Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Jul 17th 2013, 7:26 am
#16
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 26,716
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
I have been here in BC for about 20 months now.
I am going back to the UK for the first time this weekend.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I am NOT bailing out, I just have a family wedding, inconveniently and expensively timed.
I have been told by other people that the first visit back is strange and almost worse culture shock than turning up in Canada for the first time.
Has much changed? Will I feel foreign?
Just wondering what other people found.
I am going back to the UK for the first time this weekend.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I am NOT bailing out, I just have a family wedding, inconveniently and expensively timed.
I have been told by other people that the first visit back is strange and almost worse culture shock than turning up in Canada for the first time.
Has much changed? Will I feel foreign?
Just wondering what other people found.
Jul 17th 2013, 8:50 am
#17
Pondering a career change
Joined: May 2012
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
Posts: 2,595
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
I thought schooling was only till the age of 6?
Jul 17th 2013, 11:42 am
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,801
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Everything will feel smaller and narrower. Your biggest danger is getting run over as a pedestrian either because you're looking the wrong way or you mistakenly believe that pedestrians have the right of way there. They DON'T!
Jul 17th 2013, 11:58 am
#19
Going back....
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 192
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
I found last year that whereas here in Canada, as soon as I speak I'm treated like a tourist, back in the UK where I WAS a tourist I was expected to be up to date with all the new stuff, new money, etc and got funny looks when I was ignorant of any of the latest happenings, celebrity news or TV trends. Very strange....
Jul 17th 2013, 12:21 pm
#20
Lowering the tone
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 7,141
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Smaller. Smellier. Busier. Ruder. Tastier. Better. More real. Alive.
Jul 17th 2013, 12:52 pm
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: St. John's
Posts: 18
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
I went back for the first time in about 15 months just over a month ago, after living in Newfoundland. My experience is much different than others here. I felt like I was back at home and was actually happy again! I walked outside my door and was surrounded by actual restaurants, pubs, cafes, museums, nice surroundings, parks, a bustling city, culture, and I could walk everywhere again. Here, I walk outside and I'm in suburban hell. I walked into Sainsbury's and there was FRESH produce that wasn't rotten - I was in awe of something that was once expected.
The only thing I like better here is the fact that I have a spacious three-bedroom house and a high-capacity washer AND dryer. Being back in my small, one-bed flat in the UK with the tiny washer/dryer combo was a bit of a shock. I'd go back to the cramped quarters in a second, though, if it meant getting out of here.
Since you're in BC, you'll probably have a different experience. I hear lovely things about Western Canada. Can't say the same about where I am in Eastern Canada.
The only thing I like better here is the fact that I have a spacious three-bedroom house and a high-capacity washer AND dryer. Being back in my small, one-bed flat in the UK with the tiny washer/dryer combo was a bit of a shock. I'd go back to the cramped quarters in a second, though, if it meant getting out of here.
Since you're in BC, you'll probably have a different experience. I hear lovely things about Western Canada. Can't say the same about where I am in Eastern Canada.
Jul 17th 2013, 1:03 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 7,855
Jul 17th 2013, 1:40 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Winterpeg
Posts: 771
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Am currently back in the UK now for 3 week visit after being in Canada for 2 years. When we arrived it was very surreal, felt that we had been away for 2 weeks not 2 years. There was none of the Cilla Black Suprise Suprise emotional reunion stuff we were expecting.
Think we probably came back to soon maybe. Leaving Heathrow in the hire car to drive 250 miles north was suprisingly easy, again as if we had only been gone a couple of weeks.
Some things will and have changed, some shops closed with new ones open, some pubs have changed names etc.
It may be different for you but we are shocked how little people and places have changed.
Can't wait to fly home to Manitoba this Friday.
Think we probably came back to soon maybe. Leaving Heathrow in the hire car to drive 250 miles north was suprisingly easy, again as if we had only been gone a couple of weeks.
Some things will and have changed, some shops closed with new ones open, some pubs have changed names etc.
It may be different for you but we are shocked how little people and places have changed.
Can't wait to fly home to Manitoba this Friday.
Jul 17th 2013, 2:45 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 76
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Helcat,
Do you have any regrets having left the UK? Do you find Canada better than the UK? Do you plan to return to the UK to live?
Thanks,
Louise
Do you have any regrets having left the UK? Do you find Canada better than the UK? Do you plan to return to the UK to live?
Thanks,
Louise
Jul 17th 2013, 3:34 pm
#26
Island life at last
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: BC
Posts: 2,715
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
We certainly have a better standard of living here than in the UK, as my OH earns more and has a job with better prospects.
Now that I have also got my career back (and my salary as well
) that is all good.We bought a house a year ago in a beautiful, rural place where we absolutely love living.
So, for us, Canada is better in those respects.
I don't regret leaving the UK, but I do miss sense of humour and I miss the Folk music scene, which I was quite involved in, very much indeed. That was our social activity and our friendship circle.
There is nothing much like it here, although I am performing at one festival this summer.
For all those who mentioned the driving, I had anticipated that!
I am not driving at all when I go back, for safety and sanity.
Proper blue cheese (Colston Basset Stilton and Buxton Blue) is certainly on my list of must haves while I am there! In fact, a slice of good Stilton and a Bakewell pork pie would seem like bliss! Sadly, I believe I am not allowed to bring either of those things back with me.
Jul 17th 2013, 3:38 pm
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 76
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Helcat, thanks for this info and glad you have settled well into live in BC. Did you and your OH find it easily to get a job initially in Canada?
Jul 17th 2013, 3:52 pm
#28
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 48,090
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
Jul 17th 2013, 3:55 pm
#29
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 48,090
Jul 17th 2013, 4:06 pm
#30
Island life at last
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: BC
Posts: 2,715
Re: Flying back to the UK on Saturday - What to expect?
My OH looked for work (in IT) and got offered a job here, so that is how we qualified and applied for Immigration - through the Cat 2 route (LMO/TWP).
I got a retail job here easily to begin with, as I had some applicable experience. Then I got a job at the Zoo (which I absolutely loved), as I have a degree in Zoology. Teaching was much harder to get into, but now it all seems worth it.
I have a list of things which my husband wants me to bring back, but I am sure that I will find things I have forgotten about while I am there.
A copy of the Sunday Times will be a luxury. The newspapers here are dire - there is no news in them, and OH misses the cricket section!
