Returning from Canada to U.K.
Sep 7th 2003 | 4:57 am
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 577
From: Poland
Returning from Canada to U.K.
Could anyone pass comments of Brits giving up on Canada and
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
Sep 7th 2003 | 5:31 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 136
From: Manitoba
uk is now so expensive and husing is terrible, the prices are rediculous and the size of new houses you can´t swing a cat in, the price of every day things is out of this world and the government have screwed every tax payer for anything they can get that te cost of living is exceeding incomes.
DON´T DO IT, that is why we are getting back out of the country as fast as we can.
DON´T DO IT, that is why we are getting back out of the country as fast as we can.
Sep 8th 2003 | 9:17 am
#3
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 779
From: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
Re: Returning from Canada to U.K.
Originally posted by Gezza
Could anyone pass comments of Brits giving up on Canada and
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
Could anyone pass comments of Brits giving up on Canada and
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
Sep 8th 2003 | 9:28 am
#4
Release the hounds!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 302
Re: Returning from Canada to U.K.
Originally posted by Gezza
Could anyone pass comments of Brits giving up on Canada and
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
Could anyone pass comments of Brits giving up on Canada and
returning to England, any regrets?
How does England grab you 2nd time round?
I am thinking of going back after 2 years in Vancouver.
Do what makes you happy and good luck!
Sep 8th 2003 | 9:54 am
#5
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 625
From: UK-Switz-US-Canada-Ireland
I spent a year back in the UK to get some work to save up funds for Canada (I'm not allowed to work in the States on a spousal visa) and I thought it'd be a good experiment on how it would feel to actually move back there. My biggest pleasures being back, apart from seeing the family when I wanted and not during rare visits, was the shopping in Tescos pigging out on curly wurly and aero bars and bakewell tarts - scrum! Other than that I can honestly say that there's not much else that made me feel sad about leaving again after the year ended. I hated the seriously high local transport costs and the even higher costs of running a car and I missed the wide open spaces you get in the U.S/Canada. I loved being able to pop down to the village pub and I hated queuing for ages to get the shopping checked out (I don't know about Canada but in the US queues are so undignified - the Americans have a drive through philosophy in everything; serve me now or I'll go elsewhere kind of mentality so it seems odd standing in line for more than a nano second
) Anyway, I'm babbling on but I guess I'm saying that while you're here you're missing the UK and once you're gone you'll probably miss Canada 'cos there's good and bad in both countries. At least if you do return you'll have experienced life in another country and nothing's to stop you revisiting or buying a holiday or retirment home in Canada later on should you change your mind - so I guess it's down to you - no right or wrong answer really!
) Anyway, I'm babbling on but I guess I'm saying that while you're here you're missing the UK and once you're gone you'll probably miss Canada 'cos there's good and bad in both countries. At least if you do return you'll have experienced life in another country and nothing's to stop you revisiting or buying a holiday or retirment home in Canada later on should you change your mind - so I guess it's down to you - no right or wrong answer really!
Last edited by crazydaisy; Sep 8th 2003 at 9:57 am.
Sep 9th 2003 | 11:51 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 80
check this out...
54% of Britons want to settle down abroad
By Anthony King
Daily Mail
(Filed: 26/08/2002)
More than half of Britons are seriously considering seeking a new life abroad, says a survey for The Daily Telegraph.
Although Tony Blair was elected on the promise of "New Labour, New Britain," few people seem to detect changes for the better.
Not even at the height of the Suez crisis in the 1950s, when long queues of would-be emigrants formed at the offices of Commonwealth high commissions, have so many Britons been so anxious to turn their backs on home.
The YouGov poll says that 54 per cent of the adult population would like to settle abroad if they could. The figure during the Suez crisis, when many feared the outbreak of a major European war, was only 41 per cent.
Part of the explanation is clearly not that Britain has become less attractive to its citizens but that far more of the rest of the world has become more so.
