Why or how did you decide to emigrate?

irelandrover

zweton wrote: »

Irelandrover, whats your field?

Engineering

Fenster

So much interest here in the Netherlands! I've decided to move there myself early next year and I'm currently working to learn Dutch. The 30% tax ruling, availability of rentals, lower deposit requirements and the blunt fact that the government is useless have all combined to make it easy for me to go. It kills me inside that as a working professional in Dublin who earns an excellent wage, the best I could find to live was as someone's licensee tenant. No security, no rights, no tenure.

engiweirdo

Its sooo temptimg tbh. Place seems to be flying. Particularly Manufacturing/Engineering and chance of an actual life, not just the corporate threadmill that is Ireland.

Tell me how

Hi everyone.

Older than most here but caught with many of the same questions/considerations. Not working at the moment and trying to decide next step. In my early 40's and seriously considering some time outside Ireland. Have a house here but no family so it's somewhat straightforward if I do go.

Options include UK, USA (on graduate VISA) or europe/middle east. Background is in automation engineering.

Going through phases at the moment where one day I'm thinking I'll be gone before Christmas, the next I'm thinking will I go at all.

My motivation for going is largely because I intended to do it when I was young, but didn't and feel if I don't now then I probably never will. Lots to consider though, after 10+ years in my own place, the idea of living in a house share seems a bit grim. Bit worried making friends/socialising with similar aged people might not be that easy either.

Big fear is that I end up sitting in a bedsit somewhere earning less than I was on here, with no friends around and thinking I made the wrong decision. I feel I've somehow, less wiggle room at this age than if I was younger.

Can anyone relate to any of this?

freeze4real

Fenster wrote: »

So much interest here in the Netherlands! I've decided to move there myself early next year and I'm currently working to learn Dutch. The 30% tax ruling, availability of rentals, lower deposit requirements and the blunt fact that the government is useless have all combined to make it easy for me to go. It kills me inside that as a working professional in Dublin who earns an excellent wage, the best I could find to live was as someone's licensee tenant. No security, no rights, no tenure.

Did you have a job lined up already? I'm tempted of moving next year myself.

Fenster

Tell me how wrote: »

Can anyone relate to any of this?

FOMO, yeah, that's part of it for me.

zweton

Heading for the Netherlands myself for all the reasons Fenster has mentioned!

Looking at January and doing interviews at the moment. Country fecked again!

zweton

Fenster wrote: »

So much interest here in the Netherlands! I've decided to move there myself early next year and I'm currently working to learn Dutch. The 30% tax ruling, availability of rentals, lower deposit requirements and the blunt fact that the government is useless have all combined to make it easy for me to go. It kills me inside that as a working professional in Dublin who earns an excellent wage, the best I could find to live was as someone's licensee tenant. No security, no rights, no tenure.

Any particular city in the Netherlands Fenster?

airportgirl83

Fenster wrote: »

So much interest here in the Netherlands! I've decided to move there myself early next year and I'm currently working to learn Dutch. The 30% tax ruling, availability of rentals, lower deposit requirements and the blunt fact that the government is useless have all combined to make it easy for me to go. It kills me inside that as a working professional in Dublin who earns an excellent wage, the best I could find to live was as someone's licensee tenant. No security, no rights, no tenure.

How / where do you learn Dutch in Dublin?

zweton

Not sure where Fenster is learning it but below link seems very popular with alot of expats.

https://www.duolingo.com/

zweton

Tell me how wrote: »

Hi everyone.

Older than most here but caught with many of the same questions/considerations. Not working at the moment and trying to decide next step. In my early 40's and seriously considering some time outside Ireland. Have a house here but no family so it's somewhat straightforward if I do go.

Options include UK, USA (on graduate VISA) or europe/middle east. Background is in automation engineering.

Going through phases at the moment where one day I'm thinking I'll be gone before Christmas, the next I'm thinking will I go at all.

My motivation for going is largely because I intended to do it when I was young, but didn't and feel if I don't now then I probably never will. Lots to consider though, after 10+ years in my own place, the idea of living in a house share seems a bit grim. Bit worried making friends/socialising with similar aged people might not be that easy either.

