AIBU to feel that Great Britain isn't 'Great' anymore? I think I want to move abroad!

[Whatawaytomakealiving]

I don't want to live in a country that treats people as it does. I work damned hard to serve the public, but I am so disillusioned.

Good luck

Welcome over board (& abroad!)

Good lord, all those posting who have moved to Switzerland....you have my sympathy.

I work for a Swiss company and have spent many months working there over the past 10 years. I live in fear that my company will transfer my team to Zurich permanently. It is so very very dull, so very very racist and so very very expensive. Not a patch on the vibrancy, humour, warmth and interest that you find in e.g London, Manchester, Bristol. Fair enough if you are tired of life, but for goodness sake don't move to Switzerland if you have any vibrancy left in your soul, it will die a slow death

Whizz really? I have been here for 12 years. We absolutely LOVE it. In the French speaking part. Have zero desire to even visit the UK these days...

I don't want to live in a country that treats people as it does. I work damned hard to serve the public, but I am so disillusioned.
Move abroad then. It's entirely up to you. I hear N Korea is lovely.

Yes honestly Frogs, I really dislike it. Also hate the rampant sexism. Nice chocolate though.

People are so sensitive and rude on this thread. The OP started a thread , if you don't like the topic why not leave with no comment. OP has a right to her own opinion. No need to ask her to leave the country. Really rude people on mumsnet sometimes

Batty why are you swearing you sound deranged. Not everyone thinks this country is a green and pleasant land

Bambino you do realise your lifestyle was built off the back of the slave trade right? Or does that not bother you.

I have a close family member living in France and life is much better there (employee rights, benefits, working conditions, holidays, etc.) You have to speak the language though.

Good luck with your new life OP

Interesting that as a UK teacher, you support a system of selective secondary education, when so many in the UK do not.

Hope you're white and middle class; racism is rife in NL and don't forget P.V.V. is the second largest political party in the country.

Don't forget how much you love the open and welcoming culture, when your kids when pop down to the coffeeshop. They'll also be twice as likely to smoke cigarettes than in the UK, so don't forget to take out good healthcare cover (mandatory; no lovely NHS to rely on!).

But you have bikes and a lovely house overlooking the canal

IonaNE I'm sure your relative is happy but there are downsides.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/living_overseas/563418-what-are-the-downsides-of-living-in-france

I don't get the points of purposefully stomping on OP's dreams (esp regurgitating ridiculous stereotypes). We all want different things out of life, it is clear that she wants to experience other countries, and just because you might not share her ideals is no reason to be unsupportive.

OP, go for it. Integrate with the locals as much as the expats. Enjoy learning about a new culture, a new language and trying new things. Have fun! I really hope that it works out for you!

Goodbyeeeeee.

Hope you enjoy, and it lives up to your expectations. Well done for acting not just moaning.

Abroad isn't so great. I've lived all over the world but I always want to come home.

Frogs I guess that was aimed at me. Disagree with your assumption.

OP originally stated that she didn't want to "live in a country that treats people as it does" and I think this is as much of a sweeping generalisation as any that I might have used in response; how are OPs sweeping generalisations more acceptable than mine? Because they target Great Britain and not some other utopia somewhere else?

OP also states that she works "in education; the whole system, the disregard for children and a sense of the corrupt and selfish egomaniacs is hugely concerning.", yet rather than moving to the selective system within the UK she chooses to move to the selective system in another country. The grass is greener then?

If the original post had been couched as 'I'd like to experience another culture and also further my career and have a wonderful family adventure" then it might have been received slightly more positively than the "UK is rubbish I'm looking for somewhere better" sentiment. Positive language encourages positive language, negativity breeds negativity.

Interesting thread to read. Good luck in the Netherlands, OP! Moving to a new country can be very demanding for the first couple of years, so don´t get disillusioned if it isn´t as great as you hoped at first.

I´ve lived abroad for over 20 years, mainly in Norway. One thing I have really noticed is how the standard of living in the UK has fallen, especially over the last 10 years or so. When I first moved to Norway, my UK friends and I lived in similar ways, had similar working weeks and standard of living. It is now noticeable when I go back that they work a lot longer hours, are a lot more stressed in work, and that they can afford a noticeably lower standard of living than I can.

What's stopping you? If it's so awful here, no-one is making you stay. You are welcome to leave and see how much better it is in another country.

This. I still love Britain, but there's plenty of other countries to try out if you're able to move.

Sorry, just seen you are acting on it and not just moaning. As you were, then...

I am the odd one on here as I still think Britain is a great country. I teach English to foreign students and the majority of them still think Britain is a great country too. If you don't like this country, and think it is rubbish, then perhaps living somewhere else is right for you. Me - I would never leave this country. it's not perfect, there are many other countries who do some things better than us, but overall, I am happy living here.

I am the odd one on here as I still think Britain is a great country.
Well, I'll join you waving my flag in the odd corner then as I still love Britain too.

Me too! I love travelling but I love my home country and it's people and their humour.I love the culture,tolerance,music and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Good luck OP, hope it works out.

Username no, not aimed at you at all. Just don't see the point of negativity, that's all. Would much rather be encouraging.

user , Hope you're white and middle class; racism is rife in NL and don't forget P.V.V. is the second largest political party in the country.

The town I work in now is so segregated, it is horrific how people treat each other .The community I work with suffer from a very stereotypical view of them. Racism is subtle but always present. It makes me cry some days, the lives the families I work with have. When I was new to this job I was horrified at the extent of the racism that some of our communities are subjected to. I think as white Brits we only think we are accepting and some of us are, but so many, very subtly ( and many not so subtly) are not.

I'm also not taking children with me, my children are grown up and have lives here. They will of course be able to visit there quicker than they can get home now.

I keep saying, I have lived abroad, I know the grass isn't always greener and I have also always wanted to be here at home. Just no more!

Thank you those that have supported me in trying something else, in looking for place where I feel valued as a professional, as a person. An educational establishment that believes in children, that supports learning in its widest sense.

I am very calm but realistic about my choices.