Emigrating/moving abroad. Anyone done it?
Discussion
caelite said:
Dont mean to hijack but I have a bit of a specific question if anyone can answer. Currently in my early 20s, on my final year of my mechanical engineering degree. I really would like to move overseas, I am just not a fan of the UK (the weather, the curtain twitching culture, just doesn't seem a country for 'young' people), would love to try somewhere else before I settle down.
Got a few thousand saved, I've been looking at the US, Greece or Australia as I have family nearby there. Would those who've done it suggest sticking to the UK for a few years to get some experience working 'professionally', or to move the year I graduate?
US and Oz you will need a working visa. Not easy to get without a sponsor. Don’t know about Oz but don’t risk the US without one, they don’t mess around.Got a few thousand saved, I've been looking at the US, Greece or Australia as I have family nearby there. Would those who've done it suggest sticking to the UK for a few years to get some experience working 'professionally', or to move the year I graduate?
caelite said:
Dont mean to hijack but I have a bit of a specific question if anyone can answer. Currently in my early 20s, on my final year of my mechanical engineering degree. I really would like to move overseas, I am just not a fan of the UK (the weather, the curtain twitching culture, just doesn't seem a country for 'young' people), would love to try somewhere else before I settle down.
Got a few thousand saved, I've been looking at the US, Greece or Australia as I have family nearby there. Would those who've done it suggest sticking to the UK for a few years to get some experience working 'professionally', or to move the year I graduate?
The Aus points system awards many points for qualification plus 3 years relevant experience. All comes down to how many points you have. Got a few thousand saved, I've been looking at the US, Greece or Australia as I have family nearby there. Would those who've done it suggest sticking to the UK for a few years to get some experience working 'professionally', or to move the year I graduate?
An old friend of mine moved to California a couple of years ago. She had no great interest in emigrating, was a good old steak and chips home-town type girl, but her husband worked for Legoland and was headhunted by some company over there.
She was initially petrified by the idea, but they really seem to be living the dream now. They took their three teenage kids, have a beautiful big house, just a couple of miles from the ‘13 kids imprisoned’ place that is in the news now.
Anybody who is thinking of going really should have a try. If you are young enough you have the chance to come back if it is not really what you want, so you really have nothing to lose.
When I did it I took my life savings, blew it in a couple of years, totally skint aged 31, then found a job in Singapore, worked my way up to having two houses, living overseas and early retirement.
Then a year ago ended up back in England, nigh on divorced, skint again, but lots of good memories.
She was initially petrified by the idea, but they really seem to be living the dream now. They took their three teenage kids, have a beautiful big house, just a couple of miles from the ‘13 kids imprisoned’ place that is in the news now.
Anybody who is thinking of going really should have a try. If you are young enough you have the chance to come back if it is not really what you want, so you really have nothing to lose.
When I did it I took my life savings, blew it in a couple of years, totally skint aged 31, then found a job in Singapore, worked my way up to having two houses, living overseas and early retirement.
Then a year ago ended up back in England, nigh on divorced, skint again, but lots of good memories.
Edited by King Herald on Saturday 20th January 12:23
Do yourself a favour and get a working holiday visa for Aus, NZ or Canada. Then in 6-12 months time you can decide whether you've enjoyed your time in adventureland and come back home, or whether you want to make a more permanent deal of it!
Spent a year in Australia and 6 months in NZ, and if I was smarter at the time I'd have seriously looked into finding serious career work and making the move permanent.
Now I'm back in London working hard to convince myself that finding a job here is as good a deal as doing so in Sydney or Auckland would be!
Spent a year in Australia and 6 months in NZ, and if I was smarter at the time I'd have seriously looked into finding serious career work and making the move permanent.
Now I'm back in London working hard to convince myself that finding a job here is as good a deal as doing so in Sydney or Auckland would be!
technodup said:
I'm intending moving to Spain in some capacity in the next couple of years. Always fancied it but since being stuck with arthritis the warmer weather is pulling me more and more.
I'll probably rent for the winter months first, to get a feel for how I like it without the risk/hassle of buying a property. I'm already organising work/business so that I can operate from anywhere without too much impact on finances etc.
Essentially I want the best of all worlds.
Exactly my plan, albeit with the aim of doing 2/3 weeks in Spain over winter with the remainder in the UK, and the 2/3 weeks in the UK and the remainder at the Spanish property over summer. Split life between the 2.I'll probably rent for the winter months first, to get a feel for how I like it without the risk/hassle of buying a property. I'm already organising work/business so that I can operate from anywhere without too much impact on finances etc.
Essentially I want the best of all worlds.