During the post-war period, Britons contemplating emigration thought strictly in terms of America or one of the old Commonwealth countries, notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the 1940s and 1950s European countries had little appeal.
Today, America and the nations of the old Commonwealth, apart from South Africa, retain their allure. But Spain and France now rank high on the list of would-be migrants' preferred homes.
If language were no object, more people would prefer to settle in either Spain (17 per cent of those thinking of moving) or France (15 per cent) than in America or Australia.
Not only have countries such as Spain and France prospered in recent years, but thousands of British holidaymakers can regularly sample the delights of relatively low prices and rural relaxation.
The post-war British emigrant was usually moving a long way from home to a country he or she had never seen. The modern migrant is typically returning to somewhere already well known.
People now shop around for countries, just as they shop around for bargains.
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
By Anthony King
Daily Mail
(Filed: 26/08/2002)
More than half of Britons are seriously considering seeking a new life abroad, says a survey for The Daily Telegraph.
Although Tony Blair was elected on the promise of "New Labour, New Britain," few people seem to detect changes for the better.
Not even at the height of the Suez crisis in the 1950s, when long queues of would-be emigrants formed at the offices of Commonwealth high commissions, have so many Britons been so anxious to turn their backs on home.
The YouGov poll says that 54 per cent of the adult population would like to settle abroad if they could. The figure during the Suez crisis, when many feared the outbreak of a major European war, was only 41 per cent.
Part of the explanation is clearly not that Britain has become less attractive to its citizens but that far more of the rest of the world has become more so.
During the post-war period, Britons contemplating emigration thought strictly in terms of America or one of the old Commonwealth countries, notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the 1940s and 1950s European countries had little appeal.
Today, America and the nations of the old Commonwealth, apart from South Africa, retain their allure. But Spain and France now rank high on the list of would-be migrants' preferred homes.
If language were no object, more people would prefer to settle in either Spain (17 per cent of those thinking of moving) or France (15 per cent) than in America or Australia.
Not only have countries such as Spain and France prospered in recent years, but thousands of British holidaymakers can regularly sample the delights of relatively low prices and rural relaxation.
The post-war British emigrant was usually moving a long way from home to a country he or she had never seen. The modern migrant is typically returning to somewhere already well known.
People now shop around for countries, just as they shop around for bargains.
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
Sep 9th 2003 | 12:32 pm
#7
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,181
Re: check this out...
Originally posted by Daltrey
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
Brits are natural dreamers and it makes me sad to think that so many are so deluded about the cost of living and "opportunities" elsewhere compared to the UK.
Weather? They can have that one.
Sep 9th 2003 | 4:53 pm
#8
Release the hounds!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 302
Since we're quoting from surveys here lets try this. In a recent article in the sunday times, it looked at a pan-european survey done on how happy/unhappy people were with their lives. People in britain were amongst the satisfied in europe with close to 80% saying they were satisfied (at least) with their lives. (one third were extremly satisfied with their lives). On a forum for expats you're bound to come across people who have either left or are leaving because they are disatisfied in some way with their lifes there. Many millions remain there more than contendedly.
(good to see you chipping in over here wilf)
(good to see you chipping in over here wilf)
Last edited by AndrewR; Sep 9th 2003 at 4:56 pm.
Sep 9th 2003 | 11:15 pm
#9
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 114
From: Hades (yorkshire)
BIG REGRETS!!
Shoulda just visited and not moved here!!!
No forget it.... that's not a fair assumption.
I think the key to this question is how long you have been away from the UK.
No 1: My Mom (an immgrant to Canada in the 70's) said that the first 5 years was the hardest. She did not visit her family for 6 years because she felt she would never come back to Canada if she visited the UK. But now 25 years later, she would never return to the UK permanently. My mom has visited me every year that I have been here, mainly to see us and the grandkids, but she loves Canada.
The other key, I think, is how well you have settled in your new country.