Big fear is that I end up sitting in a bedsit somewhere earning less than I was on here, with no friends around and thinking I made the wrong decision. I feel I've somehow, less wiggle room at this age than if I was younger.

Can anyone relate to any of this?

Do it mate lifes too short! Especially with your background. Whats the worse that can happen? Rent the house out, say you will go for a year to give it a shot you can always come back if you dont like it. Anything else is a bonus!

Tell me how

zweton wrote: »

Not sure where Fenster is learning it but below link seems very popular with alot of expats.

https://www.duolingo.com/

I used that for French. Very simple to use. Made good progress but didn't get to implement in real life. Definitely agree its a good way to start.

Spanish Eyes

If you are living at home with parents, it is great to get away from them. They probably feel the same lol.

I am a little older and did my Uni when there was no option but the usual Universities.

Erasmus is great. Stayed with my niece in Maastricht for a few days, suffice to say I coped Yay, it was such fun. Still recovering years later ha ha.

zweton

Im loving the look of Utrecht it looks and feels like somewhere i could settle down! Was there a few mths back and went to check out Haarlem, wow beautiful and 20 mins on the train from amsterdam. Didnt get around to checking out Utrecht but i just know i would love it.

Tell me how

zweton wrote: »

Do it mate lifes too short! Especially with your background. Whats the worse that can happen? Rent the house out, say you will go for a year to give it a shot you can always come back if you dont like it. Anything else is a bonus!

You wouldn't come with me and say that to me every morning would you?

Part of the mental conflict is that it reminds me that I'm in a very different place to all friends siblings who are all in the very much married with children phase.
Older parents are also a concern as I do get on with them and call out to them once a week for a bite to eat or whatever. I know they will miss me while I'm gone and I also have a nervous fear that something might happen them while I'm away.

zweton

Tell me how wrote: »

You wouldn't come with me and say that to me every morning would you?

Part of the mental conflict is that it reminds me that I'm in a very different place to all friends siblings who are all in the very much married with children phase.
Older parents are also a concern as I do get on with them and call out to them once a week for a bite to eat or whatever. I know they will miss me while I'm gone and I also have a nervous fear that something might happen them while I'm away.

Here! Tell me about it, sounds like we are in the same boat with regards folks being older and totally get what you mean. But at the end of the day you have to do what YOU want and live the life you want, no regrets! I can only hold your hand as far as shannon airport though lol

NSAman

Tell me how wrote: »

You wouldn't come with me and say that to me every morning would you?

Part of the mental conflict is that it reminds me that I'm in a very different place to all friends siblings who are all in the very much married with children phase.
Older parents are also a concern as I do get on with them and call out to them once a week for a bite to eat or whatever. I know they will miss me while I'm gone and I also have a nervous fear that something might happen them while I'm away.

Said that in an earlier post. I was away when my Dad took ill, I jumped on the next plane and got home the morning he died. I was the last person he talked to.

Yes they miss us. Not being there is damned hard for them and us.

BUT, you have to make your own way in life. I phone my mum every second day. for me it is 4am in the morning before work, just to make sure she is ok and that she has everything she needs. I am lucky in that I get home 3 or 4 times a year, and can divert flights to see her and my family.

The friends part is something that you deal with. When you leave you realise when you go back that few things change. People continue with their lives and you are still part of that, even more so as they miss you and want to catch up more. (Not to mention playing host in your adopted country to everyone)..;)

strangel00p

Moved abroad over a year ago for more money and because there were some total headbangers in my previous job.  Life was becoming unbearable and the thoughts of dealing with the bullying in the workplace was too much,so fu$k it... An opportunity came up which financially made sense, so I took it.

Definitely not an easy decision and with hindsight I probably would not have taken it.  Renting my home, dealing with builders performing major structural repairs on my house, working in a city knowing nobody, different culture, not understanding the language, living in a really tiny apartment which felt like a prison cell, arranging care for an elderly relative with dementia and working in a new job where the doors are locked when starting the night shift in a data centre.  Trying to keep up with the workload because the pace is unreal.  No surprise, I drank a lot...

