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 don't know if I'd want to permanently leave. I wouldn't mind a second home abroad.

However I would consider moving if it was necessary for OH's job. My main concern is uprooting LO and disrupting her education as it is likely that we would only move for a few years rather than permanently if we ever have to.

I don't really fancy the middle east or australia (although would love to visit the latter) but that may just be as I have no idea what it's like there.

Scully - you can stay on Sentosa Island when in Singapore - beach side resort. We thought being in the city ( as such) would be better and just do day trips. As dd1 was not even two - we would get up early ( as they do) and do things in the morning and after lunch - head back to the hotel for a rest and a swim and then head out midafternoon. Having said that - Sentosa was a day trip and the Zoo would be a day trip ( dd1 got sick so we had to come back early)

hi scully, we too went over to Senosa island on our stop over in Singapore, DS was 6 months old and he loved the cable car over there, it's a pretty amazing ride but to be honest I was rather nervous. I thought singapore city was very polluted though you can see it in the air when you come back on the cable car. This time over we also stopped at Lankawi for a week and you can't compare Singapore city with that, you've been soilt now! Although the second flight to get to the island adds pressure on the kids I think, you don't have that with a Singapore stopover.

What were/are your reasons?

DH had the opportunity to move overseas with the company. Ten yrs prior, DH was doing some consulting work in Liverpool UK for 6 months. The company flew me over, I stayed for 2 weeks. We both thought England was great. I left the decision up to DH, go or stay, I'm happy wherever planted.

Anyone contemplated it, and changed their mind?

Once DH made the decision, after we came over and house-hunted, etc., we knew and felt this was the right decision.

For those who have made the leap, do you have regrets?

None

What do you miss?

Nothing I can't live without. Food mostly, but again, part of living in another country is getting to try the food and experiencing the culture.

What do you love most about your new life?

New area of the world. Traveling to mainland Europe as well as England. Taking advantage of the time, because we know the minimal time we'll be here, but it could be longer. We don't want to have to move back to the states and regret we didn't go here or see that.

Experiencing different cultures, foods, sights, sounds, etc.

The Health Care system is much better than the states.

The schools are far better.

There is a choice of a foreign languages available.

People care about the environment and their community. You don't see loads of litter along the roads.

Thx for the stopover suggestions, we've decided to stick with Malaysia but stop at a beachside hotel in Penang this time. Looking forward to relaxing on a beach and some delicious food, for 4 nights, before hitting Brisbane and having the next adventure begin

Moved to Croatia (Zagreb) in June, and it's been ab fab ever since we got here. We sold pretty much everything back in the UK, dh works as a web designer / programmer so he didn't have to leave his job and we made the decision to start our new life in my home country - Croatia.
Dh absolutely loves it here - life is a lot more relaxed, and people are a lot frendlier - nobody here works long hours so you always have time to see people during the week as well as weekends. We've got a beautiful big house, our dd loves her new friends, everyone we know live extremely close by and every day is just great. Not to mention the weather and beaches are fantastic here! We haven't missed anything apart from maybe something trivial such as Chinese and Indian food (they have hardly any here).

hi....just found out we are pregnant!....and now must move to the Bournemouth/Christchurch from Toronto, Canada...my hubby is english...any prenatal yoga that someone can recommend...in fact any info on the area would be great..thanks....

Oh, how lucky! Congrats. What a beautiful place to move to. I may be moving to the Bournemouth are myself in a few months albeit with very different circumstances but out of the whole country, that is top of my list! My sis lives nr there and it is a wonderful place to raise kids. Can't help with prenatal yoga though, sorry.

Want to do it in the next 2 years!! Thinking of Tobago are there any tobago mums out there?

We've done it three times because of work transfers.

I'd say the positives outweigh the negatives. Being able to experience another culture is extremely broadening and it helps you appreciate your own one too.

I wouldn't say that I regretted any of my moves, but I would certainly acknowledge ups and downs along the way. The main things I missed of the UK was food and church; don't really miss anything about the US (except family), although was pleased about somethings when we had a recent holiday there.

I would say that whereever you find yourself, make the most of it. Hit the ground running and don't regard it as a temporary thing.