19 year old Make up artist looking into moving to Cali/LA from England, would really appreciate some help from anyone?!

[violent cello]

I'm a Brit living in the US.

Advice:
Save up and come out and take a 3 month holiday in the area you want to live. Preferably stay with friends you know in the area, couch surf, whatever. That will help you build up contacts, look around makeup colleges, whatever. Then apply for jobs/schools. If you have an "in" in the area, there are more people who can speak in your favour and let you know what jobs are available.

Then, come home and apply for those jobs. Don't do what a lot of people do and just sort of you know, overstay your welcome. Bad bad bad bad bad idea. It tempts a lot of people - a great under-the-table job offer in a fantastic place. Let it go though. It's not worth getting banned from the US for.

I think people are coming down on you a bit not because you want to move to America - I wanted to move to America too and I did it, I didn't care what anyone else said - they're coming down on you because you don't seem to have any kind of plan. There's nothing wrong with being young and idealistic, I was 2 years older than you when I moved here. But I had a plan, money, and means. That's what you need. Good luck getting it.

[violent cello]

Originally Posted by sayulita

I know this is a little off subject but I'd really like to know what it is you miss and love about America. I'm feeling so disappointed in my country right now, it would be great to see it through your eyes and what you appreciate about it.

When I go out of the US I missed diner breakfasts And wider streets for driving, and being able to get falafel at 2am, and meeting immigrants who survived genocide and now own a non-profit helping genocide survivors, and amazing sunsets (I live in NM), and people with the most interesting/strange political/religious slants on things, and the amazing collections in the Smithsonian, and going to the Lincoln Memorial and wondering what he'd make of the world today, and teaching young college students who were getting to disagree with things they read for the first time, and amazing outdoor opportunities, and excellent skiing! Plus all the states being so different. All of that is cool.

[susan42]

Originally Posted by MUA-Zoe07

im sure that after i write this someone will write back and point out all of the bad things about America, and how the grass is not greener on the other side and how if i must have not experienced enough of America if i cannot see the bad parts too.

I lived in Florida so i know its alot different from California, but in general people seemed happier, they didnt moan as much, it was so nice so start fresh and make new friends and be somewhere different. I love it so much that i even miss the roads, and the shops and just everything about it, my friends and everywhere i go i meet new people, here i cannot seem to meet new people anywhere they are alot less friendly. The American accent just makes me smile because people seem so much more cheery.

i actually find it hard to explain what exactly it is that i love, and this might sound silly but America just gives me this feeling inside me of happiness and excitement i feel like part of me is missing when im not there, and i just know 1000000% that its where i want to be. Its so sad to me that its so hard to achieve my dreams of getting there and i know to some people thats stupid but to me its not.

Hi!
I am 46 and have never felt settled living in the UK.
First visited the US when I was 11 and loved it. When people in the UK say that America thinks it's bigger and better than most things than the UK-I think it's true for the most part.
Generally I find the US more positive and upbeat. People smile more and talk to each other on the street (at least in the area we are in-although I know there are big differences across States).

One thing you ddin't mention about the UK is the cost of living, especially house prices and gas (petrol) at $7 gallon.

US is better for families-cheaper to do things together and way more options, in part due to the weather.

Take the High School football matches at my sons High School- 1000 spectators, bands and cheer leaders.Great atmosphere, no trouble.

Other thing is space-so much of it.

I think often it's the things that maybe the Americans take for granted that we find so great coming from the UK.

I am well into middle age now and wish I had left the UK years ago, but the time was never right.
I would encourage you to maybe try and study for a BA in something in the UK. That would really be the way to go forward.
You are still young-go for it if it's what you want!