david28078

I have to say in my 13 years in the US I have not had a hard time from anyone - well only one guy and I chinned him.

The Yanks despite the rep Bush has gotten the country are great and do anything to help anyone....

.....I still want to go home to Devon I miss it.

BTW My daughter lives in Oz (in the outback) and is getting to the stage of having had enough of the knuckle draggers

Jay Bird

Thanks for that....I know what "knuckle-dragging" is, and I guessed that's what he meant.............. but it's actaully spelled "kuckle....."

Tr1boy

You din't see nuffink, OK?

Jay Bird

That's right.....try to make me look a fool!

shiels

Felt 'peoplesick' since day one, been here 13 months now!!! Dont miss anything about the UK and a trip back there in June proved that, but do miss family and close friends.
Love Australia but for me being here away from loved ones is a heavy price to pay
C x

backagen

I think that probably describes perfectly how most people who have emigrated from Britain feel actually. I certainly applies to me (well not so much the TV or music scene bit, but friends, and especially family yes definately)

Pollyana

There's an excellent article in the Wiki about stages of adjustment and culture shock which helps to explain some parts of homesickness. Although its in the Candian section its just as apt for other countries -
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Culture_Shock-Canada

Margaret3

[QUOTE=islandergirl;6642910]Yeah the really cruel thing about homesickness is that it gets worse as time goes by and the reality of all you have given up sinks in.

The first year or two you are pretty busy trying trying trying the whole time to make a new life, find a job, buy a house, fill it with stuff, try and connect with people to try and replace and fill your (on the surface nice but empty inside) life. You don't tend to think or analyse too much IMO.




spot on for me!!! i have always felt slightly homesick, but this week, OMG!! dont think its helped by the fact that i am off to a funeral today , it is a couple i have truly connected with here and who have been so kind to us , he was a scottish guy, been here alot of years and his wife and aussie, who has truly empathized with me due to the fact she lived in edinburgh for 15 years and could to relate to how i feel and also has the best sense of humour ever, tragically he died suddenly through the week and all i can think is OMG I DONT WANT TO DIE HERE!!!, please god let me go home!!

beatle

QUOTE]I keep myself busy but I find my 'people sickness' cruelly invades my dreams so I wake up feeling upset.[/QUOTE]

i have that!! I wake up and have been dreaming, having had a people sickness dream!! The emotions feel so real, I woke up the other day thinking, what's the point of having parents, I can't see them!

I have been here 7 years, the homesickness doesn't go away, it ebbs and flows. Worse at first, I think you get used to it. If I had known how bad it would be, I sometimes think, I would have rethunk my move, but then I wouldn't have met my husband or have a wonderful baby.

Cheetah7

i have that!! I wake up and have been dreaming, having had a people sickness dream!! The emotions feel so real, I woke up the other day thinking, what's the point of having parents, I can't see them!

I have been here 7 years, the homesickness doesn't go away, it ebbs and flows. Worse at first, I think you get used to it. If I had known how bad it would be, I sometimes think, I would have rethunk my move, but then I wouldn't have met my husband or have a wonderful baby.[/QUOTE]

My life is so much better here, no doubt if finances allowed it could have been better in the UK.

But health wise I cant believe how much healthier I am and the climate suits me - I have always loved hot countries and adapted accordingly.

But I guess the sacrafice is putting up with the people sickness. I know if I moved back there I would not be happy, loving people isn't enough, even if I have realised I love them more when I am far away.

rabsody

Been here 8 years, the people sickness never goes away. In fact I think over time it actually worsens as the reality of missing nephews and nieces being born, weddings, grandparents' 65th anniversary, yearly family party and so on hits.

I think as you get older you instinctually place far more value on these relationships anyway (something one may not have considered when leaving in one's "youth") and it does leave a gaping hole in your life. Thankfully for my children they have my ex-husband's side of the family here (which ironically is why I am stuck here, if I had no ties I could have gone home).

JRB

Back in UK now but did spend 5 years in Oz. I first felt homesick after 2 years which co-incided with having my first child and moving to the burbs!! Prior to that had been renting in Cottesloe and only had to worry about me and my husband. We would often fly back to the UK and spent much of our time hanging out down the beach. Then suddenly living in the burbs with a baby I began to really miss home. Our long days spent snorkelling etc soon stopped as with a young baby it's not much fun for them with mad fly invasions and risk of sunstroke. Even the garden became a hazard as there were redbacks in it! I felt really housebound. My husband is Aussie so it took alot of persuading (or moaning from me) but we managed to get back to UK. Loving it here. I have 2 children now and they love the family life, the millions of things we can do here and we can spend whole day down the beach or at parks without having to worry about the sun or critters!! Recently we spent a day at Watergate Bay in Cornwall and I can truly say it was better than any of Perths beaches. Even though I'm glad I experienced Oz I wish we had only spent 2-3 years there and not 5. We were in a dilemma for about 2 years of whether to move back, should have done it much sooner. Good luck to everyone returning. The UK is great!