Thinking about moving back to England
Oct 4th 2012, 6:20 pm
#31
It is what it is Member
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Re: Thinking about moving back to England
Is that any land, sea and sky or particular bits? ;-)
Oct 4th 2012, 6:27 pm
#32
It is what it is Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
Posts: 2,797
Re: Thinking about moving back to England
Kiwis who just flip-flop to/from Oz perhaps dont appreciate the cost in all senses that other migrants incur, losing it and then finding you have to pretty much start over for the sake of spending the time to get citizenship is a risk well worth presenting to anyone considering returning.
Oct 6th 2012, 1:48 am
#33
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: nelson no more :-(
Posts: 693
Re: Thinking about moving back to England
Hi completely understand the original post as we are in the same position just a bit further down the line. We have been in NZ for 7 years and are going back to the UK in 2 weeks (shit !!!). Not been easy coming to this point but we are fairly sure we are right to go. Have a young daughter missing out on all sorts of family stuff and if we were to extend our family it would just be to hard to go through it all again without much support. We love NZ in so many ways but not having that support is so hard. I don't want my daughter to only have a skype relationship with family and think we deserve more. We have got citizenship and own a house here, so who knows what the future will bring.
We could be back within the year, but we need to give it a go (its only money !). Before anyone takes it the wrong way we cannot really afford to go back and def couldn't afford to return quickly. Hopefully I can find a job quickly or it will be a very sorry xmas, but at least we will be with family.
We could be back within the year, but we need to give it a go (its only money !). Before anyone takes it the wrong way we cannot really afford to go back and def couldn't afford to return quickly. Hopefully I can find a job quickly or it will be a very sorry xmas, but at least we will be with family.
Oct 6th 2012, 9:40 am
#34
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: St Breward, Cornwall
Posts: 43
Re: Thinking about moving back to England
We are heading back to the UK after 3 years. For similar reasons – extended family and missing the strong friendship bonds we have over in the UK. My son is now 8 and he has such a close bond with both sets of grandparents in the UK, we now know that it is the right thing to do. He really misses just being with Gran and Pops. We just spent a month back in Scotland (I had a job interview so we took advantage and went over as a family) and we have never felt so sure about anything in our lives: ‘it is time to head home’. Just watching our children with the family and feeling connected again was profound. We have a 4 year old daughter and she needs to have those important family connections that we feel we stole from her.
Both my husband and I have struggled to find permanent employment and although we came over with PR due to our skills, we have slid down our respective career slides. We did not come to NZ because we were unhappy in the UK, we just wanted to give life here a go. (We spent 5 months in NZ before we had our children) We were hoping to be able to afford to go back to the UK at least once a year, but the jobs security never came and with time, reality hits home.
Our first year in NZ was quite positive; we still had lots of hope! The following 2 years have been a bit of a struggle and have given us much food for thought. At 6am on the last morning of our recent month in the UK, I took the in-laws dog for a walk across the Glen, it was stunning and as I sat taking in the views the tears just rolled. I knew I was home and the sense of ease that came over me sealed the decision for me. We made the final decision as a family when I was offered the job and it was unanimous for a return to the UK.
This is the right decision for us - many people on this site face the same dilemma, it is a very complex and subjective decision. Personally we need to start living now, our future is in the UK and we have no real ties to NZ so we have no thoughts of returning to live. I am sure as the years go by we will long for a visit but we would be more than happy with a holiday here. We didn’t live in an oppressive overcrowded part of the UK, we had stunning scenery, a good social life and most of all we had a wonderful supportive family and friends – who are already planning our coming home party! One door closes and another opens. Go with your heart and what feels right for your family.
Both my husband and I have struggled to find permanent employment and although we came over with PR due to our skills, we have slid down our respective career slides. We did not come to NZ because we were unhappy in the UK, we just wanted to give life here a go. (We spent 5 months in NZ before we had our children) We were hoping to be able to afford to go back to the UK at least once a year, but the jobs security never came and with time, reality hits home.