I don't know how I did it, but it has shaped me.  I have no doubt about that.  I've never missed home so much, even the little things of having a cup of tea back home would be wonderful.  Genuinely wonderful.  One year to go with an option of renewing the contract after that...

Having said that, in the last two days I moved to a huge apartment with more than 1 tiny room and the feeling of space is AMAZING.  So that is the advice I would give someone planning to move abroad, make sure the accommodation is comfortable and bring a big bag of teabags!

zweton

strangel00p wrote: »

Moved abroad over a year ago for more money and because there were some total headbangers in my previous job.  Life was becoming unbearable and the thoughts of dealing with the bullying in the workplace was too much,so fu$k it... An opportunity came up which financially made sense, so I took it.

Definitely not an easy decision and with hindsight I probably would not have taken it.  Renting my home, dealing with builders performing major structural repairs on my house, working in a city knowing nobody, different culture, not understanding the language, living in a really tiny apartment which felt like a prison cell, arranging care for an elderly relative with dementia and working in a new job where the doors are locked when starting the night shift in a data centre.  Trying to keep up with the workload because the pace is unreal.  No surprise, I drank a lot...

I don't know how I did it, but it has shaped me.  I have no doubt about that.  I've never missed home so much, even the little things of having a cup of tea back home would be wonderful.  Genuinely wonderful.  One year to go with an option of renewing the contract after that...

Having said that, in the last two days I moved to a huge apartment with more than 1 tiny room and the feeling of space is AMAZING.  So that is the advice I would give someone planning to move abroad, make sure the accommodation is comfortable and bring a big bag of teabags!

Where did you move to?

Tell me how

zweton wrote:

Where did you move to?

And what age group are you in?

strangel00p

Early 40s and genuinely had no intention of ever leaving Ireland.  Just when I thought I had life nicely organised, it hurled at me an absolute fuc$er of a curve ball and I had no choice but to swing at it.  Loneliness is the worst feeling when you first move abroad and I think all expats can relate to that to some extent.  Don't rush in, and think about your options.  seriously.

Tell me how

strangel00p wrote:

Early 40s and genuinely had no intention of ever leaving Ireland. Just when I thought I had life nicely organised, it hurled at me an absolute fuc$er of a curve ball and I had no choice but to swing at it. Loneliness is the worst feeling when you first move abroad and I think all expats can relate to that to some extent. Don't rush in, and think about your options. seriously.

Sounds like you're a few steps further on the path I'm looking towards.

Part of my problem is, I'm maybe thinking about things too much...

Fenster

Didn't expect all the questions overnight!

Language: I'm learning through Duolingo in conjunction with some grammar and workbooks. In January I will attend a beginner course at Trinity, mostly to improve my spoken confidence and gain practice. While I understand everyone here says I can get by with English, I'm a learner and this is learning. It's fun!

Work: Not yet, but I work as a programmer at a senior level so I don't expect any difficulty finding a job. I'm doing all this on my own schedule-April 1! I begin my job search on January 1.

Some demographics: Late 30's, single, male. My children live in another country. I want them more in my life, but I feel I can't provide that for them in Ireland on my own.

airportgirl83

Fenster wrote: »

Didn't expect all the questions overnight!

• Language: I'm learning through Duolingo in conjunction with some grammar and workbooks. In January I will attend a beginner course at Trinity, mostly to improve my spoken confidence and gain practice. While I understand everyone here says I can get by with English, I'm a learner and this is learning. It's fun!
• Work: Not yet, but I work as a programmer at a senior level so I don't expect any difficulty finding a job. I'm doing all this on my own schedule-April 1! I begin my job search on January 1.

Thank you! I almost signed up to Stanford Language school few weeks ago but had to postpone. I will be looking to start a course in Jan as well. Why did you pick Trinity in particular? Did you research other schools?

Fenster

airportgirl83 wrote: »

Thank you! I almost signed up to Stanford Language school few weeks ago but had to postpone. I will be looking to start a course in Jan as well. Why did you pick Trinity in particular? Did you research other schools?

