Why exactly do people migrate.
Mar 24th 2007, 6:37 pm
#16
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Liked our area of the UK and had no urge whatsoever to move any where else in the UK. Basically a mid life crisis, fancied like you mentioned a new challenge in life instead of the same old same old. To be able to go new places and have sun without always having to jump on a plane to be able to do it. also, sick of being cold and sick of waiting all year for summer to find out it didn't happen or was over in 2 days or you were out of the country trying to find sun elsewhere when a heat wave finally happened.
Simple question, but very difficult to answer, with a multitude of different answers coming from different people. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to uproot oneself and their lives, plus the dislocation from family and friends, When you look at the whole Migration issue, what is it that people are seeking. ?
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
Mar 24th 2007, 6:45 pm
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Do you? I wonder. I think some people might use that as an excuse but I think it might be a case of having an itch and finding it easier to explain by blaming it on the media. I don't think most people who live there believe the media crap or perhaps I have too much faith in people's ability to know rubbish when they see it 
We came because we felt like it. We had nothing much to lose and to be honest, not a huge amount to gain but it's the best thing we have done. We haven't lost anything and have actually gained stacks in the ways of health and family dynamics but we weren't expecting it.
We came because we felt like it. We had nothing much to lose and to be honest, not a huge amount to gain but it's the best thing we have done. We haven't lost anything and have actually gained stacks in the ways of health and family dynamics but we weren't expecting it.
Since I've suscribed to Foxtel, I've been watching a lot of those UK lifestyle programmes. They are highly motivating, no wonder plenty of people in the UK have such itchy feet. The programmes tend to paint anything different as better, which I guess if one is in a rut is probably true. One factor of these shows, has been how good they paint some parts of the UK, especially some of the countryside. However I ask myself how realistic are these potrayals, plus why would anyone want to travel 12,000 miles when they can seemingly have a very good lifestyle in the UK. Unless it really does come down to being amongst a similar yet different people, in the Aussies.
Mar 24th 2007, 6:54 pm
#18
......in the sand !
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Perth, WA :)
Posts: 4,421
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
I think for me it was a bit of a midlife crisis type thing - late thirties, kids growing up, large mortgage, huge debt, soul destroying rut of work - home -work. No time for me, us as a couple or as a family. And we wanted a change
Fortunately as a nurse visas and work has been easy for me and OH was working within 3 weeks of us landing. We still have a mortgage
BUT we do have more time together, are not working as hard or as long hours and are enjoying the pace of life and lifestyle Australia is giving us so far
Fortunately as a nurse visas and work has been easy for me and OH was working within 3 weeks of us landing. We still have a mortgage
BUT we do have more time together, are not working as hard or as long hours and are enjoying the pace of life and lifestyle Australia is giving us so far
Mar 24th 2007, 7:53 pm
#19
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
I've travelled extensively (had a job that took me all over the planet) and have lived and worked in other countries. I think once you've done that, you get infected with a bug and 'home' seems very boring by comparison. On my own and as a family, I moved around a fair bit in the UK - and we did our own sea-change, moving from the city of Bath to a small semi-rural town in the Cotswolds (both dream locations for many Brits). But we really wanted to live on the coast, the north Cornish coast to be precise. However Cornwall is one of the most depressed areas of the UK with endemic unemployment, poor communications and property prices massively inflated by second-home owners and retirees. After many years of planning we ruled it out.
I already had family in Oz and had visited and lived here prior to meeting my wife. We all came out on a holiday a few years ago (previously she'd been no further than Northern France) and she and my son loved the place - the wife suggested we live here. We've fulfilled a dream of living within walking distance of the coast, have already forged a strong circle of friends and are all feeling settled and happy to be here. Personally, I like the feeling of difference that you get from being an immigrant - the same feeling that alienates a lot of other people. We've been made to feel very welcome by the Australians we've met, partially because we live in area that Sydney sea-changers are moving to - so to be honest, many of us are in the same boat - new to the area, keen to forge a new life. I gave the UK 30 years of my life and miss very little about the place - though I like to keep abreast of what's happening there and still read the UK papers online and listen to Radio 5 via t'internet when I'm doing the dishes. As a family, we don't regard ourselves as expats, but immigrants and have immersed ourselves in life here, taking up all invitations of drinks, joining clubs, getting involved in our son's school, travelling around and meeting people. Yes, the Australians are a welcoming bunch, but the bottom line is - you have to meet them halfway.
