Discussion
I'm sure this topic's probably been done before, but my search skills weren't up to it.
Interested to hear of any experiences of moving abroad (from the UK). How old were you? Where did you go? Why did you go? How have you found it?
Not something I'm necessarily seriously considering, but have always wondered...
Interested to hear of any experiences of moving abroad (from the UK). How old were you? Where did you go? Why did you go? How have you found it?
Not something I'm necessarily seriously considering, but have always wondered...
Not from the UK, but from Sweden. (I'm Swedish)
Went to Japan in 1991 to visit a Japanese friend, found it interesting and eventually returned to Sweden in 2016.
Few things in life give you a better perspective on the world and life in general than spending time in a different culture.
Went to Japan in 1991 to visit a Japanese friend, found it interesting and eventually returned to Sweden in 2016.
Few things in life give you a better perspective on the world and life in general than spending time in a different culture.
Edited by Rulle7 on Tuesday 8th August 14:32
BiL moved to Sweden. Got a Scottish mate who lives in Hungary, another in Sofia and another in the US. All went in their 20s because they fell in love and married a local lass. I've met quite a few other ex-pats in other places.
This is evident in them all....
All but the chap in Sofia (and my BiL who sadly died a few years back) harbour the idea that at some point they'll return to the UK with their families but concede that's unlikely in reality. My mate in Hungary lives near the Austrian border. His very nice, five bed detached house came with a vineyard and winery. If he sold up today, he'd get less than €250k for it.
This is evident in them all....
Rulle7 said:
Few things in life give you a better perspective on the world and life in general than spending time in a different culture.
Their sense of the wider world and appreciation of other cultures and politics and life in general is, I've found, tangibly better than most you'll meet who've gone no further than Spain. This makes them really interesting people to be around.All but the chap in Sofia (and my BiL who sadly died a few years back) harbour the idea that at some point they'll return to the UK with their families but concede that's unlikely in reality. My mate in Hungary lives near the Austrian border. His very nice, five bed detached house came with a vineyard and winery. If he sold up today, he'd get less than €250k for it.
Moved to both Spain and the US for more than 3 years on each occasion
- Your partner has to really want to go
- You need to jump into local life (We were both runners so joined local clubs)
- Learning the language was key for us in Spain
We loved it and really embraced it but you have to go with the attitude that means people want to make friends with you and that you want to stay.
If a company is moving you, then shout as there are many things to ask for (tax services, repatriation at the end, holidays, lump sum etc)
- Your partner has to really want to go
- You need to jump into local life (We were both runners so joined local clubs)
- Learning the language was key for us in Spain
We loved it and really embraced it but you have to go with the attitude that means people want to make friends with you and that you want to stay.
If a company is moving you, then shout as there are many things to ask for (tax services, repatriation at the end, holidays, lump sum etc)
Moved to France with wife and two small children when I was 36. It was supposed to be for a year while i closed a factory but it went well and we moved two more times on the continent and another child arrived. I moved a couple of more times to work elsewhere temporarily but wife and family stayed in France. As others have said you both have to really be happy to do it. Young children is easier for them and you but otherwise I don't think your age is particularly an issue. Our way was very lucky, if we'd hated that first year I still had a guaranteed job back in the UK if we wanted to go back. We also kept our house in the UK for a long time, rented out, but it was always a fallback option if things went wrong.
Moved to Canada many years ago from Ireland ( via UK, US, France etc on the way but they were always intended to be temporary). It is more stressful to think about it in advance than to actually do it in my view. I worried about losing friends and familiar places.
When I arrived it was a relief in a way. I was suddenly a person with no history,no regrets, plenty of opportunity and there was lots of fun in Montreal; I later moved to Toronto for career reasons. Now and then I get back to Ireland but it is obviously not the place I left, and I never have a wave of nostalgia. I Jost enjoy the please as I do when I go to any other country.
Canada is a pretty decent place to live and I will doubtless stay here. I have a winter place down in Arizona so spent plenty of time in both US and Canada. I would say you are doing the right thing to examine the options.
Of the friends who came to Canada, most stayed, but a number were eager to return and settle in Ireland. Both the leavers and the stayers were happy with their respective decisions.
When I arrived it was a relief in a way. I was suddenly a person with no history,no regrets, plenty of opportunity and there was lots of fun in Montreal; I later moved to Toronto for career reasons. Now and then I get back to Ireland but it is obviously not the place I left, and I never have a wave of nostalgia. I Jost enjoy the please as I do when I go to any other country.
Canada is a pretty decent place to live and I will doubtless stay here. I have a winter place down in Arizona so spent plenty of time in both US and Canada. I would say you are doing the right thing to examine the options.
Of the friends who came to Canada, most stayed, but a number were eager to return and settle in Ireland. Both the leavers and the stayers were happy with their respective decisions.
Youngest has moved to Antwerp, work/study, which was fun after Brexit as the UK government had nothing prepared to assist, so it was touch and go if we could get him there.
He's loving it, it's a great city to work/live in and easy to travel around europe and further afield from there.
