Re: Why did you come back?
 

you are right, lot of people think about emigrating but only a few of those actually do it.

Saying that, I also think the people who decide not to emigrate are also brave, it takes guts to admit that you like the idea but in reality it might not be for you.

I don't see that the person who decides to 'live the dream' is any better than the person who doesn't. I certainly don't think I am a better person for being brave enough to give it a go but enlightened yes. Reality does not alway live up to the dream.

Lastly, I never hated the uk and I don't hate Oz, for me it wasn't about which place is better. There are differences and similarities, I wanted to experience the differences.

What ever anyone decideds, as long as it is right for them the who are we to judge.

Mandy :)

Re: Why did you come back?
 

If you read the other forum on immigrating to OZ you will find many stories of people who immigrated to OZ and believed it was the best decision they ever made and would'nt go back for anything. There are plenty of people in the Uk who would love to immigrate to OZ but can't get enough points because of their occupation, health or age. Perhaps you could try OZ for 1 year and rent out your house in the UK so if it does'nt work out it would be easy to return.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

You're confusing being a wimp with making a sound decision. It sounds like your acquaintances that thought you were 'stark raving mad' had more insight.

Unless you are, say, a poor single parent with kids, moving to Oz is not a gutsy thing to do. Apart from the distance, Oz is the easiest option for Brits. Same language (sort of) and similar 'culture'. It requires little backbone.

Setting up home in, say, a remote part of Alaska - while learning the Innuit language - with white being the choice of colour; now that takes backbone.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Emigrating to Oz was one of the best decisions we ever made : it has made us appreciate the UK so much more.

Don't confuse what people believe life will be like in Oz (or enywhere else) with reality : it rarely lives up to the dream.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Hi Mandy,

First I've seen of you having doubts, takes guts to admit it at times I think. I admire you for going so far north - I am finding Brisbane's climate hard work, and you have it much tougher. Is that a major reason for the doubts? Would somewhere in Oz perhaps be better, or is it the place in general you are having doubts about?
(not trying to influence you either way, just wondering :) )

Polly

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Great advice, far north wouldnt suit most aussies so very hard work for poor poms.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

.... And you want to hear the Ozzies whine and wither the further north and colder it gets in UK.

Odaat

Re: Why did you come back?
 

I agree, the move is right for some and not for others, though I think sometimes you have to take the plunge to realise that it's not for you :confused: When we were thinking of coming over here I thought that I was more than aware of all the negatives that we would encounter, and would be well prepared to cope with them. I wasn't.
Many of the things that I have encountered which have knocked me sideways, I never even considered until we got here... (what they are is another story!)
Also, I know that eventually I would get used to these things, and our children would adapt to not having family, Grandparents around, and we would probably settle quite happily here, the problem is....do we really want to? As you say, I now feel quite enlightened!
I'm not sure that I want the children to adapt to not having Grandparents :o
I think they are a valuable part of their psycological development. The only people who love my children as much as I do is their father (obviously!) and their grandparents. Nothing can replace cuddles with granny or the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren, and I'm not sure I want to deprive mine of that experience. I think everyone should think long and hard before taking the plunge, it doesn't nessecarily take guts but it does take a certain type of person. (That's my opinion anyway... :D )

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Thank Polly,

mmm, it has taken alot for me to admit that Oz may not be for me and there are different reasons why.

The heat and humidity is not one of those reasons to be honest, we have aclimatised well and with aircon etc it isn't that much of a problem. It does annoy me that I cannot go for a long walk after lunch etc. it is far too hot and humid for that!

My reason is to do with family. As you know, our daughter is still in the uk and l miss her terribly. I knew it would be tough but I wasn't prepared for how tough. Also, our son hasn't settled at all well, bullied at school, missing his family and is always saying he wants to go home. I think if he had settled easier then we could have too.

It has been an eye opener moving here, it has the same problems here as the uk. It does have a better lifestyle though. Hubbie loves the fact he can go fishing, get a boat, 4 x 4, go swimming in the fresh water streams, get a bigger house with less mortgage etc.

I think at the end of the day it boils down to choice, better lifestyle or being close to family. I tend to change my mind from one day to the next.

As you see, I am screwed, ask me whether we will be here for good tomorrow and I will give you a different answer!

Strange, yes I am.

