Moving abroad has made me realise how bloody dire the UK is

[MattHancocksPrivateNurse]

We moved abroad 4 months ago and after the normal wobbles and adjustments I am now shocked at how different (and much better!) life is. We have considerably more spending money despite paying for private school and healthcare (which are much much better than the UK). It’s safer, considerably cleaner, better public services and much better food quality.

already I can’t see us ever going back and already want to explore somewhere new eventually! But if anyone is feeling low and despondent about the uk which we really were and gets an opportunity (or has a transferable job) I would 100000% recommend looking into it.

i wish we had done it 10 years ago tbh. AIBU to never come back bar the odd visit to see family and friends?!

Where have you moved to? How much do you pay for health insurance and does it cover everything? Do your premiums go up if you claim on it or pre existing conditions?
no you aren’t being unreasonable!

Abroad could be anywhere, I suppose it depends where you are.
Glad you are happy in the new country, do you have to learn a new language?

How nice of you to pass by to let us know how dreadful our lives are. However will we all cope without you 🙄

So glad it's worked out for you. What a shame you didn't do it 10 years ago. Never mind, benefit of hindsight and all that!

We’ve moved to the Oman which I know mumsnet hates the ME but so far it’s been great. Husbands insurance is covered, ours was £3000 for myself and 3 kids for very good coverage. No I will take Arabic lessons and kids learn it in school but everyone speaks English!

Depends so much on your job and personal likes and dislikes. Living somewhere hot year round would be something I hate and I wouldn’t like somewhere with dubious human rights issues eg anywhere in the Middle East on principle. Now I’d happily move to the algalve every winter, but they are in the uk (have checked, we meet criteria for residency).

@MattHancocksPrivateNurse they way household help is treated is dubious at best and the only reason you have a good lifestyle is down to employment in a needed industry. I have family there, I’ve heard about the downside due to one working for a not for profit helping overseas (poor country) staff who have been abused by employers!!!

@bababamama I agree and nowhere is perfect but our quality of life is considerably better. We don’t have home help and treat everyone we come across with respect

Not so great if you're gay though, is it? I'll take the UK where my best friends can snog on the pavement and nobody cares.

Oman is a beautiful country.

I congratulate you!

Personally, I love the UK and I will never leave (unless Nigel takes over, then I may consider it).

Hell will freeze before I move to Oman! Enjoy OP.

Fair enough there’s something for everyone!

Hmm my cousin lives in Oman. I think the rose coloured glasses may lessen in time.

Keep those shoulders and knees covered even in the extreme 45 degrees heat 😓

Did you look into Oman’s record on human rights before you moved there? Would you stay if one of your DC came out as gay?

Oman?

I assume you are not too bothered moving to a country where you can't criticise the ruling royal family, where women and girls don't have the same rights as men, where homosexuality is illegal, where you don't have freedom of expression and there is censorship.

Not the environment I would want kids to grow in just for the sake of having a bit more money.

Op be careful what you say to people back home. I lived abroad for 12 years. We saw many come and go. It’s hard to go back to the uk if you have spent years slagging it off, you don’t know what the future hold. Also you are very very new, the shine does wear off.

Just pray none of your children turn out to be gay. Or want any pre-marital relationships.

I hope you don’t have daughters or a gay child.

I have 2 daughters who are young so the benefits of them being able to go to school without worry of violence or constant interruption, cycling around the community with their friends in complete safety and meeting kids from all over the world and experiencing so many cultures is the better benefit for now. Things may change as they get older.

Oman 🤣🤣🤣 Lovely place but incredibly boring.
Lived in various places around the Gulf and you couldn’t pay me to go back.

Enjoy your time abroad - it’s important to travel so we can appreciate what we’ve got. Please don’t be one of those crying expats when the region erupts again..

I'm in Dublin , not the UK, but seriously - you are saying Oman is some kind of Utopia by comparison ?

Deluded .

I second this. I lived in Oz (age 30-47). Im now 52. I said same as you OP, but worse actually. I thought UK was an absolute grey steaming pile of shit. By 47 (well 40 actually) I was well and truly over oz. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Uk now. Theres another thread running on here where we are appreciating the UK and all its charm, quaintness, history, countryside, humour. Its bloody marvellous. I appreciate its not great if you are dirt poor here, but IME its still a lot better than most places. The grass is definately not always greener.

Oman is beautiful and some call it the Switzerland of the ME, politically. Having lived in the ME (not Oman) I found it easier than the UK in many ways, and not so much, in other ways. However it's not really directly comparable. Do you live in a compound or similar? Personally I wouldn't live in the ME at this time, it's too precarious (more now than the last 10 years).

The UK gets a lots of stick (usually from people who haven't travelled a lot) but having travelled the world and lived in several different countries, the UK is head and shoulders above most. Healthcare, Education, LGB rights, Women's rights, workers rights etc etc etc. It's also a beautiful place.