Moving Abroad - who's done it/who wishes they could?

[Earlybird]

What were/are your reasons?
Anyone contemplated it, and changed their mind?
For those who have made the leap, do you have regrets? What do you miss? What do you love most about your new life?

I've been living abroad for most of my adult life and can't imagine ever going back to the UK permanently. The main reasons for living abroad have been work related but the initial reason was an 11 month round the world tour back in 1989 - it got out of hand somewhat! Principally I've lived in Australis (2 years) Denmark (7 years - DS was born there)Italy (3 years) and now Brazil (8 months so far). I have no regrets whatsoever other than being so far physically from my family although the internet actually makes the world very small. Of course I miss Cadbury chocolate, trashy magazines and Earl Grey tea but I can get by with the occasional mail order delivery.
On the plus side, here at least, the weather is fantastic, winter lasted 2 days this year (grey and windy 15 degrees if you call that winter). The cost of living is cheap and I am just about to move into the first house I have ever bought (on Saturday, can't wait). It has 4 bedrooms, all the usuals plus utlity room, maids quarters and a swimming pool in the massive garden - tell me where in the UK you could get that for less than the 100K which we are paying here??!

that's exactly what bothers me SSSandy - I have such lovely friends here, I just hope I meet plenty over there too

but I feel fairly confident because of having my family there plus a couple of friends already

hope so....
yes FIS it is more or less planned for good, although I suspect at some point we'll have to come back maybe when DH's parents get old (he's an only child)

We lived abroad for 4 years . Had always promised ourselves to seriously consider it were the opportunity to arise. It did when ds was 3 and I was pg with dd and we moved to Switzerland in 2001. We went on the basis of a year contract which extended into 2 and then another 2. Could probably have stayed longer but decided then the time was right to come back as we were never going to fully integrate and living costs were going to escalate. Kids then 7 and 4 were at a suitable point to transfer educationally. We had kept our house here which has proved a mixed blessing.

Things we missed were friends and relatives (although none were living that close in UK and we had lots of visitors as we weren't that far away), being able to overhear day to day conversations in shops etc so felt quite isolated, having personal living space and not being restricted by "house rules"(apartment living), large one-stop , 24/7 supermarkets and shopping centres, Shreddies , Tetley, ready cooking ingredients, Cadbury's !

Loved the freedom and desire to travel to different places so easily, outdoor lifestyle, cleanliness, opportunity to meet others from variety of nationalities and experiences, ready access to private healthcare, cheaper petrol and cars, relative safety and low crime but all at a cost £££.

Regrets are that we may have compromised ds academically by staying away for that period then returning to UK system and that I could never visualise really feeling at home and settled there long term. Also the children were probably too young while we were there for all of us to derive the most benefit from the experience.

alipiggie - the area around Boulder is so beautiful. I have a cousin with a cabin in Estes Park, and was last there when pregnant with dd. So peaceful and spectacular to simply gaze out the window.

Interesting that most of you who have posted have not regretted moving. It's the weighing up of the options that confuses me because I can talk myself into or out of either - depending on my mood!

Everyone talks to you all the time in NZ, especially if you have a child with you.

Dh's footie team (old blokes Saturday afternoon league) are mostly British and the wives seem so unfriendly to me. "If they were kiwis I would know their blood group by now" said I after the 3rd match of trying to get a conversation started.

Yes we pay for healthcare - but private insurance is affordable or you can pay as you go and actually see a doctor when you are still ill, usually the same day. Mum was in hospital here recently and they found something else wrong - but only didn't operate on her then and there (for free incidentally) because she is obese. On return to the UK the Dr refused to put her on the waiting list - not because of her weight but because "we don't do that operation here".

One woman one midwife is also the norm here and when you are in labour they sit in the room with you the whole time.

Education is free here.

These points are not meant as a slight on the UK, but just answering foxinsocks post.

Oh, and MrsJC - congrats on the pregnancy. I hadn't caught up with that.

