also ruin the world with religiousness, sure we've had lots of history of seeing that happen. But loveless institutions are chronically broken from the get-go; there's only one way for them to go and that's downhill. Noble intentions are useless without Love at the center.
@@bethyngalw It's really not, religion has done nothing but add to the issues, religion belongs nowhere near the center of civilization and society, god is not love, god is persecution of anyone that doesn't believe the same as you, religion and nationalism are what I'd call backward factors.
If I was to ask you a question it would be “Does living in a country where you don’t have to worry about guns and being bankrupted by a medical emergency actually make you feel less anxious?”
@@prp3231 Doctors can be charged in a civil or criminal case for malpractice if they are found at fault. Honestly this rarely happens because you sign away most rights before surgery or medical procedures. Doctors also carry really high insurance policies to protect themselves.
Your answer to the racism question, talking about entering stores, castles and malls, was quite shocking for me. I am British and the thought that you would even expect to receive abuse in these places is incredibly saddening. Would this happen in the US? I'm so sorry to anyone who has to live like that. Welcome to the UK, I hope you continue to enjoy life here.
I was the same, it’s deeply saddening to think you had both expected to receive abuse when in any public spaces. Unfortunately there is prejudices here like many other places but I hope you continue to not have it forced upon you.
Yes it happens it the USA. It's practically a fascist state now. Do you not remember when the police appeared and brutalised a group of people who were..... slow dancing at the George Washington memorial. Haha that was a funny 1. Your nicked for dancing .wtf
The battle of Bamber bridge. The time when American troops were stationed here during WW2 and the US military tried to make the British enforce segregation and Jim Crow laws. The British people took African American GI’s to their hearts and didn’t take kindly to being told that they couldn’t welcome them into their homes or pubs. At Bamber Bridge, the local base commanders tried to make the local pub landlords introduce segregation. So they did. They put up signs saying “black troops only”. It’s worth reading about it and the ensuing riot when USMP’s tried to arrest some African American soldiers who were drinking with some British soldiers who were in leave. The Americans were “improperly dressed”. But that was an excuse. The British soldiers intervened in the side of the African American GI’s then it all went pair shaped.
I've read a lot about black American GI's in the uk during WWII and yes, the Battle of Bamber Bridge is really interesting. I also read that being stationed in the UK awoke in the Rev. Ralph Abernethy, a contemporary of Rev Martin Luther King, the revelation that black people could and should be treated as equals.
Lancashire has an amazing record of fighting prejudice. There is famine road in Rochdale when the mill workers refused to accept the treatment of black slaves during the Civil War,and therefore starved. Abraham Lincoln commended the people of Lancashire personally for their help, and there is a statue of him in Manchester.
Wow you two are doing a better job than the UK tourist board. Having said that you do a pretty good job as ambassadors for the US too. Congratulations on your first year, I look forward to many more years of your company. Merry Christmas to you all.
When i hear people from other countries complementing us, especially on our public transport and lack of racism, i realise how well we actually do things. We beat ourselves up on things like racism, and we are constantly told how terribly we are doing. Clearly there is work to be done and there always will be, but actually we are so much better than many places.
British army =racist Royal Navy = slave trading racists Institutions =racist British people =racist This is what’s said. I have served in the military of the uk with many people from many ethnic backgrounds and I’ve never met a racist, not a proper racist, I’ve met the big moths that poke fun but they do it to try and be funny which they aren’t. You’ll find the only true racism in this country comes from the government and the opposition. They are racist towards white British people, they try to be seen as so fair they have actually started to persecute British white people. Nope can’t have a house because you’re not a minority and we’ll be seen as racist if we give you one. Can’t have that job because four other white British people are doing it already. They shop around for token minorities and push white brits aside. British white peoples have enough, have no recourse to the government so they shout racist shit they don’t mean because they are frustrated. But here’s a plan…. Give things to those who deserve them regardless of where they are from. I am white and British and have no doubt the police will knock my door for this ultra racist post
@@TheLastCrumb. there are some who will try to stoke division among sexes, races, ethnic groups, nationalities etc to keep us busy while they (generally government and corporations) get away with it. The far left and far right fall for it hook, line and sinker.
I don't beat myself in about racism. The UK is a very diverse country. Its just that we have become soft with wokeism, fir example letting BLM thugs pull down one our statues, and the strack on free speech.
You have to be the most likable family on you tube. You have also probably seen more of the country than most British people in one year. Hope you stick around a lot longer, and merry Christmas to you all.
That's true. Most Brits have hardly seen any of their own country, never mind any other country. Mind you, the crap public transpost and super-expensive rail fares do not help.
Welcome to the UK. You seem like a lovely family. Enjoy the history and culture while you can. I'm English and I absolutely love the history we have on our doorstep.
If you can look up the Battle of Bamber Bridge it's really interesting it's about black guys during the second world war and how they were accepted by the British and welcomed while in the US they had to drink at separate water fountains and sit in a different part of the bus
@Skye Bates ... Bamber Bridge is just down the road from me and the black GI's were stationed there. A nice little bit of WW2 history. ... Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🎅
The Bamber Bridge story and others like it will never get the coverage it deserves because it goes against the agenda and narrative trying to be spread about Britain nowadays. But it's truly heart-warming and makes me more proud to be English than ever before.
The pantomime confusion is because what Americans call “pantomime” the rest of the world just calls “mime” (famously white-faced French people not talking). Pantomime in the U.K. is a style of interactive theatrical play aimed at kids and families based on fairy tales.
I remember seeing a documentary many years ago about Jimi Hendrix. One of his band members (white British guy) said something that always stuck with me - he was shocked when he first met Jimi, not because he was black, but because he was American.
I'm glad you haven't experienced any overt racism whilst here in the UK. There is racism here, but I get the feeling that it's not as big of an issue as it is in the US.
@@skyebates246 No.. I think there is a microcosm of racism in the UK ( and in every other country) but the racists don’t tend to cherry pick .. it’s usually across the board with people like that. And I’ve seen plenty of racism aimed at whites.. the difference is it’s very rarely highlighted…also there is quite a bit within peoples own races ..
theres racism everywhere...theres good and bad everywhere. the thing is, media and far left groups would have ypi believe that Britain is like 2nd WW Germany!
@@Ionabrodie69 you’re talking about overt racists not cherry picking which I get, but I think Skye is right that there are racist undertones in many peoples attitudes and I think the people who get it worst are probably the Muslim communities, possibly Eastern European’s as well, along with black people of course.
I’m very happy that you have enjoyed your time in the country. *I didn’t know that about the parking in the US, we have a very cavalier attitude to parking in this country which I strangely admire * I hate that the racism question is even a question in 2021 but I’m very glad that you haven’t experienced any silly hatred at all. * You are very lucky to have good neighbours, if there’s one thing we do well in this country is have a good moan about the neighbours. (Next doors always your mate but two doors down…) *very happy that you’ll be here for the foreseeable future, your children will have a midlands accent by then lol “ey up mum” *buses in this country are very good, you can travel the whole country by bus and if you’re a millionaire by train as well Honorary Brits 🇬🇧
I am with you Carl, such a shame racism is an issue in a modern world. All 99.999999% of the worlds population want to do is look after the kids, enjoy life and grow old disgracefully!!!!!
