Would you move abroad and if so where?

[peebles32]

Just that really.

I have an itch to move abroad in a couple of years. I lived abroad in my twenties in Spain and France and I just feel like this is what I am meant to do. My youngest will have finished school and can do a levels or equivalent abroad. I am a teacher so can work most places. No ties in the UK although I have grown up children who are settled.

My husband is happy to consider it but he wants somewhere warmer than the UK.
Possibly Spain or Italy. The winters feel so long in the UK and I have this feeling inside me that i need to do it. Might be a risk but would I regret it. Is it grass is greener syndrome? Maybe it is my mid life crisis. 😁
So if you could move anywhere where would you go and why?

Do it @peebles32 ! Life is too short, you only get one, etc etc! I would move to Greece in a heartbeat if my family didn't need me here.

Do you/he speak any languages and have any right to work in Europe? The international schools tend to recruit about now for the new school year, they used to hold recruitment fairs in London in spring but probably virtual now.

Yeah I have a European passport and speak French and Spanish. That's interesting about the recruitment fair!

How does your son feel about it? I would probably wait a few more years until he has done a levels rather than move him at 16 unless he is v keen and you can get a job in an English medium ( or other language he is fluent in) international school that does A levels.

Hong Kong is good quality of life for teachers ( international schools). Good packages. Basically no behaviour issues and v diligent kids ( even the expat ones 🤣). COL is high but if your husband can work as well and you don’t mind living a little further out, it can be a great life.

@LauderSyme can you believe I have never visited Greece!

I live abroad so might recommend it, but unless you get a place at an international school 16+ education for your son might be a nightmare.

@LaPalmaLlama
Yeah he is fine to go. The packages I have looked at seem to offer reduced/free place for your child. Bonus.

For me I am used to teaching a class of 30 with no TA in a tiny classroom and fighting the office manager for glue sticks and white board pens! 😁
Would love Hong Kong and if it was not for my older children been too far away then I would consider it

Where would you like to go?

No, because the grass probably isn't going to be any greener. Most western nations have the exact same social issues as the UK does. Some countries may be better in some departments but worse in other departments.

I've lived a lot of places. Everywhere has pros and cons.

I think that once my kids are independent, I'll head somewhere definitely warmer again, I want somewhere I can reasonably have an outdoor pool.

I think I'd live in Malta again. Not Italy (just didn't really get on with it) - maybe Spain or Portugal or the very far south of France - but TBH, I won't want to 'settle' anywhere until I have to, once I'm free again.

Just back from 14 years in HK so happy to stay put for now. I do have a dream to live in a cabin in Boulder, Colorado though and another to hike the PCT a la Cheryl Strayed. Just need these pesky kids to grow up 🤣

It would probably be the US for us, as DH and the dcs are US citizens and DH works for a US company. It's not where I'd pick "if I could choose anywhere in the world". I think I'd rather go somewhere we could learn another language, maybe France or French-speaking Canada as I've studied French.

In reality I'm not sure we could deal with the upheaval while the dcs are in school, there's such a treadmill of selective exams, school places and more exams.

I'd go to the area around Perpignan. I speak French and a bit of Spanish. It is close to the Pyrenees, the Aude region, the Canal du Midi, lovely beaches around Argeles. Short trip to go over the border to Catalonia, Barcelona, Girona and the sea side places of Lloret and Sitges etc.

I've been to the Aude region and love it, around Limoux, Foix etc. and on the canal to Narbonne. But I'm a city girl so would like a big place to live, thus Perpignan. Oh yes please.

Oh, out of europe, Singapore is fantastic - if you could swing something there I would highly recommend. Or Malaysia - also really liked living there.

Switzerland! Admittedly not super warm in winter, but absolutely beautiful, great education options for your son and outstanding quality of life.

Spain,in a heartbeat

It is not just language though- for me the big issue is culture. It can be very hard to feel you fit into another country's culture or if you don't like aspects of the culture - e.g perceived rudeness, attitudes to women.

Agree, many who hope to integrate eventually retreat into the expat bubble. Switzerland can be very difficult and you have no say in local governance as a non citizen. The turnover of expats can make sustainable friendships hard.

Lots of different places.
@LaPalmaLlama
A cabin would be wonderful. Just binge watched Ben Fogle this half term. Unfortunately, I need to work a while longer yet!

Fiscardo Kepholonia
St Martins Guernsey
Moraira Spain

@peebles32 I heartily recommend it's beauty for a holiday. But I lived there before the financial crash happened in 2008 and I think it hit the country really hard so I might find that upsetting.

We moved to Australia 10 yrs ago. Absolutely love it here.
we even drive on the left and speak the same language.

We have extremes of weather, but mostly beautiful 🤩.

I have visited UK just once since we left but couldn’t wait to get back to my Australian life.

As a teacher you would probably qualify for a visa but you must be under 45yrs of age.