Whilst modern life has many flaws, one of the greatest perks of the internet means huge opportunities to work anywhere. That being said, my own industry, although office based, was archaic in their approach to working remotely. When I came up with my plan to work across boarders it also required me to become self-employed to break the employer's chains.
Is there anything that you could do that would be similar? The flexibility of being non-location dependant has opened up a whole world of opportunity in my case. I have spent months at a time in Toronto, in Dubai, in Sri Lanka etc etc. It avoids that concern of trying to find work and an income- you just port it with you.
wisbech said:
If you can get on to a decent graduate training scheme then stay in UK for experience. Otherwise go.
I got two years experience in UK, then went to Asia 25 years ago. Originally planned for HK to be a short stint before India, (I hoped to get in early on their growth) but as stuff happened never went... now have HK and Indonesian residency rights but live/ work in Singapore
It took about 4-5 years for UK to no longer feel ‘home’. The reaction to Princess Di’s death was a turning point!
Does your username hint at where you lived in the UK? I can maybe see another reason you preferred somewhere else.I got two years experience in UK, then went to Asia 25 years ago. Originally planned for HK to be a short stint before India, (I hoped to get in early on their growth) but as stuff happened never went... now have HK and Indonesian residency rights but live/ work in Singapore
It took about 4-5 years for UK to no longer feel ‘home’. The reaction to Princess Di’s death was a turning point!
Nickbrapp said:
This is something I’m sure most people dream of, or love the idea and think of doing it, but how many people have done it and what it’s really like.
Is the grass really greener and the sun any hotter?
I understand people moving abroad to Greece Spain etc when they are retired and don’t have to think about a job etc,
But what about younger people, I’m 25 and seriously considering something abroad, my company is global so I could transfer, but I’m more likely to want a nice simple job, hotel maintenance of similar.
I’m thinking either moving somewhere just warmer like California or Australia, but will life just be like British life but with better weather?
I would ideally like to do the Spain or Greece thing, nice simple job then relaxing on the beach the rest of the time. But it nags me is it even possible to do this with a few k ( house deposit) in savings?
I know that the natives tend to have to work the season and miss the summer but that’s not
Something I would want to do.
have any PHers moved for the simple life? And did it work out?
Friend of mine moved to Wellington, New Zealand a couple of years ago (moved for a Job)Is the grass really greener and the sun any hotter?
I understand people moving abroad to Greece Spain etc when they are retired and don’t have to think about a job etc,
But what about younger people, I’m 25 and seriously considering something abroad, my company is global so I could transfer, but I’m more likely to want a nice simple job, hotel maintenance of similar.
I’m thinking either moving somewhere just warmer like California or Australia, but will life just be like British life but with better weather?
I would ideally like to do the Spain or Greece thing, nice simple job then relaxing on the beach the rest of the time. But it nags me is it even possible to do this with a few k ( house deposit) in savings?
I know that the natives tend to have to work the season and miss the summer but that’s not
Something I would want to do.
have any PHers moved for the simple life? And did it work out?
He states it's the best thing he did and feels it's quite similar to the UK overall but more space.
We're both from South wales so we need our rolling hills!
Anyway whilst it's the best decision for him it certainly wouldn't be for meand I think that's the important thing you need to remember, it needs to be your decision and you need to be completely happy with it, don't do it just because you feel like a change.
If that's what you want try and go travelling for a bit and you may find somewhere that you feel comfortable with.
In many ways I have found it's trial and error in finding a place that fits.
Personally travelled a decent amount and always looked at the potential lifestyle a person could have living in those locations. Lived in Oz and Canada, both had appeal but lacked a certain spark. South of France was nice enough, for a while, then become quite boring to tell the truth but if my French had been better perhaps I would have felt more integrated.
Thailand on the other hand is simply awesome. The lifestyle, culture, cost of living, people, food, healthcare, climate (most of the year), gateway access to travel the rest of Asia, lack of nanny state intrusiveness, amazing countryside to explore, cheap travel in country, varied activities to have as hobbies and the availability of decent cars and bikes (albeit at inflated prices sometimes) makes it a country that ticks a serious amount of boxes for me personally.
Everyone's different and what works for one might not work for another.
Also, a lot of the time, you can get all the advice in the world but that doesn't mean jacks
t compared to actually doing it yourself and finding out for yourself the hard way.
Personally travelled a decent amount and always looked at the potential lifestyle a person could have living in those locations. Lived in Oz and Canada, both had appeal but lacked a certain spark. South of France was nice enough, for a while, then become quite boring to tell the truth but if my French had been better perhaps I would have felt more integrated.
