HK2UK

So we'd be planning to move back to the UK for the last half a year now and now when it comes to booking our tickets we've had a sudden change of heart. I don't know if its cold feet or what but suddenly I'm thinking...what's the rush!

We've only been in Hong Kong 1-2 years and it was always our intention to stay for this long as we just wanted to experience something new and not permanently stay but now its time to leave, we're reluctant.

My partner just got a pay rise and bonus and has a decent job here, our biggest worry is that we'll be going from that to no job as I've been reading about how 2011 may be the year of doom slightly because of the governments plans to axe all those jobs and some people I directly know have been made redundant so it feel CRAZY to leave our easy, comfortable life here to return!

Seriously, on paper our life is amazing here, its so safe here, we live near beaches, on site clubhouse facilities, only a small plane ride away from so many exotic places, tax is insanely low here and things are relatively cheaper so saving a fair bit and the weather is better (although I miss the fresh air!) BUT the things I love here are material things. I miss my family a lot in the UK and feel guilty actually not being nearer to them and I miss being able to catch up face to face with my besties from home, emailing is not the same and to be honest we've not made friends here at all, not in the sense of what I would call a friend anyway, more like colleagues/acquaintances.

I'm not really expecting a revelation from posting this, I guess I just wanted to virtually rant really

In all seriousness, are the general public viewing 2011 as a bad year to come? Are people worried about losing their jobs/not being able to find new jobs etc.
I know there are other similar threads and from reading them, everyone that has returned seems really happy about the social/lifestyle side but don't specifically discuss the area I'm most concerned about which is employment.

We are mid twenties if that makes a difference !

Bevm

You don't say why you were thinking of moving back.

In your situation I would wait a year or two. Things seem to be great for you there, and things in the UK are going to really shake out over the next couple of years, I think, so you'll know better if it'll work for you in practical terms.

Objectively and materialistically, the far east seems to be a good place to be now and in the near future.

Bev

Schbang

yes we're at a very similar 'cold feet' stage after 4.5 years in Singapore, we have such a good life out here, and as much I long for friends and family back home we're very fearful of what we're returning to jobwise. It feels like economic suicide walking away from such booming times in Asia, recent bonuses and payrises just emphasise that. What make's it hard is my wife is Asian and not looking forward to leaving her family, and equally eldrerly parents, or living through the winters. We're scheduled to fly in 3 months and my wife's settlement visa application is due to go in next week, but now we're loosing our bottle. Sadly though my mum has Alzheimer's and is declining, there are other family nearby supporting her, but we know the joy we can bring her by bringing her grand-daughter home to live nearby during her final years will be unmeasurable, oohhh God I think this is hardest decision I've ever had to make...

brits1

I just watched a relocation programme on one of the BBC stations here in the u.K and a couple were returning from Queensland after 3 years...when asked why (after the presenter explained the couple had a 5 bedroom 3 bathroom house in Aus) they were returning after their Aus lifestyle the couple explained that though the last 3 years had been really good and would not of missed the experience for the world they came to the conclusion that the 3 F's were the most important thing to them....there 3 F's were: Family, Friends and Football (I Know..lol) but it just rang true with us....maybe not for everyone but well I suppose you have to know what's really important to you both. Your both young so you could try a bit longer to make true friends etc...the climate in the U.K for work is much the same in most countries at the moment, it seems to effect some and not others and this mainly depends on careers etc. Good luck

dunroving

Personally, I would never relocate to another country without having a job in hand (though I know that's not always possible in some professions), especially if you really don't have a burning need to move home right this minute (which it sounds is the case).

Stay where you are, keep enjoyng your situation, use the pay rise to fund trips home, and wait for the economic sh*t to stop hitting the fan, or until you feel the need to go home outweighs the risk of ending up jobless and miserable.

If you are in your mid-twenties NOW is the time you have the flexibility to have fun as an expat - if kids come along, that's when you may be forced into choices to return home, so why do it now?

brizzle

What he said. Of course you're going to miss friends/family, but the jobs market is fragile in a lot of places. Have you done anything about looking for work in the UK? I've moved once without having a job lined up and never doing that again. I'd say enjoy the life you've got, have a trip back to the UK and put some feelers out about work there. Good luck.

HK2UK

Thanks for the replies everyone.

re: why we wanted to move back.

Well good question! I guess it was because it was always only meant to be 2 years here for fun/experience and then back and it was only when going back we thought 'wait a min...we don't HAVE TO go back yet!' but there are many things that are missing here that are in the UK for us i.e family and friends.
My dad is getting on a bit and I have step sisters who are only 9 (accidents!) and mostly I feel like I should be there for them to be the 'big sister' and whatnot, like one of them was rushed to hospital and it felt awful not being able to just visit them in hospital and show physical support so its gets you thinking about how important it is to just...be there on that week to week basis.

Also career wise, neither of us are specialist in any field and are not high achieving academics etc so would be difficult for either of us to land a job before moving.
We've just been very lucky having made some flukey decisions that panned out well so there is the worry of my partner 'downgrading' work wise as he has a decent job here (and the low tax is astounding! his tax this year was £300, would of been £7k if we were in the UK ka-ching!)
BUUUUT its not as good for me career wise as I do design which is not the sort of industry that is good here so I've been doing unrelated work - nanny, teaching and now I'm a freelance writer but I feel like a bum without a proper boss/schedule which combined with the relative isolation has made me feel unconfident about myself.

But yes, since posting my OP, we've pretty much decided to stay, my dad basically said we would be idiots to leave and told me to cut the apron strings love you too dad!
Also reading (on these expat style forums) about many people hoping to get to HK for work to escape the UK/USA/etc so it puts things in perspective somewhat....

We're planning a trip back in the summer (escape the humidity here for lovely fresh air woo!) so hopefully that will soften our homesickness and maybe this time next year, things will seem more transparent and predictable in the UK so we can maybe return then *crosses fingers*

dunroving

RESULT!!

isleofmanmike

I would love to watch the programme you mentioned on the BBC. Will it be on bbciplayer and please could you tell me what it is called? Thanks.........

brits1

Hi IOMM,

The programme was called Escape to the Country....it was on last week .....not sure which channel as I never really watched the t.v......it was nice to watch as not only did they show Wiltshire a county I have only driven through but a couple who seemed to be so positive about their past in Aus but knowing what they now wanted out of life...and they also had 600,000 pounds to play with....nice....well what did you think of City on Sunday....poor to say the least...lol...

brits1

Thats lovely and at last you can now have some peace of mind...your young and your enjoying yourselves and thats what counts....good luck....