I've given the UK 3 years and I still don't like it, but I am willing to stick it out for 3 more to test my mom's theory. Then I decide on whether or not to return to Canada.
Plus it helps I have bought tickets to visit my parents at christmas!!!
Taco Bell and Wendy's here I come!!!!!!
Fried
Shoulda just visited and not moved here!!!
No forget it.... that's not a fair assumption.
I think the key to this question is how long you have been away from the UK.
No 1: My Mom (an immgrant to Canada in the 70's) said that the first 5 years was the hardest. She did not visit her family for 6 years because she felt she would never come back to Canada if she visited the UK. But now 25 years later, she would never return to the UK permanently. My mom has visited me every year that I have been here, mainly to see us and the grandkids, but she loves Canada.
The other key, I think, is how well you have settled in your new country.
I've given the UK 3 years and I still don't like it, but I am willing to stick it out for 3 more to test my mom's theory. Then I decide on whether or not to return to Canada.
Plus it helps I have bought tickets to visit my parents at christmas!!!
Taco Bell and Wendy's here I come!!!!!!
Fried
Sep 10th 2003 | 12:15 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 481
Re: check this out...
Originally posted by Daltrey
54% of Britons want to settle down abroad
By Anthony King
Daily Mail
(Filed: 26/08/2002)
More than half of Britons are seriously considering seeking a new life abroad, says a survey for The Daily Telegraph.
Although Tony Blair was elected on the promise of "New Labour, New Britain," few people seem to detect changes for the better.
Not even at the height of the Suez crisis in the 1950s, when long queues of would-be emigrants formed at the offices of Commonwealth high commissions, have so many Britons been so anxious to turn their backs on home.
The YouGov poll says that 54 per cent of the adult population would like to settle abroad if they could. The figure during the Suez crisis, when many feared the outbreak of a major European war, was only 41 per cent.
Part of the explanation is clearly not that Britain has become less attractive to its citizens but that far more of the rest of the world has become more so.
During the post-war period, Britons contemplating emigration thought strictly in terms of America or one of the old Commonwealth countries, notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the 1940s and 1950s European countries had little appeal.
Today, America and the nations of the old Commonwealth, apart from South Africa, retain their allure. But Spain and France now rank high on the list of would-be migrants' preferred homes.
If language were no object, more people would prefer to settle in either Spain (17 per cent of those thinking of moving) or France (15 per cent) than in America or Australia.
Not only have countries such as Spain and France prospered in recent years, but thousands of British holidaymakers can regularly sample the delights of relatively low prices and rural relaxation.
The post-war British emigrant was usually moving a long way from home to a country he or she had never seen. The modern migrant is typically returning to somewhere already well known.
People now shop around for countries, just as they shop around for bargains.
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
54% of Britons want to settle down abroad
By Anthony King
Daily Mail
(Filed: 26/08/2002)
More than half of Britons are seriously considering seeking a new life abroad, says a survey for The Daily Telegraph.
Although Tony Blair was elected on the promise of "New Labour, New Britain," few people seem to detect changes for the better.
Not even at the height of the Suez crisis in the 1950s, when long queues of would-be emigrants formed at the offices of Commonwealth high commissions, have so many Britons been so anxious to turn their backs on home.
The YouGov poll says that 54 per cent of the adult population would like to settle abroad if they could. The figure during the Suez crisis, when many feared the outbreak of a major European war, was only 41 per cent.
Part of the explanation is clearly not that Britain has become less attractive to its citizens but that far more of the rest of the world has become more so.
During the post-war period, Britons contemplating emigration thought strictly in terms of America or one of the old Commonwealth countries, notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the 1940s and 1950s European countries had little appeal.
Today, America and the nations of the old Commonwealth, apart from South Africa, retain their allure. But Spain and France now rank high on the list of would-be migrants' preferred homes.
If language were no object, more people would prefer to settle in either Spain (17 per cent of those thinking of moving) or France (15 per cent) than in America or Australia.
