Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've lived in the USA my whole life, and I'm entertaining the idea of moving to the UK. It would be a big change, but it may be necessary. I'd consider other places in Europe, but I only speak English and am too wrapped up in learning Japanese to learn yet another language. I'll research more about these things myself, but I figured directly asking someone who knows more would be good to start with.

My concerns are primarily based around healthcare, job availability, and living arrangements. First off, what is the healthcare system like, and what does it require for an immigrant to become part of it?

Secondly, I need a job I can actually handle. I'm currently in college for game development, and I should be getting my associate's degree in 2015. Unless I can impress a game dev company and get a job doing that immediately, I'll need to continue taking classes. How does university work in the UK? Can I get accepted with an A.A.? Will it require student loans?

As for the actual job part, are there many opportunities in the UK for jobs that allow some degree of creativity or personal expression? Is there any hiring going on in general? I suppose when it comes down to it, my deepest concern is that I want to be able to wear what I want. A uniform feels... wrong. I dress to impress when I can afford it, but I have a distinct... cyberpunk, perhaps, style about me. It is deeply important to me as a human being.

Lastly, I would much prefer to live in a large city, or at least near one. Preferably a more liberal sort of place, I suppose. Any Asian parts of town might also be a way for us to fit in better. Are these criteria compatible with my needs?



Thanks for reading through my silliness.