Moving Abroad. Experiences?
Discussion
Who hasn't taken a holiday and while there decided that it would be a much better place to live than boring old Blighty?! I know that we as a family do it often. Previously it has been Italy, and last night we returned from 10 days in Brittany and we're still asking ourselves the usual 'what if' questions, which have normally stopped by the time we get home!
The place we stayed in was owned by an English ex-pat who was living in the main farmhouse and was happy to share his experiences. His situation was very different to ours in that he doesn't have kids yet, and was able to move there from the UK with a 'ready made' business and skills that are easily transferable (Building trade).
Who has actually followed up on those 'what-if' questions, and what job did you do before you moved and what are you doing now? Also, did anyone make the move with kids as part of the equation?
Would love to hear any general experiences, as coming back to the UK this time felt like a big change. The whole pace and quality of life (not to mention the roads!
) just felt so much better over there.
The place we stayed in was owned by an English ex-pat who was living in the main farmhouse and was happy to share his experiences. His situation was very different to ours in that he doesn't have kids yet, and was able to move there from the UK with a 'ready made' business and skills that are easily transferable (Building trade).
Who has actually followed up on those 'what-if' questions, and what job did you do before you moved and what are you doing now? Also, did anyone make the move with kids as part of the equation?
Would love to hear any general experiences, as coming back to the UK this time felt like a big change. The whole pace and quality of life (not to mention the roads!
) just felt so much better over there. Smallend said:
Would love to hear any general experiences, as coming back to the UK this time felt like a big change. The whole pace and quality of life (not to mention the roads! ) just felt so much better over there.
I think you need to also be conscious of the 'grass is greener' situation as you won't know what you'll miss so much once you're away. However, there is no doubt it is a good thing to do. Even if it works out to be not what was promised (depending on where you go).) just felt so much better over there. I moved to Australia nearly 8 years ago and haven't regretted it for a second, though have become slightly disillusioned by a lot of the crap here (as I would in the UK, just with a different focus). But I know the reality back in Blighty probably hasn't got any better since I left. It's just more a case of there being good and bad everywhere, it's just that whatever's in your face is what's more prominent in your mind. Of course.
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they wish they hadn't taken the leap (and I'm not just talking of Australia when I say this).
If I were in the UK I'd have a much nicer car, much nicer roads, much nicer pubs and a less retarded media (believe it) to enjoy. But that's about it. The rest more than makes up for it. And hey, if I want to go back, do you know what I'll do? I'll get on a 'plane.
I don't have kids that I know of BTW and obviously that gives rise to a whole load of additional considerations. One of these considerations though should be that you are enriching their life by giving a much broader tapestry of youthful experience/exposure and I've no doubt this will benefit them in later life.
To fill you in on the whole story of how the move came about of course warrants a much longer post than someone who is allegedly working should be typing, so this'll have to do for the time being.
In summary - do it.
Left the UK for good last year. Was heading for a new life in NZ, but stopped off in Dubai, where I have been for 8 months now. Tis a great place to live, but will still be moving on to NZ, a place that I love.
Don't have kids and agree this would require extra attention, but don't think it can't be done just beacuse you have kids.
Think seriously about it, I doubt you'll regret the experience, even if you do return to the UK.
Don't have kids and agree this would require extra attention, but don't think it can't be done just beacuse you have kids.
Think seriously about it, I doubt you'll regret the experience, even if you do return to the UK.
Like Snijder I moved to Norway, unlike him I hated the place, which only goes to show that you have to decide for yourself where to go, I now live in Malaysia and I love it, I like the bit of cause ( one of the things I disliked most in Norway was the nice neat order of things, to boring for me).
But I never regretted moving anywhere treat it as an adventure, I was in the UK last week meet a load of old mates who have spent all their lives living 100yards from their Mums house, not for me, to mis use a quote, ‘better to have moved and lost then never to have moved’.
But I never regretted moving anywhere treat it as an adventure, I was in the UK last week meet a load of old mates who have spent all their lives living 100yards from their Mums house, not for me, to mis use a quote, ‘better to have moved and lost then never to have moved’.
Mrs Puggit has recently given up work, so the biggest hurdle to moving abroad has now been removed.
If the right job came up, we'd be gone.
Of course we do own a house in France, which makes that move very easy - sadly I don't speak fluent French and the house is too isolated to consider a permanent move!
If the right job came up, we'd be gone.
Of course we do own a house in France, which makes that move very easy - sadly I don't speak fluent French and the house is too isolated to consider a permanent move!
I think the key elements from our point of view are that we would love to make a big lifestyle change. i.e. get out of the rat-race and although we live in a rural area now, it's nothing like as rural as we would like.
That brings the other considerations into focus though - the kids are 6 and 8, and are bright lads who will do well wherever they are, but would they really benefit more from a few years of living abroad and the life experience that brings, or from sticking with the great school and education they are currently getting?
I'm really interested to hear people's experiences of moving abroad with kids, and what source of income you had before and after the move.
