So glad we decided to come home
May 19th 2005, 9:11 am
#1
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: portsmouth england
Posts: 25
So glad we decided to come home
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
May 19th 2005, 11:51 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 226
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by mandy smith
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
..but a valuable lesson nonetheless!) Glad to hear you've settled back into life in the U.K alright and are now happy. 
May 19th 2005, 11:56 am
#3
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Joined: May 2005
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 14
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by kath n kim
Hi Mandy, thanks for sharing your experiences and feelings with everybody. It's good for people to hear different views from people who have been there and done it. Sometimes it takes living in a place before you realise you don't really want to be there. (An expensive way to learn.....as I've found out ..but a valuable lesson nonetheless!) Glad to hear you've settled back into life in the U.K alright and are now happy.
..but a valuable lesson nonetheless!) Glad to hear you've settled back into life in the U.K alright and are now happy.
May 19th 2005, 1:33 pm
#4
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Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 858
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by mandy smith
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
very interested to hear your experience as we are going without visiting but our feelings were that on a holiday we would not get a real feel for life there.
Be happy
Chris
May 19th 2005, 2:01 pm
#5
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Joined: Oct 2002
Location: UK 2 Oz, Oz 2 UK, Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt!
Posts: 773
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Glad to hear you are happy to be back. Now you can get on and get you life in some sort of order
Welcome home
Mandy
Welcome home
Mandy
May 19th 2005, 2:20 pm
#6
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: from Shepherds Bush to Aussie Bush. Well not quite - Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
Posts: 187
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by mandy smith
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
May 19th 2005, 2:27 pm
#7
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: portsmouth england
Posts: 25
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by jc_hoops
Welcome home, but I can't see how you can say you have "experienced Aus" in four weeks
I didnt say that i had experienced Oz in Only four weeks i said i knew in our heart of hearts we had made a mistake,i had been to Australia alot of times and stayed there over eight months previously on a working holiday visa,but knowing you are there on a permanent basis is a different matter.
Everyone is different at the end of the day and somethings you just know.
May 19th 2005, 2:46 pm
#8
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Mid West >> UK
Posts: 1,239
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Good for you Mandy. There will be some that question how long you gave it, but I think you know in your heart what is right and wrong. Many people stay longer just to give it more time but they end up returning anyway saying it still didnt get any better...why put yourself through that. Not only that the longer you stay anywhere the harder it is to fit in when you get home, financially and emotionally.
May 19th 2005, 2:49 pm
#9
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Mid West >> UK
Posts: 1,239
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by Chris Mitchell
Thanks Mandy,
very interested to hear your experience as we are going without visiting but our feelings were that on a holiday we would not get a real feel for life there.
Be happy
Chris
very interested to hear your experience as we are going without visiting but our feelings were that on a holiday we would not get a real feel for life there.
Be happy
Chris
May 19th 2005, 5:00 pm
#10
Live the moment
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: In between nappies and feeds
Posts: 2,026
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by karen011258
Hi, I guess I am on the other end of what you were saying. I am an Aussie and want to go back home to Aus. I too miss my family and all that is familiar. England and me just don't work. My hubby thankgoodness wants to live in Aus and so we are hopefully going to make the move. I do know how hard it is to be the otherside of the world from home. I share your thoughts greatly!!
Hi Karen
It must be very hard for you but just think you will soon be home. One of my aussie mates came here with her hubby and 3 kids she found it very hard at first but now 1yr on is ok. She still has bad days and then good ones.She will be going back to Oz in early 2006 and even now worries how she will settle back into Aussie life. The slower pace etc...she has been to more places here and in Europe in the last yr than I have in my lifetime here...good for her.!!I will miss her dearly...
When do you hope to return and what part are you heading home too?
Cheers
P
May 19th 2005, 5:43 pm
#11
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Joined: May 2005
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 14
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by Pants
Hi Karen
It must be very hard for you but just think you will soon be home. One of my aussie mates came here with her hubby and 3 kids she found it very hard at first but now 1yr on is ok. She still has bad days and then good ones.She will be going back to Oz in early 2006 and even now worries how she will settle back into Aussie life. The slower pace etc...she has been to more places here and in Europe in the last yr than I have in my lifetime here...good for her.!!I will miss her dearly...
