Hello everyone, I was away a week doing some serious soul searching. so now I'm back and have taken the decision to give my notice at work on Monday (May 2, 2005), very very scary. But not as scary as what the government here have been up to. They expelled all of the American Military personnel from the country last week and have been ranting all week about CIA infiltration of the army bases here etc.etc. (I'm not kidding!!) the President is currently in Cuba sucking up to Fidel Castro and giving away petrol and the such!! The American Embassy has been asked to report all American citizens living in the country and basically all "American looking" foreigners are at great risk.
I haven't been able to sell my car yet, but since I have to give a month's notice I've got time still, we have decided (the hubby and I) that even if it doesn't get sold I'll still go (just with the skin of my teeth as it were) I just hope to get a job as soon as possible once I'm back because my Dad is a pensioner and won't be able to "keep" us.
I'm feeling very ambivalent about the decision because even though I am fully aware that we can't stay here, I have to leave my husband, my eldest daughter and my youngest son behind at least until I can get my stuff together in Britain and frankly it frightens me that something might happen to them or the borders get closed off (like in Cuba) etc.etc. However I don't think I've got much choice.

I'll keep you posted on what goes on, at least I can start getting organized now that I've got a date too, (no later than the 5th of June I reckon). I'm leaving all my furniture and bits and bobs behind so it will just be suitcases and what fits in them that I will be taking.

I'm looking forward to the "incredible, delicious, wonderfull" havent had for about 5 years "CADBURY's CHOCOLATE"!!! though...so not everything is doom and gloom.

Good luck to you Ilene I hope you are all reuninited safe and soon

Best of luck to you Ilene!

I was wondering if your husband's qualifications might be valid in Australia or New Zealand? I do know that Canada is not on the cards as foreign qualifications aren't really recognised there. Perhaps it's worth checking to see if he could work in an international clinic or hospital in South East Asia eg. Thailand or Malaysia....I guess contacting their embassies would be a good start.

Anyway, here's another website which you might want to 'bookmark' when you're looking for a job in the UK....also check the links at the bottom of the page for other jobs eg. admin jobs in the NHS etc:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/dms...i%3Ftid%3D7901

Hello Englishmum, thanks for the good luck wishes I reckon I'm going to need them.
We have checked up on the possibility of work for my husband in Australia and New Zealand and it would seem that he has to do the same sort of exams as for Britain, my husband's English isn't very good I'm afraid (we are working on it) and we don't think he would have much of a chance (not right now anyway). This is why he has started on this Post Graduate Degree in Public Health which is more on the administrative side of medicine, and we believe he would have a good chance of work in a non-government agency such as The Panamerican Health Organization or Doctors without Frontiers etc.etc. (probably not even in the UK, it might be in Spain or in Asia) He works for the public health service here in Venezuela as a regional coordinator for Aids and Sexually Transmitted diseases and has an extense CV in public health, but he didn't have a degree which he must have in order to enter the international public health area. The issue is me surviving and making a decent life for my kids whilst my husband is finishing of his degree in Venezuela (and keeping himself and my daughter alive).

Thanks for the web site I'll check it out right now.

Well, three weeks to go now, I'm in a sort of limbo state, everytime I start to think about packing I just can't get it together, I wish I could just close my eyes and be there already!!!
I spent a few days immediately after resigning at my job, thinking about how I might have made a mistake, but the political situation here has been a wonderfull reality check, staying is just out of the question..
Great news on the job side of things though, I've got two interviews in London on June 6th, (I'm arriving on the 31st of May). I'ts funny because I've been trying so hard to get a job in Norwich but it seems that London is definitely where it's at. The thought is scary because I've never been to London other than as a tourist only about twice in my whole life, so the prospect of trying to live there is mind-boggling, but that is where I've been getting the best job offers. Does anybody have any tips on how to survive in London, I'll have one 15 year old with me and towards the end of this year a 4 year old, so living in bedsits and shared accomodation wont be an option.
Thanks all

Hi Ilene, I cant help with info on London, but I can relate to the limbo feeling. I have a little less than six months to go and at first I was gung-ho about getting things sorted. Now I feel in limbo as so many things can only be done 'last minute' and yet there will be so many last minute things that the thought of it really stresses me out and exhausts me. It will be interesting to see how I actually get through it all.
I do want to wish you the best however and keep us informed.

Hi Ilene,
sorry i can't help too much with tips on living in London -been there as a tourist only and loved it! Reckon you would need to be sure of a pretty nice salary though to be ok with raising two kids in it!

