To ask what it is like to constantly move around the world as an expat family?

[Milesfromme]

When I was growing up, we lived in the same house for almost my entire life, so this is all fairly new to me. DH's career is changing rapidly (I am self employed and can work remotely, so not an issue) and we are currently in London (have been for the past 2 years). He has now been offered a job in Singapore, which would be for a year before moving onto who knows where.

We have two children who have so far thrived in international schools and we all love to see the world, but I'm wondering if there will come a time when it will lose it's appeal?

Having been brought up like this, I deliberately chose to give my DC's a local upbringing in the UK.
It was very challenging to be the new girl in school all the time, although it became the norm for me. I love that my adult DC still have friends from nursery.
You end up feeling a bit out of place, even in your own country.

Excellent when dcs are a young as yours. You might want to re think the situation when they approach secondary school. We tried to return at that stage and couldn't get a space at any of our local schools. We ended up trapped by exam cycles. Fortunately the schooling was good overseas and the kids are at excellent uk universities now. Free again!

Join the Two Fat Expats Facebook group - it's great

Also you need to check if you can work in the country you are moving to - even if it's remote you may still need a work permit

So hit us with your ‘best experiences’.
I’m looking to leave the UK. DD12 is all about living in the Netherlands, is learning Dutch, and wants to live there this minute (I have no idea why but it’s her dream).
Where are the ‘happy’ places you’ve all lived?

@TheVanguardSix

So hit us with your ‘best experiences’. I’m looking to leave the UK. DD12 is all about living in the Netherlands, is learning Dutch, and wants to live there this minute (I have no idea why but it’s her dream). Where are the ‘happy’ places you’ve all lived?

Cyprus was where we had the best work/life balance. DH typically worked 6am-2pm, and school was 7.30- 1pm. Then the afternoons were for fun. We had a small pool in the garden. Beach was 25mins drive. Their school was amazing. The children spent hours outside everyday, at school and afterwards.

It wasn't so much fun for the older kids though. There wasn't a lot for them really.

@TheVanguardSix

So hit us with your ‘best experiences’. I’m looking to leave the UK. DD12 is all about living in the Netherlands, is learning Dutch, and wants to live there this minute (I have no idea why but it’s her dream). Where are the ‘happy’ places you’ve all lived?

I loved the Netherlands. I moved there when I was 14, and chose to go to a Dutch school rather than English, so that I could integrate. The language is pretty easy to pick up. The people are fab, and I'm still in touch.

This is just my view. It’s a mixed bag to be honest. Amazing for the experiences but you never have ‘roots’ or really feel you belong anywhere. The world also seems smaller and bigger at the same time. Always wonder what it’s be like to really belong somewhere like you’re part of the furniture so to speak. Like when I’ve gone to new places, there’s been people who are just known by everyone, real pillars of the community who’ve been in the same place for generations.

I was born in Romania, then moved to Russia as a baby until I was 5. Then we moved to America, New York and lived between there and Russia. Then we moved to London, I went to school in Switzerland, then spent summer holidays wherever my parents were (Russia, USA,, Germany, Tanzania, UK, Saudi Arabia or Delhi (Delhi was amazing)). There were a few more places too but I can’t even remember (travel was wasted on me).

I settled in England / NY after school before having children. Since we had the children we’ve lived in Doha, Dubai, New Zealand, America, Canada and now we’re in Australia. We’ll be here a while I imagine. We travelled around Australia for an entire year in a caravan (you know, to find the best place to build a house!). I feel content and settled right now but my children are beginning to get itchy feet and want to explore again.

I love that we’ve experienced so much, so many cultures and people and food and different ways of living. I love how I can speak multiple languages and can easily pick up a new language naturally. I hate that we aren’t a close family with our extended families. I miss the not knowing of what life would be like if you stayed in the same place forever. I have so many friends across the world but I feel like from moving so much as a child, I haven’t ever really learned how to form very close friendships. I have best friends but I don’t feel I have the capacity to truly love them like I know some people really love their friends. I suppose moving so much can make you somewhat detached?

Also you really miss places but love where you are too. When you return the changes can be upsetting. I feel if you always live in the same place, changes seem more gradual? You also miss food from places too! I’m thankful for my life experience though, wouldn’t change it.

We do it. Love it. It's a constant adventure. Even the bad days are interesting, exciting, great stories! Also my kids think that they're literally royalty due to the attention and affection that they get! They'd be gutted to move to the UK and put a stop to that

One thing we did learn... the majority of your life doesn't change. You still have a the mundane stuff like school, work, food shopping, housework, paying bills, taking the car to the garage etc. Currency might be different, language might be different, location and activities are different, food is different. But its not one big holiday!

We emigrated when I was 9, returned when I was an older teenager. Due to me being the middle child, my education was most disrupted. My elder sibling had all her high school education in one school and one country, as did my younger sibling.
When we returned to the uk, for various reasons we moved several times before we finally settled in one place, so I did 7 schools in 5 years, in 2 different countries and under 3 different examining boards! Also, due to age and completely different school year times, I only had 3 1/2 years of high school education, rather than 5. I did ok at school but could have done so much better. If you can keep consistency of education in the senior years, that would be good.