Originally Posted by Exile

That is a very good question. Only one way to really find out for most people, unfortunately.

In our case, we came over from Tokyo, where we'd been living for the last five years. We have three young kids and we lived in a 67 square meter flat. There were a few reasons why we chose to move to Perth rather than returning to the UK, including spacious, cheap real estate (not cheap anymore, by the way), and lack of time difference with Japan, as I work Tokyo business hours. I wanted to slow my life down a bit, but seem to have gone way too far. I feel like I'm living in a retirement village, but still being forced to work like a dog. Many of those around me seem to drift through life worrying about their outdoor furniture settings and how to get the latest top of the range Falcon or whatever the Holden version is.

I've had no work or financial worries as I was lucky enough to be able to bring my job with me. I'd lived away from the UK for a long time, so I figured homesickness would not be a problem. We now have all the space and comforts that come with day-to-day life in Perth. But on the whole I'm beginning to think that I was happier in Tokyo in our 67 square meters (versus around 300 here). Our lives had more depth there.

For many people, sunshine and beaches and relaxed lifestyle may not be enough to outweigh the less obvious negatives which tend to come with moving so far from familiarity, and which can only really be understood after the fact. There are many positives about living here, but I'm not sure if they are enough to justify staying in our case. Lucky to have the choice. The jury is still out after almost two years, but we're drifting toward giving the UK a try.

Also, I notice that a lot of people justify their move by saying they want a better life for their kids. I was probably the same to some extent, but if I'm really honest with myself I think I was seduced by the idea of a life of leisure near the ocean, lazing around drinking beer by the swimming pool. Self-deception is a very powerful thing.

The kids love it here (school is very undemanding, difficult things are avoided, and everything is fun), and so does my wife (she's Japanese and there is far less social pressure here). I was the driving force behind the move, and now I'm the one having serious doubts.

I'd advise most people to think very carefully about what is important to them. Unfortunately, I think for most people the only way to find out is to come and try it for themselves. Some love it, and some don't. For some it's an adventure. For some it's a disaster.

Very interesting post from MonkeyC.

Originally Posted by ABOD

Really interesting thread. I am about to return to the UK after 2.5 years in Oz. I have the same job here as I had in the UK, but my pay is half, my mortgage double.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

I've been using this site now for almost two years. When I first used it, I honestly thought that Aussie was the best country in the world, as the last time I had been to the UK was in 87, It was a terrible trip. The place looked rough, Our two kids at the time were really young, and were very demanding and unsettled. In short we couldn't wait to get back to Aussie. After two weeks we almost cut our trip short and wanted to come home. (back to Aussie that is)

In the past two years. I've had a trip back to the UK, it was fantastic. the place in my opinion had improved to such an extent that it was almost unrecognisable, People seemed brighter friendlier more affluent, and the UK in general seemed much cleaner well kept, infact a place to be very comfortable in.

The point of my post is this.. Having taken the above into consideration, I would suggest that all potential migrants, should take the view, that the Migration may come with a return ticket at some point down the track. IE: Nothing wrong with a nice long 20 year stint in Aussie, But it doesn't have to be totally permanent.

I'm of the opinion now, that more and more people will come to Aussie enjoy it, however a larger percentage will return having thoroughly enjoyed their time and experience here.

Originally Posted by BAY

Have to disagree. Without making it an Oz v Uk post.

I think it depends where you like in the UK. I live in South London and it has got much much worse in the last 2 years. Its not a nice place to live. :(

Originally Posted by monkeyc

Hi All,

Just browsing through some of the posts here..the level of desperation to get that visa takes me back to when we went through all this in '03/'04.

Is UK plc such a bad place? Nah it's just different - nowhere is perfect.

We have been in Perth for 2 years now..the first six months were great - beaches, sunshine, etc, etc all the stuff you imagine enjoying when you are at the point most folks in this group appear to be. When the novelty wears off (oh yes it will - this is not a holiday) at least one of you will likely start to miss stuff you currently take for granted. If you have family here that will obviously be a help, but there are a lot of late 30's/early 40's Brits here that have taken the plunge 10 years too late and find themselves with a very difficult path back.

Examples?

Take an experienced gas fitter or plumber that had all the right ticks on the TRA assessment then finds once here that he can't work in the trade without undergoing a 2 year apprenticeship. (some of them end up driving courier vans or similar to survive - nothing wrong with that but it's not what they came here for)

Electrician? Similar story.

Painter? That's also a registered profession here chum - don't think you can just buy a van and get going as a contractor.

Quality of life is a subjective thing - is it having a pool in the back garden and living near the beach? Or is it having a dinner party with the friends you have spent half a lifetime with, a night out on the town with the boys/girls now and again, being able to drop the kid's off at your mum's place at the drop of a hat - don't even think about what your first Christmas will feel like, I haven't met an expat here that actually enjoys Christmas here even after many years - some of you will certainly be begging for Jan 2nd to come around so that you can forget about it for another year!

Many will end up sitting on the end of the bed, head in hands thinking "what the hell have we done!" (I thought it was just me until I confessed this to other ex-pats here)

Of course you won't want to hear this sort of stuff when you have spent a small fortune with DIMIA - 2 years ago I didn't either. No matter how much research you think you have done it will not be enough - there will be things you did not count on.

If you have spent good money on this and are determined to give it a go here's one tip above all others

DONT SELL THE HOUSE UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO!

Refinance and/or rent it out if you can (remember UK interest is currently lower than AUS) - that's what an Aussie going to the UK would likely do! If you still love it here after the novelty wears off you could sell up a couple of years down the line - if you don't you would have your HOME to go back to (i.e. not just a house)

Australia is a beautiful place to spend time (I have visited various parts of WA, Sydney and Melbourne since emigrating) but remember most things you will gain will eventually be balanced against what you are leaving behind.

The scales may not tip the way you think!

Good Luck All!

John

Originally Posted by paka

like some one said , it an adventure, for some it will work , and for some it wont.But you are a long time dead. even if you do end up coming back, at least you will now, wot,s to lose, money, well you would have still spent it living here to . :scared:

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Australia isn't utopia. I can remember, many years ago, when I had been here about a year, a minister, he was Dutch, telling me that it would take 7 years for us to get back to the same standard of living we had in Scotland. How many years now? Who knows. What he didn't say was how long it would take to gain the same kind of personal relationships that we had. That I think is the make or break of staying and being happy here. It is so hard not to be able to say,"Remember when......" That's what most people miss. If you can cope with that you will eventually be able to say to your friends in Oz, "Remember when..."
Do I make any sense? I hope so.

Originally Posted by Hutch

It makes perfect sense mate. It doesn't take extensive reading of the 'Moving back' forum or indeed this part of the site to realise that the number one reason by a country mile, that people return to the UK, is missing friends and family. If you have *any* doubts about losing that support network then think very hard about emigrating.

Originally Posted by TraceyW

Hang on a minute.....your last sentence "any doubts about losing that support network"...I personally didn't rely on my parents or my friends for anything very much. Just their love.

When a simple hug, or a cuppa, or even being able to phone when you fancy a natter (instead of planning ahead 8 hours!) it's all a long way away now. What I miss is the closeness.