Emigrating

[Deucalion]

He's still soap dodging then?

Not seen either of them since I called him a useless smelly b********d and threw him out!

[art924]

Emigrated to California last year- had previously lived in Australia when I was a young kid. The only reason I came here was my wife was made redundant in the UK and got the opportunity to transfer here. San Francisco is a great city but as expensive property wise and general living costs as London really. In California taxes are as high as the UK really, but you wander even more where all the money goes- crap roads, homeless on the streets, rubbish everywhere etc. Some states have a lot lower taxes but why the hell would you want to live somewhere like North Dakota for instance?

On the British expat forums I go on I am always slightly disturbed by the amount of young people especially, who are always asking for advice on how to get to the US as though it is the land of milk and honey. I blame the UK media who are constantly moaning about how we're worse than ever etc etc armageddon is coming etc etc. The middle classes are squeezed here just as much as in the UK if not more- the big elephant in the room in the US is healthcare and paying for it. On average most workers only get about 2 weeks off a year, work longer hours believe it or not and have far less rights than in the UK. The people at the bottom of society here are much worse off than in the UK less benefits, far less social housing, very low wages at the bottom end of the working sector means food stamps are needed for millions- personally I think this makes for a far less healthier society. Hollywood doesn't help either portraying anyone with a bit of money as living in massive great houses in perfect suburban neighbourhoods etc. People can be friendlier here but it's mostly superficial and it can get a bit tiresome having a 'fake' conversation with the checkout girl or having to explain where I'm from for the 100th time to some random person in the street. I kind of course the Tesco girl simply grunting at me now

The weather is obviously far more reliable here though and definitely does encourage the outdoors lifestyle and there is a much more positive outlook on life. The national parks and scenery is astonishing and I feel privileged to have seen so many since I've been here.

Anyway not wishing to put off anyone who may be wishing to emigrate but you it should also be something you should consider carefully. The priority should be your choice of career i.e is it viable to transfer my skills in the UK to a job abroad? Personally countries like Australia, Canada and New Zealand are a far better option for most Brits as they have a skills based immigration system. The US system has a basket case of an immigration system at present and it is much harder for UK nationals to get in.

How close are you to your family and friends? You'll soon notice how much you miss them even if you didn't even see them that often in the UK. Have you visited your country of choice? Be very careful not to judge the whole country just because you went on holiday there for 2 weeks and it happened to fantastic. Have you spoken to other ex pats about the pluses and minuses? Have you weighed up what you could earn abroad against the living costs? What about the cultural differences? People are very different here in the US just because we speak the same language doesn't mean that your automatically assimilated into society. Personally I think the average Brit has more in common with our European friends than the average American in outlook on life, politics and sense of humor etc

The grass is not always greener just a different shade really.

[Tielemans63]

Any chance of doing a job swap for a year and seeing how you like it? I did a year in Aus while a guy came over and taught in Northants for a year. Was a great year but by the end I knew that I didn't want to make the move permanently.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Are you referring to Monocle's survey? Because they ranked the top 5 most livable cities as following:-

1 Zurich Switzerland

2 Helsinki Finland

3 Copenhagen Denmark

4 Vienna Austria

5 Munich Germany

Monocle's Most Livable Cities Index 2012^[8] City Country 2011 1 Zurich Switzerland (02) 2 Helsinki Finland (01) 3 Copenhagen Denmark (03) 4 Vienna Austria (06) 5 Munich Germany

No the econimist

It's what you make of it, some people will hate Australia and New Zealand but others will love it. All depends on your out look and what you're looking for really.

I love Melbourne because it's what i know, i have a steady job, plenty of friends, my family is here, always plenty of festivals and sport on. Only issue is it's miles away if you want to travel O/S.

Also can't be arsed finding who said Australia doesn't have culture, it does it just isn't rich in history. In relation to the lack of Inteligence I actually said the same thing when i was in the UK. Think every country has there 'special' people

[ozleicester]

No the econimist

To be fair... that list has both Adelaide and Perth in the top ten... i love both of those cities... but, top 10 in thee world?

Not to mention the shit hole that is Melbourne at the top, dirty grey little city, chock full of cappucino wannabes and feral St Kilda supporters... pisses down with rain every 2nd day.

[Guest]

And who wants to live in a City anyway?

[OzFox]

If I could go tomorrow, I probably would. Anyone else thought of emigrating permanently?

Thought about it, did it, and (mostly) regretted it ever since. On the whole I find Australia really boring. I suspect New Zealand might be even worse.

Bear in mind that about a third of people who emigrate down here go home again, often with good reason. Personally I miss friends & family, the English countryside, the history, football in atmospheric stadiums *insert KP joke here*, wrapping up on a winters day, 500 year old pubs, riding the Tube, the proximity to Europe (come to think of it, proximity to anywhere other than New Zealand), proper green grass, different accents and the sense of humour. I'm not a fan of local Aussie sports, the terrible driving, the heat and their appalling dumbed down TV. I find Sydney pretty but bland, Melbourne is like a poor imitation of a European town. Despite the booming economy, 86,000 people left Australia in 2009/10. That's apparently the highest emigration ever recorded.

I think I might be a "ping pong Pom". Hopefully I'll be ponging sooner rather than later.

