An American man who feels he was meant to be an Englishman dreams of moving to Britain so he can have Greggs steak bakes and Wetherspoons pints whenever he wants.
While most of us are busy grumbling about grey skies and soggy socks, Eli Quivey, 26, is itching to live in the UK.
The Yank would trade endless sunshine and backyard cook-outs for drizzle and a sausage roll in a heartbeat.
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The football-mad American is so obsessed with the British way of life that he’s now trying to move here permanently – despite his 19,000 TikTok followers warning him it’s “miserable”.
“I am addicted to England and it’s annoying,” he told What’s The Jam.
“I cannot go a day without thinking about moving there, thinking about travelling there, thinking about what my life will be like when I get there.
“I am meant to be an Englishman, I swear – there’s no way I was supposed to be born in America.
“I sit here every single day and wish I was in the UK.
Eli’s obsession with Ole Blighty started as a child when his football coach introduced him to the beautiful game and the British accent.
He said: “I fell in love with the accent.
“And when I got a bit older and realised what the Premier League was, I fell in love with England.
“I was hooked.”
Eli spent his teenage years obsessing over British culture, dreaming of one day visiting the country over the pond.
The area sales manager finally made his dream a reality when he saved up enough cash for the trip in 2024.
He said: “I went to London, Liverpool and Manchester and had the time of my life.
“The people are friendly and it’s good vibes.
“The music is amazing and the fashion is so much better than in the US.
“It’s so hot in Texas so I just love the dreary and rainy days.
“I just love everything about England.
“Anywhere in the UK, you can hop on a tram, the tube, a train, whatever – and be in a city centre.
“You can walk into any bar, any pub, any takeaway and you’re good.
“In America, I can drive for four hours and I’m still in Texas.
“You don’t realise how good you have it.
“I was walking through London Heathrow and hearing UK accents and thinking, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’
“The whole 12-hour flight, I couldn’t sleep.
“I was so excited. I was just buzzing.
“As soon as we got off the plane, went to a pub and got my first pint.
“It was the best thing ever.
“I went to Nando’s and Wetherspoons a lot.
“I love Greggs – it’s so good.”
After returning from his trip in November, Eli immediately started applying for a visa.
He’s so far forked out $1,500 (£1,100) on paperwork but says his application has been stalled due to a backlog.
He said: “I’ve been obsessing over the move for three years now.
“I laugh at all the comments on TikTok telling me not to go.
“People’s opinions are their opinions.
“I don’t really respond and I’m not an influencer, but I get so many.
“I take everyone’s comments into consideration, but I think the people who are miserable in the UK take it for granted.
“There are parts of the UK that are beautiful.”
Eli could potentially end up living with a UK family who sent him British sweets for his birthday.
He said: “I did a TikTok series where it was my birthday.
“I said, ‘If anyone wants to send sweets for my birthday, I would love it’.
“I have a PO box and I got over 30 packages from the UK.
“One family wrote me a really nice note and offered to host me.”
But Eli has also thought of another way he could get to England.
He’s toyed with the idea of joining Love Island, joking he’d be the charming American in the villa.
Eli added: “It’s my grand scheme.
“It would be hilarious – and I could meet a nice UK girl.”
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