Moved abroad? Is it a let-down or amazing?

fussyonion

Like a lot of people, many of us have relatives or friends who have moved abroad and it seems they're all having the time of their lives.
But if you're abroad, are you enjoying it?

Is it everything you hoped it would be? Or is it a big let-down?
Do you miss Ireland and do you plan on coming home for good or have you made a new life for yourself abroad and see yourself there forever?

I'm just interested because a friend of mine has decided to stay another year in Oz as opposed to coming home.

Your Superior

Left Ireland as a child, and have been back a fair few times but would never live there. I was brought up in England, moved to Switzerland and then New York as an adult for 5 years each and Panama City for a year, but found myself drawn back to the UK and settled here.

I think it's easier to move abroad when you are single. Once you're settled down, and especially once kids are around, it's comforting to be near (but not too near, within 200 miles is fine..) family.

spoofilyj

Depends on where abroad you end up and why you choose to go.

I had to leave Ireland in 2009 for work and was in Abu-Dhabi for nearly a year.
I had a ball and loved the weather, craic and different cultures and the over all new experiences.

Following that I worked in Luxembourg and did not enjoy it much at all.

So really the question cant be answered without making assumptions.
I think you can make living anywhere work it just required the right attitude and outlook.

Egginacup

spoofilyj wrote: »

Depends on where abroad you end up and why you choose to go.

I had to leave Ireland in 2009 for work and was in Abu-Dhabi for nearly a year.
I had a ball and loved the weather, craic and different cultures and the over all new experiences.

Following that I worked in Luxembourg and did not enjoy it much at all.

So really the question cant be answered without making assumptions.
I think you can make living anywhere work it just required the right attitude and outlook.

I spent a year in Luxembourg one weekend. Christ what a boring kip. But managed to meet up with a couple of Norwegian lads in some bar near the old city walls and got drunk with them. Dull bastard of a city.

We moved around a bit when I was growing up because of my parents careers, then I moved to study and work. At this point my immediate family are so dispersed that I'm not sure where to think of as home. I tend to think of my Grannys house as home because it's never changed. When she's gone, I think I'm going to feel a bit adrift without that house as an anchor.

Canis Lupus

Lived in London for 7 years and loved it. It's such a great city and if you're a homebird you can still fly back in an hour or so.

Currently coming up on three years in Brisbane (moved with Aussie GF). It's a lovely little city, not too big, not too small. Have a great job I love and the outdoors life is nice. The heat can get a little oppressive in Summer but the rest of the year it's really nice. I even wear jumpers on days you'd be going to the beach back home.

Having said all that I'm happy as long as I have a good job and a good internet connection for gaming I've never been the type to be homesick. Different for other people though.

retalivity

Moved to Asia - loved it
Then moved to Canada - hated it
Now moved back to Ireland - its grand

Ideally would love to settle in Asia but realistically it is probably not going to happen. Would be happy enough settling in Ireland/Europe now, you're never more than a 3-4 hr flight from home if needs be.

razorblunt

5 and a half years in Edinburgh, how could you not be amazed by the Castle? When you have to walk around it to get somewhere!!!

Sure there's not much difference anyway between here and back home, and as I learned on BBC last night up until 1000AD when you said Scots you were referring to the Irish (who settled over here!). They're just a bunch who prefer colder weather!

HalloweenJack

Did my Erasmus in Madrid and absolutely loved it. Knew I could spend the rest of my life there.

Moved to the Czech Republic for a year when I finished college. It was ok, on a par with Ireland personally.

Went to Brazil for a bit and loved it,, would go back in a flash if I could.

Came back to Spain and went to a different part. Been here three years now and love it even more. Definitely see myself staying here for the rest of my life.

Have no desire to live in Ireland again, it's just not for me.

As you can guess, the weather is a big deal for me. I hate the cold.

circadian

Egginacup wrote: »

I spent a year in Luxembourg one weekend.

Lada time machine?

Lucena

Living in France. Racist cesspool, and fúck all places to go out where I live.

Not recommended.

Spunge

Lucena wrote: »

Living in France. Racist cesspool, and fúck all places to go out where I live.

Not recommended.

das racist

irelandrover

Living in Holland for the last 7 years. There's a good standard of life here with a very good work/ life balance. See myself living here for the forseeable future.

bodice ripper

Living in the Netherlands for three years now, moving home tuesday. Ireland is the ****, **** what you heard.

ShiftStorm

Like others have said, I think it depends on various factors including your personality and circumstances, where you go to and your reasons for going.