Since you mentioned you were looking for work in Norwich can I assume that is where you were living pre America? the reason I ask is we are really unsettled in New Zealand and are thinking of returning to the uk and Norfolk appears to be the pick for us at the minute. Only trouble is neither of us have ever been there. We were originally from Northern Ireland and know we don't want to raise our kids there (politics again!) but we are fairly sure we don't want to be in New Zealand for ever either. Basically, we don't want to be here and we don't want to go home so believe me I totally understand Limbo!!

Anyway, if you had a minute I would really appreciate it if you could tell me anything good or bad about life in Norfolk. I am a nurse and my husband is fairly flexible so work should not be a major problem most places we reckon. Things we would love to know are, is it really as flat as people say? Are the people a friendly lot or is it tough for outsiders? What are the beaches like and any lowdown on local schools/good and bad places to live etc. of course would be great.

Not sure how long you have been away or if you had other reasons for looking at Norwich but if you or anyone else could put any information this way it might help to work through our Limbo too.

wishing you all the very best with your future too - hope things work out really well for you and the kids.

Just a quick note... NHS jobs are definately worth a look, as there is a possibility of subsidised housing. Most hospitals have accomodation available on site. This may help you.

Hello:
No I have never lived in Norfolk, I am from Ayrshire in Scotland originally and so is all of my family. The last time I went to the UK I stayed in Dunfermline just outside of Edinburgh. So Norfolk is a first for me too. However, my parents and a brother moved there three years ago, basically because they remembered a really fabulous holiday we once had on the Norfolk Broads and they wanted to retire there. I have been only once on a holiday two years ago. My Dad says that it is a very nice area to live in. I have been reading some horror stories on a local Great Yarmouth forum (you can check out the major local newspaper on www.edp24.co.uk just to get a feel for the place). however my family are quite content and think that the people in general are very friendly. Norwich in particular seems to be a very nice albeit small city with smashing shops and lots of businesses. From what I can recall it is very flat (especially compared to Scotland) but just a few minutes from my parents place, there are some beautiful typical English country villages with the thatched roofs etc.etc. In general I think it's very pretty. Apparently the beach at Great Yarmouth is a bit polluted, but there is a lovely beach at Caisters and other places along the coast. I don't know anything about schools which is a bit worrying for me (my eldest boy is 15) so I won't know that until I get there.
I'm leaving on the 31st so I can give you much more information once I get there (especially the schools and housing bit)
Thanks for your best wishes.

Hi Ilene,
many thanks for your reply and for all the information. It certainly sounds like it might be a good choice of place to be and I have spoken to another girl from this website too who has lived there and loves it. Only downside from most peoples points of view seems to be the lack of any great hills or mountains but sounds like there is plenty of other scenery of one kind or another to substitute.

Would certainly appreciate any more information you can think of when you get there if you have time and in the meantime once again best wishes for your move. We move out of our house on the 31st too so i will be thinking of you!!

Hello everybody:

Well I arrived in Norfolk on June 1, and have had the most wonderful time so far. After all the agonizing about whether I should come out (you can see my past posts for all that) and if I was going to starve to death because I couldn't get benefits and probably wasn't going to get a job, etc, etc, moan moan, whinge whinge, two days after I arrived I went to two interviews and got accepted at both of them. I have been working for a week now at a lovely solicitors office in a very rural location, the drive out from where I live is absolutely beautiful, along lovely english country roads, and I am loving it. My son is already in school and is learning English at top speed, everybody has been really helpful and he has been accepted and has made some friends, is in the football team and the drama group etc.

Soooo, to everybody who has agonized (and there are lots of us) over whether or not to come back to the UK and have wondered whether they are making the right move etc. well read up on my past threads and you'll see just how difficult the situation was for me, it will probably make you feel a lot better and help you to make the right decision.

I feel settled already and I've only been back three weeks, the first couple of days at work were difficult because I really hardly understood a thing, but the people here have been wonderful and patient with my "south american ways".

Anyway I now feel that I can just get on with it and I don't doubt that I can make some headway at last, get a house and get the rest of my family out with me as soon as possible.

I'll keep you all updated on things.

Congratulations thats wonderful news. I know there will be many that will take comfort from your thread.

Ilene,
Its great news. I'm so happy for you, and yes it does ease worried minds a lot to hear your move is a success. We'll look forward to more updates. Bet you cant wait till the rest of your family is home and settled.Sounds like you have a good start on things though.

Ilene

Welcome home.....what a lovely post. I am really pleased you have a job and no long before all the rest of the family will be with you. Until then enjoy that Cadbury choccie..I went to Cadbury World and to be honest at the end of the tour etc I had enough for the year....and now I have the gained weight to show for it..!!!oh well all naughty things taste nice huh !!

Pls keep us posted..it was great to read you are safe and sound

Cheers

P