Only 7 hours drive to get there, as we slowly empty the house of his stuff
He's loving it, it's a great city to work/live in and easy to travel around europe and further afield from there.
Only 7 hours drive to get there, as we slowly empty the house of his stuff
3 years in Germany, purely for my career, didn’t really enjoy it tbh, not a place I like, everything is / was a hassle (cancel your phone, letter to HQ, couldn’t go into the shop, or call, just lots of irritating little things). I was 26, went with my gf, very trying as we wanted to really integrate & leant German (attempts at practising were routinely laughed at), but found due to our age / being in the city, we ended knowing international students more than anyone else.
Spent extended periods in many countries and work extensively internationally.
Will be off again with 3-5 years, probably the USA, again for my career. 34 currently.
Spent extended periods in many countries and work extensively internationally.
Will be off again with 3-5 years, probably the USA, again for my career. 34 currently.
|https://thumbsnap.com/YhaQrBXR[/url]
I moved to Venezuela in the late seventies. My wife’s country. I thought it was fair she had the chance to be with her family, and I landed a decent job in the University in Maracaibo.
In many ways an enjoyable country to live in at that time, and all went well for 18 months. Our first son was born there and spent his first year there.
Then she came down with myasthenia gravis and the local doctors did not have a clue. She was getting worse and worse, so we sold everything up and came back to England. The NHS had her diagnosed and transferred to the appropriate hospital within one morning, and started on a course of treatment that eventually saw a full recovery.
It’s worth thinking about what happens should things go wrong.
In many ways an enjoyable country to live in at that time, and all went well for 18 months. Our first son was born there and spent his first year there.
Then she came down with myasthenia gravis and the local doctors did not have a clue. She was getting worse and worse, so we sold everything up and came back to England. The NHS had her diagnosed and transferred to the appropriate hospital within one morning, and started on a course of treatment that eventually saw a full recovery.
It’s worth thinking about what happens should things go wrong.
I have worked in Israel, Germany, Switzerland, NZ and now Denmark (U.K. too).
Moving around has been stressful at times and there are disadvantages to being an expat. However there are also many positives. Living abroad you see how things are gone elsewhere. That gives you a more complete view of your own country - sometimes negatively (why can’t we have windows like Germany or public transport like Switzerland) but also plenty of positives too eg nowhere I’ve been has pubs as nice as the UK nor the same sense of humour.
Without Brexit we would have moved more in the future. Now less certain.
Moving around has been stressful at times and there are disadvantages to being an expat. However there are also many positives. Living abroad you see how things are gone elsewhere. That gives you a more complete view of your own country - sometimes negatively (why can’t we have windows like Germany or public transport like Switzerland) but also plenty of positives too eg nowhere I’ve been has pubs as nice as the UK nor the same sense of humour.
Without Brexit we would have moved more in the future. Now less certain.
France for me at the age of 44. I already had a home there and divorce came along.I’d always loved it there so off I went. Worked running my own small building business and now just part time.
I met and married a wonderful girl from London and life is good.
Been here just under 21 years.
Integration was easy enough once I got the hang of the lingo.
I met and married a wonderful girl from London and life is good.
Been here just under 21 years.
Integration was easy enough once I got the hang of the lingo.
Moved to the US when 25 with 3 bags and a job to go to. Was planning on being here for 1 year and heading home. Been here for nearly 20 years and have wife and two kids. Just getting thee kids their UK passports to add to their US passports.
Still on a green card as it was so easy to renew and did not bother with citizenship. When I return to the small village in Northern England, I am a tourist as we have both changed.
Still on a green card as it was so easy to renew and did not bother with citizenship. When I return to the small village in Northern England, I am a tourist as we have both changed.
Moved from the UK to South Africa as a young child, moved back to the UK as an adult, hated the UK but work was good, moved to Portugal (while also working in the Netherlands for a time) and absolutely loved it, got divorced, moved back to the UK to be with my new partner, planning to return to Portugal when she decides to call time on her career.
I've spent some time in the US too - got immediate family living there - and absolutely think that living abroad is worth it.
I've spent some time in the US too - got immediate family living there - and absolutely think that living abroad is worth it.
Moved to Dubai in 2011, the plan was 3 yrs then move to the Netherlands, I’m still here.
The company I work for has no need to be here other than it serves as a convenient location for shipping. We are also immune from the local economy so I don’t really experience any of the downsides associated with living in this location.
My role used to take me all over, so in that time I’d say I’ve lived (as in based 6mths+) in Myanmar, Panama, Barbados, Curaçao, plus several less salubrious locations in West Africa.
I’d echo that I no longer feel like UK is home, but also now looking for a change. I declined a move to the US whilst in a previous (failed) relationship and that does play on my mind. Ideally I’d like to move to Europe (I spent the majority of last year in the Netherlands and Switzerland) but Brexit has affected that and I have no second language to help that transition. So currently feeling very much where/what next but would rather stay here than return to UK.
