People & Places
Boston so popular
New England is the fifth most popular area of America to move, according to our readers survey. So Matt French sought out expats in Boston
Some people want to leave their lives in the UK behind them when they move to the US, but others prefer to stay in touch with old friends and family and some even strive to create a sense of the 'old country' in their new land. We found two Brits doing just that in Boston.
Gavin's story
Gavin Nathan was born in Benfleet, Essex, and went to Nottingham University to do his degree in Management. Graduating in 1999, he went to London to work for a software company and then via a stint in Singapore he arrived in Boston in March 2002. "I was able to get a visa through a family member who was born in the US," Gavin explains from his home in the capital of Massachusetts. "Then after five years I applied for full citizenship and took the naturalisation test." This involves answering three out of 50 possible questions, a process which sounds intimidating to me as I have never performed very well in exams let alone when your citizenship depends on whether you pass or fail. "I was asked who wrote Star Spangled Banner; who takes over if the President and Vice President die, and; what is the beginning of the Bill of Rights called?" Gavin tells me cheerfully, though I know I wouldn't be able to answer one of those questions. "Then they check your taxes and you become a citizen after attending the subsequent swearing in ceremony."
Gavin now works as a sales executive for UK software companies which are opening US offices or looking to expand into the US. His job has given him the opportunity to travel around the US extensively and has taken him to the corporate offices of 25 of the Fortune 100 companies and 28 of the 50 US states. So, he is well placed to talk about the particular charms of New England in comparison to elsewhere in the US. "You get the best and most dramatic of all the seasons here," Gavin says enthusiastically. "You can go skiing in Vermont in winter as the mountains are only three hours from Boston are covered in snow for three to four months of the year. Then summer is all about the beaches Cape Cod is an hour from Boston while Maine and New Hampshire have amazing hiking in the spring and autumn."
Despite loving New England, Gary missed one aspect of UK life. Having grown up in an environment where pubs serve as centres of the community where family and friends meet and new friendships are established Gavin naturally found himself drawn towards the taverns of Boston upon his arrival in the city. "When I arrived on a harsh winter's day, I sought the refuge of a pub to escape from the piercing wind," Gavin explains. "Sitting in the first one I came across, I washed down a bowl of tasty clam chowder with a pint of Sam Adams by the log fire and pondered how my ancestors, whom I had followed across the Atlantic, would have quenched their thirst and appetite when they came ashore in Boston." From this seed, Gavin decided to grow his understanding of Boston taverns and has since written a book on the subject entitled Historic Taverns of Boston.
However, it is not just the history of drinking establishments that appeals to Gavin, but the famed friendly pub culture that exists in England. Soon after his arrival, though, he had taken steps to reprise this aspect of his UK life. "During my job search I was interviewed by Gary," Gavin tells me. "He had an accent that was somewhat familiar from home. So I asked him if he knew a good place to watch the England football match that was playing that night, to which he replied; 'Why would a Welshman want to see England play?'" Despite this faux pas Gary told Gavin about a group of Brits who met regularly in pubs on Thursday nights (Jas, Andy, Jay, Gaz, Mark, Tom and Hedley). The group have continued to meet every Thursday, calling themselves the British Expats At Various Entertaining Rendezvous club. "Our evening get-togethers took us to most of the bars in Boston over the years," Gavin explains. "It was through these travels that we bumped into a Brit called Harry who owned a bar on State Street and so we now had a location for our first official party." Ironically, the first party was on one of America's favourite holidays, Halloween, but nonetheless 40 Brits turned up in fancy dress. "After the success of the party we decided to organise the rabble and setup a website. The website Boston Brits took off instantly as a mouthpiece for British expatriates in Boston to air their views of life in America and to organise social activities." The group still meet every Thursday and have several annual events, including the Great British Halloween fancy dress party, a St. George's Day celebration and a Christmas Curry Pub Crawl. "So if you know any 'billy no mates' moving to Boston," Gavin tells me, "Please tell them to head to our website and they'll instantly have 400 like-minded friends."
Evelyn's story
Like Gavin, Evelyn Murray moved from the UK to New England when she graduated from university (Having done a degree in Maths and Physics in Southampton) in 1963. She worked developing defence sector technology for many years, including with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "I had two job offers at that time," Evelyn recalls. "The first was in Chalk River, Canada, and the other was in Massachusetts, just outside Boston."
The decision as to which job she took eventually came down to a matter of where she could continue to enjoy a hobby that is as British as a Sunday roast. "Chalk River is an isolated place," Evelyn tells me. "Whereas Boston already had an established Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS)" "I eventually emigrated with the paperwork for an Alien Registration Card the so-called 'green card' they really were green in those days, whereas now they are a pinkish shade," she jokes in her friendly tone. Evelyn has grown to love the new incarnation of England. "New England, and particularly Boston, is a great place to live," she tells me. "It is a very cultured city, with the most fantastic range of opportunities to attend music ranging from Classical to Jazz. Most shows that end up in New York come to Boston either before or following Broadway."
Evelyn also says being close to Boston Harbour for sailing or rowing on the Charles River are major plus points of the city. "British expats are made to feel very welcome, and soon find their nitch," she continues. "There are many similarities in culture and common interests. "Personally I have been primarily involved in the Scottish scene. I had danced as a child, and also at university. So it was natural for me to join the Boston Branch of the RSCDS." Having attended St Andrews Summer School (Scotland) in 1967 she obtained her teaching certificate, and has taught ever since, starting two classes in the area, and she is currently president of Boston RSCDS. "First, I took up Highland dancing as an adult, then later I founded and built up the New Hampshire Highland Games from a small festival into a major Highland event in North East America. I am also active in the local St. Andrew's Societies, have served on the Advisory Board for The Caledonian Foundation USA," she tells me in a matter-of-fact tone, and I realise she is responsible for bringing heavy influences from the old to the new world.
Yet Evelyn cannot help but miss some things from the UK, despite her efforts to make a home from home. "I have found that food is one of the more noticeable differences and after all these years I cannot get accustomed to American fast food. In my humble opinion, hamburgers are great at a cookout, but not for lunch on a regular basis. "Tea is still sometimes served very badly and this is especially the case the further you travel from New England there is little concept of how to make a good hot cup of tea." However, she says the other end of the culinary scale is exceptional. "Here in Boston and along the coast of New England, fresh fish is the best anywhere, and often cooked to perfection.
Despite minor annoyances Evelyn strikes me as very happy with her New England life. "In general, salaries are good for people in the technical fields, and my UK schooling and university life provided me with the skills to do very well. The cost of healthcare is a negative, but most companies pay part of this cost, and compared to Europe, taxes are much lower. "Massachusetts also has the greatest concentration of top-quality universities and other centres of learning in the world MIT, Harvard, Tufts, as well as all the teaching hospitals. They all feed into the area thus providing a great environment." "So, balancing the yin and yang, I'd say I have very little regret in making the move here."
It seems both these Brits have created homes from home in the US and are very happy with their new lives.
Related articles:
Boston's heritage
Living in New England
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack
Subscribe to Emigrate America. Read more ...