Anne, I don't normally do cyberhugs but will send you one 'cos you are always nice to everyone.

suzy x

well said Anne - i can relate to much of what you say - jacs x

bloody hell

My remedy for homesickness is to go home on a holiday. Seriously, we went home less than 12 months of us being here and it was the best thing ever. We had a fantastic time, still very fresh in my head ( we were home in may/June) and it didn't seem so emotional since we had only left home the previous august. We were missing the usual, family, friends, your local, (I'm Irish what can I say, our local is up there with family and friends), but when we got home the things we were missing so much, were not such a big deal after all. My point being, that I feel if we waited longer than this to go home we would have built up all the things we were missing. We had agreed to go home within our first year and therefore had budgeted for it, and I would love to go home at Christmas or even next year but I know that will not be financially feasible. If we had qualified for the world cup my husband would have miraculously found the money to go home but lets not go there. I hope you feel better soon, it doesn't last forever, but it does take some time to re-adjust, I think we forget sometimes what a massive move we have all undertaken, we have up rooted our lives, from everything that is familiar and trekked to another continent as well as the other side of the world. And while we have all done it with the best intentions, that doesn't mean that it isn't be tough at times. Thankfully I haven't experienced too much homesickness, mind you I did cry my eyes out on Christmas eve and new years when all my family rang me, ( and my sister thought it was a good idea to play Mary Black down the phone) but thats to be expected.
Personally, I love it here and thankfully all has gone really well so far, we have bought our own home and I am about to open my own business, ( I am a beauty therapist), all in 14 months of being here. But I do hope you feel better soon, and I must say, while I don't post threads often, I do log on regularly, and reading everyone else's posts can really help make you feel better if you are having a down day.Take Care. PS didnt mean for this post to be so long..... Deirdre

There was a chap on our local radio today saying that teachers have enough "power" to disipline children and bringing back the cane is a bad thing that encourages this kind of behaviour in children, what planet are people like this on, that poor child. Andy

p.s. sorry to hijack your thread Tigerfeet, wishing you all the best.

Sending you some positive vibes . Sorry you're feeling so bad. Do you have company through the day, or are you at home on your own? That will be me in a couple of months when we come to Perth I'm sure . I'm coming over for a week or 2 in November if you want to meet up for a coffee and some company?

I hope you get through this and soon be the one who can give advice to others (ie. me) when they get homesick too.

It's hard to pick yourself up when you get so low, but we're "rooting" for you. My brother told me when he emigrated to the States that when he was homesick he found that if he kept busy it distracted him from it. But then he is a man .

TJ

Oh Anne...

this is so sad.....

thankyou for your support,
TF

I hope migrating goes well for you ......your great relationship with your family is a very tough thing to leave behind....it can not be replaced.......in fact I "personally" could not imagine there is anything more valuable on the planet than that.........well thats besides the point and you must do what your heart and what your gut feels is right or you will never know......life is just a journey anyway.......don't ever let anyone steal your dream....good luck

I cant imagine what being homesick is like and no doubt I will find out if/when its my turn.

All I can say is to make the most of your surroundings and your family and when you are finally settled and sipping a cold beer and you see your family content, then you know you have done it, given your family a successful new life.

A job well done.

I felt homesick for England when I was 8 and we moved to Australia. Then over the years, I got over it but pictured England as this magical place. I came back twice on holiday (21 and 23) and then moved back to England in 1999 aged 24. I now wish I'd stayed in Perth. I think alot of it is, missing my close family (my family here, are down in Bristol & living in Australia so long, kinda distanced us from them somewhat). Anyway, I like England alot, and I am proud to be English but I miss Australia and I am equally proud to be an Australian citizen. So it is a catch22 position with me.

I am stuck here at present due to a loan and credit cards. But I want to move back next year and hope we can afford to apply for a visa for my partner by then.

Have I worn Rose Tinted glasses when remembering Australia???? hell YES! Going back on holiday will be vastly different to living there and within 6 months I will probably be whinging! But the grass will always be greener on the other side!

Maybe you should try meeting up with other ex-pats - because that way you are all in the same boat.

Goodluck

Susan

Just wanted to say thank you so much for all the support I have recieved and its comforting to know Im not the only one to feel this way.

Also thankyou to the many pms I recieved, had quite a few and I will reply to them all soon.

This week I have busied myself applying for jobs, (only admin/office) and I feel a bit more positive, hopefully hear something soon.

Thank you again, bless you all,

TigerFeet

Sorry to hear that you are suffering TF.

Things always seem worse this time of year. As soon as the weather improves it will get much better.

I know how you feel about your Mum! I thought that I could cope without the nagging she did.... would do anything to listen to her harping on over a game of pool now in a village pub whilst we check out the eligible men for her

I hope that you soon find a close friend to you as this can make things a lot easier. In the mean time we are more than happy to lend you a cyber shoulder to lean on when you need.

Hi woodyinoz and thanks for your support.

Just as I was reading your post my Mum has just text me! The message was to see if I am ok and send her love.

Thanks for your cyber shoulder too. I have days when I feel really good and positive and then days when I really do just want to go back to UK.
Im feeling good today though, I feel positive about the jobs Ive applied for. Hope Im successful. (Fingers xed!)

TF

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you find a nice job with lovely people who will treat you well and turn into good mates.

Hi Tigerfeet.

What can I say apart from "I understand". Everything you say you feel...I have felt at one level or another.

Go into the Moving Back site, check out a post I did called "Does it ever stop aching". That was me at 5 months in.

It's now 15 months in. I've dealt with homesickness to such violent extremes I thought about packing our bags on a daily basis. I've endured the death of my Dad, and the guilt ridden burden I carry of leaving my widowed Mum alone in the UK.

One thing stands above everything else: WE ARE STILL HERE!! The feelings get easier to cope with day by day. It's like grief in a way, they never go completely, you learn to adapt and live with them. Your feelings will hopefully become more bearable with time, I hope they do.

Don't give yourself a hard time over it, you've been through so much emotion just to get here, now you have to deal with the stress of re-building your life. Not an easy task. It is an incredibly hard things you have done and I'm sure, just like all of us here, you didn't expect it to be easy in any way, shape or form. It's just that none of us can ever understand just how hard it is until you actually do it!

Good luck to you. I hope it works out for you and you start to feel better soon.