Of the 7 of us who shared a house at university, only 2 remain in UK. The others are in the US, France and Taiwan and have been for some years, married local girls, kids etc. All small town Brits originally.
The company I work for has no need to be here other than it serves as a convenient location for shipping. We are also immune from the local economy so I don’t really experience any of the downsides associated with living in this location.
My role used to take me all over, so in that time I’d say I’ve lived (as in based 6mths+) in Myanmar, Panama, Barbados, Curaçao, plus several less salubrious locations in West Africa.
I’d echo that I no longer feel like UK is home, but also now looking for a change. I declined a move to the US whilst in a previous (failed) relationship and that does play on my mind. Ideally I’d like to move to Europe (I spent the majority of last year in the Netherlands and Switzerland) but Brexit has affected that and I have no second language to help that transition. So currently feeling very much where/what next but would rather stay here than return to UK.
Of the 7 of us who shared a house at university, only 2 remain in UK. The others are in the US, France and Taiwan and have been for some years, married local girls, kids etc. All small town Brits originally.
Edited by shirt on Tuesday 8th August 20:30
Moved to Bermuda in October 2000 aged 29. Stayed there for 15 years. Loved it for the first 10 years, then all our mates moved away to different lives.
I honestly had the BEST time there, spend all of my 30's there doing things I'd never dreamed of. Private Jets, Private Yachts, travel to offices in Bahamas/Cayman. Having my own Boat and doing 'raft ups' on the weekend. Diving on wrecks etc
Exploring all of the East Coast (most of which was a 2hr flight away).
We were earning tonnes of money and paying net 13% tax so we deffo made the most of it.
Wouldn't swap my time over there for anything but once getting into mid-40's, the lure of home proved stronger than the life-style so we moved back to the UK, bought our own house rather than renting and if I'm honest we're much happier now as Bermuda is very small and trades on 2 currencies: Cash & Gossip which was claustrophobic enough to become toxic. The racial aspect of black vs white became tiresome after a while, especially as a 'guest' you felt you always had to tread on eggshells.
So no regrets about the time abroad but quite happy to be more private now (even though we have amazing friends in the village we live in now)
Living abroad broadens the mind and we met some amazing people from all over the world. Some were bat-s
t mental as, with a lot of ex-pats they seemed to be running away from something.
I honestly had the BEST time there, spend all of my 30's there doing things I'd never dreamed of. Private Jets, Private Yachts, travel to offices in Bahamas/Cayman. Having my own Boat and doing 'raft ups' on the weekend. Diving on wrecks etc
Exploring all of the East Coast (most of which was a 2hr flight away).
We were earning tonnes of money and paying net 13% tax so we deffo made the most of it.
Wouldn't swap my time over there for anything but once getting into mid-40's, the lure of home proved stronger than the life-style so we moved back to the UK, bought our own house rather than renting and if I'm honest we're much happier now as Bermuda is very small and trades on 2 currencies: Cash & Gossip which was claustrophobic enough to become toxic. The racial aspect of black vs white became tiresome after a while, especially as a 'guest' you felt you always had to tread on eggshells.
So no regrets about the time abroad but quite happy to be more private now (even though we have amazing friends in the village we live in now)
Living abroad broadens the mind and we met some amazing people from all over the world. Some were bat-s
t mental as, with a lot of ex-pats they seemed to be running away from something.I'd worked in London for the thick end of twenty years, and needed a change.
The company I was working for had an opening for a job in Ticino, Switzerland (The sunny bit near Italy). Right, I'll go for that.
I finished refurbishing the house, sorted tenants, sold the dream car (TVR Tuscan), got everything in place....Company pulled the job, balls.
Many discussions were had at home, and we decided to go for it anyway. After a reconnaissance trip around the larger cities, we settled on Zurich for better job chances. So, with no further employment, we duly went for it anyway.
Permits took ages. Job applications were in the multiple hundreds. It cost all of my savings, but, finally, we feel we are "there". We are both working, have a nice apartment on the south coast of Lake Zurich with a balcony view over the lake for whisky/Ferrari spotting purposes.
Hardest thing I've ever done. Best thing I've ever done. Nearly 40, health issues starting, happier than I've ever been in England. I don't want to come back.
The company I was working for had an opening for a job in Ticino, Switzerland (The sunny bit near Italy). Right, I'll go for that.
I finished refurbishing the house, sorted tenants, sold the dream car (TVR Tuscan), got everything in place....Company pulled the job, balls.
Many discussions were had at home, and we decided to go for it anyway. After a reconnaissance trip around the larger cities, we settled on Zurich for better job chances. So, with no further employment, we duly went for it anyway.
Permits took ages. Job applications were in the multiple hundreds. It cost all of my savings, but, finally, we feel we are "there". We are both working, have a nice apartment on the south coast of Lake Zurich with a balcony view over the lake for whisky/Ferrari spotting purposes.
Hardest thing I've ever done. Best thing I've ever done. Nearly 40, health issues starting, happier than I've ever been in England. I don't want to come back.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff