just moved from the united Kingdom! (Milwaukee, Wausau: new home, theater, YMCA)

[monkey20]

Hi i have just moved to wisconsin from England and i just want to know where the best places are to go to meet some people? I am 24yrs and my husband has just got out of the Navy and is looking for a job in the police, we are currently living in washington county with his aunt until we find a home and jobs ect. But i just want to get to know a few people as i have left all my family and friends in England. We have a two year old boy so i would appriectiate any information on maybe somewhere i could go with him like a play school or something. I also am interested in theatre and would love to know if there are any around i can join! I have tried to talk to a few people but i just don't get understood , maybe its the accent??? But anyway i would appreciate any info

thanks

[Drover]

Here's a bit of Wisconsin trivia: It got its name "The Badger State" because of the all the 19th century miners who spent so much time burrowing underground; and many of those miners came from Cornwall. After the massive wave of German and Scandonavian immigration, about the only hint of English culture left in the state are those few places where you can get a pasty for lunch.

I can't really help you with theater in the area or specific places to meet people. But what I can tell you is that Wisconsin tends to have a fairly insular culture that is not easy for outsiders to break into. And that's not just for foreigners; people from other parts of the U.S., even from bordering states that have the same basic culture and values, experience the same issues. You will have to take the initiative to introduce yourself to people, say "hi" to them in the supermarket and at church and what-not. If you keep at it most will eventually come around. But it will take work.

Welcome to your new home. I wish you well.

[monkey20]

i appreciate the reply and the little history lesson was great , i do love pasties and i make them very often... well i guess i will try and get out more and meet some more people

thanks again

Kazz

[mrkool]

My wife is from Bedfordshire and we've been here (Milwaukee suburb) for 10 years. 2 daughters. Maybe you two could talk, or I could just tell you about fun/interesting places to go locally.
There was a great British type butcher, food shop called Gerry O'Briens, very close to us. My wife liked to go there for sausgae rolls, etc. But alas, they closed a few months ago.

[LML]

Welcome to the U.S. I have enjoyed some very happy moments in the U.K. and hope you have as much enjoyment here. I'm much older than you so could not probably give you the pointers you need but would suggest that maybe you could find a church near you that has a young married group and I bet you'd make a lot of new friends that way. Again, welcome.

[monkey20]

thanks for the message i apprieciate them all!

Kareen

[wendyliz]

Have been here 11 years. Moved from England ( Northamptonshire) with a four year old at the time. Left all my family back there too.

You can get good prices on flights back at Xmas time. its when I go back to visit.

I like it here. more open spaces and better weather in summer. Won't mention the winters.

Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, Franklin have all been good areas to live in.

I too miss Gerry O'Briens. Over the time I have been here there have been 3 different stores that sold English stuff that have closed. Which is why I go back with an extra suitcase. I stock up.

Welcome to the US. I have found the people to be friendly enough. Don't worry about the accent. Use it to your advantage. You will blend in until you open your mouth but then have the opportunity to stand out and get noticed. Comes in handy . Gets you remembered when you go for jobs.

After 11 years I still get people who just want to hear me talk. Used to embarrass me but guess I got used to it. You will even start to forget that you have an accent when around co-workers and friends. They get to understand eventually. It's even fun to see what english sayings and expressions I can come out with to confuse them.

Have fun and enjoy yourself. and remember the "seaside" is a lot closer over here. Goos for the kids in summer.

[deo0519]

Originally Posted by monkey20

Hi i have just moved to wisconsin from England and i just want to know where the best places are to go to meet some people? I am 24yrs and my husband has just got out of the Navy and is looking for a job in the police, we are currently living in washington county with his aunt until we find a home and jobs ect. But i just want to get to know a few people as i have left all my family and friends in England. We have a two year old boy so i would appriectiate any information on maybe somewhere i could go with him like a play school or something. I also am interested in theatre and would love to know if there are any around i can join! I have tried to talk to a few people but i just don't get understood , maybe its the accent??? But anyway i would appreciate any info

thanks

Welcome!

I live in Milwaukee, a little older than you are and no kids but I have some ideas for you.

Since you're so close to Milwaukee, you could visit some of the museums here with your little one... the Betty Brinn Children's musem has many wonderful things to see and do, even for two year olds. They also have a nice cafe for lunch, and in the warmer months you can picnic outside near the lakefront. Lake Michigan is beautiful in any season, but I prefer summer and fall best.

Betty Brinn: http://www.bbcmkids.org/

Milwaukee also has the Milwaukee Public Museum, an IMAX theatre, a wonderful zoo, a planetarium, and plenty of kid-friendly events and festivals throughout the year.

Zoo: http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/
Milwaukee Public Museum, IMAX, and Planetarium: http://www.mpm.edu/

In the summer time, I would recommend coming into town for some of our festivals. Milwaukee is known as one of the great festival cities in America because we have something nearly every weekend from May to September! My favorites are Summerfest in late June/early July, Irish Fest in August, and German Fest in July. This is NOT a complete list because I know I'm missing many festivals, but there is also:

Bastille Days (French), PolishFest, Festa Italiana, Indian Summer (Native American), and of course there is the Wisconsin State Fair in August! Great fun for children of all ages. We try to get to the fair every year.

I'm sure others can chime in with their favorite summer events.

Other ways to meet people - volunteer. There is an agency in Milwaukee that coordinates volunteers that I have recently signed up for. They list lots of opportunities and you can pick and choose which ones you might like to do. They offer long term committments and one-time events. I think it's a great way to meet people. See their website: http://www.volunteermilwaukee.org/welcome.php

You might also try joining a club, like the YMCA. The YMCA is a great place for families. They have classes, child care, learning and educational programs, tutoring, as well as health club/gym facilities. Most have a walking/running trak, swimming pools, gymnasiums, work out facilities and machines, etc. It's a little pricey for a family membership, but I think it's well worth it. Most classes for health/fitness are free to members. I've met a lot of very nice people this way.
Link: http://www.ymcamke.org

I'm sure if I tried hard enough I could think of much more...maybe I will post again later. Good luck to you! If you need help with directions, etc feel free to email.

[tet tea]

Hello ... fellow Brit here and married to a soon to be x military man!
Asking the same stuff as you but about Wausau in Marathon County. Where you from in England? I'm from a big rugby town between Liverpool and Manchester in the NW. I totally understand the accent thing. Mine is still thick as mud and broad as a plank! My father-in-law still has a problem with it. LOL. I hope you and your family are settling in ok. I have visited WI a few times albeit a while back and found most people very friendly. I loved the fact that they were straight to the point and didn't beat around the bush. Try going to one of their fish fries on a Friday. I only sampled it once but it made me homesick for the great British fish and chip shop.

GOOD LUCK and I wish you all the best