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?!

I don’t have any desire to live anywhere in the ME. The places where I would happily pack up tomorrow and move to are Montreux and The Cotswolds. I would need a very fat bank balance for both though (hence why I’m not in either).

Oh Lordy

But OP, you are an expat. You are a Brit with a DH who bagged a plum job overseas with an expat package (club, condo, car, cash and credit) or, got the expat cash equivalent. It’s not real life and I guarantee the Oman locals are NOT living like that.

You and your DC will go from pool party to club party and basically be “on holiday” till you decide to come back. Let me guess, you’ve got a live-in maid who does all your cleaning, ironing and all other crap for a couple of hundred USD a month?

I know this because I was an expat for 17 years.

I can honestly tell you that yes the UK is messed up but when I moved back here I was honestly surprised at how despite its shortcomings it has more to offer than living in an expat bubble.

P.S. Don’t get too comfy. I’m not sure what the Omani’s are like but if they are anything like the locals in Dubai/ Abu Dhabi you are one inappropriate comment away from having 24 hours to leave. I spent half my working time in HR moving expats out of the ME because someone local and influential had taken a sudden dislike to them.

I think there needs to more honest conversation about why so many people want to leave the UK. They are vilified and mocked, but why is it happening and what is the net effect?

Oman? Yeah…no thanks! I’ll stay put in London, ta!

While I wouldn't specifically fancy Oman, I do sort of see the OP's point, especially about certain aspects of British life. For me, what grinds my gears about this country is how dirty and overcrowded it is. I'm just back from two weeks in the South of France and Spain, and everywhere I stayed was spotless. I also can't believe that a country the size of the UK is at nearly 70 million people. Something's got to give. I say this as a Briton of mixed race. We need to sort immigration as a matter of urgency.

I’ve lived in other countries too and it’s no different there - you are tied to your employer which leaves you open to all sorts / people moan about you stealing their jobs and increasing house prices. But it’s the same in the UK. Look at the amount of people that have lived in the UK for most of their lives but are still deemed ‘foreign’. I didn’t move to the ME to only mix with English people. I do however think you can contribute in small ways even if you don’t deem them meaningful.

I don't like the idea of Oman, but London is a dump and it's getting worse.

Pleased you like it but you just realise you are living in an expat bubbles which 99% of Omanis don’t and the vast majority of Brits would never be able to. I am no expert but pretty sure most Omanis have plenty of issues with their state.

I think you’re living in a world which is fantasy to the vast majority

If you were living in say Spain or France or Germany or even the US and felt it was a lot better than the UK then we could have a meaningful discussion

Cost of living and tax free countries.

How does your career work there?

It sounds lovely and something we would love to do. We are looking at opportunities so really keen to hear more on your experience so far.

I lived in Oman for 6 years and can only assume that those being vitriolic have never visited. It's a wonderful country and the Omani people are the most friendly, laid back, family-oriented people I've ever met.
It is an idyllic place to bring up small children.
I lived (as a single woman) in a villa on a 'normal' street with Omani neighbours - it's not Dubai, there are very few gated communities. I felt a lot safer running there than I do in the UK - no hooting or abuse shouted from cars, ever.
My core friendship groups included other westerners (from work) but also Omanis, Filippinos, Indians, Iranians, Moroccans...
I visit as often as possible and hope to move back in the future. I hope you continue to enjoy your stay, MattHancocksPrivateNurse, you'll love it even more when it cools down to the mid 20s for next few months!!!

We all of us in the uk love to slag it off (me included, a lot of the time 🤣), but honestly we have the rule of law, the ability to live the lifestyle we choose, women’s rights ….. I am not saying these things don’t remain a work in progress in the uk, but …. Oman? I thought you were going to say one of the Scandi countries, or Canada or something.

I agree. Some things are more important than material wealth. Like Human Rights, democracy, freedom of speech , press freedom and equal rights for women and girls

Well, enjoy. Am glad its worked out for you. Almost every country can be an improvement depending on what likes.. someone comes to uk and think its wonderful. Others leave Oman for uk or japan or kenya and wonder why they didn't do it earlier. So make the best of your new life

It's up to you what you do and it's good you like it in Oman but I think you'll eventually find it boring.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/oman/report-oman/ in case of interest, OP.

It’s easy to say that when you have money in the bank.

I am happy for you that you have moved for a better life, however, on principle I think British people should stay in the UK and experience a life in a third world economy as reperations for stealing from so many countries in the past. Piggybacking off the success of other countries is not fair.

But your daughters are being taught that they are worth less than boys.

Good luck with them living under sharia law.

We have the “rule of law”? No, I honestly don’t think we do. I was robbed recently, the police did nothing. No phone call, nothing, just an email to say the “case was closed”. That is the second time that has happened to me. Gangs of organised criminals operate without fear in the UK.

Absolutely there does.

It is dirty. I feel like the country has just given up and has no pride in itself anymore. The NHS needs an overhaul, as does the benefits system, and other areas.

Not my cup of tea. Dubai and Oman. Id rather stay here. Love the UK.

It is dirty. I feel like the country has just given up and has no pride in itself anymore

Errr, speak for yourself. Where I live is lovely.