Not only have countries such as Spain and France prospered in recent years, but thousands of British holidaymakers can regularly sample the delights of relatively low prices and rural relaxation.
The post-war British emigrant was usually moving a long way from home to a country he or she had never seen. The modern migrant is typically returning to somewhere already well known.
People now shop around for countries, just as they shop around for bargains.
Asked why they wanted to leave Britain, most people cited the lower cost of living abroad, new opportunities and the British weather.
Sep 10th 2003 | 12:16 am
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 481
Originally posted by fried_emu
BIG REGRETS!!
Shoulda just visited and not moved here!!!
No forget it.... that's not a fair assumption.
I think the key to this question is how long you have been away from the UK.
No 1: My Mom (an immgrant to Canada in the 70's) said that the first 5 years was the hardest. She did not visit her family for 6 years because she felt she would never come back to Canada if she visited the UK. But now 25 years later, she would never return to the UK permanently. My mom has visited me every year that I have been here, mainly to see us and the grandkids, but she loves Canada.
The other key, I think, is how well you have settled in your new country.
I've given the UK 3 years and I still don't like it, but I am willing to stick it out for 3 more to test my mom's theory. Then I decide on whether or not to return to Canada.
Plus it helps I have bought tickets to visit my parents at christmas!!!
Taco Bell and Wendy's here I come!!!!!!
Fried
BIG REGRETS!!
Shoulda just visited and not moved here!!!
No forget it.... that's not a fair assumption.
I think the key to this question is how long you have been away from the UK.
No 1: My Mom (an immgrant to Canada in the 70's) said that the first 5 years was the hardest. She did not visit her family for 6 years because she felt she would never come back to Canada if she visited the UK. But now 25 years later, she would never return to the UK permanently. My mom has visited me every year that I have been here, mainly to see us and the grandkids, but she loves Canada.
The other key, I think, is how well you have settled in your new country.
I've given the UK 3 years and I still don't like it, but I am willing to stick it out for 3 more to test my mom's theory. Then I decide on whether or not to return to Canada.
Plus it helps I have bought tickets to visit my parents at christmas!!!
Taco Bell and Wendy's here I come!!!!!!
Fried
One thing that really bugs me is people who say you have to give at least x amount of time...There are no rulebooks for this sort of thing and no right amount of times. What is right for one person doesn't mean it will be right for another...
Last edited by daisymoll; Sep 10th 2003 at 12:30 am.
Sep 10th 2003 | 12:44 am
#12
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 114
From: Hades (yorkshire)
Originally posted by daisymoll
Why waste so much time in your life, if you don't like the UK move away from it.....
One thing that really bugs me is people who say you have to give at least x amount of time...There are no rulebooks for this sort of thing and no right amount of times. What is right for one person doesn't mean it will be right for another...
Why waste so much time in your life, if you don't like the UK move away from it.....
One thing that really bugs me is people who say you have to give at least x amount of time...There are no rulebooks for this sort of thing and no right amount of times. What is right for one person doesn't mean it will be right for another...
It can be very frusterating reading and responding on this forum, I think you should do what is right for you.
Right now I am kind of stuck, We have alot of good things happening with my husbands career and it would be silly for me to wreck his chances right now. He works really hard and I am proud of him and I love him, so I am choosing to delay my wants for now.
But in the end......