It's always great to see people from overseas embracing and enjoying life in the UK. If people can take us as we are, we can be pretty welcoming, but I'm sure you've been corrected on things if you've been caught doing them the 'wrong' way! 😁
As someone who has lived here in the UK all my life and generally has a "grass is greener" approach to other countries, I am delighted to hear you speak so positively! Merry Christmas 🎄☃️
The traffic lights, if you're driving towards the lights and you see red and amber it means that it's going to green, if you see just amber it means that there going to red so when driving towards the lights you know wether to slow or not. Glad to hear all the positives.
So thrilled to hear all the positive comments you have about living in the uk! I’m British born and bred, i have live in several different countries, but I always miss the depth of history and culture that is all round you in this lovely country. You must make a visit to Ludlow in the spring time, it’s a marvellous town steeped history.
Not at all surprised that you haven't experienced racism. As desperate as some people and msm seem to be to paint this country as a racist hellhole it's generally a welcoming and tolerant country.
Hmmm I think there is racism in abundance here, but it's different to the US, the US are more vocal about being racist, where as I meet a lot of people with racist views that are not outright calling you a n----r but they talk about Muslims etc, I'm black and trust me I've experienced racism at work, it's there just in different ways and yes I think a majority of people are nice welcoming people, they have only been here 1 year, I'm sure it will happen but it may not be directed at them.
@@antifugazi You see what you want to see, the British are generally a very tolerant and welcoming people and after visiting every continent on this planet bar one you ought to thank God you are lucky enough to live here, there are many places far far worse.
@@antifugazi As a black man i can only go on my own and my friends experiences and none of us have ever encountered racism. Going by the numerous unfounded claims of racism nowadays i think some people just have an agenda.
Being a Brit who has lived in the US (FLA) and Canada where I married and had two children I can relate to your experiences as we moved back to the UK. My wife is Canadian and finds your observations most enjoyable and on my part, I think your positive experience is very much down to your attitude and the vibe you project. Too many American tourists visit other countries without an open mind, thinking they are better than the rest of the world because they're American and I think the reason you are accepted so readily is that you do not project that false nature. Well done and keep up the great dialogue
I'm so pleased to hear that the kids have settled in well at their school{s}. Happy kids generally make happy parents so it's no wonder that you and Blair have enjoyed your first year here (even allowing for our miserable weather). Keep exploring because the amazing thing about this little island of ours is that around almost every corner you can find something interesting/historical/just plain weird. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Waes hael! (good health!, in Anglo-Saxon)...............................................the ancient Englishman.
You're both a credit to America, and I'm very glad you have had a good time in the UK so far. The Bamber Bridge WW2 story is worth checking out, and very emotional too. Try and get to the south of England in 2022 if you can. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset/Bournemouth has a lovely beach. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
I love Bournemouth! I'd move there if I could! I'm in East Sussex, near Eastbourne. I love anywhere beside the British seaside, Devon and Cornwall are beautiful, but Bournemouth has my heart!
Congratulations on reaching 10k and for one year in the UK. It's good that your experience has been positive. You are a lovely family and I do enjoy your content. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for the New Year and beyond.
Hi Guys Glad your first year in the UK is going so well and happy to see you’ve managed to get up to Scotland 🏴 If you get a chance to come back to Scotland, go to Arisaig & Morar and use the Jacobean steam train from Fort William to get there, which is the train you see in Harry Potter and you pass over the Glenfinnan viaduct, which is in the Harry Potter film too. You’ll love it and you’ll want to come back again and again. Loads of love from Scotland guys and have a great Christmas
Hope you stay for a long time to come. When travelling to Europe.. Amsterdam and Hamburg are a must,. On racism,; despite what the media would have you believe, the UK has very little racism, and for anyone that has lived in the US, it's almost non-existent, and rightly so. Love the channel, even the day-to-day experiences are thoroughly enjoyable.
The South West, Devon, Cornwall, especially in summer are lovley places for a holiday (vacation). You'll be surprised I think of the beauty you'll discover :) - the Eden Project in Cornwall is really a great place to visit too
It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve had a good experience living here. You seem like very warm, lovely people and most will respond positively to that :) My husband is Texan and has lived here for 11 years, we lived in Nashville for 3 years before that. It’s very different in many ways, especially to the southern US states, I think. I wish you all the best and it was really interesting to hear your experiences here. Thanks for posting and take care.
Really pleased you've had a positive experience. I'm glad you've had the chance to have more family-time together living in the UK than many others in the US who need to work longer hours and have fewer public holidays and less time off work. I was gritting my teeth when the question of experiencing racism in the UK came up. I was relieved to here good vibes. Thinking about it afterwards, I realised your pleasant experience was not too much of a surprise. I was in fear as I'd just watched a documentary about George Floyd before watching this. I was dreading you might have suffered racism over here too. I hope social equality changes very fast in the US. I think racism in the UK has more or less been rinsed out of the fabric of society..... but, we've still got some stains to work on though. Best wishes
I'm really enjoying watching you all fully get stuck into this great opportunity. The kids will learn a lifetime of lessons from it. Also, loved Blair's correction from Birming-Ham to Birming-Um! 👍
And you've all survived a tumultuous year! Learning and laughter for you and your young family as well as your fans. .... I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! .. ❄🎅💗🙋
I am glad you are enjoying it here ...From what i see life is at a slower pace here compared to what you where used to...It is illegal to park facing the flow of traffic ,but it isn't enforced
Really lovely to hear that you are enjoying being in the UK - welcome! Particularly glad to hear that you feel well-received, and this is a charming video. If you think parking here is chaotic wait until you get to France and Italy! Sadly racism does exist here, but the vast majority of us refuse to tolerate it.
I am African American and Italian (biracial) and so is my husband. I am ready to leave the US because of the current political situation and the steadily growing racism problem. I have a college education and would like to begin looking for opportunities to live in the UK. I visited the UK briefly during college, but would like to explore it further. Thank you for sharing your experiences with this community. You have been helpful and give me hope that while no place is perfect, they can at least be civilized.
Just found your channel, it's great to hear your experiences in the UK are positive, enjoy the rest of your time here. I love the fact your kids are picking up the accent, if you're staying another 2/3 years they'll most likely have a thick English accent to return home with, which I'm sure will be a great talking point for them when they return to school.
It's great to see your positivity and openess to new encounters and experiences; making the right decisions for you and your family for the right reasons, exposing yourselves to different cultures and perspectives with an open mind. I wish you and your family only the very best in the UK and Europe, however long you stay (perhaps you will explore other continents in the future?). Stay happy, healthy, and safe in your journey!
Awwww…. You two! *biiig huuugs* ! So happy you have settled down so well here and plan to stay! 😊we are pleased to have you and hope you continue to enjoy life in GB - you are very special people and I look forward to watching more of your videos - lots of love xxx
i like to hear from blair as she can be quiet at times which i dont mind but shes a wonderful lady and her smile lights up the room :) great q &a guys look forward to seeing more of you guys in the new year
@@isladurrant2015 i wouldnt worry some people are just more reserved and that perfectly alright just enjoy when she does open up a little :) i feel like it makes me appreciate her more
Im happy you like it here, and you're settled,. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year , much love to you and your beautiful family xxx
I am originally from Glasgow which was one of the biggest Port Towns in UK. I guess like other port towns like Liverpool, Hull. Bristol etc we grew up with all nationalities visiting Glasgow from all the ships from around the world. My experience was that not only did we NOT have a problem with foreign visitors of every race creed colour and religion but we were very excited and interested in them. We always new that visitors and people who came here really enhanced our knowledge of a bigger world but also enriched our culture. A big Scottish welcome!
