Considering moving back to the UK!
#16
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
I could manage to never go back to the UK if I didn't still have family there. Every time I visit it seems to feel more like a run-down Eastern European police state.
Looking at the timescale, I'm assuming you don't have citizenship yet? If so, apply and get it, then consider whether you want to go back to try it out. At least then you don't have to worry about losing PR status if you stay away too long.
Looking at the timescale, I'm assuming you don't have citizenship yet? If so, apply and get it, then consider whether you want to go back to try it out. At least then you don't have to worry about losing PR status if you stay away too long.
#17
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Had a feeling the rest of your post was comedy but this bit sealed it.
#18
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
I could manage to never go back to the UK if I didn't still have family there. Every time I visit it seems to feel more like a run-down Eastern European police state.
Looking at the timescale, I'm assuming you don't have citizenship yet? If so, apply and get it, then consider whether you want to go back to try it out. At least then you don't have to worry about losing PR status if you stay away too long.
Looking at the timescale, I'm assuming you don't have citizenship yet? If so, apply and get it, then consider whether you want to go back to try it out. At least then you don't have to worry about losing PR status if you stay away too long.
I've actually visited run-down Eastern European police states (on several occasions) and the UK today is nothing like those.
If you don't like Canada (and I do for the most part, although I'm not thick enough to get too old here), then just move on. Not necessarily (or even advisedly) to the UK though.
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
http://www.theguardian.com/news/data...cience-reading
Here's a study that ranks the UK above Canada:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20498356
In terms of the UK, there are regional differences. For example, Northern Ireland has the best performance in primary maths:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20678866
The overall education systems of Canada and the UK are comparable so your kids will likely be just fine in either system. However, so much depends on where you are in Canada and where you move to in the UK - and also on individual teachers in individual schools.
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 404
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
What's the OP got to do with it? It was supermom1 who said she'd return to the UK eventually so that her son could attend uni there. She needs to do that when her son is about 16 to avoid paying foreign student fees. Fair enough.
But quite frankly, with domestic undergraduate fees now topping 7000 quid, does it matter that much anyway?
But quite frankly, with domestic undergraduate fees now topping 7000 quid, does it matter that much anyway?
#21
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: St Catherines, Ontario
Posts: 47
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
At least they can actually use the language with a degree of complexity. I enjoy the informed and educated discussions on numerous and varied topics in English pubs where as I find here its mostly about which truck they’re going to buy coupled with racist comments about aboriginal people. I personally don’t mind a bit of general and abstract profanity, I’d rather that than the pointed vulgar and misogynistic talk I hear in Canada. And as for “chavs” that term is simply a hate filled stereotypical term used to demonize underprivileged people in society and not something decent people would seriously use.
Can't say I've heard much foul language in the pubs over here, more the opposite, guess it depends where you go too. Prefer 'nicer' ones, not that I frequent pubs much these days with a youngster to mind apart from a monthly visit to a nice ones in Toronto daytime for a meet up brunch with other parents and children.
It's the younger generation frequenting pubs back in the UK with their loud rowdy foul mouths that my Dad dislikes, and I can relate to him not missing any of that when its only got worse, hence why he doesn't go to pubs much now and prefers to have a drink at home, he's in Norfolk near the broads.
Personally, I always liked going out to the more classier bars in London for evenings out where other professionals frequented when I lived and worked there for 4 yrs in the past, so tended not to be near any of that. But it wasn't that bad about 3 years ago in Norfolk where they live from what he said, things have just got worse I think.
Last edited by Supermum1; Sep 3rd 2013 at 4:58 am.
#22
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: St Catherines, Ontario
Posts: 47
What's the OP got to do with it? It was supermom1 who said she'd return to the UK eventually so that her son could attend uni there. She needs to do that when her son is about 16 to avoid paying foreign student fees. Fair enough.
But quite frankly, with domestic undergraduate fees now topping 7000 quid, does it matter that much anyway?
But quite frankly, with domestic undergraduate fees now topping 7000 quid, does it matter that much anyway?
Being dual citizen he can suit himself.
Thanks for the tip Novacastrian, age 16 is not a bad age to return to do it. It's still a long way off. I will simply go with the flow, we may both prefer to stay in Canada, or return again after he's done Uni, or stay there, who knows.
I don't dispute the fees would be costly where ever they study these days, if here, the US, or the UK, hence why I have an RESP started, hopefully the $100 a month going into it will all help with that.