I have lived in two other countries besides Ireland and my reasons for going were to get away from issues at home but in reality, I probably brought those issues with me in my own mind. Coping with any sort of emotional issues when your usual support network isn't around you is tricky! When things get tough here or I get bored, I still find myself having those escapist fantasies and have to remind myself that life is life, no matter where you live.

I moved to hot places but because of the warm weather, mentally I always felt like I should be on holidays and found it so hard to be motivated for work

That said, I met a lot of interesting people and learned a lot about the visiting cultures/Irish culture, two new languages and grew a lot as a person by being taken out of my usual context. It is definitely a mind-opening experience but not without its challenges.

Jude13

France, Paris: Get spot, didn't have a word of French and was broke but enjoyed it. Had to go back to Ireland for work.
Oman: When the I got let go from my firm during the crash. Hated the first year or two, then mellowed out but have come full circle and hated the last year and a half. Being treated as a second class citizen constantly it too much.
So I am moving back to France/Monaco in September.

OldMrBrennan83

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Magico Gonzalez

What's amazing and different at first soon becomes normal. I'm here long term, obviously you miss the family but I have family here on the OH's side, new friends etc. Now all the stuff that seems exciting has become normal, I enjoy it but it's normal. Learning the language is absolutely essential. I have no sympathy for anyone who goes to another country and makes little effort with it's language and culture, some people want to move abroad for the weather only. You have to make a big effort to adapt.

That said, the only thing I would genuinely struggle with if i had to move home is the weather!

jester77

I left 15 years ago, couldn't be happier here. Everything just works and there is a lot more transparency when it comes to everything. No one begrudges your success, it's actually the opposite, and everyone is straight with you. No backhanded comments or snide remarks behind your back.

Taxes are higher, electricity, water, gas, etc are a lot more expensive than in Ireland. But you adjust and it's a small price to pay for the quality of life you get in return. Plus everything doesn't revolve around the pub here, this is something you really appreciate as you get older.

As for returning to Ireland, I very much doubt it. I might have more cash in my pocket but the quality of life would take a significant drop and this is not worth it to me.

jjbrien

Living in America at the moment its not so great, but I think its just Minnesota it cold in the winter like very cold.
Lived in Toronto twice, didnt enjoy the first time i was there (bad job low money) but the second time was great (much better job and decent money)

Lived in Liverpool and loved it there.

Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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But one with free health care, world-class universities, big cities, wonderful countryside, world class sporting events, award winning theatres, and a much better infra-structure. :pac:

Eugene Norman

Your Superior wrote: »

But one with free health care, world-class universities, big cities, wonderful countryside, world class sporting events, award winning theatres, and a much better infra-structure. :pac:

Many Uk residents would disagree about the *much better* infrastructure, particularly the privatised railway lines. And unless you go to the "world class" sporting events, or the award winning theatres very often the UK and Ireland have largely the same culture.

Personally I don't think that "big cities" is a plus, anywhere above 1M gets oppressive, and I have lived in London.

The countryside is very nice and parts of the UK, in particular the South West are great. The idea that it's so much better than Ireland is just not true, though.

In general I couldn't wait to leave London, but Bristol is a pet of a city.

OldMrBrennan83

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jjbrien

Your Superior wrote: »

But one with free health care, world-class universities, big cities, wonderful countryside, world class sporting events, award winning theatres, and a much better infra-structure. :pac:

Went to University there myself but now Id pity any student going to study there with the fees at 9000 pounds a year

Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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We spent in excess of €5k in Ireland trying to get my eldest daughter's stomach problems sorted, and never even made any progress, just a stream of consultants prescribing drugs to combat constipation and not looking for a real solution. Less than 6 months back in the UK, one GP visit, referred to a consultant who managed to cure her. For free.

I love many things about Ireland, but healthcare is most definitely not one of them.

TheBeardedLady

Candie wrote: »

We moved around a bit when I was growing up because of my parents careers, then I moved to study and work. At this point my immediate family are so dispersed that I'm not sure where to think of as home. I tend to think of my Grannys house as home because it's never changed. When she's gone, I think I'm going to feel a bit adrift without that house as an anchor.

Does your granny live in Ireland, Candie?


Been out of Ireland 10 years and lived in a few places.