That brings the other considerations into focus though - the kids are 6 and 8, and are bright lads who will do well wherever they are, but would they really benefit more from a few years of living abroad and the life experience that brings, or from sticking with the great school and education they are currently getting?
I'm really interested to hear people's experiences of moving abroad with kids, and what source of income you had before and after the move.
Moved to Austria, albeit for just a few years at this stage.
Love it.
EDIT: I fly back for weekends to the UK now and again. Great to see family and friends and, er, that's about it. Everything's so manic and un-friendly in the UK. It really seems a more stressful way of life there. Or maybe it's just me
Love it.
EDIT: I fly back for weekends to the UK now and again. Great to see family and friends and, er, that's about it. Everything's so manic and un-friendly in the UK. It really seems a more stressful way of life there. Or maybe it's just me
Edited by ghibbett on Friday 30th July 11:09
TonyRPH said:
For those of you who have moved to countries where English is not the first language, have you had to learn the native language, or is it possible to get by just speaking English?
Why would you not want to learn the language? You might not be fluent when you get there, but you should at least be able to get by after a couple of months.Do it.
In my view though the most important consideration is what you are going to do. This is why going on holiday is so misleading. You could have a perfectly nice time in most of England if you ate in nice restaurants, stayed in an area of nice countryside and spent all day doing fun stuff as you do on holiday. It's when you have to fill months and years with something that makes rather than costs you money that reality kicks in.
I live in Thailand now, doing pretty much what I was before I left the UK. Executive search. I like the work and it pays well. I taught English for a year which was fun but not what I'd want to do for a career. No kids so that makes it a lot easier.
My parents live in France. They've had a house there for about 10 years and lived there full time for just over 3. They seem to like it, though I think they definitely went through a "grass is not that green" phase at around 6-12 months after moving there full time. Personally I'm not a great fan of France. It has some lovely countryside, food and wine, but I find it boring, and in the rural areas where houses are cheap everyone is ancient. Things close at awkward times, and it is a very expensive country.
The roads that seem so quiet and unpoliced when you're having a blast in your UK car are actually quite strictly policed and fines quite common when you have French plates.
And while the set up you stayed in might have been a good one, hundreds if not thousands of people run gites and B&Bs all over France which are always empty. Unless you have something very special or are in a real boom area then it's a difficult business. Even then you're likely to have a long, cold and depressing winter. It's quite difficult to make a living, let along a good living, in any country where you are not fluent in the language and don't really know anyone.
Finally there's the fact that most of the problems you associate with England will not disappear by leaving. It's very unlikely in my experience that a failing marriage, a tempestuous teenager or even being stuck in a midlife rut will change significantly simply by moving countries. It doesn't sound like that applies to you but if there's any element of it don't attempt to answer it with moving.
Not to put you off at all. I think the world is full of places that are more fun, cheaper and more enjoyable to live in than the UK. However I also know that a lot of people end up disappointed by focusing too much on where they will be and too little on what they will do.
Good luck if you do decide to do it though.
In my view though the most important consideration is what you are going to do. This is why going on holiday is so misleading. You could have a perfectly nice time in most of England if you ate in nice restaurants, stayed in an area of nice countryside and spent all day doing fun stuff as you do on holiday. It's when you have to fill months and years with something that makes rather than costs you money that reality kicks in.
I live in Thailand now, doing pretty much what I was before I left the UK. Executive search. I like the work and it pays well. I taught English for a year which was fun but not what I'd want to do for a career. No kids so that makes it a lot easier.
My parents live in France. They've had a house there for about 10 years and lived there full time for just over 3. They seem to like it, though I think they definitely went through a "grass is not that green" phase at around 6-12 months after moving there full time. Personally I'm not a great fan of France. It has some lovely countryside, food and wine, but I find it boring, and in the rural areas where houses are cheap everyone is ancient. Things close at awkward times, and it is a very expensive country.
The roads that seem so quiet and unpoliced when you're having a blast in your UK car are actually quite strictly policed and fines quite common when you have French plates.
And while the set up you stayed in might have been a good one, hundreds if not thousands of people run gites and B&Bs all over France which are always empty. Unless you have something very special or are in a real boom area then it's a difficult business. Even then you're likely to have a long, cold and depressing winter. It's quite difficult to make a living, let along a good living, in any country where you are not fluent in the language and don't really know anyone.
Finally there's the fact that most of the problems you associate with England will not disappear by leaving. It's very unlikely in my experience that a failing marriage, a tempestuous teenager or even being stuck in a midlife rut will change significantly simply by moving countries. It doesn't sound like that applies to you but if there's any element of it don't attempt to answer it with moving.
Not to put you off at all. I think the world is full of places that are more fun, cheaper and more enjoyable to live in than the UK. However I also know that a lot of people end up disappointed by focusing too much on where they will be and too little on what they will do.
Good luck if you do decide to do it though.
Expat in Spain (Barcelona) love being here, not sure it is for ever, but love the place and the culture. Yo no hablo muy bien Espagnol pero no es un problema. I am learning Spanish and it's good to try and converse only in the local language and signs. We've not found it too much of a problem.
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