When do you hope to return and what part are you heading home too?
Cheers
P
It must be very hard for you but just think you will soon be home. One of my aussie mates came here with her hubby and 3 kids she found it very hard at first but now 1yr on is ok. She still has bad days and then good ones.She will be going back to Oz in early 2006 and even now worries how she will settle back into Aussie life. The slower pace etc...she has been to more places here and in Europe in the last yr than I have in my lifetime here...good for her.!!I will miss her dearly...
When do you hope to return and what part are you heading home too?
Cheers
P
May 19th 2005, 5:56 pm
#12
Live the moment
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: In between nappies and feeds
Posts: 2,026
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by karen011258
Hi, well to reply to your question..... when do we hope to return to Aus? I hope to retur as soon as we can, but we have to get a spouse visa for my hubby, who is English. We are having problems as we have been told he needs an AOS as I am not working and so cannot show how I could support him in Aus. I come from Victoria and all my family are there, including my 3 kids. I am very homesick and just want to go home. Why they just won't let hubby in without all the red tape, I have no idea. Why is life so hard!!!!
Tough I know....sorry what is an AOS?Can you not apply for it once you are in Australia?
Last edited by Pants; May 19th 2005 at 6:01 pm.
May 19th 2005, 6:23 pm
#13
Just Joined
Joined: May 2005
Location: Kent, England
Posts: 14
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by Pants
Tough I know....sorry what is an AOS?Can you not apply for it once you are in Australia?
May 19th 2005, 7:07 pm
#14
Came Back 2003
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Home & Settled
Posts: 659
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by mandy smith
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
Like you I knew within about 4 weeks that I wasn't going to stay whatever, I just knew deep down. We stayed 6 months with the decision to return being made after about 2 and all I can say is I counted every day and it didn't get any better. Our lives now are so much better and going to Oz has made that happen. I now want the simple things in life and I am totally contented with my life, before I was always looking for the next thing (ie new job, migrating etc), it cost us a lot of money but to get that out of my system it was worth every penny.
Everyone is different and I am so pleased for people when it works out for them they are so lucky, but it is best to have tried and it not work than spend your whole lives wondering "what if".
Susan
May 19th 2005, 10:26 pm
#15
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 511
Re: So glad we decided to come home
Originally Posted by mandy smith
Hello everyone,
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
I thought id share our experience of Australia and the reasons we returned after just three months,
Both myself and my husband had been to Australia five times before emigrating to Perth in August 2004,we thought it was the perfect place for us,we decided on Perth as we had friends there and the property is alot cheaper there.It took two long years to get the visa and about 4 weeks to find out we had done the wrong thing.
We both found it difficult to find work but evenually did but we were both on very low wages.we had rented our dream house and was apparantly living the dream.the thing is it just didnt feel quite right,we would have good days then have a period of feeling terrible,i think the feeling that this was forever hit us,and we started to appreciate the life we had in the UK.we were use to good paid jobs,the freedom of European travel that was cheap.familiarity of your surroundings and the simple fact that we didnt stand out.
It sounds like we were just moaning but if your heart is not into it what can you do but return to what you know and to make sure that you dont take your life with friends and family for granted again.
I dont regreat trying the Oz experience and i still love the country dearly and hope to holiday there again,but since coming back to blighty im alot more content and its proved to us that grass is not always greener on the other side of the world.
I wish everyone the best of luck in all they choose to do with their lives.
mandy and lance
You did what you felt was right. Only you can decide what's right for you. I too would have done the same, but I have 3 other people to consider, so am here for another 1.5-2 years at least. I KNOW that this is not for me, no matter how long I stay here, it isn't going to bring my family and my kids grandparents any nearer, it isn't going to bring Europe any closer. So here I stay.........
good luck and I hope it all works out at home!!!