Hi Lexie!
I hope you and your family stay open minded to coming out here. My husband and I (of 10 years) love it here! Our daughter who just turned one of course doesn't have much of an opinion on the whole matter. :0)
Let me just say you have a lot of great questions about coming here. I personally have never seen a snake here... I'm not even sure if they have them. Bugs... hmmm... they actually don't have window screens in their house so that is sort of a problem but their are some base housing areas that have sort of a pull down shade type window screen. I am super bug phobic... hate spiders. I only remember one day that there were lots of flies coming in my house. Usually we just have the odd creepy spider. We don't live in the middle of a farm field though.
We purchased an a/c unit when we got here (aprox 200 pounds or $400!!! ouch!!) That came in handy durning our first summer. It did get pretty hot... like Washington summers -I used to live in Spokane, WA... but it was only like that for about 3 weeks. Last summer was nothing!! We really didn't even turn on the a/c. The weather here is so mild you really don't need them. Most business don't even have a/c!!
The summers are usually around the 70's and the winters don't usually get more than a day or two of snow... mostly just rain.
The base homes come with a nice big jumbo sized American washer and dryer. (I actually got ones exactly like my big whirlpool ones back in storage in the states.) If you decide to live off base you'll probably get stuck using a tiny British washer. These are of course provided by the base. But... like the last lady said... most homes just come with one hook up... in the kitchen underneath the sink. You have the option of puttinga washing machine or a dishwasher there.
When we first moved here we decided to try living off base. I chose the washing machine (even though I hate doing dishes!!) The washer was in the kitchen and and then we had to put the dryer outside in the garage. (hmmm... that was fun!!) This only lasted for a few weeks until I realized how much time it takes to wash clothes in a dinky little machine. Then we swapped the clothes washer for the dishwasher and hit the laundromat once a week instead. Whew... I'm so glad we live in base housing now!! I love my American washer and dryer!!!
As for the c-section. I just had my second on base and they were wonderful. You do of course have the option of having your baby on base... or off base at either West Suffolk (about 25 minutes away) in Bury St. Edmunds or at Rosie Maternity in Addenbrooks hospital down in Cambridge (45 minutes away). This is a super big hospital that offers water birth... drugs... no drugs... whatever you want. I even have a friend planning a home birth and they provide you with a midwife etc. It's all up to you how you deliver but you will most likely be told that you should have a c section if you decide to have the baby on base.
Oh... they are in the process of redoing the labor and delivery ward. It was nice before... my husband actually got his own bed in my room... but I guess they're trying to make the rooms over so they're more like a bedroom not a hospital room. You know... no hospital stuff in view. If you're not already pregnant yet you'll get to have a new room when they're finished!!
If you haven't lived overseas this is definately a long way from what life is like in the states. Walmart and target exhist only online. I do miss drive throughs... and restraunts. This is a rural area with lots of English style pubs... and the English favs like fish and chip shops... Indian, Thai and Chineese food. But... that being said... like the girl earlier mentioned it does cost a lot to do anything off base. A $40 meal back home will set you back $80 here!! Ouch!! Somehow my cooking has improved since we got here though... I wonder why??
Oh... but the travel is incredible!! We just got back from Stonehenge and Salisbury cathedral yesterday. We stayed at a base in the area so we could do things at a slower pace. Super fun!
We also have traveled to Italy, France and Germany too. It's super easy to travel!! You can drive your car over there or fly for next to nothing. Check out www.easyjet.com or www.ryanair.com -- Sort of like the European Southwest airlines. Super cheap and easy to fly!! I'm so thankful for this opportunity to live in Europe. We're having a great time
Write me if you have more questions... I'm certainly no expert but we have been here now just over 2 years and have already extended our tour lenght!!
You can look at local off base homes at
www.rightmove.co.uk
Just beware that most homes are tiny compared to American standards. You just have to be creative about how you set up your home. Oh... some other helpful sites...
www.mildenhall.af.mil
www.lakenheath.af.mil
click on the newcomer link.
When we moved here I loved
www.afcrossroads.com
it has a phots and more info about the bases over here.
Hope this info is helpful!!
Good luck with your orders. :0)
Blessings!!
Janice
____@____.com