To move to Oz for a few years or to not move.....

[jenkel]

DH has been desperate to move to Oz for a couple of years, not planning to emigrate but just to go for the experience. In the process of the Visa application, 1st bit on DH skills done. The only trouble is that I am in two minds, firstly I am the words worst pessimist so all I can think of how awful it could be. I have two DD's under 4, my god parents are in Australia so will have some family around, I'm about a 3 hour drive away at the moment from the rest of my family. A small part of me knows that it would be a great experience for us all and we may all love it, the bigger part of me cant get past all that I will leave behind, we have a lovely house, car, friends, dd1 looks like she will get into a lovely village school next year, on the whole life is good. I'm just so torn, I dont want to say we arent going, I dont want DH to hold it against me if we dont (not that he is like that). And I know all the things I listed are replaceable, the most important thing is our family. To be honest my Mum will probably come out a lot anyway, she has been to Oz 3 times in the last 2 years, the shortest time was for 1 month. So if you've emigrated, how did you feel, how did it go.

Jenkle, we are waiting for an answer to our application, so not quite there yet, but I can relate to your fears. DH lived in Oz from 4 & half to age 21. His family are there & since we visited in April (1st visit for DD) he has been desparate(sp) to get back home. We have applied for a former resident visa & apparently we stand a good chance, according to our immigration agent.

I think alot about the stuff you mentioned. Namely, we have a lovely house, brand new car, comfortable life. We will be giving all this up (and possibly our dog) to live with his parents for anything upto a year (may be longer). Then we will probably rent to make sure we are happy & have no ties should we be unhappy and want to return to the UK.

The things that keep me posative is that I can come home if I don't like it, but also that I know it is the best thing for my DD. She will have a better life with his family around her (my family are not active in her life, my mother has never even met her or sent her a single birthday/christmas card (dd is 2)) The cost of living for most things is cheaper (although some things are more expencive), education is better, more sun, more of an outdoor life.

Going has so many good points, staying here, has so few for me.

My MIL hated the thought when they first moved out there 33 years ago. Was dreading it! If it's worth anything, you'd never get her back here for longer than 6 weeks.

Good Luck

Hello! I came out to Oz in July. We're making the decision at the moment whether to stay or not.

TBH I thought it would be very clear cut about staying, but its not. I miss UK life but Australian life is also fantastic.

We could buy a BIG house here instead of having a huge UK mortgage for a crappy house. In fact, we could probably get away with not having a mortgage - most peoples' dream. Everything is so healthy, people are much more friendly, weather is better, beach at weekends, food is excellent, work life balance is much better. I think DD would love to grow up here and she'd be much more outdoorsy than at home. She's already stalking a boogie board (she's 2.11).

Things I miss - my friends, baby gap (I'm a tragic shopaholic), being able to go to my local pub and sit in the garden, online shopping, well the whole online world, quirky products like those from iwantwoneofthose.com, the variety of products too, decent broadband, decent ebay, sky plus - just UK life really.

I think we'll probably stay here for a couple of years and then decide. Quite how we'll pay our ginagrous London mortgage on our Sydney salary I don't know though.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Yes

do it

good point melissasmummy
of all the older generation I have met, those that moved out here in the 60s for example, I have only come across one woman who regretted it. And of course this was before the interweb and good communications.

It really is a great life. I am thankful several times every single day that my kids are growing up out here.

I moved to NZ 6 years ago and I'm still here and have no plans to go back. The good thing about planning to go forever is that anything I couldn't bear to part with I simply brought with me. Reading your post I can't see any negatives, you will have people you know, your mum will come out, your dds are good ages for the shift.

Suzy, That's the general feeling I get across all DH family. Almost all of my DH family ended up going to Australia. His aunt & uncle didn't & have actually regreted not going. (Uncle was offered a job here & he didn't want to let it pass by)

They now can't go as too old to qualify for visa of any kind!

I made dh promise before we got married that we would not live in England forever ( he is english, I am an aussie) I also told him I definitely would not raise my children in the UK - in spite of living in a fab village, renting a great place and loving our life there.

We moved here last June and have not looked back. ALong with all the things others have mentioned.. our dd1 has sn and the resources and services we can access her are far superior to anything we had access to in the UK ( obviously that depended where you lived). We are able to have a fab family home on ONE wage and still have a good quality of and standard of living. To do that and remain where we were in the UK - huge mortgage, two incomes and the stress of all of that....

I moved to the UK in 2000 and knew NO ONE!! I did have a job to go to but that was it.... in four years - met dh, had dd1, dd2 was on the way and made some fab friends. In both cases - moving to the UK and back to Aus - the things I missed were family and friends - other than that - everything else was fine. I did have friends come and visit me and since we have been back - two lots of friends have come and visited. Hoping to get dh's family out soon.

