what made you emigrate to oz?

[myermay]

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we moved here inJun 04 - but I am an aussie so it was coming home to family. However dh knew no one and had no job to come to. He found a job in a matter of a couple of weeks. I too had to make new friends as I left Aus a single girl and returned a married mum of one and one on the way. Lots of my friends were still working etc. So i had to make mum friends iyswim.

There is an area near us in Brisbane that they call Little Britain cause so many expats have chosen to move there.

I made friends through playgroup etc.

We live in Brisbane BUT i already had a house that was rented out and it was easy just to return to there for a start and then decide what we would do next.

we left dh's family taking his parents only grandchildren - hard for me and them. I don't really get help from family - my mum works full time and our family is scattered.

I never imagined I would raise my children anywhere but Australia. The quality of life that they could have - especially our eldest who has sn is so much better than where we lived in UK - even though it was a fab village and area.

Dh mentioned coming here as his family are here. We are in Adelaide & I only knew dh's family. I have already made 1 very good friend & am getting to know another expat. We have been here almost a year....the time has flown!

Big factors for me where that dd would have a better life & I don't just mean out doors. Dh's mum bakes with her, takes her to the park, plants flowers with her, reads to her....exactly what I wanted for her. Exactly what I did have as a child & what my family couldn't do (distance, don't speak to mum etc).

Also that I wouldn't have to work (while dd young) as dh could support us. Where as in the UK it was becoming apparent that I may have to have started work again soon.

Don't come to Adelaide....we have had rain almost non stop for 2/3 weeks....tis wonderful!

Exactly what I didn't have as a child

that too sandcastles - we have a good life and only one of us needs to work. For us to remain in the village we lived in and to buy there - both of us would have had to work - not what I wanted for my children - am sure I will go back to work eventually but am able to stay now with the girls at home. Very very lucky I can.

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i moved to the UK where I knew no one - the only thing I had was a job - nowhere to live etc. Would have stayed if dh and I had not wanted to return home. I think I would do it if I felt it was the best for us as a family.

We moved to Aus having no family here, and I know lots of other British Folk here who have also done the same.
Where are you planning to move to as there are loads of Aus Expat chat sites, where you'll be able to get to know local families (Aus equivalent of Mumsnet!!)
I met so many people through Britvics (google it) which is especially for Brits in Victoria. There is Adbrits for Adelaide folk and Aussiemove for Perth people.
Can't remember the Brissie one.
Have a look - they're all occupied with people faced with the same choices as yourself.
HTH and good luck!

I moved out to Oz 18mths ago with dh and dd. Dh is from here, so we have all his family and friends here which is wonderful. Being honest though, if dh wasn't an australian it would never have entered my head to emigrate here. For us an amazing opportunity came up which was perfect for us and enabled us to get where we wanted in life (being self employed). We couldn't say no. Although things like lifestyle etc. were also factors in our final decision, for me I needed a big reason/opportunity to make the move.

Friends wise, although we have all dh friends who have helped a great deal in the settling in period, I have still found the need to go and make my own friends which does take time.

Why not do it for a year? That's what we're doing at the moment.

I have exactly the same feelings about it that you have