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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

299 replies

Whatawaytomakealiving · 06/05/2017 21:55

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.

OP posts:
Jazzywazzydodah · 07/05/2017 21:00

Why should people pay for basic hospital treatment when they get taxed to death all ready?

howrudeforme · 07/05/2017 21:18

I'd leave if I could but at my age probably v few opportunities.

What makes me want to leave is the brexit crap, and any attempt to engage in a critique of our country ends in lots of the shut down comments you get get on here.

sick of it. My ds has rights to another passport and we are now actively persuing it for his future.

BertieBotts · 07/05/2017 21:32

Confused Who do you want to pay for it, Jazzy?

Original poster
Whatawaytomakealiving · 07/05/2017 22:16

Having just caught up, (yes, just finished a day of school work on a Sunday?!?) there are some really interesting points and thoughtful responses. Great to read through and certainly a sparky debate which is what I had hoped.

Some very harsh, in fact quite vicious responses too, interestingly by those who think I should leave because I will find the grass isn't greener elsewhere. You make me feel like a traitor for daring to even think of a future elsewhere. Why the bitter response?

I have lived in Spain, I know that your life is still your life, if you know what I mean, you are responsible wherever you are, an effort for change can be made here too. I'm also not swayed by the weather; days of endless sunshine became 'days of endless sunshine' great during a holiday not so great when work beckons. I also understand that it takes time to integrate and to understand fully the attitudes and beliefs of the community. Often the subtleties can be missed.

I have always defended Great Britain until now. As some have said, I feel unsettled, disillusioned, not listened to and I feel very sad that I feel like this.

OP posts:
fakenamefornow · 07/05/2017 22:35

I agree op, I feel things have changed here. Just watched a bit of the French election, somebody was holding up a sign saying Hope Beats Hate, I feel like hate has beaten hope in the UK.

tabbymog · 07/05/2017 22:47

This article in today's Guardian sums up a lot of what I feel about this country. It made me think how I really feel about where this country's going, that we've abandoned all those things that are regarded as Enlightenment values.

I have dual citizenship through my Italian father but never applied for an Italian passport, until now. I'd really love to go and live in Berlin; I went to uni there and love it, and the country as a whole. If Britain ends up rejoining the EEA, it will be possible because I'd keep my disability allowances. There are certain conditions I'd have to meet but it's definitely a possibility.

I've never had any real sense of nationality but I do feel European, whatever that really means. I do feel that I don't belong here an more, though, and that feeling is very strong. This country has abandoned me. It's so ironic, because my father, his mother and sister fled Italy in the 1920s after Mussolini's fascists murdered his father and two brothers, they took refuge in London and were made welcome there.

LostSight · 07/05/2017 23:55

Funny how many leave the UK, but then choose to live in little ex pat communities, and refuse to intergrate or learn the language. Surely part of leaving is to embrace the culture and lifestyle of your chosen country.

It's not really that strange. I don't live in an ex-pat community and I speak Norwegian at work, but it's hard work and tiring, even after years of it. I can quite understand the temptation not to do so, especially if you work in an English speaking environment and don't have much spare time to learn the language. It's also difficult as a first generation immigrant to convert your culture. Our children will integrate far more fully, should they choose to stay.

FrenchLavender · 08/05/2017 06:20

OP since you've come back, can I ask you to answer my question earlier. Do you consider that the likes of Norway, Switzerland and Iceland to be small and stupid? Or for that matter any similarly sized countries worldwide with very buoyant economies and civilised lifestyles, democracies etc., in spite of not belonging to any union or federation.

fakenamefornow · 08/05/2017 09:05

FrenchLavender

in spite of not belonging to any union or federation.

The three countries you've mentioned are in a very close alliance with the EU and subject to many of the same rules including FOM. If you look wider this is true of many small
successful countries , they are in local alliances.

wasonthelist · 08/05/2017 09:14

OP - I am sorry you feel this way. I felt much the same during the Thatcher years, and I still often feel out of line with much of contemporary mores and "culture" despite having been born here and lived here all my life.

