was the grass greener?
 

hi
just wondering if anyone moving back from canada.
we are considering the move from uk to canada but wondered about those returning and why the grass wasnt greener on the other sider and now want to move back.

would love to hear your thoughts

jen

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Hi Jen

I moved back from Canada (Toronto) just over a year ago. We lived there for just over 8 years and it just never really felt like home (even to my Canadian OH) especially when our kids were born. We look back now and wonder why we stuck it out for so long we are so much happier here. For us life in Canada was pretty dull we have so much more fun here I guess mostly due to having family around.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Well the grass wasn't greener in OZ, it was brown hehe.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Got that right and with brown snakes in it :D

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Same in Northern California, very dry and brown, it burns really well :(

Re: was the grass greener?
 

The assumption that the grass is greener is quite simply the worst reason for moving overseas to anywhere, since any location will have pros and cons.

Lack of support network is the biggest downside of anywhere (assuming you currently have one in UK) ..love that moment when you fill in the emergency contact forms at the kids' school and have to put OH's work colleague down because you have no friends yet lol.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Hey Jen,

The grass is definitely not greener... it just tastes different.

I haven't moved back yet, but I am in the process of trying to talk the wife and the kids into it after 7 years here. On the face of it, Canada does have a lot to offer - but then so does Britain - it all depends what you're after. For me, I discovered I missed my friends and family way more than I thought I would - and that's my main motivation for wanting to return home.

But there are other reasons too. Canada's wide open spaces seem fantastic when we first arrived, but during a recent return visit I was struck with how much diversity Britain has in such a small area. The scenary changes so rapidly over a short distance and there's so many things to do. Canada is bigger and flatter and duller. And all the roads are straight and all the cars are automatic, so there's no fun to be had driving here.

Canada seems more materialistic too. Sure, you'll have a bigger house and a bigger car and a bigger view and more space to run around in - but there's a distinct lack of culture and pretty much everywhere looks the same after a while. Maybe too much influence from south of the border.

A word of warning - job hunting here can be hard, and Canadian employers are more interested in qualifications than experience. I know of quite a few ex-pats over here (myself included) who really struggled finding a good job. And now is really not a good time to be looking either, unless your skills are well in demand.

Whatever you do, the best advice I can give is don't burn your bridges behind you (which I did, BTW). Leave yourself an easy way to return to Britain if things don't work out the way you intended.

Cheers,
Steve

Re: was the grass greener?
 

The grass is greener everywhere if you dont have to work , but then i guess none of us would have left the uk in the first place . Migrants tend to put ''getting ahead'' to be on top the list then ''lifestyle'' ,problem is your too busy to have a ''lifestyle'' if your too busy bustin yer chops for the man .Before you know it your too old to do anything apart from pull ''onion weed'' out of the dirt as a way to pass the day away .

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Well said Steve,
After 40 years my sentiments are the same. Moving back in 6 more days, Canadian hubby and dogs will come early next year after I am established there.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Hi Jenny

We have been in BC for 2 1/2 years and are planning to go back next year, someone I knew who had lived in Canada before said to me when we were moving, the first year you'll love it the 2nd you'll hate it and by the 3rd year you'll know whether or not you'll want to stay and this really proved to be our experience.
We were classic honeymooners our 1st year and were never going back to the uk, consequently we burned a few bridges. The 2nd year I was so homesick it was also the year I started work and really noticed the cultural differences that are not always immediately obvious. In fact my OH banned me from talking about whether or not to back as I was doing his head in-can't blame him I was doing my own head in .
Now it is he who is really wanting to go back and I think for us it is people we miss,I miss my girlfriends especially ,I did make a couple of good friends but they both moved back to the uk:(
OH is now on his 2nd job and still can't find the camraderie or humour he used to have in the uk , at the moment he is coming home everyday with a little black cloud hanging over him. We don't hate it here but need to go back sooner rather than later as we have 2 boys 8 & 5 and feel staying any longer will be harder on them if we then move back.

Really I think you will always wonder if you don't try it and you do learn a lot about yourself even if it doesn't work out,
Good Luck with your move I hope you find what you're looking for and I'm sorry for rambling on but it is my 1st post so trying to fit it all in!

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Ain't that the truth :p Karma.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

Had you considered getting citizenship before leaving? It gives you and your children options in the future. There have been a few on here recently who's parents went back and the kids as adults want to come back, but have to go through the whole immigration process over again. Two and a half years is still pretty short time, after three years we started to settle in, it was ten before we really felt like we belonged here. When working I could be in the UK a couple or so times a month and was always glad to be going home to Canada.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

What Aviator said, with bells on.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

What you say is true but if you are really unhappy then 6 months is a long time.
For me I am desperately unhappy here in Oz and 5 years or so of misery to eventually accept it or feel at home are not worth it in my opinion.
Having met scores of expats we are all different in terms of how settled we are. I probably am one of the bad cases who feel unhappy most of the time. A lot of friends are not totally settled but reasonably happy so I think in time they will really feel at home and can deal with it better.

I also think it can be the place as we are different people than we were in the U.K and for the worse I might add.

Re: was the grass greener?
 

I am not sure why anyone would want to stay in someplace that it took them 10 years to feel like they belonged? That is along time to feel that way. I do agree though, if you can wait and get your citizenship for your kids, as they may wish to return at a later date and if they don't well nothing really lost. I think you can apply for you citizenship after 3 years but from what I have been told by people in the middle of waiting it can take over a year. This might be a good time though to prepare for your return trip back to UK.