Making A Final Decision
Dec 31st 2011 | 12:20 am
#61
Just hanging around
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,447
From: Back in England
Re: Making A Final Decision
Bev
Dec 31st 2011 | 1:19 pm
#62
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 487
From: Calgary, AB
Re: Making A Final Decision
Moggiemiss - can totally relate to everything you said, people already having their social networks in place (in Canada - we are in Calgary) has been one of the major obstacles for us too.
However, at the moment it's not a case of if we return to the UK, but when....
However, at the moment it's not a case of if we return to the UK, but when....
Just catching up on this thread and think Sally made some very good points as well as a few other members in the forum.
I am 57, came to Canada 3 years ago as a single person with an aunt and uncle living here. I feel like an outsider. I have lived in various places in the UK, never had any problems getting work or making new friends but I am really struggling here.
I have tried joining things but people already have their social networks established. Work is often a way of making friendships. I was laid off 6 months ago in a medium size organisation after 2 years just as I felt I was getting to 'fit in'.
I am going to apply for citizenship and I am going to give it one more year
I have another job now but it is in a small office - just 3 people I am not sure it is going to help me anchor here but it will help pay for a return to England.
(I was unable to sell my house in England so I have a home to go back to.)
I am doing office work as it is the only work I can find but my background is academic/local government management
The only anchor I really have is my aunt and uncle who are in their 70s. It is the lack of shared culture (and sense of humour) that makes it difficiult to integrate. I love Canada and I have no regrets about giving it a try; I did lots of research and knew it could be difficult to find work initially but I think I truly underestimated how difficult it would be to integrate.
It has been a great experience but a costly one if I do decide to return to England.
I am 57, came to Canada 3 years ago as a single person with an aunt and uncle living here. I feel like an outsider. I have lived in various places in the UK, never had any problems getting work or making new friends but I am really struggling here.
I have tried joining things but people already have their social networks established. Work is often a way of making friendships. I was laid off 6 months ago in a medium size organisation after 2 years just as I felt I was getting to 'fit in'.
I am going to apply for citizenship and I am going to give it one more year
I have another job now but it is in a small office - just 3 people I am not sure it is going to help me anchor here but it will help pay for a return to England.
(I was unable to sell my house in England so I have a home to go back to.)
I am doing office work as it is the only work I can find but my background is academic/local government management
The only anchor I really have is my aunt and uncle who are in their 70s. It is the lack of shared culture (and sense of humour) that makes it difficiult to integrate. I love Canada and I have no regrets about giving it a try; I did lots of research and knew it could be difficult to find work initially but I think I truly underestimated how difficult it would be to integrate.
It has been a great experience but a costly one if I do decide to return to England.
Jan 1st 2012 | 5:02 am
#63
Practical Paramedic
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 931
From: The Beautiful South, UK
Re: Making A Final Decision
I must admit it is nice to know I'm not alone in the should I shouldn't I atm!
MoggieMiss - You are welcome! I have some good friends now but it did take time and I will always miss my UK friends. I was just a bit taken aback at how it felt like being the new girl at high school all over again ha ha!!!
HunnyBunny - Good point on do people like us ever really settle? My Dad is Irish and as a child I lived in the Uk/Australia/Ireland and NZ - I blame him lol!
SallySimmons - Yes the cost of moving - arrghhh! My company paid to move me here so I would have to do some hard saving to go back to the UK but then I keep thinking "what if I am making a mistake?" also the stress of moving all over again is so daunting. I have a permanent position now but I have moved 5 times now in 4 years due to my job and I feel sick about doing it AGAIN - sigh!
HumphreyDoodle - I am from Brighton funnily enough and I really miss it! I'd forgotten how miserable the weather can be though as I only go back in the summer..................
Well things are a bit better today for me. My nice boss has given me the heads up that my mean boss is applying for other jobs so that would really make a difference to me. Like Fajaouk and Ozboyz I do have a nice lifestyle here and I earn double what I would in the UK so maybe I should stick it out for another year, save like mad and see how things go? Also now Xmas/New Year is over my spirits have lifted quite a bit as things get back to normal - phew. I think the worst thing is wrestling with the whole 'what should I do FFS?' question - it drives me MAD. Just to end on a funny note, I'm a paramedic and I worked NYE and we got flogged all night. Returning to station with my crewmate completed exhausted, after a night of picking up drunks and being abused, we drove along the beachside as the sun came up adn turned the radion on. The first song I heard playing in 2012? The Clash. 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' I'm not kidding. Needless to say we both cracked up laughing ha ha ha!!!!!!! Well I shall keep reading and hopefully we all make good decisions at the end of the day - happy new year to you all!