Sep 10th 2003 | 2:02 am
#13
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 779
From: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
Originally posted by crazydaisy
I spent a year back in the UK to get some work to save up funds for Canada (I'm not allowed to work in the States on a spousal visa) and I thought it'd be a good experiment on how it would feel to actually move back there. My biggest pleasures being back, apart from seeing the family when I wanted and not during rare visits, was the shopping in Tescos pigging out on curly wurly and aero bars and bakewell tarts - scrum! Other than that I can honestly say that there's not much else that made me feel sad about leaving again after the year ended. I hated the seriously high local transport costs and the even higher costs of running a car and I missed the wide open spaces you get in the U.S/Canada. I loved being able to pop down to the village pub and I hated queuing for ages to get the shopping checked out (I don't know about Canada but in the US queues are so undignified - the Americans have a drive through philosophy in everything; serve me now or I'll go elsewhere kind of mentality so it seems odd standing in line for more than a nano second ) Anyway, I'm babbling on but I guess I'm saying that while you're here you're missing the UK and once you're gone you'll probably miss Canada 'cos there's good and bad in both countries. At least if you do return you'll have experienced life in another country and nothing's to stop you revisiting or buying a holiday or retirment home in Canada later on should you change your mind - so I guess it's down to you - no right or wrong answer really!
I spent a year back in the UK to get some work to save up funds for Canada (I'm not allowed to work in the States on a spousal visa) and I thought it'd be a good experiment on how it would feel to actually move back there. My biggest pleasures being back, apart from seeing the family when I wanted and not during rare visits, was the shopping in Tescos pigging out on curly wurly and aero bars and bakewell tarts - scrum! Other than that I can honestly say that there's not much else that made me feel sad about leaving again after the year ended. I hated the seriously high local transport costs and the even higher costs of running a car and I missed the wide open spaces you get in the U.S/Canada. I loved being able to pop down to the village pub and I hated queuing for ages to get the shopping checked out (I don't know about Canada but in the US queues are so undignified - the Americans have a drive through philosophy in everything; serve me now or I'll go elsewhere kind of mentality so it seems odd standing in line for more than a nano second
) Anyway, I'm babbling on but I guess I'm saying that while you're here you're missing the UK and once you're gone you'll probably miss Canada 'cos there's good and bad in both countries. At least if you do return you'll have experienced life in another country and nothing's to stop you revisiting or buying a holiday or retirment home in Canada later on should you change your mind - so I guess it's down to you - no right or wrong answer really!
There are struggles to be expected when emigrating and you (not you personally) just have to suck it up until things get better. However, that being said, I have never lost the feeling of not quite belonging in either country.
I think any of us could argue until we are blue in the face about the pros and cons of living at 'ome or abroad but the reality of the situation is far more mundane:
It's not what I can do here versus what I can do in the UK, it's just that this country (this area) has got into my system and if I am away for more than six months I get really anxious.
I will say this though: for me, this has been a land of opportunity and I just know that I would never have had the same chances in the UK.
Last edited by TimEh?; Sep 10th 2003 at 2:15 am.
Sep 10th 2003 | 3:11 am
#14
Release the hounds!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 302
Originally posted by TimEh?
I will say this though: for me, this has been a land of opportunity and I just know that I would never have had the same chances in the UK.
I will say this though: for me, this has been a land of opportunity and I just know that I would never have had the same chances in the UK.
Its great for you Tim that you've had great opportunities here in canada. However I truly believe that the same chances exist for a great career in the UK...if not more so. I think my parents are a really good example of the opportunities that exist in britian for getting ahead and making something of your life. (dads self -employed, mum went back to night school in her late thirties and is now deputy head at a school) As a consequence they have a good standard of living...far better in some ways than say my wifes parents here in vancouver (eg ..opportunites and ease of travel)
Sep 10th 2003 | 3:51 am
#15
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 779
From: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
Originally posted by AndrewR
Its great for you Tim that you've had great opportunities here in canada. However I truly believe that the same chances exist for a great career in the UK...
Its great for you Tim that you've had great opportunities here in canada. However I truly believe that the same chances exist for a great career in the UK...
I don't want to be seen as overly pro-Alberta but maybe that's the difference. There’s still very much a frontier spirit here that allows those that feel they can do it to - well - do it. (Maybe it’s just Calgary.) It can get you in trouble as well: As I've mentioned recently, I've been fired from 3 jobs... I have also walked out on a couple more when I felt I was in over my head.
Remember the "Peter Principle"? That's me in a nut shell.