It was a real pleasure listening to your experience of living here in the UK and I’m really glad you have enjoyed it so far. A huge benefit is travel both within the UK and Europe. There are some amazing places to visit in the UK only a few hours drive away and a huge range of European cities and countries to explore also just a few hours by plane.
Nice to see two Americans enjoying themselves over here. I've been to many states in America, and was surprised by the amount Americans don't travel their own country. I was even asked "did you come across water"? Every American I met, was polite, happy to know a Brit, which was heart warming. Hope you two have a great time traveling Europe, enjoy yourselves, we all wish you well.
I saw a comment on a vid of some Americans visiting the UK, which I thought deserved sharing. The UK is like a Tardis - it looks small, from the outside, but once you get inside there is so much packed in here. 🙂
Hi guys, thank you for 1 year of great vlogs....you are such a lovely genuine family and its a pleasure to see how much you love the UK . I live in Liverpool and I think you are correct, we don't get a huge amount of Americans visiting ( unless they are all on the Beatles tour ! 😉)
I grew up in England and spent half my working life abroad (Sweden for a few years and 20 years in Philadelphia). Being a fish out of water in a foreign land is such a growth opportunity. You learn a great deal about yourself, your host country and about your homeland, while overseas. I really appreciate your family's take on the UK. You come over as really lovely people and I am sure all your viewers, and the people that know you in real life, are glad to have you here. On driving, yes, the red and amber brfore green light is useful, but what really helps the UK driving experience is roundabouts (traffic circles). They are so much more efficient than 4-way stops.
Thanks for sharing, great to hear your insights & that you're all doing well. Hopefully you'll see and enjoy more of the country (and Europe as a whole) when and if Covid abates somewhat.
Lovely to listen to such positive content. Glad you and your family are happy and doing well. Committing to such a big change during this pandemic must have been hard and it's great you have managed to see as much as you have in very tricky circumstances.
Lovely opportunity to hear about your stay here in the UK and so good to hear that you are enjoying the experience 👏👏. Have a wonderful British Christmas - and please put the beautiful city of Norwich (in Norfolk) on your 'to visit' list ❤
Love Norwich!! My favourite city!! Also, a trip to Gt Yarmouth is a must, in fact the entire Norfolk coast is not to be missed, boating in Wroxham, seal pups at Horsey, Cromer, etc plus a visit to the queen's favourite gaff at Sandringham.
Welcome to Great Britain, I hope you have many happy years here' and get to visit all the places you so desire will be looking forwards to your next video's
When you come to Cornwall, I highly recommend the Eden Project, it has two giant domes, one is a giant indoor rainforest and the other is a Mediterranean/temperate garden. If you go in the winter they usually have an ice skating rink set up outside.
that was lovely to hear all the positivity you have come across in and about the UK. You make me a little homesick (Brit living on the continent). Hope you enjoy your coming years in good ole England. Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year xxx
I’m so pleased you like living in England, it really is a lovely place to live. If you want to explore some more, I can recommend Hertfordshire, my home county. It’s just north of London, and has some lovely places with a ton of history - namely St Albans, lots of Roman history and a lovely abbey to look around. On another note, I recently visited Leicester. It’s where the skeleton of King Richard lll was discovered, I’m a history nut so found it really interesting. Happy Christmas to you and your family!
I for one am really pleased that you don't regret moving here. There are negatives to this country for sure. taxes, FUEL PRICES etc but on the whole it's a great country. I don't see a person's colour, just the person herself/himself... we are all human beings.
This is my first time viewing your channel and first I would like to say you two are lovely 🙂 Even though the world paints us brits as racist you will actually find it would be super rare to have any racism toward you. Traffic lights go :- Green - Yellow (Amber) - Red Then Red and Yellow (together) - Green Scotland is beautiful, head north to the Highlands and you will be blown away ! Don’t bother trying to get an English accent, if your not born and raised here you will never pull it off 🙂 What’s your thoughts on the postal service ? We are rated number one in the world 👍
Don't need to be born here to get an accent. Kids will pick it up pretty quickly and after a year or two will mostly sound native, the younger they are the better. Adults not so much.
You guys definitely should visit Cornwall or Devon in the summer months. One of the best holiday destinations in the UK, particularly if you love beach holidays
Trafic lights - there is more to thow the lights change . Stopping traffice they go Green to Yellow then Red but they go Red then Red AND yellow togther then green starting traffic. So if you ever see a yellow light on its own it means its about to go Red, but NEVER the other way around. Subtle but amazingly helpful.
Congratulations on your first year here. Very pleased all has gone well. I have not witnessed any racism in my town, There are several different nationalities living here too. We are very liberal with our parking. I hope you get another good year.
I have watched your content for some time it genuinely interested me to see what a US family thought of life in the UK above all I am glad you feel at home
If you are going to a Pantomime for the first time, take some earplugs! The kids are encouraged to participate at the tops of their voices and have great fun. Adults too get into the spirit and yell, boo and cheer along with their offspring. You will come away shattered.
I’m so pleased you came to live here and are enjoying your experiences. Also, thanks for sharing them with us 😀 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎅 XX
Do not know how I ended up here but I am glad I did as it was a nice way to spend 10 minutes with such a nice couple. Glad that you are enjoying being in our country.
Haha the parking comment had me in stitches, I'm born and bred British and I can't believe how some people park, you are not alone! Welcome to the UK by the way and merry Christmas
we enjoy going on trips to Europe doing Eurocamp, it's an absolute blast, many are by beaches such as the Mediterranean and the Atlantic or country settings, it's like a little community of Europeans with lots of amenities on site, playgrounds, restaurants, cafes, swimming pools and the aforementioned beach. Reasonably priced and wonderful Summer getaways throughout Europe.
You are a delightful couple. I'm pleased to hear your enjoying UK. Your American accent is very light and I'm sure people don't pick it up accent easily. Welcome to UK. So lovely to hear that you're feeling settled and happy. May it continue. What a lovely positive start for the day you have both given me. God bless you both and your family. 👍👍❤️❤️❤️
You must try and get up to Yorkshire. York is great but so is the countryside and seaside towns. I also know you like agriculture fairs and there's one in Harrogate called The Great Yorkshire Show, I think around July time 😁👍
Glad you're liking the country and are doing ok. Funnily enough I can't wait to get out of Scotland for a few weeks and enjoy the heat in Mexico again!
A year already, that hasnt half flown. So happy your having an amazing time living here, such a positive vibe from yourselves also a bonus that youve explored places other than London, i loved your vid from when you visited Holy Island in Northumberland and the North East where i live. Visit Durham City when you get the chance. Hope you both and the kids have an amazing British Crimbo, look forward to your adventures for next year. 👍❤️
I am also from County Duham and agree.. We have some of the best countryside around us.. Teesdale( for those not from the north not to be mixed up with Teesside ) is largely forgotten area of beauty.