Our first year in NZ was quite positive; we still had lots of hope! The following 2 years have been a bit of a struggle and have given us much food for thought. At 6am on the last morning of our recent month in the UK, I took the in-laws dog for a walk across the Glen, it was stunning and as I sat taking in the views the tears just rolled. I knew I was home and the sense of ease that came over me sealed the decision for me. We made the final decision as a family when I was offered the job and it was unanimous for a return to the UK.
This is the right decision for us - many people on this site face the same dilemma, it is a very complex and subjective decision. Personally we need to start living now, our future is in the UK and we have no real ties to NZ so we have no thoughts of returning to live. I am sure as the years go by we will long for a visit but we would be more than happy with a holiday here. We didn’t live in an oppressive overcrowded part of the UK, we had stunning scenery, a good social life and most of all we had a wonderful supportive family and friends – who are already planning our coming home party! One door closes and another opens. Go with your heart and what feels right for your family.
We have been back in the UK a year now. We struggled to find work all the time we were in NZ - my youngest daughter unable to secure any employment at all. Five weeks back in the UK she had her first ever job!! Can't believe the prices in the supermarket (have put on a stone in weight
) Yes there are still issues here - but we belong, which we never did after 8 years in NZ. Work is plentiful, my bank account balance is the best it has been in 8 years. We have no regrets other than I wish I had listened to my family and come home sooner. Waiting a year for citizenship, could end up being 2 years, took me 11 months to get mine, and 6 months to wait for a ceremony, then 2 months for the passport + the cost - honestly - if you have no intention of returning - don't bother. Good Luck to you all!!!
Oct 6th 2012, 8:18 pm
#35
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Oct 6th 2012, 11:19 pm
#37
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Oct 7th 2012, 3:52 am
#39
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Location: Queensland, Australia
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Re: Thinking about moving back to England
You hit the nail on the head there.
They're perfectly capable of reopening the door when they're adults if the fancy takes them. Who's to say they'd ever chose NZ anyway, they may be more tempted to try other places (the "be there, done that" scenario)
They're perfectly capable of reopening the door when they're adults if the fancy takes them. Who's to say they'd ever chose NZ anyway, they may be more tempted to try other places (the "be there, done that" scenario)
Oct 7th 2012, 6:42 am
#41
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Re: Thinking about moving back to England
I've told him to go travelling and find his place in the world. I'm glad he's spent his formative teenage
years in NZ but its time for him to go and as much as I'll miss him, as a parent I know its the right thing to do
Oct 7th 2012, 6:52 am
#42
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,787
Re: Thinking about moving back to England
My boy has reached 18, is finishing school in November and feels exactly the same.
I've told him to go travelling and find his place in the world. I'm glad he's spent his formative teenage
years in NZ but its time for him to go and as much as I'll miss him, as a parent I know its the right thing to do
I've told him to go travelling and find his place in the world. I'm glad he's spent his formative teenage
years in NZ but its time for him to go and as much as I'll miss him, as a parent I know its the right thing to do
Oct 7th 2012, 6:53 am
#43
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 526
Re: Thinking about moving back to England
My boy has reached 18, is finishing school in November and feels exactly the same.
I've told him to go travelling and find his place in the world. I'm glad he's spent his formative teenage
years in NZ but its time for him to go and as much as I'll miss him, as a parent I know its the right thing to do
I've told him to go travelling and find his place in the world. I'm glad he's spent his formative teenage
years in NZ but its time for him to go and as much as I'll miss him, as a parent I know its the right thing to do
Gives him more options i.e. Oz!
Oct 7th 2012, 6:58 am
#44
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Oct 7th 2012, 7:09 am
#45
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Re: Thinking about moving back to England
I think anyone who doesnt is pretty stupid, its not about being a "passport grabber" as someone earlier described it.
What he wants at 18 may not be what he wants at 25, 30 or when he settles down with his own family.
its about doing what you can now to give yourself the most options in your future life, why some people
get all self righteous about having a kiwi passport and moving away I dont know, if he's entitled and pays
for it then why the hell should anyone else get all snotty about it
