Sham Williams

Why would this annoy you so much??

We are 100% settled in Oz and intend to remain for ever and a day, BUT I always refer to the UK as home in conversation as I lived there for 36 years. I think it is a bit sad for those that do the "When we stepped off the plane we NEVER called UK home" makes it look like you are a ashamed of where you are from!! We not ashamed just dont want to live there anymore!

Streaks

100 per cent agree - I still refer to my parents house as 'home' and it happens to be in England. I was born and grew up in a house full of love and it will always affectionally be my 'home'. People define 'home' differently, some people think that just by living in a house or country it ultimately becomes 'home', where as for me it's where I feel loved, wanted and a place I like being so I have two homes, one in England and one in Australia. I don't call England home for me it's not the country, the country is just the place I happen to live, and Australia is the place I live, I just happen to have a 'home' here too - mind you, these are my thoughts today by next week they could be different

guest5234

And I lived (survived) in Perth for 5 years, and yes, each to their own

Hutch

Hmmm - I haven't actually mentioned either way what I feel about the big 'home' debate - I was referring to the way that certain people who have returned to the UK feel drawn back to the Oz forums like moths to a light.

But since you picked on me, Flea.

Well obviously that's the case for you, but it isn't for everyone. I don't feel this big attachment to England the way some others do. Not saying there's anything wrong with feeling that attachment, just that it's not a given. Home is quite literally where my wife and son and house and dog are. I mean, all this quoting Rupert Brooke poetry and the like (not singling anyone out - just making a point) - the day I start doing that, drive me to the airport.

Personally ... I didn't need any convincing.

I think you've hit on something here - there are those that wallow in the past ... and those that look forwards. Guess I'm one of the latter.

Betrayal of your history? What does that mean? That anyone who calls Australia home is a traitor to 'Great' Britain and should be sent to the tower pending a humiliating execution?

The fact that you could call somewhere outside the UK - 'home' - does not demean the primary school you went to, the first person you kissed or your appearance on Blankety Blank. I've always thought of myself as a citizen of Earth - I am not defined by the country I was born in or any of the many countries I lived in, in later life. I support England in the cricket and the rugby, Australia in soccer, the Lakers in basketball, and the Rangers in ice hockey. It's all well and good to move here and decide you don't like the place and then come over all nationalistic about England - but how did you feel when you were preparing for the move?

Glasgowlass

Please,pleaseplease - those who live here in Oz - STOP calling the UK HOME!!!!


Sorry Tyke, But No I won't and It's shorter than saying Scotland!

tyke

:

Wheeler-Jones

some of you guys crack me right up!

Maybe the OP is just trying to stop the confusion - it certainly does get a bit confusing on this particular forum when someone says 'back home' and you can't figure out where they are refering too as they may have an obsure place on there profile like Mars

So I am a bit weird - I am in the UK - I am a Kiwi by birth and the first 19 years, then I moved to Oz. I called Oz home pretty quickly - it felt right to me.

I will always love NZ and support NZ sports over Oz - so does that cancel out calling Australia home??

But then I have been here longer than I was ever on Oz, so by rights shouldn't I call UK home? No - because to me personally, it never felt right. Not to give the UK a hard time, but I came here for a working holiday and met the hubby (as you do) so I never really wanted to be here long term.

Basically I still call Australia home - I am going home soon and I am thrilled to bits. I have missed my home and look forward to going back.

I don't think you can tell people that home is where you live - but maybe we could try harder to not confuse the poster

bridie

saw a real estate agent the other night

"where are you from?" he asks, obviously alluding to our English accents

"Australind" I answered

He was a bit stumped then.....

Annoys me that people assume because you've got an English (or whatever) accent you've just arrived.

When I spoke to them on the phone the other guy was on about the pool and how a lot of English people want pools. OH said I should have pointed out we are Aus citizens!!!!!! (well, almost!)

Glasgowlass

That was like us last weekend, we went shopping for a bed and the guy in the showroom asked both of us where we were from (my OH is an Aussie) and I said our suburb and the look on his face was priceless! Then I had to Say Scotland anyway because he was baffled. That's why I don't see the point of getting all stressed about Australia/UK because as soon as I open my mouth they ask oh where are you from and it doesn't matter a jot that I've been here nearly half my life! I'll never be Australian to the Australians even though I've been one since 1992! I'm a Scot that lives in Australia but with citizenship of both! Perfect!

Dorothy

I do that all the time. I meet someone for the first time and they obviously hear my Canadian accent. When they ask where we're from I always say Adelaide. I just love the look they get on their faces!

asher

I have never lived in the house my mother lives in now but it is one of many places i call home!!

Home is where i grew up, its where my mother is, its where i brought up my children and it's where i am now with my husband!

Home is whatever I want it to be

Wendy

I always say 'the UK' not by concious effort though, it just comes out that way.

When I say home, I'm usually referring to my house not a place.

Weirdstone

I am very, very happy here ...and call where I am now 'home'...as it is my home - it where I love, and where I want to be

BUT ....some people may not feel very settled yet...may - consciously, or unconsciously still think of the UK as being ..in your own words 'where (their)heart is'. They might not even like it here...or feel homesick.

I'm glad you feel happy and at home, as I do - but try to remember that not everyone here feels the same.

fraser

Cas in sensible post shocker

Weirdstone

Sometimes I make a lot of sense