I already had family in Oz and had visited and lived here prior to meeting my wife. We all came out on a holiday a few years ago (previously she'd been no further than Northern France) and she and my son loved the place - the wife suggested we live here. We've fulfilled a dream of living within walking distance of the coast, have already forged a strong circle of friends and are all feeling settled and happy to be here. Personally, I like the feeling of difference that you get from being an immigrant - the same feeling that alienates a lot of other people. We've been made to feel very welcome by the Australians we've met, partially because we live in area that Sydney sea-changers are moving to - so to be honest, many of us are in the same boat - new to the area, keen to forge a new life. I gave the UK 30 years of my life and miss very little about the place - though I like to keep abreast of what's happening there and still read the UK papers online and listen to Radio 5 via t'internet when I'm doing the dishes. As a family, we don't regard ourselves as expats, but immigrants and have immersed ourselves in life here, taking up all invitations of drinks, joining clubs, getting involved in our son's school, travelling around and meeting people. Yes, the Australians are a welcoming bunch, but the bottom line is - you have to meet them halfway.
Mar 24th 2007, 8:57 pm
#20
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,995
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
We moved here for a number of reasons, too. 2 years ago I discovered the doctor I worked for had been "allegedly" defrauding the provincial healthcare system and I reported him anonymously. Instead of my identity being protected the authorities let him know who reported him and I was made redundant. In Ontario there are no whistleblower protection statutes, so I was basically up the creek as far as work goes. The job I did was very specialised and the doctors who work in the field are a very close knit group. Word got out that it was me who ratted on the theif and I was essentially blacklisted from my profession.
Coincidentally on the day I was riding the train into Toronto to give my statement to the OMA I saw a little blurb in the newspaper about Australia looking for skilled migrants. When I got home I said to my husband "hey, we're skilled. Let's be migrants". We both laughed about it at first but the more we thought about it the more we liked the idea of starting the second 1/2 of our lives somewhere different. We figured we had spent the first 40 years of our lives in Canada so let's spend the next 40 someplace completely different. We had already been to every province in Canada and I had lived in 4 of them in my lifetime so didn't really fancy a move to another part of the country. And it cost us more to move from Toronto to Vancouver in 1992 than it did to move from Toronto to Adelaide in 2006.
Overall it has been a really good change for us. Our kids are happy here, enjoying the different lifestyle to the hustle and bustle of where we came from. For the first time ever my son is liking going to school and has made some really nice Aussie friends. We've found for the most part people here have made us feel welcome. Both Aussies and other immigrants. Southern Ontario is very closed feeling and you wouldn't dare talk to someone you don't know on the train of subway. I went to Melbourne a couple of months ago for a job interview and must have looked lost because I had a really nice young man ask me if I needed help. Where I come from that would have been unheard of. Here everyone seems eager to talk.
Wow, sorry to ramble so much.
Coincidentally on the day I was riding the train into Toronto to give my statement to the OMA I saw a little blurb in the newspaper about Australia looking for skilled migrants. When I got home I said to my husband "hey, we're skilled. Let's be migrants". We both laughed about it at first but the more we thought about it the more we liked the idea of starting the second 1/2 of our lives somewhere different. We figured we had spent the first 40 years of our lives in Canada so let's spend the next 40 someplace completely different. We had already been to every province in Canada and I had lived in 4 of them in my lifetime so didn't really fancy a move to another part of the country. And it cost us more to move from Toronto to Vancouver in 1992 than it did to move from Toronto to Adelaide in 2006.
Overall it has been a really good change for us. Our kids are happy here, enjoying the different lifestyle to the hustle and bustle of where we came from. For the first time ever my son is liking going to school and has made some really nice Aussie friends. We've found for the most part people here have made us feel welcome. Both Aussies and other immigrants. Southern Ontario is very closed feeling and you wouldn't dare talk to someone you don't know on the train of subway. I went to Melbourne a couple of months ago for a job interview and must have looked lost because I had a really nice young man ask me if I needed help. Where I come from that would have been unheard of. Here everyone seems eager to talk.
Wow, sorry to ramble so much.
