Originally Posted by dunroving

But let Cricket get the last post or we'll never hear the last of it.

Originally Posted by dunroving

I esperienced the same thing (I left in 1983). I didn't have a lot of family left behind in the UK, and my family upbringing was far from what you'd call "normal", therefore I didn't have so much of the family pull that many exapts cite as being the main reason for returning.

But I did keep getting this yearning for a place where people would understand certain aspects of my humour, or my references to Blue Peter ("Get down Shep!"), or why I gave the Carol Smillie Award to the smiliest student every year, etc., etc. So, as you said, I felt like I had left part of me behind that could never exist in the US. I would have the BBC news on while working at the computer, watch BBCAmerica, etc., to "fill the need" I perceived. Don't get me wrong; I was quite happy in the US (I recently rediscovered this ironically titled BE article taken from a thread of mine in 2006: http://britishexpats.com/articles/mo...d/not-all-bad/) , but I just felt that I didn't belong there long-term.

In reality, when I did return to the UK, I found that (a) I was actually very out of tune with the UK (I had missed over 20 years of British news, culture, sport, etc., after all), and felt more of a stranger here than I did in the US (where in fact, being a foreigner was "normal"); (b) I was bowled over by how many things were so different from what I expected; and (c) I realised that despite many visits back over the years, I had not carefully enough weighed up the US vs UK thing, and had underresearched (ironic as I am a researcher) the realities of many aspects of being back (most notably my economic status, and the nature of my professional life here).

This is my experience. Yours may differ, but my biggest piece of advice would be not to give up what you have unless you are absolutely sure. Also, I'd recommend you try to find a "suck it and see" option (move back for a temporary - say, 12-month - stay, and then decide). If I'd done that (I had the chance of taking a 12-month sabbatical, and stupidly turned it down), I know for sure I'd have been running back to the States as fast as my little legs could carry me on day 365 ... now I'm still here after almost 3 years and just heard that a job in the US that I was shortlisted for has been frozen due to the economic crisis ...

Originally Posted by cricket1

So I sadly lack integrity do I? Oh Dear. I think not. I have not attacked Tricia, Dunroving or anyone personally. If they feel they must compare themselves, they must ask themselves why they need to do this.
As you've joined the bandwagon USA gypsies, you perhaps need to ask yourself also why you needed to post the above comments?


Isn't that right Tricia? Didn't you PM me with your possible motives for moving to Oz. Just got to justify it by sinking the UK first.

Originally Posted by Danny B

Anyone who moves back to the UK jobless, with unemployment at a 10yr high is either incredibly brave, or incredibly foolish.

Just bide your time and wait until this mess is finally over.

Originally Posted by cricket1

Ruby, it wasn't that long ago you were on these boards posting about leaving your husband high and dry while you took off. Then you openly slated your husband's character quite fervently. Then you decided you were better off sticking with him rather than face financial uncertainty by moving back to the UK alone.
Are you sure you want to start taking the moral high ground?