If you were to emigrate for a better life, schools, bringing up family etc where would it be?

[seshi]

Just out of interest is anyone else starting to think that the UK isn't the greatest place to bring up children and thinking of moving abroad. If so what places spring to mind? And why? Has anyone already moved and regreted it? Or loving it?

[nancy75]

my dp is australian and seems to think i am the only brit who couls get a visa with no problems that doesnt want to go! most problems are not solved by moving to the other side of the world imo

[MmeLindt]

We are in Germany and would agree with Nighynight that it is a good place to bring up children if you don't mind being a SAHM (or at least PT so that you can be there for the DCs in the afternoon). You can earn a bit more than in UK and there are some great areas to live.

We are moving to Geneva soon, have heard that the school system there is really good.

[serin]

Southern Ireland

[southeastastra]

canada like a shot

[expatinscotland]

my basic conclusion is that just about any place is as good as another provided you have enough money to be comfortable.

being poor is lame anywhere you go.

[thumbwitch]

pickie and squeevie - a friend of mine "emigrated" to Perth and came back after 6 months because it got too bloody hot! I think that is relatively common for W.Australia.
I am going to emigrate to Australia next year because DH is Australian and is concerned about his mum being on her own over there, without being able to see her DGS. I am ok with this as my own DD has my bro and sis here plus their 5 DC, so he won't be left alone, and MIL doesn't have anyone and she is really lovely. I managed to have her stay in my house for 2months around DS being born and we are still friends, so she can't be too bad!!

We are going to be near Newcastle in NSW, on the edge of Lake Macquarie, fabulous area, about 45 mins drive from the Hunter Valley wine region...

[1dilemma]

Canada
maybe Europe somewhere but my languages aren't good
would like to have lived somewhere 'funky'
dcs think wish they are French

[1dilemma]

So has anyone been to these places with no language? How do you get by? What about somewhere like Sweeden or Holland? (non-school languages)

[1dilemma]

wow geekgirl you are a stunning family
send the Aussies a photo show them what they are missing
then when they invite you over you can so
'no thanks I've changed my mind'

[claudiaschiffer]

We moved out to Australia - Adelaide - 2 years ago. DH is Aussie and it IS a great place for kids to grow up. Very safe, very clean, good schools, relatively cheap housing (relative to London/Sydney that is). Near the beach, great climate (think of southern Italy or southern California). Friendly people . . . I could go on.

BUT it is bloody miles away from ANYWHERE and all my lovely family live in the UK and I miss them. So although it has been great for DH and kids here, I am not totally happy, but then I am very attached to my family and if they were all here then it would be marvelous. Mind you all this safe clean wonderfulness does get a bit boring. Sometimes I long for a bit of edgy danger - funny really but I do miss a walk down Brixton High St Everything/one here is pretty samey.

[Shells]

CS did you live in Brixton??? Me too! Now in NZ and feel very much the same as you do about Australia.

[thumbwitch]

CS and Shells - what do you do about it? I am a bit worried about moving out there next year in terms of boredom, missing everyone here etc so would appreciate some advice if you don't mind

[alispangledbanner]

Right where I am now - Boulder Colorado. Working single mum, having a wonderful life. Great schools, amazing friends and great outdoor life. Loads to do for free. Amazing weather nearly 360 days of sunshine a year. I'm lucky though, came here with soon to be Ex and got Green Card.

[BrownSuga]

TW I spent 18mths in Newcastle about 7yrs back for work. Lived across from mereweather beach, used to pop across the road for a swim after work and on the weekends, it was fab. Also close to Sydney where my family lived, and yes hunter valley. You have to go to jazz in the vines, it's a great day out. I;d live there again.

We're in montreal now, been here 3 weeks, and getting a place ready to move into. I find it just as expensive as UK, and locals earn less, taxes are high here in quebec too. Fortunately we are on expat salary. Also about a 2 year wait for childcare for under 18mth olds. We looked at houses on the market as a matter of interest, although the houses are affordable, the area we are in, pay municipal and school taxes of CAD9-14k per year.

