angelfish

Hi everyone, I am new onto the forum and I am thinking of applying for residency soon. I have been to oz 3 times now, and love it. One of the major factors putting me off applying is the fact that I am single and it seems like a huge step to take on my own.
I was wondering if many of you have come over here alone, or with partners/husbands. It seems that most of you are attached, and many people are still finding it hard to adjust to life in oz. Will this be even harder for me? Any personal experiences and advice would be appreciated.
thanks!!!

desperate2go

Hi angel

I am still in U.K. and am going without a partner. I will not be totally alone as i am taking my 7 year old daughter. I think as a single person you will probably be in a better position than someone with kids- Your time will be your own, free to do as you please(ie. plenty of socialising after work and stuff) Im sure you will be fine.
There are a few others on here going it alone. Its a huge move and imo will be difficult with or without a partner, both ways seem to have their pros and cons Keep positive- you have a long time to worry during the process Good luck.

Rachel

angelfish

Thanks for that,
Did you have the same reservations as me, and if yes, what made the decision for you?

desperate2go

I STILL have those reservations! ....I think in the end it was the thought that i could still be living where i am in 10 years and how that would make me feel, which really swung it for me. I really think its a better place for kids to grow up so that was also a factor.
I am going to give it a go, even if i have to return a year or two later.I dont think you can ever pre empt the loneliness or homesickness you may feel. That is just a guessing game cos you never know until its happening- unfortunately. But nothing ventured and all that.
Ill keep an eye out for your posts to see how your getting along. Good luck

Alex Hall

Hi Angelfish, I am going to oz on my own (my now ex-gf decided to not want to join the fun), am soon to be an ancient 32!!!

I think that whether you have family moving with you or not, the key thing is to get out there and mix with people, make friends and build a new social network. As you've been to Oz 3 times now hopefully you have some realistic expectations of what life is like over there, I think some of the reasons why people find it difficult in Oz are due to unrealistic expectations, viewing Oz as a warmer England (it's not, it is a different country with its own society, laws, people and culture), missing family/friends, missing fish and chips and english pubs!

I think that so long as you have a positive outlook, and join some clubs/groups when you are there you'll meet plenty of people (both Ozzies and other expats) who will help make the integration into Oz much easier and enjoyable. I personally believe that making new friends and socialising is the way to minimise the difficulties people face in moving, it can even help you find jobs which is another key point that has been raised as a struggle for some people.

good luck!

Alex

teach

Hi angelfish,
Well done you, go for it. You are already one step ahead of quite a few of us on here... you have been before. Andrew and I have never been to Australia but it is a dream we both had before we met each other. Luckily for us we still had that dream when we met. Hopefully we are not far from getting to our goal now. If it's what you really want, you must do it. Good luck with your application.
Sarah

vikk

Hi, It's really scary isn't it! I'm going on my own too & I'm constantly in a panic about being so far away from here & not knowing a soul over there, but that's pretty normal & healthy isn't it?? I mentioned on a past thread that I was waking at 3am in a total state of panic over it & loads of people said they did it too. I don't yet know if I have the mental reserve needed to do this on my own either but If I don't try I'll never know & I will spend the rest of my life wondering. I think it's swings & roundabouts- it will be easier for us in a way as we dont have children to settle into school or the worry of partners not finding work or being unable to settle but on the other hand there is going to be no-one to prop you up or give you emotional support when your going through a very difficult time of trying to settle. Good Luck with it. I hope it works out for you.

angelfish

Thanks everyone, that has made me feel a lot better. I think I need to just bite the bullet and go for it! Ill have plenty of time to get used to the idea I suppose while the application is going thru! I have good friends in oz too which I'm sure will help.
I think I shouldn't read the homesick threads!!
Thanks again, alison

angelfish

Hi Alex
Im Alison, Fi and Nicks friend who is staying with them for a few weeks. Thanks for the advice!!

brisnick

i came on my own. four years later i'm still here and loving it!

NickyC

I came on my own and didn't know a single soul in Sydney when I arrived.
It was the smartest move I ever made and I'm still here, twenty-five years later.

People are much more likely to approach you if you're alone (they don't feel like they're interrupting a cosy twosome) and I had no problems whatever meeting people. Everyone, without exception, was friendly, interested in where I'd come from and what I was doing.

It sounds like a brave thing to do - but in practice it's a piece of cake, honest!

vikk

I SO hope you are right. Thanks for the encouragement. I still think you are very very brave & that I must be either crazy or stupid. Time will tell! So fingers crossed till then. :scared: