Thanks for the reply (and sorry it's taken so long to get back to you)!
That's the problem though, my Gf lives in a fairly substantial city, and I've heard all the trouble that goes on there. If we could move to somewhere smaller, then that would be good, probably.
The American's I've met over here have all been lovely. Very open and honest.
Even, shockingly honest sometimes!
Anyway, it's a bit of a moot point anyway as it doesn't look like I'll be there any time soon, (possibly never..not even to visit unfortunately). I just want to be with her, don't care where it is, and unfortunately, (again) due to her younger children) she can't move away from the US because of the fathers access rights.

I had the pleasure to live in Yanbu Al-Sinayah for 10 years. Jeddah was the closest large city, only a 4 hour drive away or less than an hour's flight so we enjoyed many trips there. I have to say that I loved living there and really miss it.
As far as what I love about the States, besides being a native Californian: things are cheaper and more accessible, mostly due to no VAT; I love our National and State parks, the variety of wildlife and nature; I love the diversity even among the people and I love our history and how we came to be us.
To add what I don't love about the States - the lack of public transport, for one. How our education system, social services (and now our medical care) are so full of red tape. It hurts when polls are taken and Americans still don't know that Africa is a continent and not a country. I don't like the 2 week vacations vrs what other countries give or that traveling in the USA is so expensive.
What I have found is that the world is a wonderful place with so much to offer. I am glad to be an American, but the rest of the world also has so very much to offer and I am so glad to have the opportunity to discover that as well.

I'm far too new to this place to know for sure, but the fact I can walk to the taqueria on the corner and have the best burrito I've ever eaten for about 9 bucks is pretty high up the list of things I love about America.

Well that and super fast cheap Internet.

We are about to move to the States, and the things I am most looking forward to are :-

weather - guaranteed hot summers
better paid job
better standard of living - esp for our young family

although I like the sound of those burritos too

Wow, Internet must be really expensive in New Zealand, because compared to the rest of the world the US is expensive. I paid half the price in France for 3 times the speed, and pay about half the price here in Singapore too, although the speed kinda sucks. Internet seems faster in the US though, since most of the content I am interested in is hosted there.

I definitely agree with you about the burrito though!

Yeah it's very expensive, bundled with my landline I was paying around $100 a month for ADSL 2+ 10mbit down .5mbit up with a data limit of 100 gigabytes per month.

If you DL more than 100 gig then your speed goes down to dial up modem speeds till the month is over

Of that 10 megabit I'd be lucky to get 2 megabit (or 250Kps-ish) during peak times.

Compared to $39 for 40mbit down 10mbit up with no formal datacap and basic cable thrown in for laughs? Yeah, I ain't complaining.