MoggieMiss - You are welcome! I have some good friends now but it did take time and I will always miss my UK friends. I was just a bit taken aback at how it felt like being the new girl at high school all over again ha ha!!!
HunnyBunny - Good point on do people like us ever really settle? My Dad is Irish and as a child I lived in the Uk/Australia/Ireland and NZ - I blame him lol!
SallySimmons - Yes the cost of moving - arrghhh! My company paid to move me here so I would have to do some hard saving to go back to the UK but then I keep thinking "what if I am making a mistake?" also the stress of moving all over again is so daunting. I have a permanent position now but I have moved 5 times now in 4 years due to my job and I feel sick about doing it AGAIN - sigh!
HumphreyDoodle - I am from Brighton funnily enough and I really miss it! I'd forgotten how miserable the weather can be though as I only go back in the summer..................
Well things are a bit better today for me. My nice boss has given me the heads up that my mean boss is applying for other jobs so that would really make a difference to me. Like Fajaouk and Ozboyz I do have a nice lifestyle here and I earn double what I would in the UK so maybe I should stick it out for another year, save like mad and see how things go? Also now Xmas/New Year is over my spirits have lifted quite a bit as things get back to normal - phew. I think the worst thing is wrestling with the whole 'what should I do FFS?' question - it drives me MAD. Just to end on a funny note, I'm a paramedic and I worked NYE and we got flogged all night. Returning to station with my crewmate completed exhausted, after a night of picking up drunks and being abused, we drove along the beachside as the sun came up adn turned the radion on. The first song I heard playing in 2012? The Clash. 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' I'm not kidding. Needless to say we both cracked up laughing ha ha ha!!!!!!! Well I shall keep reading and hopefully we all make good decisions at the end of the day - happy new year to you all!
Jan 1st 2012 | 5:20 am
#65
Practical Paramedic
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 931
From: The Beautiful South, UK
Jan 1st 2012 | 1:18 pm
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 260
Re: Making A Final Decision
I don't have to make the decision to stay or go, as I know I am returning home next year now:-) Even though I still have days when I regret even coming here.
But I think it has more to do with how I am feeling that day. My quality of life is very similar to back home, so that has nothing to do with it. If Im having a good day, I think to myself - best thing I ever did, shame we only have 18 months left. On a bad day - god I wish we had never come, worst country in the world!
I also know when I had bad days at home my reaction was - if only we lived somewhere else.
Enjoying things has more to do with who you have around you and how you are feeling. I've taken my children to Disneyland in Florida and they had a good time, but I've also seen them having the time of their lives, in our old back garden in a paddling pool costings £9.99.
Logically I know, how I feel has more to do with me that the country I live in, but that doesn't help on the days I hate it here
But I think it has more to do with how I am feeling that day. My quality of life is very similar to back home, so that has nothing to do with it. If Im having a good day, I think to myself - best thing I ever did, shame we only have 18 months left. On a bad day - god I wish we had never come, worst country in the world!
I also know when I had bad days at home my reaction was - if only we lived somewhere else.
Enjoying things has more to do with who you have around you and how you are feeling. I've taken my children to Disneyland in Florida and they had a good time, but I've also seen them having the time of their lives, in our old back garden in a paddling pool costings £9.99.
Logically I know, how I feel has more to do with me that the country I live in, but that doesn't help on the days I hate it here
Jan 2nd 2012 | 12:07 am
#67
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,211
From: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Re: Making A Final Decision
I don't have to make the decision to stay or go, as I know I am returning home next year now:-) Even though I still have days when I regret even coming here.
But I think it has more to do with how I am feeling that day. My quality of life is very similar to back home, so that has nothing to do with it. If Im having a good day, I think to myself - best thing I ever did, shame we only have 18 months left. On a bad day - god I wish we had never come, worst country in the world!
I also know when I had bad days at home my reaction was - if only we lived somewhere else.
Enjoying things has more to do with who you have around you and how you are feeling. I've taken my children to Disneyland in Florida and they had a good time, but I've also seen them having the time of their lives, in our old back garden in a paddling pool costings £9.99.
Logically I know, how I feel has more to do with me that the country I live in, but that doesn't help on the days I hate it here
But I think it has more to do with how I am feeling that day. My quality of life is very similar to back home, so that has nothing to do with it. If Im having a good day, I think to myself - best thing I ever did, shame we only have 18 months left. On a bad day - god I wish we had never come, worst country in the world!
I also know when I had bad days at home my reaction was - if only we lived somewhere else.
Enjoying things has more to do with who you have around you and how you are feeling. I've taken my children to Disneyland in Florida and they had a good time, but I've also seen them having the time of their lives, in our old back garden in a paddling pool costings £9.99.
Logically I know, how I feel has more to do with me that the country I live in, but that doesn't help on the days I hate it here