YOu will be homesick, you will miss people, you will have tough times...... but that is no different to if you stayed.

I would look at it as a positive experience for your family and your children - how amazing to say they have lived on the other side of the world and experienced what it is like to live in Aus - and there are some very big differences even though you might not think it... have to ask SW or someone else about that.

From dh's pov - gave up a fab job and moved away from his family and all he had known... he has no intention of ever going back - will go to see family and friends but loves being here so much - he just can't imagine ever living in the Uk again. He does however feel weird having Christmas in summer

Sorry - but houses and cars can go in a flash... think of circumstances where people have lost everything - they can still be there when you get back or something even better.... the village school will still be there. But will you ever have this opportunity again. If you give it a go and it doesn't work out - what have you lost in real terms... but if you never do it - will you and dh spend the rest of your lives playing - we could've done this....

I now have 2 dds under four and we have the best time - there is such a better outdoor lifestyle - beach, parks, pool, visiting friends, zoo and so on.

Sorry just realised I am rambling.

I was Kindy mum on rosta this morning and tears of happiness filled my eyes as I watched my sons ( little one joins in though not a pupil) racing around the huge yard in the sunshine. And the pace of life and the lack of ....whingeing. ( I am English dh is Australian and similarly to eidsvold, he made me promise we wouldn't live in the UK for ever)

eidsvold, your post sums up brilliantly the reason why I decided to try & emigrate to Australia. Possesions are just that & can be taken with us or, if ness, brought again once there.

I realised that I couldn't waste this oppurtunity & took it. I just hope they will have us!

Go for it. We are moving to Sydney next year as well. I am also quite stressed at the idea, worried that we will blow all our savings there, not like it, and come back poorer to London. We are initially going for 2 years, we will leave all our belongings in boxes at friends' houses. That is also something that I hate having to do, leave all my books behind (I have loads of books, all very precious to me...). I also plan to have a 2nd child there....

Thnaks for all getting back to me, I'm sure you will go, its just good to know that other people have the same worries as me.

I am fascinated how much do normal family houses cost in Oz? Is it really a lot cheaper than the UK?

depends where you decide to live. Like The south oeast of the UK, South East queensland where I live has had a bit of an explosion and my house is now worth twice and then some more than I bought it for and most of that inflation happened in the 4 years I was overseas.

WHen it comes to money - the way to get perspective when comparing UK to Aus is to do it as a percentatge. Dh and I look at the cost of things as a percentage of our income and that gives a much better perspective rather than doing a straight currency conversion.....

However saying that - I had this house before I went o/s and it was rented during that time. We are able to afford the mortgage for that very comfortably as well as a substantial personal loan for a new car all on one good wage.

Have no experience of Oz, but moved from Scotland to Canada 3 years ago. I did not want to go, as I felt I was leaving so much behind, but dh was offered a fantastic job over here. It was hard to leave and very hard for a while once we got here as we knew noone and dh worked alot of hours, but I have never regretted it. Do not miss home much at all now (although I still call it home!)and have no plans to return.
Personally, I think you would always regret it if you didn't try it, but even if you go and miss home terribly you will never regret having tried it. I'm sure you'll find equally great, if not better, houses schools cars etc in Oz!

I have just been called by our immigration agent & told to get our medical done asap! He said it would be 8 weeks before we heard anything, It was less than 2!

I have to wait for the form (get 2morw) then book the next appointment I can!

Exciting! Dare we hope we will get an answer as quick????

Those who have taken the plunge, how do you go about finding a reputable agent?

I am an Aussie who has chosen to live in the UK and has no real plans to return to live in Australia, ( for all the reason Pinot mentioned and more) I would still encourage you to go. Your DDs are young enough to adjust easily whatever you decide, and it would be a great experience. You always have the option to return if it is not for you. THough I do have a feeling that most British people love the Australian lifestyle.

My agent was recommended to me by a couple I met on plane who were emigrating to Oz, they said he did a good job, so I phoned him & he seems to know what he is talking about!

HERE

His name is Darren. He is based in london

Or try the website:
Migration Agents Registraion Authority

You want "Regsiter of Agents" from list on left hand side of screen (3rd one down)

Thank you melissasmummy!

Hi jenkel I wouldn't say don't go but I can definitely relate to what you are saying. My dh is Australian and the first thing I said to him when we go together was I want to live in the UK not Australia. He agreed although I know he does miss Oz but its just not for me.

I did live there for 3 years but we always agreed to come back. For me it was my family and the things I like that are here that made me not want to live there. Also I am just not a beach, water hot weather type person and I can't bare Australian suburbs with no transport.

Saying that it will be a fantastic opportunity and if you don't go you will never know. Why is your dh so desperate to go has he been there before? At least your Mum will visit often. My parents would never have come over and would hardly ever have seen their grandchildren.

tallulah, You're welcome.