Why did you leave in the first place?

I didn't....my husband did though. He moved to Atlanta to be with me (the token American here).

Where did you go to and why did you pick that place?

My husband moved to Atlanta.....because that's where I was.

Why did you return?

My husband was absolutely miserable living in the States.

Are you truly happy back in the UK or are you too stubborn to admit you were wrong moving back?

He is....and so am I.......however......we are seriously consider moving from SE Wales to SW England in the next year or so if we can find the perfect place. We want to be on the coast.

Token? You outnumber us on here

LemOnice, I think you absolutely must get your US citizenship. It'd be nuts not to.

It's a great idea to spend a couple of months each year in the UK. It'll give you a fix and help you sort out whether you want to be back here or not. It'll also help your husband sort out his mind on it, but it sounds to me as if he'd not be comfortable with a permanent move. You didn't mention your family. Are they a factor?

Bev

Why did you leave in the first place?
- good question, probably boredom and what we perceived to be broken Britain at that time- crime, traffic, overcrowding etc.

Where did you go to and why did you pick that place?
- initially Okotoks (just south of Calgary) as we'd been skiing in the area a few times, liked the people and wide open spaces. After 10 months ping-ponged back to the UK (homesickness) and then back to Okotoks for another few years before moving to Maple Ridge in BC (near Vancouver)

Why did you return?
- missed the English way of life, the English people, countryside, culture, humour- the list is endless. One day in Canada it dawned that we never felt at home, always felt like something was missing and always felt like we were aliens.

Are you truly happy back in the UK or are you too stubborn to admit you were wrong moving back?
- couldn't be more happy (just waiting for the lottery win). Got a good job, bought a nice house and too be honest hardly think about our old life in Canada. Biggest realisation for us was that we just needed to move to a different part of the UK six years ago rather than another country. However on the plus side having lived abroad, we're not in the position of thinking "what if?" so it was, in one way, a valuable experience.

I'll second that. Number of times I've said to myself, "If only ..."

Hummmm,

i have ping ponged a bit. Thank you for posting this, when i read others answers and then really thought about mine, it gave me a little more clarity.

I was born in the uk, raised in Canada, lived in UK as an married adult with kids, then came back to Canada 4 years ago.

I am thinking of going back to the UK, although to be honest i think my mind is already there. We left the UK when our marriage was at it's lowest, i pushed to go back to Canada to be close to my "safety net" family. We have recovered our marriage and we have grown in ways that i never could have imagined. It took alot of commitment and hard work. In hindsight it was wrong to move because of my emotions, although i think it saved our marriage. My hubby gave up a fantastic job with the NHS. (ooo the guilt lol) But he never complains. Upon coming back to Canada he got a similar job with the same pay.

Now.... in our village in the UK. A small village. There is a state of the art technological purpose built building for a company that houses the ministry of defenses data. Just opened this week. And it has 2 jobs going that are him to a T. And one of his best mates over there already works there. So i suggested he apply - he does not want to. The thought of another international move, our 3 kids moving again - it nearly cripples him in thinking about it. Of course we would not move if there was no job to go back to.

I think we will be happy there, but is that enough? what will the kids feel? If it was just me and him, it is different. But in the end it is 5 people that need to answer that question.

Could we handle a possible mistake? Gosh it all scares the crap out of me.

Reeni

Mmmmh, why would you go twice to Glasgow, if you though already the first time that it was a mistake?

I remember so well how happy you were when you came back to the uk..all the walking with the dog in the country site and such...

Glasgow wasn't the mistake so much as the job, and the whole moving back to the UK thing ... pretty long story, but it boils down to a problem I perceive in the hiring process in higher education in the UK (may be the same in other jobs), especially compared to the thorough process in the States. There's a lightning fast interview process here, almost no time to ask questions, etc. (I can fill in the details, but don't want to bore people). When I started the job 6 months after interview I found out very quickly that things were much different than I was told at interview (essentially they held back information at interview that had I known it, I wouldn't have taken the position).

Higher education in the UK has become a difficult place to work (some of the changes are similar to changes that teaching has gone through over the last 20 years, but seems to have hit higher ed more recently). Ridiculous level of bureaucracy, lack of academic freedom, etc. (again, glad to fill in the blanks but don't want to bore people).

Job came up here in 2007 and bugger me if a similar thing didn't happen.