@@Ionabrodie69 god yes its a lovely place especially in the summer but i have to say if the weather is wintery its quite bad but extremely beautiful at the same time. I live in Durham City but just a few miles out in any direction theres lovely countryside to visit. Then again i like to think of it as a well kept secret, dont want lots of outsiders spoiling it and for us locals lol
Hey Mac, enjoyed the vlog. Great news you have not suffered any racism, but such a shame we have to even mention it. On your travels please come and spend time in The Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales. You know, for such a small island, we do have icredible scenery and an even more amazing history accompanied by historical buildings. Whenever Blair smiles it makes me smile!!! Hope you, Blair and the little ones have a lovely fun Christmas and you all enjoy a safe and healthy 2022.
When I lived in the U.K. I enjoyed the wide open roads. The M6 was fun to drive on, especially during the vacation, no traffic, just open road to drive on, I recommend anyone to try it. I also used their modern high speed railways, I think the trains were traveling at over 300 kmph. Local roads were well maintained and clean. Crime was unheard of. I hear the health service is the envy of the world but I didn't use it. Commute times were short due to the fact that there was very little traffic on the roads. The weather was fantastic too. You will enjoy life in the UK. I'd easily swap palm springs for palmers green. ( sarcasm )
Crikey, are you serious? You must have travelled at midnight. As soon as we come from the Isle of Man and reach the motorway , we hit traffic jams on the M6. It was often a nightmare when I had to use it for work between Leyland and Blackpool. It’s a nice road beyond Lancaster, otherwise pick your times carefully!
Northern Irish here and I'm just grateful you took the time to mention us twice! Always welcome in NI. We are a beautiful wee country with castles a bit like Scotland. My advice is plan your food more than your journey. The restaurant food and home-shopping (go to the award-winning butchers) is excellent but the cheaper options are not good, worse than America or England
thank you for answering my question. I am glad that you have had positive response everywhere you go in the UK, as the British media paint a picture of Britain being a racist nation. even though I am from Jersey in the Channel Islands, I have lived in Manchester and Nottingham and never saw any racism while living in either place. BTW my name is French for John, so it is pronounced the same as Jean Claude Van Dam or Jean Luke Piccard.
Hi I'm a Black British man. Racism, if you ever encounter it in the UK it is usually subtle, but on the whole the British are welcoming and accepting of others. Racism tends to manifest itself more in our institutions, e.g. legal profession, and a very small number of individuals. Having said that the British use their intellect and learn from the past. I am extremely proud to be a Black British man and I love my country.
I’m a white British man who grew up in South London (Streatham) and I’ve lived in the US for 12 years. One of the things I miss most about home is it’s way more racially mixed. Growing up, I had lots of black friends as my school was very mixed, but in the US it feels so much more segregated.
That's not racism as such though. At the last census only 5% of the UK is black, 7% Asian, there will be more now, but even so, over 80% of the UK population will be white, it's just a numbers thing that more people applying for a job will be white and the probability that the most qualified will also be white.
Do you watch Afrimax English
My ex who is from Nigeria said the lack of racism in banks, shops etc when he lived in Manchester was a big surprise for him, he didn't have the same experience when he lived in London unfortunately.
You would have stood a much higher chance of experiencing racism if you spoke with an English accent and visited Glasgow.
as a black scottish girl. i’d say classism is far more prevalent in the uk rather than racism, it of course still exists but 85% of the things i’ve been judged/discriminated for has been because i’m from a deprived area and not because i’m black
Black AND SCOTTISH??? My sympathies, and not for being black! (LOL)
You might be black and you might be from a deprived area but ... Scottish ... good grief, forget about it!
Over thing that I am most proud of being British is our use of humour and a generally kind and tolerant approach to people were come across.
I completely agree with you though, I think social mobility is a continuing problem without any easy answers, unfortunately.
@@SteveLBMK i mean i think it always have been a battle of class, even when women got the right to vote in america you had to be white, in the uk you had to be rich. it’s always existed but i don’t think it’ll ever stop cause we have too many tories 💀
@@isla1687 All political parties are the same. Their job is to confuse you and dived you from fellow man. Saying you can eliminate racism is like saying you can stop crime. In all cultures you have evil people who do disgusting things but it's a very small population %... Minorities in Western countries are controlled by this narrative. This farse that everyone is a racist sexist is absurd, it like calling an entire country criminals or rapists. If you walk around and think people in general are racist or people who support certain political groups are racist I feel sorry for your mind as you have been mentally enslaved. The British stopped the slave trade which every country was doing but the British went around and free'd the slaves which was also a class problem. Slavery exists in Africa and Asia today but the media will never profile this because they want people of different skin colours to fight. Minorities who are mentally enslaved care more about injustice from 100's of years ago then what is happening in the here and now. It has always been We the people against our ruling overlords. As mentioned above, classism is the real issue. I don't think people in general in the west are racist at all. The East is far more racist in my opinion due to dictator rule. Try and take your own culture and religion to somewhere like China or the U A E and demands they cater to you and see how far you get. Most people don't travel the world and have no idea how free the west is. Yes I know things in the west are very far from perfect but there are many places on earth that make places like the UK and USA seem like heaven.
@@charlesm5080 literally not relevant to what i said at all. did you even read it?💀
As a real American native American I came to live with my Welsh father at the age of 14 I never once had any racist problems people were very nice to me and in other parts of the UK infact they were more interested in my native American history and culture
We have a love of Native American culture, dating back to the 19th century. x
I'm from Manchester and we have a few natives here I think its brilliant
As a Brit myself I have always been fascinated by Native American culture, it's wonderfully rich and interesting.
I like this its not an issue but a American, Native American who is seeing his Welsh father!!!!!!!!
Theres a story here.
I am impressed & like your story. So glad you had a refreshing time in the UK.
Black Brit here - never had any significant issues with racism at all. Of course it exists in some people, but it's not a commonplace problem.
Thanks for sharing 👍🏾
I grew up in rural Scotland and there was one black kid in my school. People would call him the n word and make monkey noises at him to bully him. The teachers did what they could to stop it, but kids being kids; it wasn’t that effective. In high school I was bullied for being gay. I think a big part of it was just because we didn’t fit the idealised norm.
One of my buddies took on an apprentice last year and I met him a few times. I asked him if he had ever seen homophobia or racism in school and much to my surprise, he hadn’t. That’s not to say that it doesn’t exist anymore, but it’s undoubtedly less common. For reference, my buddy’s apprentice went to the same schools as me and is 18. I’m 25.
It’s such a strange thought knowing that what I grew up and others too had to deal with is dying off. It’s good to know, but such an alien thought none the less.
Anyway, the black kid from my school now has his own accountancy business and is now doing great for himself from the last I’ve heard. Glad the bullying never got in his way!
@@fattyMcGee97 See that's what bothers me it seems like we had an age of progress and now it seems like we've stopped and are starting to roll backwards.
@@danny1ft1 I know this might sound weird, but I've been thinking about this a lot, and I honestly think it's because we took God out of the center of it all. God is Love. In Christianity God is the source of all love, and he is unconditionally all-loving. When we try and build a secular world we're basically saying "we want to make a better world but we want to take the thing out of it that actually makes things better", it's doomed to failure. You can't make a better world without Love. Not to say we couldn't also ruin the world with religiousness, sure we've had lots of history of seeing that happen. But loveless institutions are chronically broken from the get-go; there's only one way for them to go and that's downhill. Noble intentions are useless without Love at the center.