I know that much from my own experience where I studied in the UK, a nurse friend in London when we worked together struggled to get other jobs elsewhere, I always got offers for all I applied for and thought she did too, until she told me, "It's alright for you, you get job offers all the time, but I don't, and it's due to where you studied and having got your degree"
Opened my eyes a bit that one.
I think my degree was the only course paid for by the government too, if you study nursing as a British citizen in the UK it's paid for via a bursary, just food to pay for, but I worked weekends and studied and attended uni in the week, so that covered that. Burned out by the end of each term but it was worth it in the end (even if I did feel I wanted to quit by the end of each term).
I won't be influencing my son to go into Nursing however, he can choose to be what he wants, he's already saying he wants to be a doctor, before that, an Engineer, he's only 4. I told him any of those is good.
Last edited by Siouxie; Sep 3rd 2013 at 5:01 am.
#23
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
If you want to quote/reply to several people, you can use the 'multi-quote' button to the right of the quote button for each one, then hit the quote button on the last one you wish to quote and they will all be in one post.
I merged them for you...
I merged them for you...
#24
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: St Catherines, Ontario
Posts: 47
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Can't add to that post for some reason, so adding it here. There is a catch to the course I did though, we are the lowest paid profession in the UK, which stinks, especially when a tube train driver got paid more than we did in London, something wrong there I think. It's another reason some of us British trained nurses go overseas to work, where we get paid what we are worth.
#25
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: St Catherines, Ontario
Posts: 47
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Thank you, didn't know that, but now I know.
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 233
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
I've been back in the UK for 4 months now, after 2 years in northern Ontario. I am loving life back in the UK. There are things from our Canadian life that I miss - like sitting on the bleachers in the sun for my son's summer soccer matches, and the wings-and-ribs lifestyle, and Tim Horton's - but there is a lot here that I missed and that I am very pleased to have back.
Our timing was influenced by our children - I came back in May so that my 16 year old daughter could take International GCSE's ready for studying A levels, which she starts tomorrow. She will be able to go to a UK university, as she wanted, as a UK student.
As we live in Wales, we will pay just one third of her university bill (the Welsh government meets the rest of the cost for all Welsh students, no matter which UK university they attend).
My son also starts his GCSE studies tomorrow, so it really was now or never for us.
Being close to family in the UK was an important consideration for us. Sadly my mum died in March, so she missed out on the last 2 years of life with my children. My mother-in-law is doing fine, and lives close to us, and we will make sure the same doesn't happen for her.
We are lucky to live in an area which is (and remains) beautiful and unspoilt. The UK doesn't feel any worse to me than I remember it (although there aren't so many English-speakers in Tesco as I remember), and I think I have grown to love its idiosyncrasies more, having been away. But I appreciate I am lucky, in my little corner of Wales.
It has to be a personal decision. Best of luck.
Our timing was influenced by our children - I came back in May so that my 16 year old daughter could take International GCSE's ready for studying A levels, which she starts tomorrow. She will be able to go to a UK university, as she wanted, as a UK student.
As we live in Wales, we will pay just one third of her university bill (the Welsh government meets the rest of the cost for all Welsh students, no matter which UK university they attend).
My son also starts his GCSE studies tomorrow, so it really was now or never for us.
Being close to family in the UK was an important consideration for us. Sadly my mum died in March, so she missed out on the last 2 years of life with my children. My mother-in-law is doing fine, and lives close to us, and we will make sure the same doesn't happen for her.
We are lucky to live in an area which is (and remains) beautiful and unspoilt. The UK doesn't feel any worse to me than I remember it (although there aren't so many English-speakers in Tesco as I remember), and I think I have grown to love its idiosyncrasies more, having been away. But I appreciate I am lucky, in my little corner of Wales.
It has to be a personal decision. Best of luck.
#27
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Can't add to that post for some reason, so adding it here. There is a catch to the course I did though, we are the lowest paid profession in the UK, which stinks, especially when a tube train driver got paid more than we did in London, something wrong there I think. It's another reason some of us British trained nurses go overseas to work, where we get paid what we are worth.
#28
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Never used the term 'Chavs' myself. Heard others use it though. Dirtbag climbers I guess is another term similarly used over here (in the climbing world that I've heard) putting others less fortunate down. I have heard racist comments here too admittedly, but find them far less judgemental where single parents are concerned and not so quick to label people in that way.