On the whole, though I feel I'd still rather be here than anywhere. I spend time in the USA with work once a year, and France too. I enjoy visiting but could never live in either. I have been to Aus, NZ, Norway etc etc and feel similarly. Surely its incumbent upon us to try to be the change we want?

LaPharisienne · 08/05/2017 09:35

LostSight I don't live in an ex-pat community. My partner is a local. We live like everyone else does here i.e. In a much more pleasant fashion than we did in the UK!

RebelandaStunner · 08/05/2017 09:47

I've lived and worked abroad including Scandinavia as I have family there. They moan just as much as anyone else.
I'm happy to live here in the UK, it's beautiful where we are, we have lots of opportunities and a good life. I do think the education system needs a shake up though.

user1493022461 · 08/05/2017 09:53

Which country is better than here then?

Take your pick. Almost all of them.

FrenchLavender · 08/05/2017 11:27

fake yes and so will we still be. But again that doesn't help me get an answer out of the OP. 'Local' alliances are not what I was talking about.

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 11:29

Go to the USA then. You'll get 8 weeks maternity leave if you're lucky, 10 days annual leave and have to pay an absolute fortune for crap health care.
Confused

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 11:30

Take your pick. Almost all of them.

Somalia.
Yemen
Saudi Arabia
Libya

Off you go then.

user1490734428 · 08/05/2017 11:47

Stop believing everything you read in the Daily Mail, ArtemisiaGentilleschi. I'm Russian and have lived in UK all my life, but if my boyfriend and family weren't here, I'd move back in a heartbeat, They have 11% taxes, free healthcare, free uni education, complete freedom. Tube journeys are 50p. Trains are fast and run on time. All my family are really happy. If you visited and wondered why it would be in Western interests to criticise and demonise sovereign countries and democratically elected leaders, rather than read Western media and lap it up, you might even like it.

user1493022461 · 08/05/2017 11:59

Did you miss the word ALMOST?

Good UK education there obviously.

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 12:02

I'm Russian and have lived in UK all my life, but if my boyfriend and family weren't here, I'd move back in a heartbeat, They have 11% taxes, free healthcare, free uni education, complete freedom.

That's bullshit and you know it.

I was in Russia for months. They spend all their taxes on the wrong things. Marble floors and chandeliers in the underground....it looks like a work of art but who the hell needs chandeliers and marble on the bloody underground?

There were countless elderly women standing on the street trying to sell meagre things for money to survive. I dont see any pensioners in the UK forced to do that.

Get back to russia then what are you doing here?

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 12:03

Dont let family stop you....go.

peaceout · 08/05/2017 12:04

God I wish mumsnet would allow us to mute all the user149235789744 posts, it gets very confusing when people pick names that are identical at a glance

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 12:05

Did you miss the word ALMOST?

Almost is totally incorrect.

Most countries in Africa, middle east, are totally unsafe to travel to let alone live in.

Thats well over 100 countries.

Great Russian education there if you cant count the countries of the world and say almost all of them are better. The overwhelming majority are not.

FrenchLavender · 08/05/2017 12:22

Take your pick. Almost all of them.

Okay so your 'almost' acknowledges that it might not be great in Yemen or Somalia right now, but which countries specifically do you know for a fact are better, all things considered? Please do tell. With reasons why. Let's do a quick count and see if it's 'almost all of them' or just a relatively small handful.

user1490734428 · 08/05/2017 12:34

FreeNiki, those chandelier and marble stations were built in the 50s. Current ones being built are pretty modern and utilitarian and not that fancy. But there is Wifi on the underground.

There are a lot of homeless old people begging here. Absolutely loads. 1000's of pensioners here die because they can't afford heating!

What am I doing here? My family and life is here, it's not that easy to up-and-leave. Otherwise I suspect a lot of us would be in Spain or Portugal right now. A lot of Brits are...

FreeNiki · 08/05/2017 12:39

Spain and Portugal where unemployment in young people is what 50%

our minimum wage is one of the best in the world.

as i said.....get out if you don't like it.

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