@@bethyngalw It's really not, religion has done nothing but add to the issues, religion belongs nowhere near the center of civilization and society, god is not love, god is persecution of anyone that doesn't believe the same as you, religion and nationalism are what I'd call backward factors.
If I was to ask you a question it would be “Does living in a country where you don’t have to worry about guns and being bankrupted by a medical emergency actually make you feel less anxious?”
It does.... it really does. 👍🏾
@@MacandBlair good good
As an American living in the US, I’ll toss in my two cents and say that it would certainly make me feel less anxious.
@@MacandBlair in the US, how are doctors held to account if they are being investigated for possible medical negligence ? Just wondering.
@@prp3231 Doctors can be charged in a civil or criminal case for malpractice if they are found at fault. Honestly this rarely happens because you sign away most rights before surgery or medical procedures. Doctors also carry really high insurance policies to protect themselves.
Your answer to the racism question, talking about entering stores, castles and malls, was quite shocking for me. I am British and the thought that you would even expect to receive abuse in these places is incredibly saddening. Would this happen in the US? I'm so sorry to anyone who has to live like that.
Welcome to the UK, I hope you continue to enjoy life here.
I was the same, it’s deeply saddening to think you had both expected to receive abuse when in any public spaces. Unfortunately there is prejudices here like many other places but I hope you continue to not have it forced upon you.
Yes it happens it the USA. It's practically a fascist state now.
Do you not remember when the police appeared and brutalised a group of people who were..... slow dancing at the George Washington memorial. Haha that was a funny 1. Your nicked for dancing .wtf
I agree Nicola.
This made me sad too that they actually were surprised to not experience racism in these places… I hope they continue to enjoy life here
How sad..please do not tolerate racism of any kind..but it is quite rare in most places.
The battle of Bamber bridge. The time when American troops were stationed here during WW2 and the US military tried to make the British enforce segregation and Jim Crow laws. The British people took African American GI’s to their hearts and didn’t take kindly to being told that they couldn’t welcome them into their homes or pubs. At Bamber Bridge, the local base commanders tried to make the local pub landlords introduce segregation. So they did. They put up signs saying “black troops only”. It’s worth reading about it and the ensuing riot when USMP’s tried to arrest some African American soldiers who were drinking with some British soldiers who were in leave. The Americans were “improperly dressed”. But that was an excuse. The British soldiers intervened in the side of the African American GI’s then it all went pair shaped.
When I hear the words Bamber bridge, it gives me goosebumps and such pride 🇬🇧👊🏼
It was not the only place, in the UK where this sort of thing happened.
I've read a lot about black American GI's in the uk during WWII and yes, the Battle of Bamber Bridge is really interesting. I also read that being stationed in the UK awoke in the Rev. Ralph Abernethy, a contemporary of Rev Martin Luther King, the revelation that black people could and should be treated as equals.
I’d never heard of the battle of bamber bridge. You inspired me to look into it further. A great reminder that sometimes this country gets it right.
Lancashire has an amazing record of fighting prejudice. There is famine road in Rochdale when the mill workers refused to accept the treatment of black slaves during the Civil War,and therefore starved. Abraham Lincoln commended the people of Lancashire personally for their help, and there is a statue of him in Manchester.
Wow you two are doing a better job than the UK tourist board. Having said that you do a pretty good job as ambassadors for the US too. Congratulations on your first year, I look forward to many more years of your company. Merry Christmas to you all.
Agreed.
I totally agree.. 👍❤️
Do you watch Afrimax English
Do you watch Blaxit?
When i hear people from other countries complementing us, especially on our public transport and lack of racism, i realise how well we actually do things. We beat ourselves up on things like racism, and we are constantly told how terribly we are doing. Clearly there is work to be done and there always will be, but actually we are so much better than many places.
The beating ourselves up over racism has to stop, it's creating more reactionaries than it is suppressing what racism there is.
It's usually white people who find racism in every last bit of a thing in the UK. Most black people I know say it is generally rare here.
British army =racist
Royal Navy = slave trading racists
Institutions =racist
British people =racist
This is what’s said. I have served in the military of the uk with many people from many ethnic backgrounds and I’ve never met a racist, not a proper racist, I’ve met the big moths that poke fun but they do it to try and be funny which they aren’t. You’ll find the only true racism in this country comes from the government and the opposition. They are racist towards white British people, they try to be seen as so fair they have actually started to persecute British white people. Nope can’t have a house because you’re not a minority and we’ll be seen as racist if we give you one. Can’t have that job because four other white British people are doing it already. They shop around for token minorities and push white brits aside. British white peoples have enough, have no recourse to the government so they shout racist shit they don’t mean because they are frustrated. But here’s a plan…. Give things to those who deserve them regardless of where they are from. I am white and British and have no doubt the police will knock my door for this ultra racist post
@@TheLastCrumb. there are some who will try to stoke division among sexes, races, ethnic groups, nationalities etc to keep us busy while they (generally government and corporations) get away with it. The far left and far right fall for it hook, line and sinker.
I don't beat myself in about racism. The UK is a very diverse country. Its just that we have become soft with wokeism, fir example letting BLM thugs pull down one our statues, and the strack on free speech.
You have to be the most likable family on you tube. You have also probably seen more of the country than most British people in one year. Hope you stick around a lot longer, and merry Christmas to you all.
Please watch Jim Nduruchi Kenya 🇰🇪
That's true. Most Brits have hardly seen any of their own country, never mind any other country. Mind you, the crap public transpost and super-expensive rail fares do not help.
Welcome to the UK. You seem like a lovely family. Enjoy the history and culture while you can. I'm English and I absolutely love the history we have on our doorstep.
You guys are great, seeing British society through a positive American outlook. Plus you are clearly nice people. Enjoy your stay.
its refreshing most of the time its the yanks talking crap but this has been a refreshing change
Really interesting to see from another perspective
If you can look up the Battle of Bamber Bridge it's really interesting it's about black guys during the second world war and how they were accepted by the British and welcomed while in the US they had to drink at separate water fountains and sit in a different part of the bus
@Skye Bates ... Bamber Bridge is just down the road from me and the black GI's were stationed there. A nice little bit of WW2 history. ... Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🎅
The Bamber Bridge story and others like it will never get the coverage it deserves because it goes against the agenda and narrative trying to be spread about Britain nowadays. But it's truly heart-warming and makes me more proud to be English than ever before.
@@adebolabloke6962 strange as iv known about it since i was 11 and im now 53.. but i guess also from Preston where it happened
You need to experience a UK seaside in summer - Devon and Cornwall are amazing ❤️
They get pretty crowded. Try Norfolk or Suffolk!
Woolacombe beach is beautiful
Portsmouth, Brighton, Hove, Pevensey Bay and Hastings.
Cornwall 😍🤟🏼👍🏼
Cornwall definitely
The pantomime confusion is because what Americans call “pantomime” the rest of the world just calls “mime” (famously white-faced French people not talking). Pantomime in the U.K. is a style of interactive theatrical play aimed at kids and families based on fairy tales.
Thanks for the explanation. 👍🏾
@@MacandBlair you MUST go to the Panto
@@milliewilkie1969 Oh,no they shouldn't!😉
@@Trebor74 Oh, yes they should!
@@downsman1 He's behind you!
I can’t imagine you going anywhere in the world and not enjoying it. You’re SO positive!