Earlybird, your cousin doesn't work in IT does she????

Hi threebob didn't mean to attack NZ friendliness or anything like that so sorry if that sounded offensive, but people make different experiences - and they judge friendliness/approachability in different ways. I can only say what our experience was. If yours is different, it doesn't mean ours was somehow wrong. I know when we returned to the UK after NZ, I found people so much more friendly (not real social acquaintances but people you'd bump into, bus-drivers etc, chance acquaintances) so I do understand how mum felt) but of course it depends so much on where in the UK, where in NZ, what you do and who you interact with. I was at school all day so obviously it was easier for me than it was for her.

thanks threebob just 11 weeks so will be moving at about 18 weeks most likely. shipping booked for the end of August, flights for us should be mid Sept. Yippee!

it's funny isn't it, when I'm in ChCh I'm struck by how friendly people are - people saying good morning just because you pass them in the street, or park up at the same time as them etc. I chatted to everyone, but maybe that was because I was accompanied by a small child. But I chat to people in the UK too...
really I can't wait to get to NZ and I do like the sound of the maternity service which is my most pressing concern! anything I express doubts about now is last minute flapping. I do still love the UK though, I feel slightly traitorous at leaving...

You'll be fine. How are you flying? Are you having a stop-over?

well looking at flight prices will prob be Air New Zealand via LA again - crap, but cheaper.
we won't stop over - decided when we went in Feb/Mar that with DD in tow the shortest possible trip was the best!

Oh, but having to get your baggage and parade through customs to go back through and get on a plane - can you be bothered.

Go via the east and have a couple of days on a beach. The time difference isn't so daunting then.

Alipiggie - cousin is a "he", and he's a gorgeous, intelligent Marlboro Man look alike who is a Nebraska rancher. A world away from IT!

Umm he sounds scrummy. Yep definitely a world a way from IT lol . Trying to get a few days away in Estes Park with a friend and her ds. Loads of wine for us and early nights for the boys.

oh I know threebob
this is why the flights aren't booked yet and I'm considering it.....the LA bit is SO crap
Singapore Airlines online are telling me that a one-way is more expensive than a return so need to ring up as bemused.....the others have to get return flights anyway as residency won't be through.
maybe a beach....hmm, it's the last time we'll get a chance to do that for a while....hmmmmmmm

Do it woman - it made the trip soooooooooooo much more bearable and was a total bargain. Anyway you won't have your stuff and will presumably just be falling out with your mother - 18 weeks pg is a great time for a holiday.

On a more serious note, after my mum's brush with DVT I would like you to have a break in between flights especially as I am guessing you will have a toddler on your knee.

how is your mum now threebob? (although I saw that they don't have the op she was going to have in NZ back in the UK.....)

am going to pay for a seat for DD, she is way too big and wriggly to have on us for that long. We did in Feb and it was worth it as she slept most of the way in her car seat. bliss

who did you fly with and how did you book it? am not finding much online, suspect I need to go into an agents

excuse the hijack Earlybird! are you having any more thoughts?

We haven't been home for ages, but when we last did (ds 6 months) we went with Qantas through LA. It's like a million flights - not recommended at all, though with such a tiny dot of a child we got bassinets all the way.

My mum and dad really rate Singapore airlines, though they have had a minor falling out over points allocation (which is serious as it affects their ability to eat for 14 hours straight in the lounge!). Best thing is that it is only 2 flights right to ChCh from Manchester for them.

You could have some nice side trips with Singapore.

We went with Malaysian as we wanted to go to Auckland for a week anyway, and went to an island for 2 nights. With hindsight we should have gone for longer.

I moved from Aus to the UK - cause I could, wanted to work and live somewhere else.... Thought I could do some travelling as well.

knew no one although I did have a job to go to - teaching in a comprehensive in Basildon Essex - rather challenging to say the least.