My friend referred me. The application process, location, time, cost and course were all-clear cut and required zero research on my part. I appreciated that Trinity are up front with information. I'm lazy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

otnomart

Tell me how wrote: »

Not working at the moment and trying to decide next step. In my early 40's and seriously considering some time outside Ireland. Have a house here but no family so it's somewhat straightforward if I do go.

I emigrated twice so far: first in my early twenties, than in my late thirties.

Experience was very different second time round.

Like you, I needed my comforts: so it was important to be able to rent on my own and not house-share.

Making friends was also different, as in the 40s age group there are less people out socialising, as after work most are home with their families.
A first port of call, if you are not fluent in the local language, can be the Meetups targeted to Expats.



Emigrating in my late thirties worked out for me, so I can only recommend you to try it out.

Just don't expect the experience to be like in your twenties backpacking in your gap year !

Tell me how wrote: »

Options include UK, USA (on graduate VISA) or europe/middle east. Background is in automation engineering.

Can't comment on your sector,

I guess though that in UK and USA you will have more chances to integrate and make friends with the Locals as opposed to sticking to Expats.

Tell me how

otnomart wrote: »

Making friends was also different, as in the 40s age group there are less people out socialising, as after work most are home with their families.

Yeah. That is understandable. But that is the case here right now so it won't be a shock to the system.

otnomart wrote: »

Emigrating in my late thirties worked out for me, so I can only recommend you to try it out.

Can I ask you (or anyone else) what you mean by it worked out? I'm curious do you mean it met your expectations, it allowed you to earn more or develop your career, you found you changed some things about your personality for the better, it gave you pleasant experiences, you met interesting people or friends or anything else?

Know it's a broad question and might be several answers but I am curious.

otnomart wrote: »

Just don't expect the experience to be like in your twenties backpacking in your gap year !

Yes. Completely understand. I expect it to be somewhat more regimented and less transient such as backpackers do with 2 weeks here, 2 weeks there and sleeping in hostels kind of thing. (maybe I'm limiting myself with fixed expectations though )

I am comfortable with that though. I find that even as a tourist, you don't truly experience what a place is like as you approach things differently and the locals definitely treat you differently when they think you are only there for an hour or a day or a week etc.

otnomart

Tell me how wrote: »

Can I ask you (or anyone else) what you mean by it worked out? I'm curious do you mean it met your expectations, it allowed you to earn more or develop your career, you found you changed some things about your personality for the better, it gave you pleasant experiences, you met interesting people or friends or anything else?

Know it's a broad question and might be several answers but I am curious.

Sure.
For me, "worked out" means:

-Found a permanent job in the position I wanted, with good benefits
-Made a few good friends and also several nice and interesting acquaintances
-Feeling "at home" in my current city and neighbourhood; visited most of the Country as well.



Of course missing family, and friends living in other Countries (scattered in several Countries at this stage), but lucky enough to be able to travel every month to visit them.

Tell me how

otnomart wrote: »

Sure.
For me, "worked out" means:

-Found a permanent job in the position I wanted, with good benefits
-Made a few good friends and also several nice and interesting acquaintances
-Feeling "at home" in my current city and neighbourhood; visited most of the Country as well.

Of course missing family, and friends living in other Countries (scattered in several Countries at this stage), but lucky enough to be able to travel every month to visit them.

Yeah that sounds very much like it worked out. Hopefully you continue to enjoy it in this way.

That last point is key for me. Don't want to replace my current relationships. Would hope to be able to maintain them even if abroad. Just feel it might be weird as the conversations (state of mind) will likely be so much different. But again, that is kinda as it is right now so....

zweton

otnomart wrote: »

Sure.
For me, "worked out" means:

-Found a permanent job in the position I wanted, with good benefits
-Made a few good friends and also several nice and interesting acquaintances
-Feeling "at home" in my current city and neighbourhood; visited most of the Country as well.



Of course missing family, and friends living in other Countries (scattered in several Countries at this stage), but lucky enough to be able to travel every month to visit them.

Can I ask what country you relocated to?