I remember seeing a documentary many years ago about Jimi Hendrix. One of his band members (white British guy) said something that always stuck with me - he was shocked when he first met Jimi, not because he was black, but because he was American.
I'm glad you haven't experienced any overt racism whilst here in the UK. There is racism here, but I get the feeling that it's not as big of an issue as it is in the US.
And I don't think it's really towards black people I think if there is racism it's more likely to be towards other ethnic groups.
@@skyebates246 No.. I think there is a microcosm of racism in the UK ( and in every other country) but the racists don’t tend to cherry pick .. it’s usually across the board with people like that. And I’ve seen plenty of racism aimed at whites.. the difference is it’s very rarely highlighted…also there is quite a bit within peoples own races ..
theres racism everywhere...theres good and bad everywhere. the thing is, media and far left groups would have ypi believe that Britain is like 2nd WW Germany!
@@Ionabrodie69 you’re talking about overt racists not cherry picking which I get, but I think Skye is right that there are racist undertones in many peoples attitudes and I think the people who get it worst are probably the Muslim communities, possibly Eastern European’s as well, along with black people of course.
@@edwardbrown7986 I disagree.. but hey we’re still allowed to do that..JUST ..!!!
I’m very happy that you have enjoyed your time in the country.
*I didn’t know that about the parking in the US, we have a very cavalier attitude to parking in this country which I strangely admire
* I hate that the racism question is even a question in 2021 but I’m very glad that you haven’t experienced any silly hatred at all.
* You are very lucky to have good neighbours, if there’s one thing we do well in this country is have a good moan about the neighbours. (Next doors always your mate but two doors down…)
*very happy that you’ll be here for the foreseeable future, your children will have a midlands accent by then lol “ey up mum”
*buses in this country are very good, you can travel the whole country by bus and if you’re a millionaire by train as well
Honorary Brits 🇬🇧
I am with you Carl, such a shame racism is an issue in a modern world. All 99.999999% of the worlds population want to do is look after the kids, enjoy life and grow old disgracefully!!!!!
I didn't hate the racism question because the answers to it confirmed what I already believed, that it's barely an issue in day to day life.
It's always great to see people from overseas embracing and enjoying life in the UK. If people can take us as we are, we can be pretty welcoming, but I'm sure you've been corrected on things if you've been caught doing them the 'wrong' way! 😁
Just recognising the four constituent nations of the UK shows how acclimatised you already are!
As someone who has lived here in the UK all my life and generally has a "grass is greener" approach to other countries, I am delighted to hear you speak so positively! Merry Christmas 🎄☃️
The traffic lights, if you're driving towards the lights and you see red and amber it means that it's going to green, if you see just amber it means that there going to red so when driving towards the lights you know wether to slow or not. Glad to hear all the positives.
And if it’s a flashing amber light it means proceed with caution (ie beware of pedestrians crossing)
So thrilled to hear all the positive comments you have about living in the uk! I’m British born and bred, i have live in several different countries, but I always miss the depth of history and culture that is all round you in this lovely country. You must make a visit to Ludlow in the spring time, it’s a marvellous town steeped history.
Not at all surprised that you haven't experienced racism. As desperate as some people and msm seem to be to paint this country as a racist hellhole it's generally a welcoming and tolerant country.
Very true
Hmmm I think there is racism in abundance here, but it's different to the US, the US are more vocal about being racist, where as I meet a lot of people with racist views that are not outright calling you a n----r but they talk about Muslims etc, I'm black and trust me I've experienced racism at work, it's there just in different ways and yes I think a majority of people are nice welcoming people, they have only been here 1 year, I'm sure it will happen but it may not be directed at them.
@@antifugazi what's wrong with talking about Muslims?
@@antifugazi You see what you want to see, the British are generally a very tolerant and welcoming people and after visiting every continent on this planet bar one you ought to thank God you are lucky enough to live here, there are many places far far worse.
@@antifugazi As a black man i can only go on my own and my friends experiences and none of us have ever encountered racism. Going by the numerous unfounded claims of racism nowadays i think some people just have an agenda.
Being a Brit who has lived in the US (FLA) and Canada where I married and had two children I can relate to your experiences as we moved back to the UK. My wife is Canadian and finds your observations most enjoyable and on my part, I think your positive experience is very much down to your attitude and the vibe you project. Too many American tourists visit other countries without an open mind, thinking they are better than the rest of the world because they're American and I think the reason you are accepted so readily is that you do not project that false nature. Well done and keep up the great dialogue
Very interesting video. I'm a black brit who just visited USA for the first time, and I'm so grateful to be from the UK.
I'm so pleased to hear that the kids have settled in well at their school{s}. Happy kids generally make happy parents so it's no wonder that you
and Blair have enjoyed your first year here (even allowing for our miserable weather). Keep exploring because the amazing thing about this little
island of ours is that around almost every corner you can find something interesting/historical/just plain weird. I wish you all a very merry
Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Waes hael! (good health!, in Anglo-Saxon)...............................................the ancient Englishman.
You're both a credit to America, and I'm very glad you have had a good time in the UK so far. The Bamber Bridge WW2 story is worth checking out, and very emotional too. Try and get to the south of England in 2022 if you can. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset/Bournemouth has a lovely beach. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
I love Bournemouth! I'd move there if I could! I'm in East Sussex, near Eastbourne. I love anywhere beside the British seaside, Devon and Cornwall are beautiful, but Bournemouth has my heart!
Congratulations on reaching 10k and for one year in the UK. It's good that your experience has been positive. You are a lovely family and I do enjoy your content. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for the New Year and beyond.
Merry Christmas
Hi Guys
Glad your first year in the UK is going so well and happy to see you’ve managed to get up to Scotland 🏴
If you get a chance to come back to Scotland, go to Arisaig & Morar and use the Jacobean steam train from Fort William to get there, which is the train you see in Harry Potter and you pass over the Glenfinnan viaduct, which is in the Harry Potter film too.
You’ll love it and you’ll want to come back again and again.
Loads of love from Scotland guys and have a great Christmas
I loved the moment Blare corrected herself when pronouncing 'Birmingham' :)
"Blare"? What is that?
@@guff9567 he put a lot on the ham part witch is strange for me
I thought she was about to say brummie
Hope you stay for a long time to come. When travelling to Europe.. Amsterdam and Hamburg are a must,. On racism,; despite what the media would have you believe, the UK has very little racism, and for anyone that has lived in the US, it's almost non-existent, and rightly so. Love the channel, even the day-to-day experiences are thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks Jon
The South West, Devon, Cornwall, especially in summer are lovley places for a holiday (vacation). You'll be surprised I think of the beauty you'll discover :) - the Eden Project in Cornwall is really a great place to visit too
It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve had a good experience living here. You seem like very warm, lovely people and most will respond positively to that :) My husband is Texan and has lived here for 11 years, we lived in Nashville for 3 years before that. It’s very different in many ways, especially to the southern US states, I think.
I wish you all the best and it was really interesting to hear your experiences here. Thanks for posting and take care.