I moved to Madrid in September 2009 and had zero expectations of the city itself as I'd never been, so was pleasantly surprised when I discovered just how beautiful the place is. The people, to be honest, weren't what I expected. I had the idea that the Spanish were all very relaxed and very friendly; I assumed they'd be similar to the South Americans I'd met when I spent a year there but people in Madrid aren't relaxed in the slightest and lose the head over nothing and are quite gruff and direct but friendly in their own different way and you know exactly where you stand with them, which I appreciate but it took a few years to "get" that. It was probably my own fault moving here with a head full of vague stereotypes, tbh.

The city has really grown on me: life here is easy if you have a job and it's a really pleasant city to live in - it has a large town feel even though it's big. I hate to state the obvious but the weather is a massive part of it along with the decent transport, the great wine and fruit and the beauty of the city itself.

I miss many things about Ireland and think it's a fantastic country to live in and I've no clue if I'll ever move back but I wouldn't rule it out. I was supposed to move to England this year but my boyfriend finally found a job he's happy in after a few years of unemployment and tbh, I'm happy enough to stay here for the time being. I actually felt a sense of relief when I made the decision to stay. It took a long time to love the place but I do now and that was more down to my own attitude change and concentrating on the positives instead of the negatives, which I got into a habit of doing.

Is it "better" and am I having a ball? Many things are better, many things are worse and I'm not having a ball all the time though Facebook might give that impression sometimes - life becomes life wherever you go and wherever you go, there you are 'n' all da.

Tarzana2

jester77 wrote: »

No one begrudges your success, it's actually the opposite, and everyone is straight with you. No backhanded comments or snide remarks behind your back.

How would you know?

Just a little Samba

fussyonion wrote: »

Like a lot of people, many of us have relatives or friends who have moved abroad and it seems they're all having the time of their lives.
But if you're abroad, are you enjoying it?

Is it everything you hoped it would be? Or is it a big let-down?
Do you miss Ireland and do you plan on coming home for good or have you made a new life for yourself abroad and see yourself there forever?

I'm just interested because a friend of mine has decided to stay another year in Oz as opposed to coming home.

I've lived out of Ireland on and off for the guts of the last 12 years 3 months here, 2 years there. I've lived on 4 different continents.

I love travelling and I love that part of my current job involves 3-4 month rotations to different countries, I'm currently in India, I've also lived in NZ, Belgium, Switzerland, The US, Peru, Costa Rica and a few other places.

But despite it all, I would probably prefer to live in Ireland fulltime and only have to do shorter trips away for work and travel on my own time, but maybe I'd just getting old or something?

jester77

Tarzana2 wrote: »

How would you know?

In Ireland I've often been in company where someone would say something to someone and once that person has left they would make snide comments about them. I've never once experienced anyone making such comments here.

SteM

Your Superior wrote: »

But one with free health care, world-class universities, big cities, wonderful countryside, world class sporting events, award winning theatres, and a much better infra-structure. :pac:

Odd, my English wife's family constantly about the NHS and their transport infrastructure (late trains, the cost etc). As for big cities she hated living in London, much prefers Dublin due to it's size. Different people will view things in a different way to you. And Ireland doesn’t have wonderful countryside now?

The rest are whatever floats your boat.

jacksie66

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the evasion_kid

Depends were you go,the only times I got really homesick abroad was when things weren't working out too good ie.no job,low cash.then again my brother who went through a messy divorce jacked it all in good job,house and took off,the last time I heard from him he was living in a tree house in mexico and was adamant he wasn't coming back.

Tarzana2

jester77 wrote: »

In Ireland I've often been in company where someone would say something to someone and once that person has left they would make snide comments about them. I've never once experienced anyone making such comments here.

No observed back-biting in 15 years seems unlikely.

irelandrover

the evasion_kid wrote: »

Depends were you go,the only times I got really homesick abroad was when things weren't working out too good ie.no job,low cash.then again my brother who went through a messy divorce jacked it all in good job,house and took off,the last time I heard from him he was living in a tree house in mexico and was adamant he wasn't coming back.

One of the funniest things I've read here in a long time.

Spunge

Moved up the north. its mind blowingly exotic

ShiftStorm

ShiftStorm wrote: »

I have lived in two other countries besides Ireland and my reasons for going were to get away from issues at home but in reality, I probably brought those issues with me in my own mind. Coping with any sort of emotional issues when your usual support network isn't around you is tricky! When things get tough here or I get bored, I still find myself having those escapist fantasies and have to remind myself that life is life, no matter where you live.

You can't move away from yourself, which would be a nice holiday to have sometimes.

By far the hardest thing about my folks being far away is that feeling loneliness when the brown stuff hits the turbine. On one hand it really develops independence and you become very self reliant, on the other it can be very isolating if you're low on coping at the time.

