Well I grew up in Australia and spent the last 14 years in the UK... my family are all there but even though its xmas I KNOW I am in the right place... been back for 6 months now and loving it... life isn't perfect but it isn't anywhere... I am enjoying myself as much as I miss my family, am much happier and feel more at home here than anywhere.

Most people on the board will tell you to stick it out because things will get better, but that's not guaranteed. It may never get better and you may end up deciding to leave. That's just the nature of things.

When I arrived I hated the place, but I wouldn't go back to the UK now, but not because I have come to love Aus. I wouldn't go back because its simply too damn hard to do and costs a bloody fortune. The longer you stay, the harder the decision to leave becomes.

I totally agree with everyone on here. We are all here because we love it to bits (Most of the time) yet I bet if you took a poll most of us would do anything to get back home to see family & friends over Christmas instead of being here. It just isn't the same, so don't try to make it the same, start new traditions, eat different foods and make it a good day for a different reason. Missing family & friends is the highest cost of being here & it's tenfold at this time of the year, couple this with the fact that you won't have any real friends yet, you probably still haven't climatised or got settled in your home yet it's no surprise and there would be something wrong if it didn't hurt right now. Hold on in there though, it does get better- a lot better. It is worth it and I'm sure it will all look a lot brigher for you after Chrismas.

As most people have said give it 2 years and then see. Been here just over 2yrs now and it only just starting to settle down.We have one daughter back in the uk so xmas is the worst time,for missing family. But hang in and hopefully all will come good.

good post

Been here 4 months now and it feels odd to be having Christmas in the summer, and not to have a big family meeting. Have kept some traditions like ham on Xmas eve- tho it tastes different- and decorating a tree, but with only the 3 of us we are doing some things we haven't done before like going to the beach on Xmas day, taking photos of us in silly hats and sending them to out rellies. I can't cook a turkey as the oven either cremates things or only warms the top inch, and sprouts are way too expensive to justify buying. If Christmas is too hard, don't try to make it seem the same as home- it isn't.

We'll have a Christmas when my dad and sister come out in Feb.

I am afraid to say it but it is really up to you now, you have to get out and about, join clubs, find/start a new hobby. There is lots to do in Australia, but you have to make the effort, even if it is painful at first. Effort is required. You might end up going home..... BUT at least you will look back at your time in Oz as the time when you tried new things, met that person, and that person, and had a few laughs along the way.

I disagree... do not go to the MBTUK forum, it is often full of unhappy, negative people (and I do feel for them) but you need people to give positive, constructive advice, not a forum where everyone has a whinge about OZ, or Canada or wherever... negativity feeds negativity./

couldnt agree more, I am having a real hard time at the moment having my Parents getting older, and other siblings moving on with with there lives, so to here them whinging on would only make it harder

Would be nice to see the starter of this thread post if they are still feeling this way

I couldnt agree more I have been here nearly 20 yrs in Sydney and the family thing never goes away

This is our 5th Christmas here and its the first I've truely enjoyed..I still miss the family but it didn't upset me talking to them on the phone this year (although I'm really lucky cos my Mum is here)

I agree with those that say to give it a few years and think of it as a working holiday and embrace all of the things you think you came here for...it works for some

Another in a mixed marriage here and stuck here. Christmas day for me was horrible - even though I was with the DH and his family I have never felt quite so alone and I have been here almost 30 years - it isnt getting easier, it is getting harder and harder as you chat with your aged rellies and wonder if this will be the last .....

Of course, the DH has his 92 year old mum with dementia and so he always wonders about her future Christmases as well.

We also have a son who has emigrated back home and at the moment he spends quite a bit of time with my aged rellies which is nice for them all as they dont miss their only child totally and have one of their two grandkids on tap as a replacement.

We stay here because the Aussie DH wont leave and as has been mentioned before it is really difficult financially once you reach a certain age - if you dont have deep pockets it would be a real economic nightmare to cope.

In answer to the OP though - put a time limit on it - 2 years is enough to get your gut feelings in order I reckon, then make a decision. There is nothing magic about living here, it is just another place to live your life in.

We have been in QLD for about 6 weeks now found xmas hard as we have no friends here yet went to the beach fo a barbie which was weird compared to what we would have done at home. Missing our family and friends a lot still shed a tear at times when i call home. Things are different here thats for sure ive been at work for the past 4 weeks now just waitin for my OH to find work then we should be sorted. If you are anywhere near Rockhampton let us know we might be able to meet up some time.Take care and dont make any rash decisions

Hi, yes you are right i should let you all know how i am now. I have been putting it off as i have been hoping that my opinion may change.
All of the posts are very nice and they did lift me a little, but only temporarily.
I just can't see myself here at all. I have a reasonable job with lovely people, my son is in a wonderful nursery, OH now has a good job, we have made some nice friends, we live right by the beach......but it just doesn't feel right. It's like i can live here but i just i don't want to stay, and with the children the age that they are i don't really know if i want to hang about. My eldest son is 4 and would be starting school in the UK in the last term this year, and i don't want him to be behind. Also my youngest son turns 2 in a month and it is weird to think that there will be no family around.

Christmas was fine, i spent it with some friends we have met here and it was really nice, it's not just that it is Christmas time, although i am sure that doesn't help, it is just how i feel about this place.
The thing is my family will never be able to visit me, my mum has a medical condition and the rest of the family just would never be able to afford to visit. OH's family will come at some stage and we could visit but probably only every 3yr or so.
I knew that we were moving 10,000miles away and yet it has only hit me now really just how far away it is. Sending xmas gifts has been really expensive on both sides, one lot of gifts went 'astray' in the post, It is difficult even to ring home because of the time difference. The other day we were even talking about a death fund! a fund for flights home should anything bad happen, and if it did would just one of us go or the whole family?? It's all just so complicated.
I was never really that close to my family in the UK and yet i REALLY miss them, just the thought that i won't see them for years is awful.

We are living in a fully furnished beach house with o aircon and it is killing me, the thing is we don't want to buy anything untill we are 100% sure that we are going to stay, so we can't really get set up.
OH says he will go home with me but i know he doesn't want to and i don't want to be responsible for him being unhappy....i just don't know what to do. Our lease is up in March so i think i will maybe wait until then to decide what to do next...