Really pleased you've had a positive experience. I'm glad you've had the chance to have more family-time together living in the UK than many others in the US who need to work longer hours and have fewer public holidays and less time off work. I was gritting my teeth when the question of experiencing racism in the UK came up. I was relieved to here good vibes. Thinking about it afterwards, I realised your pleasant experience was not too much of a surprise. I was in fear as I'd just watched a documentary about George Floyd before watching this. I was dreading you might have suffered racism over here too. I hope social equality changes very fast in the US. I think racism in the UK has more or less been rinsed out of the fabric of society..... but, we've still got some stains to work on though. Best wishes
I'm really enjoying watching you all fully get stuck into this great opportunity. The kids will learn a lifetime of lessons from it. Also, loved Blair's correction from Birming-Ham to Birming-Um! 👍
Yep she quickly corrected herself there.. 👍
Say Birm-ing-am or Birm-ing-um
And you've all survived a tumultuous year! Learning and laughter for you and your young family as well as your fans. .... I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! .. ❄🎅💗🙋
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I am glad you are enjoying it here ...From what i see life is at a slower pace here compared to what you where used to...It is illegal to park facing the flow of traffic ,but it isn't enforced
Really lovely to hear that you are enjoying being in the UK - welcome! Particularly glad to hear that you feel well-received, and this is a charming video. If you think parking here is chaotic wait until you get to France and Italy! Sadly racism does exist here, but the vast majority of us refuse to tolerate it.
Jesus Mac is a man Hulk! Mac - are you a gym goer? Have to come train with me in Brighton. love to all x
I am African American and Italian (biracial) and so is my husband. I am ready to leave the US because of the current political situation and the steadily growing racism problem. I have a college education and would like to begin looking for opportunities to live in the UK. I visited the UK briefly during college, but would like to explore it further. Thank you for sharing your experiences with this community. You have been helpful and give me hope that while no place is perfect, they can at least be civilized.
Just found your channel, it's great to hear your experiences in the UK are positive, enjoy the rest of your time here. I love the fact your kids are picking up the accent, if you're staying another 2/3 years they'll most likely have a thick English accent to return home with, which I'm sure will be a great talking point for them when they return to school.
You guys are so lovely! I am so glad that you are enjoying your time here. Great vlog!
Thanks Simon
It's great to see your positivity and openess to new encounters and experiences; making the right decisions for you and your family for the right reasons, exposing yourselves to different cultures and perspectives with an open mind. I wish you and your family only the very best in the UK and Europe, however long you stay (perhaps you will explore other continents in the future?). Stay happy, healthy, and safe in your journey!
Great to have you here and thank you for your appreciation of the UK. I do love the warmth, openess and friendliness of Americans.
Awwww…. You two! *biiig huuugs* ! So happy you have settled down so well here and plan to stay! 😊we are pleased to have you and hope you continue to enjoy life in GB - you are very special people and I look forward to watching more of your videos - lots of love xxx
You’re so lovely it’s nice to hear you’re having a happy time in the UK.
Nice couple. And the guy lets his wife talk, when so many guys dominate conversations. Enjoy your time here, folks.
i like to hear from blair as she can be quiet at times which i dont mind but shes a wonderful lady and her smile lights up the room :) great q &a guys look forward to seeing more of you guys in the new year
🙂
Me too... I worry about her being so quiet even though I'm shy myself x
@@isladurrant2015 i wouldnt worry some people are just more reserved and that perfectly alright just enjoy when she does open up a little :) i feel like it makes me appreciate her more
What has Toby Blair got to do with this?
I am so glad that you have settled in well.
Looking forward to your visit to Wales and Cornwall.
Both are beautiful. You will love it.
Happy anniversary. Love your video's and its nice having you . Merry Christmas
Im happy you like it here, and you're settled,. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year , much love to you and your beautiful family xxx
Why don't you even invite them into your house then?
I am originally from Glasgow which was one of the biggest Port Towns in UK. I guess like other port towns like Liverpool, Hull. Bristol etc we grew up with all nationalities visiting Glasgow from all the ships from around the world. My experience was that not only did we NOT have a problem with foreign visitors of every race creed colour and religion but we were very excited and interested in them. We always new that visitors and people who came here really enhanced our knowledge of a bigger world but also enriched our culture. A big Scottish welcome!
I am very pleased to hear that you are enjoying living in the UK.
It was a real pleasure listening to your experience of living here in the UK and I’m really glad you have enjoyed it so far. A huge benefit is travel both within the UK and Europe. There are some amazing places to visit in the UK only a few hours drive away and a huge range of European cities and countries to explore also just a few hours by plane.
Nice to see two Americans enjoying themselves over here. I've been to many states in America, and was surprised by the amount Americans don't travel their own country. I was even asked "did you come across water"? Every American I met, was polite, happy to know a Brit, which was heart warming. Hope you two have a great time traveling Europe, enjoy yourselves, we all wish you well.
I saw a comment on a vid of some Americans visiting the UK, which I thought deserved sharing. The UK is like a Tardis - it looks small, from the outside, but once you get inside there is so much packed in here. 🙂
Takes so much courage to move to another country and start a new life over ! I take my hat off to you, you’re doing so well !
Hi guys, thank you for 1 year of great vlogs....you are such a lovely genuine family and its a pleasure to see how much you love the UK . I live in Liverpool and I think you are correct, we don't get a huge amount of Americans visiting ( unless they are all on the Beatles tour ! 😉)
You are lucky as you will have a lot of memories to look back on in years to come unlike many americans who never leave their state
Welcome to the UK. Good to have you here, please explore the whole place and enjoy the diversity of our homeland.
I grew up in England and spent half my working life abroad (Sweden for a few years and 20 years in Philadelphia). Being a fish out of water in a foreign land is such a growth opportunity. You learn a great deal about yourself, your host country and about your homeland, while overseas.
I really appreciate your family's take on the UK. You come over as really lovely people and I am sure all your viewers, and the people that know you in real life, are glad to have you here.
On driving, yes, the red and amber brfore green light is useful, but what really helps the UK driving experience is roundabouts (traffic circles). They are so much more efficient than 4-way stops.
Love you guys xx
We may be a tiny Island but we the UK have a lot to offer! So glad you’re safe and happy here❤❤love
Thanks for sharing, great to hear your insights & that you're all doing well. Hopefully you'll see and enjoy more of the country (and Europe as a whole) when and if Covid abates somewhat.
Lovely to listen to such positive content. Glad you and your family are happy and doing well. Committing to such a big change during this pandemic must have been hard and it's great you have managed to see as much as you have in very tricky circumstances.
I've followed your posts for a while and enjoy them. It's nice to hear you are content and your kids are fitting into the environment. 😊
Christmas Panto is one of the best things about Christmas here especially in TV there is usually a panto.
Lovely opportunity to hear about your stay here in the UK and so good to hear that you are enjoying the experience 👏👏. Have a wonderful British Christmas - and please put the beautiful city of Norwich (in Norfolk) on your 'to visit' list ❤
Love Norwich!! My favourite city!! Also, a trip to Gt Yarmouth is a must, in fact the entire Norfolk coast is not to be missed, boating in Wroxham, seal pups at Horsey, Cromer, etc plus a visit to the queen's favourite gaff at Sandringham.
Welcome to Great Britain, I hope you have many happy years here' and get to visit all the places you so desire will be looking forwards to your next video's
Thanks Philip 👍🏾
When you come to Cornwall, I highly recommend the Eden Project, it has two giant domes, one is a giant indoor rainforest and the other is a Mediterranean/temperate garden. If you go in the winter they usually have an ice skating rink set up outside.
that was lovely to hear all the positivity you have come across in and about the UK. You make me a little homesick (Brit living on the continent).