Thailand on the other hand is simply awesome. The lifestyle, culture, cost of living, people, food, healthcare, climate (most of the year), gateway access to travel the rest of Asia, lack of nanny state intrusiveness, amazing countryside to explore, cheap travel in country, varied activities to have as hobbies and the availability of decent cars and bikes (albeit at inflated prices sometimes) makes it a country that ticks a serious amount of boxes for me personally.
Everyone's different and what works for one might not work for another.
Also, a lot of the time, you can get all the advice in the world but that doesn't mean jacks
t compared to actually doing it yourself and finding out for yourself the hard way. DoubleTime said:
Thailand on the other hand is simply awesome. The lifestyle, culture, cost of living, people, food, healthcare, climate (most of the year), gateway access to travel the rest of Asia, lack of nanny state intrusiveness, amazing countryside to explore, cheap travel in country, varied activities to have as hobbies and the availability of decent cars and bikes (albeit at inflated prices sometimes) makes it a country that ticks a serious amount of boxes for me personally.
.
I lived in Thailand for a couple of years in another life, but then visited the Philippines and ended up settled there for nearly 20 years, on and off..
I’d still like to go back and have another try at Thailand. It has far better infrastructure than the Phils. Several of my old offshore buddies live in Phuket, which was where I was based mainly.
King Herald said:
I lived in Thailand for a couple of years in another life, but then visited the Philippines and ended up settled there for nearly 20 years, on and off.
I’d still like to go back and have another try at Thailand. It has far better infrastructure than the Phils. Several of my old offshore buddies live in Phuket, which was where I was based mainly.
Go for it KH! I’d still like to go back and have another try at Thailand. It has far better infrastructure than the Phils. Several of my old offshore buddies live in Phuket, which was where I was based mainly.
RegularDegular said:
A question for those those who have moved aboard - Did you continue to work in a similar field that you had experience and qualifications in from the UK, or did you manage to find employment and a subsequent career aboard by doing something completely different?
A bit of both. 
RegularDegular said:
A question for those those who have moved aboard - Did you continue to work in a similar field that you had experience and qualifications in from the UK, or did you manage to find employment and a subsequent career aboard by doing something completely different?
If I did move, if it was to another country similar to the UK like Australia or the US. I would continue to work my trade, however if it was to Greece I would give it up. I don’t really like it and only so it because it’s what I did a apprentiship in and now don’t want to take a at least £10k paycut to do seomething else in this country. Plenty of people have done it, nobody can tell you if its right for you.
Ive lived in Oz and NZ, and while they all had their positives and I enjoyed it while I was there, neither really appealed long term, but thats because at 21/22 the things I wanted wasnt necessarily what they offered. If I went back now, I doubt I'd leave Australia.
Best advice is to go and try it, Oz, NZ, USA etc are all really easy because there is no language barrier and the cultures are not too different, but other parts of the world might offer better opportunities - China and Africa are the areas of the world which are really growing at the moment if you want to seek your fortune.
As for wanting to sit in the sun and not need money, sadly wherever you go there are taxes and there is bureaucracy. Once you go abroad you do appreciate the UK better, if it was so easy to enjoy yourself getting a sun tan on a 20 hour week, everyone would be doing it, but sadly most things in the world cost money, and if its easy, someone else can do.
Ive lived in Oz and NZ, and while they all had their positives and I enjoyed it while I was there, neither really appealed long term, but thats because at 21/22 the things I wanted wasnt necessarily what they offered. If I went back now, I doubt I'd leave Australia.
Best advice is to go and try it, Oz, NZ, USA etc are all really easy because there is no language barrier and the cultures are not too different, but other parts of the world might offer better opportunities - China and Africa are the areas of the world which are really growing at the moment if you want to seek your fortune.
As for wanting to sit in the sun and not need money, sadly wherever you go there are taxes and there is bureaucracy. Once you go abroad you do appreciate the UK better, if it was so easy to enjoy yourself getting a sun tan on a 20 hour week, everyone would be doing it, but sadly most things in the world cost money, and if its easy, someone else can do.
Edited by Condi on Saturday 20th January 19:51
RegularDegular said:
A question for those those who have moved aboard - Did you continue to work in a similar field that you had experience and qualifications in from the UK, or did you manage to find employment and a subsequent career aboard by doing something completely different?
I’m a machinist by trade, but when I ran out of cash backpacking and went looking for work, in Singapore, I ended up being head mechanic in a sailing yacht marina. I learned quite a bit about yachts in the next two years, which lined me up for my next job........a compressor mechanic in the oil fields........
That was 25 years ago. Things have changed now. You’d probably have to have a couple of degrees and a three piece suit to get a work permit in Singers.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff