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?!

@ilovemylogburner unfortunately I have been there and my son got his phone stolen recently. That doesn’t change the overall trajectory. I am also aware that I am far more at risk of violence from someone I know than a random stranger on the street.

But sure, Oman. Off you go then.

This ffs! It's just baity isn't it?! No details of precisely where they are and how wealthy you have to be to get there in the first place. Life is great everywhere when you have money. No point telling people to "move abroad" and then some people end up in a country just as bad or worse. And not speaking the native language.

That baffled me. What does that even mean?

This is complete and utter colonisation bollocks. The only reason OP and her husband have a good deal in the Oman is precisely because they have benefitted from UK's education and work experience. They wound not get such a cushy deal if they were born in Oman and did not have the opportunity to study in the West.

On top of that, they are probably benefitting form much laxer rules as they are expats are have access to things locals have no access to/ have to pay much higher price to have.

I always found expats equally naïve, arrogant and stupid. Locals hate you. You are not one of them and will never be.

Gosh. I absolutely do not believe that about people who move to the UK, legal or not.

I'm talking about Western expats in third world countries. WTF it got to do with people moving to the UK.

@localnotail i tend to agree, but do you think you can be accepted? Am thinking of my friends who moved to Spain 10 years ago, now both speak amazing Spanish, kids in local schools, they work in the community. I think they feel accepted, but who knows.

My brother lived in China for years and years and no matter how good his language skills were etc he was always considered a foreigner.

I'm happy for you that you've found somewhere you like OP.
It's a real shame you chose to run the UK down as there's so much to like here. Really brilliant food produced by passionate farmers, growers and makers, world class culture, incredible history, millions of people who volunteer their time for others, beautiful architecture, stunning coastline and countryside, world reknowned schools and universities and more than I can list here.

I've traveled widely and lived in several countries and would say that 4 months in is still a honeymoon period. Hopefully things will live up to your expectations.

Honestly, it's so refreshing to hear a perspective like the OP's. I've wondered for a while if I should post about the happiness my family has found in our new country but I know how MN feels about Gilead. All I can say is that you shouldn't believe everything you read in the propaganda that passes for news elsewhere. We're so excited to meet our new Handmaid and it's honestly such a relief not to have to think about what to wear every day. I couldn't recommend it more.

“Local hate you. You are not one of them and never will be”. It’s fairly clear.

I've had Omani halwa. It's delicious.

The only thing I'd dislike would be the heat May - August in that region. You'd just need to stay indoors then.

I had no idea the best country in the world was dire but after your post I’ll have another look.

Spain and UK are pretty similar in terms of quality of life etc. We have a lot of Spanish people here in the UK who are treated the same way as locals.

I'm talking about Western people moving to a third world courtiers (or even China) and getting all enchanted with how amazing it is - completely ignoring the fact that to get a western-style education you would have to have a LOT of money, and that having come from UK you would get paid a lot more than a local person. That being an ordinary local person you would probably be poor and miserable and moving to UK would be something like a dream for you.

In fairness Omani locals are at the top of Omani society. It isn't colonialism in the sense that British people are sitting around oppressing Omani servants. However I agree that speaking English fluently and having an English education is a huge advantage. As is working for a Western company. So it's a different experience than it would be for someone from another part of the world.

The official age of marriage for both men and women is 18 and there are steps to go through before you can get married that involve proof of age. I do believe however there is a provision in place for a judge to give permission for those under 18 to marry if it’s in their best interests and I suspect I know what those interests would be. It would never ever involve children though.

I think if this happens it’s all done behind closed doors, it’s done in secrecy and would be seen as a criminal act if discovered. I have never heard of it in all the years I’ve been here but I will make it a point to ask my social worker friends about the prevalence. It should never happen.

We have several friends who have worked there and a few still out in Dubai. All have spoken highly of their lives there.
I think you are right in saying it it is probably not somewhere you would stay forever but I would ignore the naysayers and enjoy the experience.

I've not been to Oman. But I want to go. I'd love to explore

What a load of shite.

I know! So strange. I've lived in various parts of the UK, some rougher than others, but I'd rather that than live without freedom or civil rights.

I have friends and family there. I've visited them often. Loved my trips. They loved the career and life they built out there.

What freedom do people lack in Oman?

@localnotail yes, I agree. I imagine that Brits who move pretty much anywhere in Europe would be fine as long as they learned the language, made an effort, put down roots ans connections.

Living a tax free, expat lifestyle in a poorer and socially/culturally v different country is not really living “in” the country, is it. It’s a rich foreigner’s bubble.

So you’ve been stolen from too? And your son? Any police response? No? Thought not.
So where, exactly, is the “rule of law”?

If someone wants to be a rich foreigner in a country and pay their way then so be it

Interestingly a relative currently has an international student staying with them from the middle east and he is amazed at how friendly people are in the UK, he has now started walking, apparently he is chauffeur driven everywhere at home by someone of a different nationality as such menial jobs such as driving, cleaning, cooking is seen as beneath the natives.
He has a housekeeper, cook etc I can’t remember where they are from but again they aren’t from the area.
Apparently it’s refreshing being here away from the pressure of societal and religious expectations and he will be sad to leave in a couple of weeks.
I guess it depends where you are/were in the uk but I love my life here and wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else and certainly not the Middle East but it’s great that you don’t feel the need the UK home anymore and have found somewhere that suits you better, no one has to stay where they don’t want to be!