Put another way, me coming back here after thinking it was a mistake first time is not too dissimilar to people returning to the same town in the UK that they left because they couldn't stand it - look at the number of people who did that and then remembered what it was they didn't like. I've had a few of those duh moments over the past 4 years, still trying to escape but making the most of it while I'm here. These days I question whether I can trust my own judgement, but I do know that I now can't stand working in a profession that prior to coming back here I used to love.

Still enjoy walking the dog here, though she's 13 now and doesn't race around nearly as well as she used to - but she has fun sniffing for messages (or as I call it, reading her pee-mail).

I think that most of us just try to better ourselves, get ahead, aim to be happy and productive people and expect to be treated with the same dignity, respect and decency that we show to others. One would expect - all things being equal - that this would be reciprocated and when it isn't, its puzzling and disorienting somehow.

It appears to be a modern feature of education worldwide at the moment that its perfectly acceptable to 'spin', the realities in order to get what they want: good people at bargain prices plus value added and another few 'extras', just to keep you very, very busy of course! Oh yes...and don't forget the contract factor. Many are on one, two or three year contracts these days. Helps to keep people keen so I'm told...

Anyway, forgive the rant!

We all do the best that we can with the information we're given and if we learn that our trust in that has been mis-placed...well its a learning curve. One of the reasons we're in the Middle East is to stash away as much as we can financially so that we can go home, not have to find education jobs and just maybe have enough left to start a small business or at least, go part-time working.

Its sort of short term pain for long term gain really...though I sometimes wonder if its worth it! Anyway, I'd strongly consider a look at the ME, if only to give yourself other options. A fair few of the universities are affiliated to American ones so it could be a way for you to get back to the US. In fact, it could be a really smart way of getting back to the US as you'd have access to all those internal appointments.

Hi Excuse me, can I ask... I am serious,,, HOw bad is it now? I returned from the UK (Scotland) about 5 years ago.... ok.. to cut a long story short, would it be a REALLY BAD idea if I do my ph.D (Economics I think) in England? Seriously I was advised MANY TIMES to "GO TO THE U.S.A NOT UK!!!! cos THE UK IS A DUMP NOW- you can't expect to receive a quality (higher) education (Noooooooooooooo more)!!!

Please tell me more if you don't mind. never bore me

honestly I don't want to go to the USA to study. NO, actually I never want to go there to live for a long term... My uncle did his phD in Arizona, and Masters in UCB... lived there for just 6.5 years...very quick .. but I know all the bloody stories about living in the USA!!!! its not my cup of tea!) but don't want to do my phD here... (NZ). its just not worth it.

what I am gonna do?

Well, to start off, I'd certainly say the UK is not a dump. I'm personally not especially happy with it, but it has a lot of positives. Currently, we seem to be hurting from the recession more than other countries (or maybe we are just making a more realistic attempt to cut down on public spending than other countries ... only time will tell). My department has gone down from a dozen academics to less than half that number (redundancies, early retirement without replacement), two of the remaining staff are going on 12 months maternity leave and only being replaced by one temporary member of staff.

Next thing I'd say is that postgrad education (especially PhD) is a very different kettle of fish in terms of pros/cons, UK/US than an undergraduate degree. Because by definition a PhD is a much more self-directed programme of study (but see commennts below re: US system), the quality of your experience is dictated largely by the student rather than by the university. Also, I think there are HUGE differences in PhD experiences between universities, even within universities, even within departments, in the UK. I currently supervise two PhD students and can honestly say I think they are getting a fantastic experience and learning a lot (I think they'd both say they are having fun, too). However, I also know there are PhD students who drift along for months without seeing their supervisor and it only ends in tears at their first year review, second year review, or heaven forbid, their viva. So, if you decide to study in the UK, I'd say do a lot of research on the department, and especially the supervisor (definitely talk to his/her current or former students).

I'd summarise the UK system as being much more research-focused (the PhD thesis/dissertation IS the PhD), requiring much more independence from the student, and having much more potential for students slipping through the cracks or graduating with substantial gaps in their knowledge (ironically, especially in areas of their research knowledge).

The US has a much more substantial taught component. I took 6 years to get my MSc and PhD, which consisted of about 4 years of full-time coursework (i.e., attending classes, taking exams, writing assignments, etc.). The independent research bit comes at the end. I conducted my PhD dissertation in just 12 months - but I'd say it was substantively about the same amount of work I have seen in several PhD theses here in the UK. The advantage of the US system is that you know how well you are doing all the time (constant feedback), you are forced to develop a broad knowledge in the underlying content area and different research methodologies, but if you are smart and independent, there is plenty of room for flexibility (classes like independent study, special project, research seminar, etc.).

