I'm American, but my mom is a Geordie. We always visited my aunt when we went to England and i thought her living right next to a castle was the coolest thing ever.
Unfortunately I haven't been back to the UK in 12 years. My parents are visiting for the week since my grandpa is dying. We used to go every few years when i was little though. We would fly into Manchester and stay with my mom's siblings for a few days, then drive to Yorkshire and stay the night at my aunt's on the way to Newcastle to stay with my Grandparents. Things like the castles, the Lake District, Lindosfarne, Whitley Bay, Hadrians Wall, and Bede's World are unique experiences for Americans that i was so fortunate to enjoy. And while America and England are very similar from a cultural viewpoint, it was great growing up in both worlds and getting to experience the best of both.
I often think about emigrating over there and working for my uncle, but at this point the UK doesn't feel like it can offer me any benefits and will only make me homesick for America. 6The Midwest will forever be my home, but the North will forever be in my heart.
Unfortunately I haven’t been back to the UK in 12 years.
not unfortunate, 12 years ago the UK was in a better place. It’s past it’s heyday now, and will become a second world country in another 12 years when the economy properly goes to bed.
I have lots of family I haven't seen since then, and it's still a beautiful country with amazing history and culture. You dont need to telll me about how rough things are getting across the pond, i talk with my English family mearly every day and they let me know all about it. The UK has been in economic decline since the interwar period, but that doesnt make visiting family and reconnecting with my roots/ancestory/heritage/whatever you want to call it any less meaningful.
My mom didn't move to the US until after my parents got married, so I could just have likely grown up in the UK talking about how I love America and wish I could visit my American family more. Lemmy would let me know all the ways that America is circling the drain and becoming a shithole. Sure the UK is a nation hellbent on destroying itself, but that's something i can understand having grown up in America, a nation which is also completely hellbent on destroying itself.