Millhouse

Apparently it has changed a lot in the UK these days and it's quite dull there now too.

jam25mack

Hadn't heard that but 'UK dull' must be a million times less dull than being a student in the ME.

Millhouse

Well true!

mission

i think you'd be quite surprised......i remember when i sold my Golf R to a local kid who was at uni. I had to meet him several times coz his mum was paying for the car. During one of those meetings i asked if he drank and he said no but was very forth coming by saying that him and his mates did weed (along with their gf's) and that it was fairly common amongst the 'younger' generation. He also mentioned that although they don't frequent bars and clubs, they have loads of 'underground' parties...where both booze and weed was widely consumed.

jam25mack

I'm not saying its all early nights and bible / Quran studies.... as I know a few folk who went to Uni here...... but the risk of a lengthy prison sentence if caught 'misbehaving' must curtail a certain amount of student based high jinx.

mission

yep, fair point.

TheShed

To put it simply, he felt like a foreigner. He virtually never lived in the UK (only aged 0-3years) so didn't know anyone, didn't like the climate, and kind of hated the lazy, sit in front of the TV or a bar culture. He has always been a big sportsman and lives a pretty outdoors beach kind of life.

I talk to him regularly and he shows no desire whatsoever to ever return to blighty. Its a shame as thats his heritage, but its his choice.

Millhouse

I lasted 28 years in the country, the last 14 of which I had decided to leave and was just making the necessary plans to do so.

"didn't like the climate, and kind of hated the lazy, sit in front of the TV or a bar culture" - this basically summarizing it for me.

Bahtatboy

Not according to all 3 Bahtatsprogs. Mind you, they all went to Newcastle Uni...

Bahtatboy

I lasted 24 years first time (ie 0-24), but was partly thrust abroad by the company I worked for going bust and drawn abroad by the outrageous salaries available in Saudi at the time (mid 80's), and then 10 years the second time (mid 30's to mid 40's -- my age, not the date), because of the utterly depressing way mid-caps do business: maverick CEO's, maniacal MDs, sheepish mid-management (was completely puzzled why nearly all my colleagues were wearing virtually-identical short, dark grey coats, only to learn that that's what Mourinho was wearing at the time), and generally people’s attitudes as grey and sullen as the weather. Paying tax didn’t help.

ReesanDemha

Quick update - given the poor choice of Uni and courses for UK expats in Qatar, we decided its back to the uk for the family so eldest son can study his A Levels there- also residency rules for student finance means no student loan if you haven't been resident in uk for 3 years atleast prior to applying. I think all round its the best place for them until they finish education and qualify in something - atleast they will have experienced life in Q and broadened their horizons !

DXBtoDOH

Are you sure?

Millhouse

Maybe they met you at some point?

DXBtoDOH

I don't get along with children. They scare me and I presume I scare them too. Every time I'm forced to be in close encounter with a kid we each look at each other coldly, eyes quickly scanning each other for what we can possibly do for the other, and then the conclusion is absolutely nothing so we just end up standing in awkward silence.

Millhouse

I suspect that's also the case with adults.