Can't say I've heard much foul language in the pubs over here, more the opposite, guess it depends where you go too. Prefer 'nicer' ones, not that I frequent pubs much these days with a youngster to mind apart from a monthly visit to a nice ones in Toronto daytime for a meet up brunch with other parents and children.
It's the younger generation frequenting pubs back in the UK with their loud rowdy foul mouths that my Dad dislikes, and I can relate to him not missing any of that when its only got worse, hence why he doesn't go to pubs much now and prefers to have a drink at home, he's in Norfolk near the broads.
Personally, I always liked going out to the more classier bars in London for evenings out where other professionals frequented when I lived and worked there for 4 yrs in the past, so tended not to be near any of that. But it wasn't that bad about 3 years ago in Norfolk where they live from what he said, things have just got worse I think.
Can't say I've heard much foul language in the pubs over here, more the opposite, guess it depends where you go too. Prefer 'nicer' ones, not that I frequent pubs much these days with a youngster to mind apart from a monthly visit to a nice ones in Toronto daytime for a meet up brunch with other parents and children.
It's the younger generation frequenting pubs back in the UK with their loud rowdy foul mouths that my Dad dislikes, and I can relate to him not missing any of that when its only got worse, hence why he doesn't go to pubs much now and prefers to have a drink at home, he's in Norfolk near the broads.
Personally, I always liked going out to the more classier bars in London for evenings out where other professionals frequented when I lived and worked there for 4 yrs in the past, so tended not to be near any of that. But it wasn't that bad about 3 years ago in Norfolk where they live from what he said, things have just got worse I think.
#29
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
I've been back in the UK for 4 months now, after 2 years in northern Ontario. I am loving life back in the UK. There are things from our Canadian life that I miss - like sitting on the bleachers in the sun for my son's summer soccer matches, and the wings-and-ribs lifestyle, and Tim Horton's - but there is a lot here that I missed and that I am very pleased to have back.
Our timing was influenced by our children - I came back in May so that my 16 year old daughter could take International GCSE's ready for studying A levels, which she starts tomorrow. She will be able to go to a UK university, as she wanted, as a UK student.
As we live in Wales, we will pay just one third of her university bill (the Welsh government meets the rest of the cost for all Welsh students, no matter which UK university they attend).
My son also starts his GCSE studies tomorrow, so it really was now or never for us.
Being close to family in the UK was an important consideration for us. Sadly my mum died in March, so she missed out on the last 2 years of life with my children. My mother-in-law is doing fine, and lives close to us, and we will make sure the same doesn't happen for her.
We are lucky to live in an area which is (and remains) beautiful and unspoilt. The UK doesn't feel any worse to me than I remember it (although there aren't so many English-speakers in Tesco as I remember), and I think I have grown to love its idiosyncrasies more, having been away. But I appreciate I am lucky, in my little corner of Wales.
It has to be a personal decision. Best of luck.
Our timing was influenced by our children - I came back in May so that my 16 year old daughter could take International GCSE's ready for studying A levels, which she starts tomorrow. She will be able to go to a UK university, as she wanted, as a UK student.
As we live in Wales, we will pay just one third of her university bill (the Welsh government meets the rest of the cost for all Welsh students, no matter which UK university they attend).
My son also starts his GCSE studies tomorrow, so it really was now or never for us.
Being close to family in the UK was an important consideration for us. Sadly my mum died in March, so she missed out on the last 2 years of life with my children. My mother-in-law is doing fine, and lives close to us, and we will make sure the same doesn't happen for her.
We are lucky to live in an area which is (and remains) beautiful and unspoilt. The UK doesn't feel any worse to me than I remember it (although there aren't so many English-speakers in Tesco as I remember), and I think I have grown to love its idiosyncrasies more, having been away. But I appreciate I am lucky, in my little corner of Wales.
It has to be a personal decision. Best of luck.
Best of luck for the future.
#30
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: St Catherines, Ontario
Posts: 47
Re: Considering moving back to the UK!
Slight underestimation of what we nurses do, what an insult.
Tube train drivers aren't saving lives day in day out all year round, and they didn't go to Uni to get a degree to drive one either. And no they aren't responsible for more people than a nurse is where lives are concerned, we are literally saving lives in hospitals not waiting to save them when an accident happens, though it's us that would be doing that too when that happens as was the case when the London tube bombing occurred of which our hospital and my colleagues were involved with as was I on nursing some in critical care. And all the doctors and nurses I worked with in London would have strongly disagreed with you on this one too.
Last edited by Supermum1; Sep 4th 2013 at 4:06 am.