Curse of the Expat
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3


Been back in UK for over a year now. Loving being back but silly things still annoy me.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.

#2
The Brit is back







Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,207












Been back in UK for over a year now. Loving being back but silly things still annoy me.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.
You shouldn't have to justify to anyone why you left OZ. You left because you wanted to...simple.
Not worth arguing about. These people have never lived in another Country, they just hear stories from their relatives. Let them dream if they want to. You lived it for a while but it didn't work out.
You came back to England because you could. End of


#3
BE Forum Addict






Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782












Been back in UK for over a year now. Loving being back but silly things still annoy me.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.

#4
Forum Regular



Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 136












I came here with $350k I am now seriously in debt,no work it sucks so I am going back to the UK where I have a job waiting.
I have some Brit friends here who are on the bones of their ass,he was earning 40 thousand pounds in the Uk here he gets $22k they have no money to go out or do anything and cry to me daily but still tell everyone at home it is sooooooo good here ,I think loads of expats up sell their move to prove they did the right thing!!!!
I have some Brit friends here who are on the bones of their ass,he was earning 40 thousand pounds in the Uk here he gets $22k they have no money to go out or do anything and cry to me daily but still tell everyone at home it is sooooooo good here ,I think loads of expats up sell their move to prove they did the right thing!!!!


#5
Account Closed


Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 83


Been back in UK for over a year now. Loving being back but silly things still annoy me.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.
The weather I can handle, it's what makes the UK the UK!
What really gets to me is the constant need to justify my decison to leave Oz. No matter where I go I meet someone who has family there and they love it, so I must be wrong. I then find myself arguing with these people as they compare their life in UK with their relatives lives in Oz. Their rellies tell them it's womderful out there so once again, I must be lying.
Does anyone else have to justify leaving Oz?
Rant Over.

#6

I do sometimes have to justify but for the most part I am over enthusiastic about my leaving Aus and my preference for UK so that they dont bang on about it beyond the first "I bet you wish you were back there now". I usually launch into a 5 minute diatribe about the things I hated and that shuts them up - occasionally you see a little glimmer of understanding so my mission will continue!!! At the moment it doesnt bother me and if I can educate in the process then all to the good!

#7

I do sometimes have to justify but for the most part I am over enthusiastic about my leaving Aus and my preference for UK so that they dont bang on about it beyond the first "I bet you wish you were back there now". I usually launch into a 5 minute diatribe about the things I hated and that shuts them up - occasionally you see a little glimmer of understanding so my mission will continue!!! At the moment it doesnt bother me and if I can educate in the process then all to the good!


#8

You won't change people's attitudes so change the way you respond (don't let it bug you so much, just acccept that's the way they are).

#9
BE Enthusiast





Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 742












I don't see why a return to UK from abroad has to be 'justified' any more than one would justify a move back to their home town after living elsewhere within the UK.
It suited me at the time to be overseas and now it suits me to now be in the UK. It is what I want. End of conversation.
It suited me at the time to be overseas and now it suits me to now be in the UK. It is what I want. End of conversation.

#10

I'm prepared for this, saw my parents go through it with friends and family when they returned to the UK from Oz in the 80's! Going somewhere on holiday is so different from actually living there and people just don't understand unless you have been through it like so many people on this forum. I think a lot of people who immigrate, myself included, go through stages as follows!
1. Hate UK want to leave.
2. Want to live in Oz and prepared to immigrate.
3. All excited, can't wait to start new life!
4. Euphoria, love the sunshine/beaches - this is the life!
5. Reality sets in, still have to work but life is good.
6. First holiday back to UK ,all is great, nice to see everyone but missing Oz.
7. Few years in, start to get fed up, missing family, don't belong.
8. Second holiday back to UK, this time don't want to leave
9. In turmoil, should I stay or go? Weigh up pros/cons - torture!
10. Find British Expats - phew! I'm not alone or going mad!!!!
11. Make decision to leave.
12. Realise the UK is actually a great place to live after all - hurrah!
I'm not dissing Australia, I have had a great time here, its a beautiful country but the UK has so much to offer as well, I had to go away to realise just what I did have - right under my nose! People get stuck in a rut and think all their problems would disappear if they moved to another country but life just isn't that simple! I'm at stage 11 atm, 6 months and I'll be home
1. Hate UK want to leave.
2. Want to live in Oz and prepared to immigrate.
3. All excited, can't wait to start new life!
4. Euphoria, love the sunshine/beaches - this is the life!
5. Reality sets in, still have to work but life is good.
6. First holiday back to UK ,all is great, nice to see everyone but missing Oz.
7. Few years in, start to get fed up, missing family, don't belong.
8. Second holiday back to UK, this time don't want to leave

9. In turmoil, should I stay or go? Weigh up pros/cons - torture!
10. Find British Expats - phew! I'm not alone or going mad!!!!
11. Make decision to leave.
12. Realise the UK is actually a great place to live after all - hurrah!
I'm not dissing Australia, I have had a great time here, its a beautiful country but the UK has so much to offer as well, I had to go away to realise just what I did have - right under my nose! People get stuck in a rut and think all their problems would disappear if they moved to another country but life just isn't that simple! I'm at stage 11 atm, 6 months and I'll be home

Last edited by MissBetty; Apr 8th 2012 at 1:26 pm.