[purpleronnie]

Thought about it, did it, and (mostly) regretted it ever since. On the whole I find Australia really boring. I suspect New Zealand might be even worse.

Bear in mind that about a third of people who emigrate down here go home again, often with good reason. Personally I miss friends & family, the English countryside, the history, football in atmospheric stadiums *insert KP joke here*, wrapping up on a winters day, 500 year old pubs, riding the Tube, the proximity to Europe (come to think of it, proximity to anywhere other than New Zealand), proper green grass, different accents and the sense of humour. I'm not a fan of local Aussie sports, the terrible driving, the heat and their appalling dumbed down TV. I find Sydney pretty but bland, Melbourne is like a poor imitation of a European town. Despite the booming economy, 86,000 people left Australia in 2009/10. That's apparently the highest emigration ever recorded.

I think I might be a "ping pong Pom". Hopefully I'll be ponging sooner rather than later.

exactly it might seem like a wonderful idea... until you actually do it.

[MooseBreath]

Why did you move to oz if you don't like heat, pretty cities, Australian sports and Australian accents?

I think to be honest a lot of you failed expats moved because you thought it would solve your personal problems. When you got there and realised that you were still yourself and still had the same problems you started blaming them on your new country. You're obviously doing it for all the wrong reasons and the same thing would happen no matter where you moved to.

[purpleronnie]

Why did you move to oz if you don't like heat, pretty cities, Australian sports and Australian accents?

I think to be honest a lot of you failed expats moved because you thought it would solve your personal problems. When you got there and realised that you were still yourself and still had the same problems you started blaming them on your new country. You're obviously doing it for all the wrong reasons and the same thing would happen no matter where you moved to.

i would imagine he grew to dislike those things.

[OzFox]

i would imagine he grew to dislike those things.

Yep

That and having an Aussie wife with aging parents, and a job that pays me a bit more than it would in England

[Guest]

I emigrated and though I'll always be British through and through I have no need to move back. It doesn't mean I won't but I have no need to. I thought I'd move to France for 5 years and then move on - it's been 20 now. Having said that so many English do move here and can't handle NOT speaking the language and can't make an effort to learn it. Many go back to Britain.

I could see myself as an old man living along the Cornwall coast but I could equally be in India or china or anywhere else in the world.

It takes a good deal of self-confidence and a propensity to isolationalism to emigrate away from your roots,family and friends.

[Carl the Llama]

I'm surprised Vienna ranks so high. I've been there a couple of times and really enjoyed the place, but it gave me the impression of being somewhere which would be highly dull to live in permanently.

[MooseBreath]

It takes a good deal of self-confidence and a propensity to isolationalism to emigrate away from your roots,family and friends.

Moving to France is barely emigrating. Ok it is officially, but realistically you've just moved down the road. Any old pussy could do that.

[Guest]

Moving to France is barely emigrating. Ok it is officially, but realistically you've just moved down the road. Any old pussy could do that.

I notice you've "lived" for a whole year in another English speaking western country. That was "man" of you.

[MooseBreath]

I notice you've "lived" for a whole year in another English speaking western country. That was "man" of you.

I'm not the one trying to big up how self confident I am because I moved half an hour down the road where i live in isolation because I have no friends.

Be honest, the only reason you moved is because no-one in the uk liked you and being in France gives you a convinient excuse for having no mates.

[Guest]

I'm not the one trying to big up how self confident I am because I moved half an hour down the road where i live in isolation because I have no friends.

Be honest, the only reason you moved is because no-one in the uk liked you and being in France gives you a convinient excuse for having no mates.

Says the man still living at home with his mum.

You daren't step into a non-English speaking country for fear of being infected.

[MooseBreath]

Says the man still living at home with his mum.

You daren't step into a non-English speaking country for fear of being infected.

Weak garlic, fooking mild mushroom reply. Onions and garlic, fooking cheese.

[Guest]

Weak garlic, fooking mild mushroom reply. Onions and garlic, fooking cheese.

Says the guy whose awayday is a big mac from Cov.

[MooseBreath]

Says the guy whose awayday is a big mac from Cov.

Cheese sauce, orange drapes, alphabet

[Steven]

I just love New Zealand! :thumbup:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313443/New-Zealand-man-Ronald-Clark-jailed-watching-pixie-porn.html

[Carl the Llama]

Moving to France is barely emigrating. Ok it is officially, but realistically you've just moved down the road. Any old pussy could do that.

Shall we continue this conversation in french then, since you're clearly fluent in it?

[ADK]

Alot of the "best cities" polls end up getting skewed because they are somewhat tax havens.

Would imagine Switzerland has alot of people living there for financial reasons. It's abit like the fact Kuwait has a higher GDP per capita than the USA but dosn't really mean you'd want to emigrate there.

[MooseBreath]

Shall we continue this conversation in french then, since you're clearly fluent in it?

I don't speak French but I could if I wanted to, as could anyone. What's your point?

[Guest MattP]

Swtizerland is boring as fcuk, ignore any top cities ranked there.

If you have got the chance to go to Auckland I would do it like a shot, you do feel like you are on the end of the World but it's the finest city I've been to in the most naturally beautiful country I have ever been to. The people are the friendliest I've have come across as well apart from a few places in South East Asia.