I know how you feel, Tamara but it's hard to describe isn't it?

Homesickness can consume you if you let it, I have sent you a pm

xx

Hi Tamara

It took me about 5 years to feel like I belonged here, been here 7 years now and back to the UK for a working holiday in March 2004 with hubby & cat. I think the only thing I will miss is the weather, though we are not big beach people and like the cold weather more. Yes, I cry every Christmas for a cold one.

I don't care what anyone says, there is a huge culture gap between our two countries. It is bloody hard, some people take to it like a duck to water, others not so easy. The jury is out for me. Don't get me wrong I have dear friends here both Aussies & from overseas and have had many happy times here but want to go back for a while to spend quality time with my family.

We used to have an Expat Club on the NSW Central Coast but didn't last long, as suggested place an ad on this forum to meet expats.

Now and again Coles have English stuff, not as much as they used too. They used to stock Tesco's.

Sweet Solutions's at Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast do heaps of UK goodies - sweets, crisps, fizzy pop, etc. Come and check them out but do bring your credit card. We buy up pickled onion Monster Munch, walnut whips and dandelion & burdock! Check out http://www.sweetsolutions.com.au.

Good luck with it all and I hope it gets better for you soon.

Dear Tamira and Mike,

No we don't. Sorry.

Bruce

chaps,

We're 20 minutes up the road from you - had the same sort of story really, only it was more on the wife's side.

a few things I can say:

If it's family you miss I'm afraid you'll have to work through that yourself. Not much anyone can do for you.

Friends - You can't replace your lifelong friends, but you can add to them in time

the culture difference is bigger than you might first imagine, but you need to get involved in something to give structure to your life, some sort of sport or social activity (in my case I'll confess it's watching sport in pubs).

when people say "think of all the grotty stuff you left behind" I find that of no help whatsoever. A sunny day does not a happy life make I'm afraid (I'll admit good climate is a plus).

as for foodie stuff give this one a throw

www.treatsfromhome.com.au

I believe they are open in Pitt St now.

On a practical level I'm familiar with your area and Syd, so post me a PM if there's anything we can help with - advice/tips/how to cultivate unhealthy drinking habits/where to watch Spurs lose again/why nobody likes the Bulldogs. All trivial stuff, but in its own way vital.

Hope this doesn't sound like 'Homesick? Tough.' It's meant to sound like 'Homesick? Tough it out.'

It's natural for many people to feel homesick a bit at first but there is IMO a very direct relationship between the EXTENT of homesickness and the ATTITUDE with which you get ENGAGED in your new life.

By that, I mean the above advice to throw yourself into activities and meet lots of people, make new friends etc is excellent advice.

Also, make sure you have the cheapest possible options for phoning back home (ie the cheap phone cards etc) as having a good old natter with your mum etc for a couple of hours and it only costing ten dollars cures a lot of the homesick feeling. Don't let the cost put you off, it's dead cheap these days if you shop around.

Some of us have it easier than others. Try to make it easy on yourself. Eg having a job inevitably means you will be socially interacting with others all day. Having your family out there helps because you naturally have an immediate important social sphere. Having kids in kindergarten means you will meet other parents the samish age.

But you can also help yourself by finding things to do, not just the usual clubs, courses etc but a project that will give you a sense of satisfaction such as decorating (or organising someone else to do it if you're lazy like me), a gardening project, a fitness regime etc etc.

Getting out of bed with a definite plan to each day is a big positive. Getting gently pissed in the evenings with your partner or mates is a big unwinder once in a while. Talking about your homesick feelings with your partner and/ or mates is essential.

I lived in a lot of parts of the world and can say that IME homesickness fades away quite quickly and I'd be very surprised if a year into your new life you were still desperately sad due to homesickness.

Good luck.

Five months is still early in the settling in stage and I think one of the most difficult stages, just past the initial settling in and just before building on a new life. Being Christmas also reminds you of family and the strangeness of a a Southern hemisphere Christmas relative to Northern. I have been here one year now and find it a lot easier. Perserverance will pay off in time, emigration is full of ups and downs, you are probably at one of the worst downs, things will gradually improve. Funny how some of the pre expats (just pats?) mention things like the cold weather, busy trafiic and packed shops to remind you why you have gone - I imagine this familiarity is precisley the stuff you are missing!