Crooked Jack

I moved to Canada. Came back after a year. i was in a good position to stay as long as I wanted but a mix of personal and professional reasons lead me home.
Maybe if I'd gone when I was younger or wasnt madly in love with a Donegal girl (who subsequently told me to fuck off back to canada for all she cared; cant blame her) I would have stayed.
Maybe it was Vancouver in particular. Everyone was beautiful and fit and happy and healthy and ambitious and mentally balanced and loving life. I cant handle that fuckin sh!t.

Crooked Jack

Candie wrote: »

You can't move away from yourself, which would be a nice holiday to have sometimes.

By far the hardest thing about my folks being far away is that feeling loneliness when the brown stuff hits the turbine. On one hand it really develops independence and you become very self reliant, on the other it can be very isolating if you're low on coping at the time.

This is almost word for word what I wrote for that Irish Times Generation Emigration thing.
Exactly how I felt after I came back

Your Superior

SteM wrote: »

Odd, my English wife's family constantly about the NHS and their transport infrastructure (late trains, the cost etc). As for big cities she hated living in London, much prefers Dublin due to it's size. Different people will view things in a different way to you. And Ireland doesn’t have wonderful countryside now?

The rest are whatever floats your boat.

Oh I agree, it's all opinion. Ireland has amazing countryside. As for cities, Dublin is my least favourite European city, but it's just my opinion. I have no problem with roads or trains in the UK, never have had really.

TheBeardedLady

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

Does your granny live in Ireland, Candie?

South County Dublin, Dublin born and bred.

Delighted de fella got a job, congrats to you both, must be nice to have the pressure off a bit!

OldMrBrennan83

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Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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God yes. We just wish we could give it back to you.

OldMrBrennan83

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Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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I get that feeling in Westmeath.

suicide_circus

There's an old saying;

Where ever you go, there you are.


You cannot escape yourself. If youre a tosser in Monaghan, you'll be a tosser in Melbourne.

Crooked Jack

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

We'll fix that when we get rid of the border.
I actually love Belfast and Derry although places like Craigavon and Coleraine are depressing holes.
Dublin's nice, Galway can go fuck itself but my favourite place in the country has to be Cork

Spunge

suicide_circus wrote: »

There's an old saying;

Where ever you go, there you are.


You cannot escape yourself. If youre a tosser in Monaghan, you'll be a tosser in Melbourne.

i dunno the status quo in regards acts to reaching tosser level must be higher in melbourne

QuantumP

I've lived in Austria which was amazing, I spent some time in Germany too which was less so but still nice. I think the most important thing is the people you're with, not where you are. You could be in the biggest hole in the world but if you have good company it doesn't matter, and you could be in the most amazing place but with w*nkers and you could hate it.

Not a let down or amazing anymore.. It's just what it is. Left for Melbourne four and a half years ago and didn't get past South East Asia and haven't been home since.

Can see myself living in South / Central America and Europe before I'd move home.

baker59

QuantumP wrote: »

You could be in the biggest hole in the world but if you have good company it doesn't matter

I agree with that. Studied in Linz, Austria. Decent city, had a blast but after everyone left, I would have hated to stay as one or 2 people did.

Live in France now. Settled. Would never say never about returning home but I'm fine for the now.

Pantech

Moved to the US () a few years back and living in NJ, near NYC - absolutely loving it since.

Pro's:

Has been a great experience for our kids. Despite the reputation America has for public school education, our experience has been very positive, but maybe we are in a bubble - probably a different story in Alabamba. Much smaller class sizes than Ireland (from 13 to 19 kids is about average). Lots of science from an early age. No time wasted on religion. Tons of free after school activities and extra-curricular programs they can join.

Taxes - lower than Ireland. Some parts of the cost of living are much higher though, e.g. property taxes are about $10k/year, so I think overall you end up with the same percentage of your wages going on tax. However, in general, cost of living is lower (petrol is 1/3 the cost of Ireland, no road tax, food shopping is generally cheaper).

Activities - always something to do here - lots of great state/national parks, shows, street festivals, etc. Can be in NYC within an hour on the train.

Weather - great during the summer, and if you like snow, great in the winter too. I'd prefer less snow tbh.

Positive attitude - corny I know, but there is a tangible positive attitude over here that is a contrast to Ireland.

Cons:
Being away from family and friends, but we have had a steady stream of people coming to visit, and have made it home a few times also.

Will we ever move back to Ireland? Hopefully not, I think we would all find it very hard.