Originally Posted by hgardner

We are going to Oz in a couple of weeks for a month and one of the places we are visiting is Adelaide (my 3rd cousins live there), we are staying with them for a week, so I will be interested to see what it is like. I am sure I will like Oz, but I think I put alot of barriers in front, which does'nt help. My husband would be on that plane tomorrow given half the chance! So when I return from Oz, there will be lots of thinking!

Originally Posted by samladams

Hi,you are definately not alone in worrying if it is a good decision to make the family move to OZ but going on our experiences of staying for 3 months on the gold coast a couple of yrs ago we have not thought of anything but going down under.I have 4 kids (16,10,7 and 6 )the lifestyle is fab so much better than here in the uk,there is alot to think about but i'm sure if you make the move it will be the best thing you could do for your family.We are now in the early stages of getting a study visa for me to do hairdressing which is in ashmore,gold coast,and hope to go jan 2008 all going well,please write back as it will be nice to chat with someone in the same boat especially with kids.Try to go to the emigration show at sandown park on sunday march the 4th it's meant to have a lot of info.All the best.

Originally Posted by hgardner

Thanks for your reply. How do your kids feel moving to Oz? Obviously once we have been (we go in 3 weeks) I think "hopefully" we should get the feel of it. My OH has a friend who lives with his family at the Goldcoast and they love it - so I shall be asking him a lot of questions!!! No matter how much I read on this site "good and bad" I still feel very shakey on making that decision to get the visa's going. I am sure we will love it out there, but to live for a few years?? who knows?? Take care.

Originally Posted by samladams

Hi,our kids are really looking forward to it but the 10yr old is a bit worried about making friends which is only to be expected at that age but is excited,we have some friends that moved to adelaide last july, they have never been to oz so wasn't sure what to expect but they said they would never come back here now not now they have been there for only 7 months,their kids have settled in very well in school aswell and they took their dog too ??Hope you have a good time i'm sure you will,good luck.

Originally Posted by hgardner

We have a dog to, that was one of my other concerns - would he settle ok - I assume they do, they just have to get used to the heat.
I'm sure your 10 year old child will settle, you just have to give them time. I think it really helps if you have someone already out there to give you alot more confidence and help. I will let you know how my holiday in oz goes, we fly Thurs 15 March and back Fri 13 April.