How has it changed for you?
 

Hi everyone. Well I would say that most of us posting on here are making plans or thinking about returning to our homeland. :)

I really don't like the phrase "living the dream" but I'll have to use it on this post, as most of us emigrated to live out our dream. I'm asking 2 questions:

1. What was your idea of "living the dream" before emigrating?

2. What is your idea of living the dream now?

My answers:

1. To have my own home, good counselling job, me and my family to feel
Settled and happy.

2. To be surrounded by my whole family, rushing around the kitchen making tea
And laughing with my sister.

Funny how things change. :)

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

Didn't really move away to live the dream (I loathe that phrase!) we moved because it was the best opportunity at the time!

I guess my priorities are family and health with a bit of a financial buffer so I have freedom of choice. However, now living back in UK after a life sentence in Aus (next time I may commit murder, you get less time in jail LOL) and I am appreciating so much more than I ever thought I would - weather, countryside, history, all the usual suspects as well as being there for family. A far better lifestyle in fact!

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

I posted this link on another thread but think you will find the link on community interesting.

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/

(Being a rather sad person, I found it ALL interesting)

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

My answers:

1. I moved to California in the late eighties to be with a woman I met from there. She was attractive and fascinating and unlike anyone else I had met in the UK. But I truly think I fell in love with California itself. All those TV shows that were fed to us in the UK from America just clicked into place. I think the 'dream' was the place I experienced... before I woke up.

My 'now' answer is surprisingly similar to yours, pippalonghorn.

2. To be surrounded by my whole family in England, sitting around the kitchen making and drinking tea and laughing with my sister who I am dying to get to know again after 25 years. :)

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

Not sure what dream I was chasing when I moved to the US 17 years ago but now my dream is to be with my family and not miss out on all those irreplaceable times with them.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

Then: We came for an adventure, to see what it was like, to see the amazing scenery, to have a house with some land for a few animals, for a better childhood for my children. (we fell for the hype basically!)

Now: To be truly settled, to own a small house with lots of character, to become part of our wider families lives again, to appreciate Britain's countryside, to be able to visit Europe occasionally, to see a few live bands.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

To start a new married life in a neutral country we could make our own and have an adventure.Yes we had a Canadian dream which was just that "a dream"! Not much difference here to other countries.

We now find that our priorities have changed.
Want to be closer to family and friends, Quality of life back in UK (we did not know how much we would miss it) ie sense of humour and BBC tv and our heritage
As retirees we feel we have more opportunities in UK than here in Canada

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

:) I think that quality of life and family are going to be mentioned a lot.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

We came for the sunshine, better work life balance, a pool and outdoor lifestyle plus the experience for the children and family.

In reality in Darwin (and also in brissie to a slightly lesser extent)

It's too hot to go outside, too many bites/flies to do anything so we stay in
The sea is full of stingers crocs sharks and the beach can be a bit boring after a while
Husband doing 65 hour weeks
I often have to force kids into the pool... Though I am partial to sitting in with a glass of chilled white!

But hey after 3 years it has been a great experience but I yearn green hills, log fires, m&s food, to walk my dog in a national park and family

We will return to the UK in 2014/2015 ....

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

I do find it amusing when I see people talking about the better work life balance, it is well known that on average Australians work longer hours but the perception is that somehow you will have more time with the family. The word to remember here is PERCEPTION, lots of potential migrants prefer to imagine they will have more time at home as it is hardly a selling point if they are actually going to have less time at home. Often the reality doesnt live up to the dream.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

My husband probably prefers the time he has off ... Though maybe that's cos we rent and don't have the jobs required of home ownership!
I think reality down under shows show people clocking off at 3 pm and heading down the beach....maybe we expected a bit of that. As a teacher my workload is far less than the UK....

But still want to go back :-)

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

We just thought "why not give it a go" one day, we had never been to Aus, did not know a sole there, did not have jobs,home etc lined up and did not have any preconceptions of how Aus was/would be, after 12 years of living a decent life in Aus we still headed home to the UK. I think the feeling of belonging is one of the main reasons we headed home and everything else, family,culture,history,Europe a short hop away is a bonus.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

We just thought one day "lets go for it" we applied for Aus (after picking it out of a hat) and within a matter of months we were off, we had never been, did not know a sole there, had no jobs, no home and no preconceptions of how life would be. Fast forward 12.5 years later and after having not a "bad" life in Aus we returned home, the main thing for us we feel like we belong in the UK and never had that feeling in Aus, we love our History, Culture, being close to Europe and family and friends is another bonus.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

We were in Brisbane around 12 years and it always felt temporary for us even though I grew up in Australia. I think all it shows is that nowhere is for everyone.

Re: How has it changed for you?
 

Having done two years in France to try new culture and give the kids a look at what life is like outside the uk I still feel like I don't fit in here. Great beaches and overall really nice people but now I'm longing for a life back in the uk. Sometimes you have to go away for a while to know where you belong. The kids have done great here both fluent in French and are still young enough to return to uk, am determined to move back however complicated it may be to my real home within the next two years and can't wait. Missing good pubs, real selection of cuisine from all over the world, convenience, family, friends, opportunity, countryside and the general warmth of the uk people. Good luck to all who are hoping to return to uk from their adventures abroad.