Hi All

We came over to Oz in May/June for our reccie and visited Perth, Sydney and Goldcoast - loved Goldcoast more than anywhere! It was amazing. Hubby has wanted to emigrate since the word go but I have been a little more apprehensive as I am a born worrier!! I loved the Goldcoast and think it would be a fantastic place to bring our children (girls aged 8 and almost 7) up in and also a wonderful place for us to retire in about 20 odd years so we made the decision a few days back to take the plunge and get the ball rolling but now we have done this I have started worrying that we are doing the right thing.

My main worry is taking the girls away from a really good school and from all their lovely friends and then I worry about - what if we get out there and I really miss home and don't want to be there - I know - I'm probably being daft but I just wanted to know if it's normal to feel like that and if anyone else thinks and worries. I also have a great network of friends here and worry if I will be able to make friends easily enough out there. I am usually an outgoing sorta gal and don't have any problems in talking to people

Look forward to hearing from people who have felt the same.

Thanks

It's natural to worry about the unknown, but at least you have been most expats just tend to land without ever having visited myself included.

If you are the kind of person who has made a good circle of friends in England then you will be able to make a good circle of friends in Australia, even more easily I would argue as people are much more open here about talking to people they don't know.

As far as the school goes there are good and bad schools here and you'll have to do some research - try myschool.edu.au

BB

It is perfectly normal and no matter what anyone says to you you will still keep having worries and doubts. I had them on and off for the 5 years we waited to come over and now I've been here 3 months I'm still having them

I too am a worrier so we will always find something to worry about

If you have decided to go for it why not do it and see how it goes after 12 months or so. I am giving it 12 months if me or the kids are not happy we will go to plan B

Hubby has been here 6 months, loves it and says he would never go back, ooops we may have to go for the long distance relationship

If you don't try you will never know

Hey you - what's all this about - Was looking forward to having someone familiar here Seriously though, didn't realise you were having wobbles! To be honest, I think they are par for the course! As you know, we have been keen and positive from the outset but even so ... we still had wobbles along the way. In my opinion, it may also be sensible as this is one way of checking that you are sure of what you are taking on (or as sure as you can be). It can be easy to get swept along, so I reckon it's good to take stock along the way! Don't forget, when you arrive .... we'll be old-hands and will be here to make the start-up nice and smooth

Totally normal - we went through hell moving here, but now we would never go back. The UK is not going anywhere so you can always try Australia and change your mind. There are many threads like this on here - may be worth doing a search, but you really are not alone with how you feel.

I would worry if you weren't having the wobbles. It's completely normal. And yes, you will feel homesick and you will miss things. I have no doubt though that you are doing the right thing, especially for your children.

Hi and thanks for the advice - I will take a look at the website tonight.

Ahhhh I know - I am a nightmare aren't I! I'm sure I will be fine - I just wanted to know that other people had the same fears along the way. It's reassuring to know that there will be a friendly face when we make it over there ;-) Thank you - will drop you a line soon with the update x

Ah thanks - makes me feel a bit better. Whereabouts in Goldcoast are you? Have you got children? We have got 2 girls aged 6 and 8 and are just trying to see what the best schools are in the area. We have rellies in Pacific Pines and love that area. There's what looks like a good school called AB Paterson in Arundel - have you heard of that one?

Thanks to everyone for the positive responses

Ok here's a negative response to balance out the positives.

I'm trying to be objective here, bear in mind that I love living here in SEQ and have done for over 6 years now. But I also love the UK.


It sounds to me like you and your family have a pretty good life in the UK. What are your motivations for wanting to move all the way over to the other side of the world, leave your family and friends, and take your kids away from their school and their friends?

It is a huge move so you really (in my opinion) have to think it through carefully and weigh up all the pro's and con's. Furthermore you have to have some conviction about you. You've got to come out here and make it work for you, because it is unlikely that things will just fall into place. (having said that they sometimes do.)


edit - I guess that wasn't really a negative post. But look at all the responses above mine. Now go and ask a similar question in the "moving back to the uk" forum and see what answer you get.....

AB Patterson is a very good school - I think you may have to check the waiting list though?

A good place to start in Australia is to go to one of the British Expat meet ups. You find alot of people meet via this website, develop friendships and then stop using this site as these friendships become more normal/everyday.

I am VERY near Pacific Pines too.......and I feel like I know you quite well already from our previous correspondences and I'm always up for a coffee or two too

AB Patterson is in Arundle and is a rather 'posh' school, with strict uniform codes and expensive fees.....it has a very good reputation. It is located on a rather busy uninspiring stretch of road.
Now you honestly don't need to panic too much about schooling, it's all very laid back. Best to bide your time, visit schools and find one that fits your kids.....it just depends how long you can stand having the kids around full-time

Best to start with job location, home location THEN schools.

Oh and collywobbles......all very normal and sensible.....no-one can really tell you how it will be for you. I had a real rough time of settling in but rather like it here now....6 years in lol!

Best Wishes,

Jan

Hi and thanks for the response. It's mainly friends and the good schooling here in the UK that we would miss as we don't have a close family unit.

Reasons for moving to Oz...........poor economic climate in the UK - we want our children to have a better start in life and feel they would have in Oz, we want to retire somewhere warm and sunny when we are old codgers - we don't want to be sat indoors with 5 layers of clothing on spending our days watching telly cos the weather is too miserable and cold to go outside oh and there's the fantastic scenery and gorgeous beaches that we love too.
We loved all of the outdoor activities the girls could do, including taking off shoes and socks playing in the sandy parks without the worry of a load of glass! :-) I know it's the best thing to do but just having a few collywobbles.