just coming for the experience???
 

dear all

we are older with two young children and have this desire to work abroad... we almost went to Singapore a few years ago but circumstances were wrong..

we still want to work abroad and I have just handed my notice in as work life balance has become ridiculous......so now seems a good time to follow our dream... we liked the idea of different not better as our life here is good (well until we loose my wage at end of school hols!!!)

BUT we dont intend it to be a forever but hey who knows.. we will have to come on a sponsored visa due to husbands age and rent our home..I teach and husband is a civil engineer so should both be able to work on return to uk...we dont know anyone out there I have been on a long holiday only...

my parents have already said they want nothing to do with us as we are selfish and irresponsible and they cant bear missing the grandchildren... but the rest of the family supports us..

will this experience satisfy that desire??? will it be a disaster on a 457??? has anyone else gone out there with a similar dream and how did it work out??? will the grandparents come round???

we have a job offer so could be there in 3 months!!!!!!! time to make a big decision...:)

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Presumably you are both adults, over the age of 18 & ready & willing to support your own children???

Let the parents get on with it - they will be mad for a while, but time is a great healer & not many grandparents actually carry on the vendetta against the children (though I'm aware some might) It'll usually blow over after the initial shock has worn off, if not, at least you won't be around whilst they seethe & plot their evil revenge :thumbup:

Time to start living, hey :) Best of luck!!!

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Don't your parents have some small hobby that amuses? An interest? I have a whole list of things to do that will occupy me in the event that a bunch of small and noisy grandchildren do not visit quite so much. They can still send presents at Christmas and birthdays.

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Go for it. What is there to lose?

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Nah ggo for it, we did exactly the same, we even have the same professions and number of kids....we don't regret our 'for the experience' ....just choose where you will be based carefully!!!!!!!!

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Nothing should ever be planned to be forever. Grab what life offers, and see where it goes :thumbup:

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Indeed, forever doesn't exist ... and life will soon change whatever plans are carefully made in any case.

Come for the experience, come to love it, come to hate it and bitch about it on BE, come one, come all, come as you are, come fly with me, come up and see me, come dancing (my sister always did).

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

But never, ever, come to BE and say how great it is..... that gets jumped on pretty quick :rofl:

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Indeed ... and if it's so great then what are doing posting on BE? Surely every waking blissful moment should be spent enjoying the Outdoors Laidback Lifestyle (tm)?

Unless you have some crazy notion of it being a bit like life everywhere else but has some characteristics that you quite like and, on the whole, given the places you seen and heard about, it's not such a bad place.

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Thanx for all the positive advice I do agree it sometimes feel all negative here do people have successful 457 s????
Why does it depend where we live planning on brisbane/ gold coast depending on scheme OH is working on

we do feel we should grab opportunity... The financial commitment if it all goes wrong sounds scary though!!!!

Plantpot have your kids enjoyed it? have you taught out there???

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Hi there

I'd go for it especially if you have a job to come two and you'd be okay to be employed when you get back to the UK - what is there to loose?

Your parents will come round, mine were pretty upset at first, couldn't even mention the A word! Anyway, we've been here over 3 years now, we talk with video Skype each week and they've now accepted it, even to the point where they said we don't expect you to come back each year, if you do it's lovely but we appreciate now that you might not be able to. We have been lucky in that we have gone back each year so far as we have had some work to do which funds the trip but that might be running out soon.

If you do come out get your folks set up on Skype (buy them a laptop if you have to) as it really does make so much difference!

Good luck

KK

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Some parts of Australia very different to others. You need to try to pick a location that will be most suitable for you. But if the location is determined by the job, then your choice is more limited to that area. Which could be excellent if Brisbane Gold Coast suits you, but not so good if you prefer colder climates ;)

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

We have no children but went through the emotional blackmail crap (from my family, his were more reserved) when we first said we were going off for an adventure. That was to Singapore too, BTW - we ended up staying 6 years :)

Now we've been in Australia just over two and, despite having just bought property, view it as "maybe forever, maybe not". There's a lot more world out there.

We went to Singapore on the equivalent of a 457 (an EP, sure you looked into those) and then got PR. We came here on a 457, although a pretty secure situation - well, as secure as anything can be - and have now got PR. We'll probably go for the passports and then see how.

Do it, or you'll always wonder...just don't burn your bridges with the folks (they'll come round, especially if they don't think it's a permanent move), maybe rent the house out (I did that for a year), and put financial plans in place to keep you for a few months, should it all go belly up.

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Plenty of people succeed with a 457 visa. Many go on to get PR and others are quite happy to go home at the end of the agreed stint. Unfortunately there are also times when somebody loses their job and has to leave even if they don't want to.

Re: just coming for the experience???
 

Nothing is ever forever! Life has a way of making sure of it sometimes!

As Seasider said just say to the folks that OH has got a two year contract and you're giving it a go. My folks keep thinking its permanent but we say well it is for the moment but we might feel different in 5, 10 years - who knows.

I've had friends go off and live in the Caymans and the States for 4 year contracts, had a whale of a time and came back having totally enjoyed the experience.

Maybe don't sell your house so you've got that to go back for just in case as the OP said, if you have to go home if you loose your 457 then at least you have a roof over your head in the UK.

Just tell the folks it will be a long holiday!