Calling all expats......

[fabarooney]

Calling all expats out there!!

On a couple of threads recently it has emerged that loads of mumsnetters are, like moi, expats and were keen to start a thread on this.

So here goes......!
Where are you all? Why are you there? What do you like / hate about your location? How do you feel about this lifestyle?

I'm from the UK originally, now living in Holland by way of Australia. We've been moving due to husband's job with a large oil company. We've been out of the UK for nearly 5 years now. We have two dds - dd2 born in Australia. Dd1 left UK with us when she was only 6 months old. Neither child considers the UK to be home.
Things I like about Holland - cakes and chocolate, chips and mayonnaise, bike-friendly, close to UK and family.
Things I don't like about Holland - size of hips since arrival (see above), "brusque" manner of the Dutch (being polite and tolerant of other cultures, see!), weather.

I think it would be great if we could get a thread going that gives us all a place to get some support from people that know what we're going through. Please join in, don't want to be a Norma No Mates!!

Just a quickie as I'm dashing off-

I am also an expat american living in England. I have been here 4 years. DH is british.

Things I like: Weather most of the time (much more temperate and no real snow storms!), school options, lovely villages with nice amenities, quick hop to continental europe, generally higher quality of living

Things I hate: People can be rude and offensive (especially in London), lack of optimism v. american super-optimism, traffic, the cost of everything!

Well Sibble, that says it all ... "Eastenders is on Prime but we don't get the reception!" ... Don't you live about 30 minutes from central Auckland?
Don't get me wrong, do love NZ ... really I do!
What about Kettle Chips? Ooooh, I'd kill for some Kettle Chips ... And McVities Ginger Cake ... and Cheddars ... and Digestives - well, anything by McVities really!
Oh ... and English Huggies nappies are different to NZ Huggies ... don't know why as they are made by the same company ...
Shall I shut up now?

I also love NZ 'cos my mate Sibble has just had a new Swimming Pool put in! She's my new Best Friend

'nother quickie here too - must must must turn off the tv before dd gets square eyes...
am ex-pat Canadian in London, have been here 8 years now. Hubby is English, have one dd nearly 3 and a second due at Christmas
never thought I'd be here this long......

things I like about England - the people, the
things to do, the parks, the BBC

things I don't like about England - the 'politeness', the weather (at least at the moment!), the school system and the fact that it's so far away from home

things I miss from home - my family and friends, 4 seasons esp winter and snow!!!, rootbeer, cheap prices for everything um um um lots lots more too

is everyone an expat on mn?!?!?

hana

Rootbeer!! I forgot about rootbeer. That's a good one. I'd love a big A&W right now.

ghosty, can't wait for the first pool party...preferably during the week when our DH's are at work, DS's are at school and the littlies having their afternoon nap - oh blimey bad mummy alert I think (think BIG smiley). we could have walkers crisps, mcvities everything, I could have bacon sarnies with heaps of daddies sauce and lots of orangina (I know not english but love it and you can't get it here)

Hello, I always join conversations hours late but I couldnt resist this one. I am an expat living in Southern Spain. Things I like, obviously the weather, outdoors living, beaches, that I can see the sea and a huge moubtain from my bedroom window, going out to the park with my daughter at 11pm if I want to and not being the only one there, Tinto Verano! Things I dont like, nothing is straight foward, there seems to be no logic, you cant get more than one thing done a day, the driving is crazy, mopeds lets just say 3 kids on 1 scooter. Thats enough moaning, I love the place, my daughter was 2 when we moved so no major upheaval and my whole family was already here.
Things I miss, dont laugh, Doner Kebabs, thats about it. Although I wouldnt say no to walkers crisps.

Aother sort-of former, sort-of current expat here! Irish but living in the UK so actually feel "at home" most of the time but have also ived in US, Belgium (where met dh), Germany, UK - round 1 where ds1 was born, then Netherlands where ds2 was born, now back here FOREVER!!!! Never want to move again. Would second what people have said about poor customer service in NL, we found it almost non-existent and if something was "not possible" (one of their favourite expressions) no alternatives were offered. Also found lots of differences in pregnancy and giving birth there. I actually never meant to be pregnant when we were moving and had read some scare stories about no pain relief etc but when the possibility of the move initially receded I went ahead and got pregnant and was then horrified to find myself moving at 4 months pregnant!

On the plus side, loved the abundance of playgrounds everywhere for kids and public paddling pools in summer , wonderful cycling facilities and the generally cheaper cost of doing things with children.

Could go on for hours about likes/dislikes but have to get up for work in the morning!

Oxocube, agree with you about the food in Holland - yuckarooney! (Can you tell dd2 is a massive Tweenies fan ?! ) Why do they drown everything in mayonnaise? No wonder the bread and choc is so good, people would starve otherwise.

We're in The Hague. Dd1 is 4.5 and dd2 is 2.5

I've often thought this would be a good topic for mumsnet (in fact I think I'll pop to that thread and ask for it if someone has not done so yet). I'm in Paris and not sure when I'll be back in the UK. Lots of aspects of life here get on my nerves (aggressive Parisiens in particular) but then some things are good (eg healthcare).

Glad to have found this thread! I was born in Vancouver but haven't lived there since I was 9. I did live in London for 2 years to do my A-Levels at a crammer... results were pretty pathetic, though. Too much partying! I've also lived in Paris for 10 years (impoverished art student and useless temp!) but am now in Switzerland. My DH is from Somerset and we have, fortunately or unfortunately, Sky digital... find ourselves more in the know about life in the UK than here!

Oh yes! Have 2 kiddies (DD aged 4 & DD 11 mos.). How could I have forgotten to mention them?!

No, make that DD 4 and DS 11 mos. I think I've gone brain-dead from fatigue...