Missed the laid back aussie lifestyle but loved living in England for the 4 years I did it

Met dh, married him and had dd1.

We then moved ( back for me) to Aus to raise our girls. Dh had no job to come to, we had a house - I have been renting it out when I lived in the UK (and a mortgage) and dd2 on the way.

But dh managed to find a job he loves, dd1 is blossoming ( has special needs) dd2 is doing great as well. We love it here although it was scary making the move to no jobs etc wondering if dh would get a job and would we survive on one income, would dd1 get the health care and therapy she needed and all those other things.

Dh loves it, i love it and everything is wonderful.

I miss dh's family and it is sad when you get bad news like we did earlier ( fil has terminal cancer) and that is when you realise the tyranny of distance. Sad that dh's family have never met dd2 or seen how far dd1 has come in 2 years.

BUT wouldn't change it for anything.

we had one way flights with Singapore when we came out to Aus 2 years ago - we did 5 days in Singapore - nice break and then on to Aus. Can't remember it being a lot more expensive than a return trip.

Really rate Singapore - have done the LA version - get more luggage allowance - 2 suitcases per person but for us in Aus long flights - 16 hours from LA to Aus and then 10 from LHR to LA. Whereas Singapore is 12 to Singapore and then 7 to Aus - depending on where you are going in Aus.

Have flown Qantas, Lufthansa, JAL, Thai, American, Singapore to Aus and back to UK - Singapore and American have the largest seat pitches.

Heard good stuff about emirates - 7hrs - Dubai7 - Singapore 7 - east coast Aus.

Heard good stuff about Malaysian and Royal Brunei as well.

MrsJohnCusack - we have used Trailfinders, Flight Centre and e-bookers ( suck!) Flight Centre has been brilliant for booking flights.

What did you do in Singapore when you stopped over Eidsvold? I'm looking into airfares for when we fly out at the end of October, and we want to stopover somewhere for 3-5days to break up the flight. Last time we flew back from brisbane we had 3 nights in Langkawi and it was wonderful, so had in our mind a beach stop somewhere. Considering Dubai or Sri Lanka this time but Singpore pops up on searches as well, but not sure how relaxing a bit city will be?

I've JUST moved out here to Qatar and am loving it. Admittedly early days but the sense of opportunity here is far greater. In the UK all I did was work and worry about money, spent hours commuting and never had time to do anything. Here I know that I have greater control over my time and know that my husband and son will have an amazing experience as well. Additionally for me it was a career move.

It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most fascinating place I have ever been.

The only downside in the middle east (apart from the heat which you adapt to very quickly) is the paperwork and the time it can take to get seemingly simple things done. But there are always people who can help or who will queue for you for that visa stamp for a very reasonable price. Its a whole industry.

(have to say tho - Colorado - wow. love it there. even love Denver (sort of))

Well earlybird, i moved to NZ with my Kiwi partner and DS 3.5 months ago and I have no regrets. I have met some really friendly and interesting people already here and the natural beauty of this country is outstanding, also the qualitly of our life is greatly improved.

The down side... when the going gets a bit tough, as it does at times after a big shift, I do crave the company of an old mate as you just can't let rip with new friends the way you can someone who's known you a long time.

stayed at a fab hotel - Swissotel Merchant Court - has shuttle bus to Raffles and that is also near huge shopping complex and other places. We went to the Zoo, A day on Sentosa Island, A day touring and shopping, Just chilling out in our hotel. Hotel had fab pool with separate toddler pool - near Merchant Court - was being renovated when we were there - had great food places and so would be intrigued to see what it looks like now. Travelled up and down the river on the bum boats - dd1 absolutely loved.

Think we had five days there. Easy to get around - Merchant Court Hotel was a very short walk from a metro station.

Sorry just read the rest of your post - It was very relaxing - good thing was you had broken the back of your journey - just a short overnight flight into Brisbane to arrive at 6.30am. We found we were over the worst of the jetlag too which helped.