Emma K loves Baltimore, the pink, kitschy town that John Water's immortalized in films such as Hairspray and Pink Flamingos. Here, this Englishwoman she talks a bit about her expat life in the USA, the things about England that she misses, and some of her future plans.	Emma K

-Where were you born?
London, U.K.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Baltimore, U.S.A

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Long suffering Irish husband and two daughters (age 6 and 4).

-How long have you been living in the USA?
Seven years.

-What is your age?
Thirty-six.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in the USA?
I was dating my boyfriend (now husband) in London. He was moving to Baltimore to do a PhD and asked me to go with him. I said, "No thanks, I've heard Baltimore is a bit of a shithole." But then I found out I was pregnant and decided to move to Baltimore after all.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
It is almost impossible to get a work visa, but that's okay because I am currently at home with the kids. Am getting the green card soon.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
It was impossible to get medical insurance when I arrived in the U.S.A. I was pregnant and this is considered a pre-existing condition akin to cancer so we had to shell out thousands for the birth. It made me long for the shabby old NHS!

-How do you make your living in the USA? Do you have any type of income generated?
I can't work at the moment, no work visa. I have written and published novels in the UK though.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak fluent Baltimore-ease. All right hon!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I only miss the British sense of humor. Irony seems to be in short supply in the U.S.A.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I would love to visit San Francisco and the West Coast.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We have bought a house. The house prices here are amazingly cheap.

-What is the cost of living in the USA?
Cheap.

-What do you think about the Americans?
Most locals are very interested and welcoming to foreigners although of course you do get the occasional comments when you criticise any aspect of US culture, when people will say "If you don't like it why don't you go back to where you came from."

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the USA?
Positive aspects: the weather is beautiful, the cost of living is cheap, the pace of life is very relaxed.

Negative aspects: I feel less free about expressing political opinions than I did in the U.K. I think this is a more conservative society than I experienced in London.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the USA?
I have a wonderful and funny blog that tells you quite a bit about Baltimore: http://www.mommyhasaheadache.blogspot.com