Hope you enjoy your coming years in good ole England. Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year xxx
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I’m so pleased you like living in England, it really is a lovely place to live. If you want to explore some more, I can recommend Hertfordshire, my home county. It’s just north of London, and has some lovely places with a ton of history - namely St Albans, lots of Roman history and a lovely abbey to look around.
On another note, I recently visited Leicester. It’s where the skeleton of King Richard lll was discovered, I’m a history nut so found it really interesting.
Happy Christmas to you and your family!
I for one am really pleased that you don't regret moving here. There are negatives to this country for sure. taxes, FUEL PRICES etc but on the whole it's a great country. I don't see a person's colour, just the person herself/himself... we are all human beings.
This is my first time viewing your channel and first I would like to say you two are lovely 🙂
Even though the world paints us brits as racist you will actually find it would be super rare to have any racism toward you.
Traffic lights go :-
Green - Yellow (Amber) - Red
Then
Red and Yellow (together) - Green
Scotland is beautiful, head north to the Highlands and you will be blown away !
Don’t bother trying to get an English accent, if your not born and raised here you will never pull it off 🙂
What’s your thoughts on the postal service ? We are rated number one in the world 👍
👍🏾
Don't need to be born here to get an accent. Kids will pick it up pretty quickly and after a year or two will mostly sound native, the younger they are the better. Adults not so much.
You are a charming couple.I'm glad you feel "at home" in my country and I appreciate your positive comments of life in England
You guys definitely should visit Cornwall or Devon in the summer months. One of the best holiday destinations in the UK, particularly if you love beach holidays
Trafic lights - there is more to thow the lights change . Stopping traffice they go Green to Yellow then Red but they go Red then Red AND yellow togther then green starting traffic. So if you ever see a yellow light on its own it means its about to go Red, but NEVER the other way around. Subtle but amazingly helpful.
Congratulations on your first year here. Very pleased all has gone well. I have not witnessed any racism in my town, There are several different nationalities living here too. We are very liberal with our parking. I hope you get another good year.
It makes me happy to see you are happy here - Of course we have issues but it is heartening to see you enjoying life here
I have watched your content for some time it genuinely interested me to see what a US family thought of life in the UK above all I am glad you feel at home
If you are going to a Pantomime for the first time, take some earplugs! The kids are encouraged to participate at the tops of their voices and have great fun. Adults too get into the spirit and yell, boo and cheer along with their offspring. You will come away shattered.
I’m so pleased you came to live here and are enjoying your experiences. Also, thanks for sharing them with us 😀 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎅 XX
Merry Christmas to you as well! 🌲
Glad you're enjoying yourselves and the kids have settled in and enjoying school.
I'm in Canada but was born in the UK and never miss your vlogs, always very interesting. Christmas greetings to you and the family.
Christmas greetings
Do not know how I ended up here but I am glad I did as it was a nice way to spend 10 minutes with such a nice couple. Glad that you are enjoying being in our country.
Haha the parking comment had me in stitches, I'm born and bred British and I can't believe how some people park, you are not alone! Welcome to the UK by the way and merry Christmas
Hello...very good to hear you are settled here in England with us Brits..you are very welcome here..hope you will contiue to be happy and settled..
we enjoy going on trips to Europe doing Eurocamp, it's an absolute blast, many are by beaches such as the Mediterranean and the Atlantic or country settings, it's like a little community of Europeans with lots of amenities on site, playgrounds, restaurants, cafes, swimming pools and the aforementioned beach. Reasonably priced and wonderful Summer getaways throughout Europe.
Hi! Can you share a website or link for this? Thanks
You are a delightful couple. I'm pleased to hear your enjoying UK.
Your American accent is very light and I'm sure people don't pick it up accent easily. Welcome to UK. So lovely to hear that you're feeling settled and happy. May it continue.
What a lovely positive start for the day you have both given me. God bless you both and your family. 👍👍❤️❤️❤️
Out of all the things in this country I would recommend I think visiting the great cathedrals is a wonderful experience.
You must try and get up to Yorkshire. York is great but so is the countryside and seaside towns. I also know you like agriculture fairs and there's one in Harrogate called The Great Yorkshire Show, I think around July time 😁👍
Glad you're liking the country and are doing ok. Funnily enough I can't wait to get out of Scotland for a few weeks and enjoy the heat in Mexico again!
And all the lovely holiday days you get to visit all those places!
A year already, that hasnt half flown. So happy your having an amazing time living here, such a positive vibe from yourselves also a bonus that youve explored places other than London, i loved your vid from when you visited Holy Island in Northumberland and the North East where i live. Visit Durham City when you get the chance. Hope you both and the kids have an amazing British Crimbo, look forward to your adventures for next year. 👍❤️
I am also from County Duham and agree.. We have some of the best countryside around us.. Teesdale( for those not from the north not to be mixed up with Teesside ) is largely forgotten area of beauty.
@@Ionabrodie69 god yes its a lovely place especially in the summer but i have to say if the weather is wintery its quite bad but extremely beautiful at the same time. I live in Durham City but just a few miles out in any direction theres lovely countryside to visit. Then again i like to think of it as a well kept secret, dont want lots of outsiders spoiling it and for us locals lol
@@allisonsmith5242 You’re right on all counts ..👍😂
Hey Mac, enjoyed the vlog. Great news you have not suffered any racism, but such a shame we have to even mention it. On your travels please come and spend time in The Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales. You know, for such a small island, we do have icredible scenery and an even more amazing history accompanied by historical buildings. Whenever Blair smiles it makes me smile!!! Hope you, Blair and the little ones have a lovely fun Christmas and you all enjoy a safe and healthy 2022.
When I lived in the U.K. I enjoyed the wide open roads. The M6 was fun to drive on, especially during the vacation, no traffic, just open road to drive on, I recommend anyone to try it. I also used their modern high speed railways, I think the trains were traveling at over 300 kmph. Local roads were well maintained and clean. Crime was unheard of. I hear the health service is the envy of the world but I didn't use it. Commute times were short due to the fact that there was very little traffic on the roads. The weather was fantastic too. You will enjoy life in the UK. I'd easily swap palm springs for palmers green. ( sarcasm )
Your experience is pretty shocking to me. I'd have said the roads here are very busy. How long ago did you live in the UK?
Haha! Palmers Green? I grew up near there.
Very amusing.
Crikey, are you serious? You must have travelled at midnight. As soon as we come from the Isle of Man and reach the motorway , we hit traffic jams on the M6. It was often a nightmare when I had to use it for work between Leyland and Blackpool. It’s a nice road beyond Lancaster, otherwise pick your times carefully!
Northern Irish here and I'm just grateful you took the time to mention us twice! Always welcome in NI. We are a beautiful wee country with castles a bit like Scotland. My advice is plan your food more than your journey. The restaurant food and home-shopping (go to the award-winning butchers) is excellent but the cheaper options are not good, worse than America or England
thank you for answering my question. I am glad that you have had positive response everywhere you go in the UK, as the British media paint a picture of Britain being a racist nation. even though I am from Jersey in the Channel Islands, I have lived in Manchester and Nottingham and never saw any racism while living in either place.
BTW my name is French for John, so it is pronounced the same as Jean Claude Van Dam or Jean Luke Piccard.
What a beautiful family.
The uk is better off with you here.
Stay safe and enjoy yourselves.