Name : Jane Hoblack Age : 49 Where you lived in Cornwall : Liskeard Where you live now: Waterbury, Connecticut Jane's Story... I moved from Liskeard to Connecticut in the USA in September of 2003 to marry an American citizen. Even then I was unsure if it was the right thing to do because I had lived in Cornwall all my life - 45 years; I spent my childhood in Perranporth, moved to Truro and then to Liskeard.
 | | Michael & Jane's House in Connecticut |
Leaving was the hardest thing I have ever done and yes, I miss everything; from food to shops, from the beaches to the towns, the mild winter weather, but most of all my family and friends. Even though I had prepared myself to be homesick I didn't anticipate how dreadful I would feel. Everything in a city in the USA is very different from the little town I came from and loved. Here you don't know your neighbours or the people in the shops. There are no shops within walking distance so you have to be able to drive - everything is at the mall or a strip mall. One of the things that amazed me most was the range of services available as 'drive-through'. As well as the expected drive-through fast-food restaurants, there are drive-through banks, pharmacies, post boxes and even off-licences/liquor stores - yes, liquor stores! Drinking and driving here is made that much easier!
Working life is much harder. The average working week is 40 hours and the annual vacation/holiday is two weeks. Health care is expensive and there are 'co-pays' even if you do have insurance. The advances in technology make living away from home easier to bear. I send emails on a daily basis and talk to relatives and friends on Messenger. Without that I would feel very cut-off from home. The BBC website is wonderful for up-to-the-minute news and weather reports and I check it every day! What have I gained from moving to CT? I have the love of my husband and the knowledge that the grass is not greener on the other side. My advice to anyone thinking of leaving Cornwall? Don't! | 