[Shells]

Thunbwitch - where are you thinking of moving? And have you got family here? For me its all about how you define 'quality of life'. We definitely have the good stuff like weather/friendliness/ease/outdoors etc. Although haven't got lovely house as no money (sigh).

But for me and DP, there are less tangible things we miss like being at the centre of things, and being surrounded by like minds. It depends what you're after.

[thumbwitch]

We're moving near to DH's mum, a town called Morisett (I will have to learn how many r,s and t letters there really are in that one!)so she will be local and she has a house on Lake Maquarie which is lovely - BUT so far, from what I have seen, it's all very smalltown-like, and while that in itself isn't a bad thing, it does limit your options a little. And I won't know anyone apart from MIL and DH, although he has old friends who he has barely spoken to in the last few years and his life has changed enormously in that time, so even he doesn't know if they would still get on. I'm sure MIL will help out - she suggested I could join their book club as I like to read, but they read one book a fortnight to my 4 a week! Anyway, the internet will no doubt be a great comfort to me!

[Shells]

Look - I can't tell you how the internet has saved my life! You can read all the papers, waste hours on mumsnet, and obviously keep in touch really easily with old pals.
My parents live nearish and I love being able to see more of them. We don't live in a small town, but it is small town-ish. So yes, boring really. But pleasantly so.

I just keep thinking that it is great for the kids while they're young and focus on that. Who knows what we'll do in another 5 years.
And think of all the gorgeous wine you'll be able to drink!

[claudiaschiffer]

thumbwitch, Shells is right. It so depends on what you are after. My DH is totally happy here and wouldn't ever return to the UK (funnily most of my ex-pat Brit friends dh's feel exactly the same).

There are so many things that are 'better' over here, but they are the tangible things ie bigger cars and houses, better outdoor life, better climate, safer, better schools, less crime, people are friendlier.

However, for me, although i realise all those things are great, particularly when the kids are small, I really miss the buzz of life in the UK, the BBC, the newspapers, the different sorts of people you see - diff colours, diff fashions, diff attitudes. Most people here (in Adelaide - it may be different in Sydney or Melbourne) look the same - ie white, middle-class, and the whole media is bland. I miss being at the centre of things, i do really feel like we live at the edge of the world - I think the time difference has a lot to do with this - everything happens when we are asleep!

BUT as Shells says, the internet is AMAZING, I read the Observer on a Sunday and listen to Radio 4 still. Mind you I have NEVER felt like taking Crack Cocaine until I moved here, I think it's to do with trying to deal with the boredom .

[claudiaschiffer]

Obv, should I have haven't taken Crack Cocaine. It's just a reaction to living in an utopia.

[claudiaschiffer]

God, have lost the ability to type. What I meant to say was that obviously I haven't taken Crack Cocaine!

[eidsvold]

I told dh when we first got together that whilst I enjoyed living in the Uk that if he was serious about me he needed to consider that he would end up living in Australia - especially if children were involved.

I moved back and dh and dd1 emigrated just before dd1 turned two. Dd2 and 3 were born here.

Dh has been back a couple of times since then and he has no desire to return to live in the UK - I think I will be hardpressed to get him to even visit.

I do miss the friends I made and my gorgeous MIL. I feel for her as her only grandchildren are our three dds. She has never met dd2 or 3 and dd1 was not quite 2 when she last saw here. Dd1 is about to turn 6. For us being where we are in Aus is great and we love it.

[Shells]

CS - I may have to report you. You're obviously under the influence of substances...

[olyoly]

I agree w/Expat - it comes down to money. The best schools/neighborhoods/etc. belong to wealthier areas in most countries.

That being said, we decided against living in Southern California or England b/c of the high cost of living. Our quality of life in Dallas is great. We are surrounded by horse farms, space for the children, great schools and friendly people. But it is HOT in the summer.

[sunnydelight]

We moved to Sydney last year and our quality of life is definitely better here. Giving our kids a better life was one of our main motivators. Although I really miss my friends I would never live in the UK again (though to put it in perspective I'm not British so it was never really "home").

[TheBlonde]

I fancy going to the US but DH is not keen
He wants to go to Sweden but it would be hard for me to integrate (sp?) there due to language