Between the two, I prefer the US system but that's just my bias. With the right supervisor, a UK PhD can be fine - but if you intend to go into academia afterwards, be careful not to spend 3 years learning everything there is to know about one narrow area of study - you'll be teaching the whole area of knowledge when you get a job, so you need to be familar with more than just your thesis/dissertation topic.

Send me a PM if you have any questions, but don't expect a quick response as I am buried under a stack of undergraduate assignments! (this is my lunch/Web break).

aaaawww.....I appreciate you taking the time, though, to think about everything I say and formulate an intelligent response. THANKS LOADS! VERY HELPFUL AND VERY THOUGHTFUL of YOU... THANKs for your precious time. yeah, I already do know (quite a bit) what you've said.

a guy at work (a British scientist/his wife holds a ph.d in Physics from Otago, NZ) told me just recently..if you want go for an academic career then...go the the USA. Otherwise the UK is all right. he also said/emphasized how rubbish .. ph.D from NZ...blah blah... I'd better stop here... ,,, don't want to bore people.

Well certainly I am not going for an academic career.. (am planning to do some teaching undergra students though.. just as a tutor - Econometrics) but need higher qualification for my current job. think I prefer research based thesis.

thanks for your kindness. will pm you if I need it - maybe in the future. have a nice lunch break.

Why did you leave in the first place?
To join my family who had emigrated three years prior to RSA.

Where did you go to and why did you pick that place?
My parent's emigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa in my last year of college. I stayed and completed my last year of study and went to London to seek my fortune. My family did not support that descision and made it quite difficult for me to remain in England. I went to visit my parents, met a Rhodesian man and fell in love - got married - had children - SA became completely full of nonsense and have been wanting to move for the past 13 years......

Why did you return?
I have not returned yet, well only for holidays. I am planning the return trip for 2012.
I am apprehensive if I am doing the right thing for my family - how will my husband fair? Will my kids adapt to the indoor lifestyle - don't know - not sure..... Am I going to still hate the weather? Will my kids become right yobs like the media portrays most of the British youth to be of late? Will I be able to find Biltong, Mrs. Balls Chutney and how many times can you braai in the rain with out despairing? Will I still support the Bokke?

Are you truly happy back in the UK or are you too stubborn to admit you were wrong moving back?
My husband has been stubborn up until a few years ago at how dire SA has become. SA is a most beautiful, diverse and amazing place to be. I love it like my homeland. However the BS that goes with being white in a black land has become all too real and the prospects for my children - 3 boys & 2 girls seem bleak to say the least. I once had a wonderful dream that my children would grow up not seeing colour, race or creed. Sadly it is all too apparent here and their colour is against them.

We are originally from Yorkshire, moved to Norfolk with work and then for some reason shipped ourselves and our two adult daughters to NZ (my wife's family raved at how great it was (it is for a holiday), they are all here now - but we moved away after 4 years from New Plymouth to Wellington hoping things would improve - they haven't!
We have been ripped off by real estate agents and builders, have no friends and am totally homesick, miss the pub, a decent chinese takeaway and curry.
My eldest is returning to the uk in October - at least she got 2 degrees whilst living here - still can't get a decent job though.
My youngest can't get a job - even voluntarily (if you don't have skills or a friend already in a company forget about getting a job).
So we are planning our return - hopefully mid 2011 - if we can scrape enough cash together. So left the UK in 2003 with 45k will return in 2011 with 30k (will keep buying lottery tickets in the meantime) - another lesson learnt!

sat here with babe in arms so please forgive the typing....

why leave - round the world trip after crappy split from bf and crappy job

where to - van island, canada to see friend. didn't complete world trip, got married and had two babies instead!

why go back - mmmmm, dad died so mum alone, miss friends terribly, miss brit humour and warmth, miss the 'pop in' culture, drink after work, don't feel at home here, after 7 years i have 'acquaintance' canadian friends, 2 close brit friends, mother in law has mental health problems so she's scary, sister in law is/was just horrid, best friend in uk had a baby a week before me, work for teachers is hopeless in bc due to seniority crap, falling numbers...

going back soon. house is sold......