Just curious as to opther's opinions on settling down in Canada.

We moved out 1 year ago and are very happy, like the area, found (eventually) a good school for our daughter and settled in quite happily.

We have just bought a house(instead of renting) and moved in so should be feeling even more settled but instead I don't. Have a great hankering for the UK and can't decide if it is just me and itchy feet and now I have done all the investigation/exploration/settling in I am just looking for a new challenge or if it really is the UK that is pulling me back.

Anyone else experienced this, anyone else know what on earth I'm on about or do you just read this thinking 'oh shut up aand get on with it!?

You're not alone, I've just passed the three year mark - this is the first time I didn't get homesick - it passes after a few days.

Go experience something new and very Canadian - try a hockey game, take a walk in the park and look at the fall colours. Remind yourself why you came to Canada.

This all true of course, and I feel that way sometimes too, my wife can testify to this, we do alll the walking through trails, driving on weekends, museums and galleries, don't know about the hockey game though

Then the feelings disappear again, when I see how beautiful this country/province is, the openess on the side of the roads when you drive, most of which was missing growing up in london uk.

Oh very normal. You could go back to Britain for a couple of days (you won't need more!) and it will remind you why you came out... When I first came out a woman I had met was desparately keen to move back to the UK - which she hadn't visited in 5 years - but fortunately she was able to do as I suggested, have a holiday back in her old "home" town. For the last 3 years she hasn't mentioned wanting to go back to England (in fact - the total opposite!)

Clare

I still hanker after the UK....and I came here in 1996. I have been back twice, and the last time I had a hard time just getting on the plane at Heathrow. My circumstances are different though, as I do not like Canada much. I am still here...if it helps...!

As usual, I agree with Clare. You are certainly not alone in experiencing this! Take a trip back to the UK. Its odd how your mind starts to get selective about things over time, and a quick dose of UK reality may be just what you need. Seen it refered to elsewhere as "the $1000 cure". If you still dont feel settled when you get back to Canada, then maybe you are just the type of person who needs that new challenge all the time.

Good Luck

Iain

I doubt that I am going to be much help. I came here in 1968 - and I still miss "home". I think I have said before that if I went home and I was exposed to negative things I might feel differently, but I stay with my sister and her husband in a pretty village in Kent. My Mom lives on the top floor of their house. They have everything, their sons have everything - however, I have been told that this is not the picture of how the majority of people live in England. I had not been back for over 20 years when I took my granddaughter about 5 years ago and I came back thinking - how England has changed - how come everybody is rich - how come everybody lives in the lap of luxury - and then someone said "don't judge everybody by how your family lives, because that is not how everybody lives."

I also think that there were lots and lots of years when we first came here, after we had settled in - I did not feel like this. It has just been when I got older. My other sister who also lives in Canada feels the same.

I think once you settle in, there will be the odd feelings of homesickness - Christmas, Easter - family occasions were the worst for me. But the rest of the time it just doesn't occur to you. Until you get older for some reason.

Thanks everyone, I guess it isn't just me then!

I have just booked flights to UK and France for Christmas so it will be interesting to see how I feel when we come back after that.

It’s a bad attack of reality kicking in.. at or around the 12 month period the gloss is disappearing and the reality creeping in.. but its worth remembering why you came over only you really know those reasons…

However going back on a holiday isn’t always a good cure, It may make things worse.

It is however a good time to reflect on all those things you’ve done in the last 12 months.. and then all the things that made you want to leave..

Then you can consider the option of a UK holiday...

Having been in Canada since 68 I have spent more of my life here than in England.

I think that the "Homesickness" is more nostalgia about the quaint memories of yesteryear than the realities of modern English life.

The grass is always greener works whichever side of the fence you decide to live on - your brain just plays tricks on you. I've tried going home to Scotland - it was a disaster - I'm never doing that again. I missed Scottish food, I forgot about the rest of the country that came with it .....