Reader's Lives

Cindy Sightes, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at HCA Healthcare UK, moved to London from Austin, Texas in 2019. Here she tells us about overcoming technology struggles, learning British phrases and discovering dog-friendly restaurants as she settled into life in the UK.

How Did You Decide On An Area To Live In?

My employer, HCA Healthcare UK, helped me and my husband, Billy, to find a house when we relocated to the UK in 2019. There was one available in St John’s Wood in north London, which is a very nice neighbourhood and is in a really convenient location, so we decided to live there.

Did You Have Any Initial Concerns About The Move?

We’d never even visited the UK when we decided to make the move, so we were excited, but a little anxious about living and working here. We were going to be away from family and friends, the house we were going to be living in was being remodelled (and we hadn’t seen it), plus, we were moving with no car and going to be dependent on public transport, which was a big change for us. We love St John’s Wood – it doesn’t feel like we’re living in a major city. We’ve figured out public transport and now actually quite enjoy not having a car. We didn’t realise how good London’s public transport system was here before we moved, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised. We’ve also found a nice balance between travelling back to the US and having our friends and family coming to visit us here. It was much tougher during the pandemic, but we’ve gotten back into a nice routine since.

What Challenges Did You Face During Your First Year In The UK?

Initially, we struggled with technology, such as transitioning phones, setting up new Amazon accounts, and using US credit cards on some UK websites. Then there were the odd things, like needing a TV licence, which isn’t a thing in the US. It’s also very difficult to set up a UK bank account. I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of my husband to take that pressure off of me. Billy didn’t work for the first six months after we moved, so he was able to figure out the day-to-day living issues and learn which is our best local grocery store. There’s also language used in the UK that you have to decipher as an American. For example, we say “primary care clinic” in the US, but here it’s a “GP surgery”.

Were There Any British Phrases That Amused You?

Yes! “Chalk and cheese” and “teaching your grandmother to suck eggs”. The British say “cheers” to mean “thank you”, not just as a toast. I found myself raising my hand during meetings to ask what these things meant just so I could follow the conversation! I now say, “we’ll get it sorted”, instead of, “we’ll figure it out” – much to the amusement of my family and friends.

Have You Embraced Anything In Particular About British Culture?

We have a bit of menu intimidation and we’re sometimes wary of trying new things. Since being in the UK, however, we’ve become much more adventurous. We love Indian food and eat it at least once a week. We also love Chinatown in central London, and the amazing restaurants there. And then there are the pubs, both for the food and the friendly atmosphere. We have a border collie, Luna, and we’ve been amazed by how many dog-friendly restaurants there are in London.

What Do You Like About Living In The UK?

Our favourite thing is the people – everyone’s been so welcoming and friendly. We love the melting pot of cultures here. You can hear 10 different languages being spoken while walking one block. That’s been really interesting and educational for us. It’s also great for travel. You can be almost anywhere in Europe in a couple of hours from London, but we also love our weekend trips travelling around the UK by train – it’s a very beautiful place.

Is There Anything You Would Like To Change About Living In The UK?

If our family was living here, it would be perfect! We’re just hoping another pandemic doesn’t hit, so we can still make it back to the US to see our family and friends, and they can continue to visit us here.

Do You Have Any Advice For Professionals Relocating To The UK?

Talking to people who have already made the transition is extremely helpful. Having a supportive employer is so important, and a partner who can figure out all the UK-specific, day-to-day issues while you settle into your new job is a life saver! I’ve been extremely lucky to have both.