#11
BE Enthusiast





Joined: Feb 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 983












I fear that most of us who return will get this to a certain extent, due to us Brits and our media having a general downer on our own country and not sufficiently appreciating what is good about Britain. Maybe you can only see that when you go elsewhere for a while. Also, as someone said, what people at home are fed is "dreams" of what life is like elsewhere.It`s always couched in that stupid language "living the dream", as if other countries are like Shangri-la and hold all the secrets to a happy life. Many of our friends and neighbours are well aware that they either dont want to leave the UK or are just not brave enough to go and live in another country, being comfortable enough where they are! I`m probably going to have to formulate some non offensive reply to anyone who thinks we`re mad to return without ever having given up their "comfort zone" themselves, although I do realise we`ve been lucky to have had this opportunity to find out what it`s like to live in another country.
Dont take it personally. Brits seem to be conditioned to do down their own country!
Dont take it personally. Brits seem to be conditioned to do down their own country!

#12
BE Enthusiast





Joined: Feb 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 983












Should point out I`m in the USA but still anticipate the stuff you`re talking about when I return!

#13
Forum Regular



Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 136











I came here with $350k I am now seriously in debt,no work it sucks so I am going back to the UK where I have a job waiting.
I have some Brit friends here who are on the bones of their ass,he was earning 40 thousand pounds in the Uk here he gets $22k they have no money to go out or do anything and cry to me daily but still tell everyone at home it is sooooooo good here ,I think loads of expats up sell their move to prove they did the right thing!!!!
I have some Brit friends here who are on the bones of their ass,he was earning 40 thousand pounds in the Uk here he gets $22k they have no money to go out or do anything and cry to me daily but still tell everyone at home it is sooooooo good here ,I think loads of expats up sell their move to prove they did the right thing!!!!


#14
Forum Regular



Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 136











I'm prepared for this, saw my parents go through it with friends and family when they returned to the UK from Oz in the 80's! Going somewhere on holiday is so different from actually living there and people just don't understand unless you have been through it like so many people on this forum. I think a lot of people who immigrate, myself included, go through stages as follows!
1. Hate UK want to leave.
2. Want to live in Oz and prepared to immigrate.
3. All excited, can't wait to start new life!
4. Euphoria, love the sunshine/beaches - this is the life!
5. Reality sets in, still have to work but life is good.
6. First holiday back to UK ,all is great, nice to see everyone but missing Oz.
7. Few years in, start to get fed up, missing family, don't belong.
8. Second holiday back to UK, this time don't want to leave
9. In turmoil, should I stay or go? Weigh up pros/cons - torture!
10. Find British Expats - phew! I'm not alone or going mad!!!!
11. Make decision to leave.
12. Realise the UK is actually a great place to live after all - hurrah!
I'm not dissing Australia, I have had a great time here, its a beautiful country but the UK has so much to offer as well, I had to go away to realise just what I did have - right under my nose! People get stuck in a rut and think all their problems would disappear if they moved to another country but life just isn't that simple! I'm at stage 11 atm, 6 months and I'll be home
1. Hate UK want to leave.
2. Want to live in Oz and prepared to immigrate.
3. All excited, can't wait to start new life!
4. Euphoria, love the sunshine/beaches - this is the life!
5. Reality sets in, still have to work but life is good.
6. First holiday back to UK ,all is great, nice to see everyone but missing Oz.
7. Few years in, start to get fed up, missing family, don't belong.
8. Second holiday back to UK, this time don't want to leave

9. In turmoil, should I stay or go? Weigh up pros/cons - torture!
10. Find British Expats - phew! I'm not alone or going mad!!!!
11. Make decision to leave.
12. Realise the UK is actually a great place to live after all - hurrah!
I'm not dissing Australia, I have had a great time here, its a beautiful country but the UK has so much to offer as well, I had to go away to realise just what I did have - right under my nose! People get stuck in a rut and think all their problems would disappear if they moved to another country but life just isn't that simple! I'm at stage 11 atm, 6 months and I'll be home


#15


