Spoke to my parents over christmas and my dad's really cut up about me being out here. My best mate in the UK has just split with her long term partner and one of our close friends mums has just died of cancer. I JUST FEEL SO FAR AWAY HERE (which we are) AND I MISS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND PETS LIKE MAD. Maybe tomorrow will bring some better news - i hear it's gonna be sunny in Melb I could really do with a reminder of the good things about Australia if anyone wants to volunteer!...

Hi So sorry to hear that your feeling this way

Im not in Oz so can't really say much about the good things there ,other than at some point you must have thought that they outweighed the life that you had in the UK, its just that its difficult to think of the good things when your feeling low.


You don't have to be close (in terms of distance) to support your friends, some of my closest friends are in different parts of the UK/world, obviously being closer would help, but it just means you might have to be a little more creative in the way you go about it.
Does your dad have internet access? does he have a webcam? is there any way he could come out and visit you at some point?


At this time of year especially, thoughts will turn to family and friends both absent and close, its an emotional time of year and with so much happening back home your bound to be feeling sad that you cannot be there with your loved ones. Sending you *hugs*

Hello Chuck

After an extremely difficult first 9 months in Oz, I might be able to give you some encouragement. For some the missing finally goes, you begin to appreciate why you are here, you may even begin to enjoy it...I do! I wouldn't be anywhere else now!

Sorry to read your post, Sally. I know how hard it can be not to be around for your family and friends when things aren't going so well for them back in Blighty. They'll survive, though, and the very facts that you're thinking of them and chatting to them will help them through, I'm sure.


Tomorrow's going to be a gorgeous day. Get up early, watch the sunrise and then go for a long walk along the beach or into the City and look at some of the fabulous sights that are on offer there. You'll have your own little reminders of the good things in Australia. Be sure to post them up here when you find them!

yes its hard...yes you will miss folks....but you need to think of why you made the move and look to the future...everything is alien in a couple years it wont be so. Embrace you new life look at the positives for your family and not the negatives. Families have illnesses and deaths...you feel isolated because you are far away....if you were closer it doesnt mean you would be there in the right place or the right time..............chill out babe enjoy what you have xxxxxxxxxxx

Sorry you are feeling so sad at the mo! There will always be difficult days, that's life whichever country you are in!
Hope the sun shines for you tomorrow & you feel better.
Big hug!

Weren't they forecasting 33C for Melbourne today? Good luck with that!

On the missing people front - never goes away IMHO. Not much you can do about it really. Technology has helped in that we have pretty much instant contact (if you dont count the 2 hours it took me to get hold of my parents and son on Christmas night while staying in a motel in Ballarat!) but in some ways it used to be easier because we often didnt get to know about stuff that had happened until weeks later when someone would deign to send an airmail letter. Unless it was really bad news in which case they phoned but kept it short because the calls were L1 a minute.

Hang in there - you will get used to it in time!

Sorry to hear your struggling, christmas time is always difficult. Just keep reminding yourself of why you moved to Aus in the first place and why you wanted out of the UK, the reasons will still be the same. It does get easier it just takes time.
Enjoy the weather and the holiday season, it might be P~##~ng down next year and that IS depressing

Maria

I would imagine your emotions are heightened as its Christmas and you keep thinking of what you`re missing at home at Christmas( I do anyway!) Couple more days and it`ll all be over and you have a lovely long summer to enjoy.Christmas will soon be just a memeory. Can your dad visit you here? Are you e-mailing/skyping the friends that need your support. all you can do for them even if you were in UK is support them and let them know you are thinking of them.Cheer up.

Thanks for the messages guys, the advice and support have helped a lot. Feeling better today and looking forward to the sunny weekend!

Good!

Absolutely delighted to hear it. I look forward to reading your little reminders of what is great about being in Australia.