Mar 24th 2007, 9:48 pm
#21
Just enjoying being here
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Thornlands, Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 817
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Everytime we mention we're off to Oz people assume immediately its because we hate the UK for many of the reasons that get posted on here. However I guess we're not naive enough to think that Oz is without its own problems (sat drinking beer in a pool with some ozzies near Cairns listening to their opinions on "abbos" gave us an idea!).
We're from the affluent SE of UK and could move out to another area and get more land than we have now or downsize - I love Yorkshire and the Lake District but OH likes a bit more sun than you get up there so isn't keen. We would both like to live nearer the coast and thought about Cornwall or the New Forest - probably what we will do if we ever return to the UK.
I thought about France or Spain but we're not great at languages and it would be a real problem finding work - at 40 we're still not old enough to stop earning even with the equity we'll make on our house here.
On our last trip to Queensland 4 years ago we just fell in love with it - it felt right and although in some ways it seems a bit like financial suicide we just feel too young to settle down in our current lifestyle for the next 30 - 40 years and need a new challenge. Many of our friends are happy with looking forwards to building their new extension, having a new kitchen and a couple of weeks in the sun for hols but I find the idea suffocating and want to try something new with some different opportunities and a bit of sun!
We're from the affluent SE of UK and could move out to another area and get more land than we have now or downsize - I love Yorkshire and the Lake District but OH likes a bit more sun than you get up there so isn't keen. We would both like to live nearer the coast and thought about Cornwall or the New Forest - probably what we will do if we ever return to the UK.
I thought about France or Spain but we're not great at languages and it would be a real problem finding work - at 40 we're still not old enough to stop earning even with the equity we'll make on our house here.
On our last trip to Queensland 4 years ago we just fell in love with it - it felt right and although in some ways it seems a bit like financial suicide we just feel too young to settle down in our current lifestyle for the next 30 - 40 years and need a new challenge. Many of our friends are happy with looking forwards to building their new extension, having a new kitchen and a couple of weeks in the sun for hols but I find the idea suffocating and want to try something new with some different opportunities and a bit of sun!
Mar 24th 2007, 10:03 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: was Bradford then poole dorset then Sydney,Forster, Kanwal,Gosford,and now Erina
Posts: 788
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Simple question, but very difficult to answer, with a multitude of different answers coming from different people. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to uproot oneself and their lives, plus the dislocation from family and friends, When you look at the whole Migration issue, what is it that people are seeking. ?
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
.Janet
Mar 25th 2007, 12:22 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
I moved because I felt that the UK had changed and was changing in a direction which ultimately I didnt want to be a part of anymore. A twisted politically correct madness coupled with a multicultural policy which is now too late to change. No longer proud to be British I voted with my feet on the issue and left to a country whose values I prefer to support.
I wanted to find a place where I could be proud to be a part of the country and proud of my country. A place where I felt safer and our children (if we have any in the future) would have a better quality of childhood and life. A place where I felt connected to and welcomed by people and the culture.
I dont expect people to agree with my reasons, they are personal to me before we get the the UK is great brigade coming down on me. Everyone to themselves. But thats why we moved and I'll be darn proud of becoming an Australian Citizen in a couple of months.
I wanted to find a place where I could be proud to be a part of the country and proud of my country. A place where I felt safer and our children (if we have any in the future) would have a better quality of childhood and life. A place where I felt connected to and welcomed by people and the culture.
I dont expect people to agree with my reasons, they are personal to me before we get the the UK is great brigade coming down on me. Everyone to themselves. But thats why we moved and I'll be darn proud of becoming an Australian Citizen in a couple of months.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:24 am
#24
Mozzie magnet
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane 'burbs
Posts: 1,690
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Well, OH and I had been commuting between Kent and Nottingham for nearly two years after OH accepted a job up there. We decided that we'd try to find somewhere where we would both have a job and spend more than just weekends together, and so we were looking in Bristol, the Midlands etc when I spotted a job for the OH in the Guardian and got him to apply for it. And so we got what we wished for, but in Australia rather than in England
re the point about colds, health etc - a few weeks ago I posted on another thread about how well I've been since moving here, hardly a sniffle in three years. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I'm now on antibiotics for bronchitis AND I've come down with a stinking cold. That'll teach me to keep my mouth shut (or fingers still).