Mandy :confused:

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Hi amanda
we went to oz last year sold all we had house cars said good bye to schools frends families and jobs stayed six months then the wife and kids did not like it as they all missed ther frends and familie so we all came back .

Things are just the same now its like we never went .

Still glad i went as i had been dreaming about it all my life.
now i can move on and i have the tee shert . ;)

One thing i whised i done was rent my house out and treated it as a six mounth fact finding trip.
Hindsight.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

We will go back to the UK...missing family support, will not meet my sisters newborn until it is 2 years old, grandparents not being able to see their grandchild grow etc. (and I thought that I wasn't that close to my family!)
We knew all this before we went but what we didn't know was how we would feel about it!
The other thing that we underestimated was how much we would miss our friends...friends that we share a history with and who know us inside out, people that don't judge you as they know you and vice versa. We miss popping round without having to organise things and friends landing on us at no notice, being made welcome and not having to make an effort with polite conversation!!! I know that would come in time here but it is bloody hard work and you do have to keep your motivation up to bother!
As a part time worker I miss being given respect for my work - in the Uk I was able to get promoted and work around school hours even though I was part time. Here I will be stuck with temp/casual work, no pension etc unless I sacrifice time to spend with my child and put him in after school care. For me I can have the best of both worlds in the UK due to the different employment options.

I don't think that the UK is better or worse than Australia just very different and you need to be prepared for that if you decide to go. I wouldn't change this experience for the world and I woould say that if you have got itchy feet, to go for it...it will have cured ours for a while at least!

The thing that I am most thankful for is that we got PR and can choose to get citizenship (or not) before we go home, and that, although it was a struggle, we got out here without having sold our house and again that gives us a good grounding when we go back. Make sure you can give yourself choices...it really helps when the crunch comes and your options are more open.

:)

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Hi
Thanks everyone for your insights been interesting reading. We have been researching Oz for 12 months, the jobs, the houses and the schools etc..
and we talked this weekend as a family and we have decided not to go to Australia.
That said we are still looking to move but in the UK, my husband and I agree that it would be an experience but we would struggle to obtain there what we have here (I know it shouldn't be about the money but if we're all honest we miss it when its gone) and we dont want to start from scrach after 16 years, it taken us long enough to get were we are as it is.
My husbands looking into working from home so he can keep his job (others in his company do it) We feel we heve done everything Plymouth has to offer. So after christmas we are activley looking for a new adventure in this country.
Our children seem more excited about that then when we said we would look into moving aboard :rolleyes: So if you know anywhere nice in the Uk feel free to let me know :)
My children like Southport (which is good I was born in Merseyside) and Wales and my daughter wants to move to Ireland. So plenty to think about already.
Thanks again
Amanda :)

Re: Why did you come back?
 

Do you want this opportunity to be something that you wished you had done later on in life?

If you can afford to and your family are happy to try it, why don't you rent out your house and go for a year?

I lived there for a year and loved it!

Re: Why did you come back?
 

I went to Oz backpacking for a year on my own and then a few years later for a 3 year work secondment, accompanied by my wife. On both occasions I was given the opportunity to stay but did not take it. There has always been something about Australia and Australians for me, its a kind of love hate relationship. I love the beauty of the country and there truly are some amazing places. But I struggled with working life and I would say with a good half of the people. If you are a professional, accountant (like me) or lawyer, and not sport obsessed, your working life can be a long drawn out act of torture. I personally found far too many Australians a little false and a little cheesy for my personal taste. Despite this, I do have quite a few Australian "mates" and I was at an all Australian party here in London on Saturday night (where I was the "token pom"). Despite all the drinking, laughter, jokes, stories and general merriment I really didn't have a great time. Couldn't wait to leave in fact, which is quite a contrast to how I felt at a party with old Brit friends the weekend before. The Aussie party actually reminded me of the feelings which eventually drove my wife and I back to London. A good metaphor for what our life was like in Australia - all smiles on the outside.

Re: Why did you come back?
 

We are not in to sport at all our children are but I think they would miss Engish football it just wouldn't be the same for them.

We are not ruling moving to Australia out completly maybe in ten years if we still fancy it we could always go then, we're not old 33 and 35 our children are 13,10 and 7. Plenty of time, might even go for a holiday there in the next few years that would be an eye oener I'm sure.
Amanda :)