Just want to add that I had no problems with England, I didn't like the cold much but that was its only minus point for me. Probably didn't appreciate it enough when I was there, nor our friends and the opportunities that we had, but that's the benefit of hindsight.
re the point about colds, health etc - a few weeks ago I posted on another thread about how well I've been since moving here, hardly a sniffle in three years. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I'm now on antibiotics for bronchitis AND I've come down with a stinking cold. That'll teach me to keep my mouth shut (or fingers still).
Just want to add that I had no problems with England, I didn't like the cold much but that was its only minus point for me. Probably didn't appreciate it enough when I was there, nor our friends and the opportunities that we had, but that's the benefit of hindsight.
Last edited by chels; Mar 25th 2007 at 12:26 am.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:36 am
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Simple question, but very difficult to answer, with a multitude of different answers coming from different people. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to uproot oneself and their lives, plus the dislocation from family and friends, When you look at the whole Migration issue, what is it that people are seeking. ?
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
After 2-1/2 years on this forum, and into my 27th year in this country, it seems to me that in reality it's just that most people need a new challenge. Fair enough, but what are they really doing, seeking a dream to realise or a reality to live.
Most people are adaptable, and will make a success of their move, wherever they go. Having said that, how many considered totally changing their lives within the UK first. IE: Moving from London, to say somewhere like the Isle of Man or the Highlands of Scotland, which in my mind, would be much like moving from London to Tasmania, only at a fraction of the cost. If you take that on board, you can see where I'm coming from, with a Move from Say Bradford to Perth, being on a similar plain to moving from Bradford to Bournemouth.
When you bear in mind the magnitude of a move like this, how many people take into consideration, what is the single biggest factor of the move, which isn't open spaces, big houses, new experiences, empty beaches... It's the Aussies themselves.... thank god they are great people.
So why are you moving and why did you move.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:42 am
#26
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Ginsters were selling their so called home made pasties all over the UK and to be frank I couldn't stand the embarrassment. I had to get out.
Now I've just read chapter 7,894 of "Why Australia can't work for you" by authoress Jad and I'm begining to think I was a touch premature coming here.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:46 am
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Ginsters were selling their so called home made pasties all over the UK and to be frank I couldn't stand the embarrassment. I had to get out.
Now I've just read chapter 7,894 of "Why Australia can't work for you" by authoress Jad and I'm begining to think I was a touch premature coming here.
Now I've just read chapter 7,894 of "Why Australia can't work for you" by authoress Jad and I'm begining to think I was a touch premature coming here.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:53 am
#28
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
How have the pasties gone down ?
I would imagine they'd be very popular.
I would imagine they'd be very popular.
Mar 25th 2007, 12:58 am
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
They did go down well. Its a long story but we were in the wrong place really. A property developer asked us to design and open a bakery in a row of six new shops. We were on our own in the complex and could not wait for ever for new tennants to occupy the other units. Very sad we had to give up the dream because of the kids in exam years, but we wont stay in Britain. One in Ten Brits have now moved away.
Mar 25th 2007, 5:35 am
#30
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: Why exactly do people migrate.
Think I get more hayfever than colds here but that was starting to be mild problem in UK pre move. But colds like you say have had very few. Husband did get a lot of Bronchitis type chest infections here he's had none.
Well, OH and I had been commuting between Kent and Nottingham for nearly two years after OH accepted a job up there. We decided that we'd try to find somewhere where we would both have a job and spend more than just weekends together, and so we were looking in Bristol, the Midlands etc when I spotted a job for the OH in the Guardian and got him to apply for it. And so we got what we wished for, but in Australia rather than in England
re the point about colds, health etc - a few weeks ago I posted on another thread about how well I've been since moving here, hardly a sniffle in three years. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I'm now on antibiotics for bronchitis AND I've come down with a stinking cold. That'll teach me to keep my mouth shut (or fingers still).
Just want to add that I had no problems with England, I didn't like the cold much but that was its only minus point for me. Probably didn't appreciate it enough when I was there, nor our friends and the opportunities that we had, but that's the benefit of hindsight.
re the point about colds, health etc - a few weeks ago I posted on another thread about how well I've been since moving here, hardly a sniffle in three years. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I'm now on antibiotics for bronchitis AND I've come down with a stinking cold. That'll teach me to keep my mouth shut (or fingers still).
Just want to add that I had no problems with England, I didn't like the cold much but that was its only minus point for me. Probably didn't appreciate it enough when I was there, nor our friends and the opportunities that we had, but that's the benefit of hindsight.
