SmallTown
Well-known member
This surprises me. You sound like you’ve never travelled abroad and experienced other cultures. I’m sure you have but I’m stunned they haven’t even touched you.
Have you ever lived or considered living abroad?
- Thread starter Scrug
- Start date
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
4 years in San Francisco, loved it, especially the ability to explore the rest of North America, and financially it was a great move for us too.
Moved back just before COVID which was a blessing as CA had a pretty strict lockdown, and think we'd have gone crazy living in a 2 bed apartment in the middle of the city.
Now we have a daughter I'm not sure we'd go back, but would consider Europe / Scandinavia as I've spent extended time working in both and the quality of live is attractive. Probably Switzerland would be most likely given most of our friends live out there and it would be easy for both mine and my wife's jobs
Moved back just before COVID which was a blessing as CA had a pretty strict lockdown, and think we'd have gone crazy living in a 2 bed apartment in the middle of the city.
Now we have a daughter I'm not sure we'd go back, but would consider Europe / Scandinavia as I've spent extended time working in both and the quality of live is attractive. Probably Switzerland would be most likely given most of our friends live out there and it would be easy for both mine and my wife's jobs
Brian Marwood
Well-known member
My other half is Singaporean who after 4 years in the UK is now feeling ready to move back and I am starting to feel that way too. I think we will be back within 2-3 years.
Brian Marwood
Well-known member
Comments like, which I totally agree with, remind me of the very first episode of The Newsroom when Will is on a panel and is asked why America is the greatest nation on the planet and his answer is legendary.
If you haven't seen it and have four minutes spare give it a watch:
Littlejimmy
Well-known member
Germany for a fair chunk of my childhood (army brat) and in adulthood my job has helped me get around and keep that wanderlust going. I became accustomed to upping sticks every 2 or 3 years with my dad's postings.
Taiwan for 9 months or so in 2002/3
Dubai for a year in 2006/7
Other places I've had short stints in include USA (Minneapolis) for 4 months. Could have been longer, but the wife wasn't keen. Also Cambodia, Holland, Libya (friendliest people ever), Qatar, Bulgaria, Cyprus.
Favourite places have been Berlin (was only 10 but have good memories and have been back twice), Taiwan and Cambodia. Not all been good, though. Missed my family when I was away, especially my 2 kids, and I fell too easily into the expat drinking culture sometimes. Good times were had but I've paid a price with my health.
I don't know if I'd move abroad again. As bad as this country is becoming, I'm settled more now and I'm hopeful it will turn around again soon (if people wake up). It does have a lot to offer in terms of culture and scenery and decent people (mostly). If I was to move, it would maybe be to Scotland or Europe.
Taiwan for 9 months or so in 2002/3
Dubai for a year in 2006/7
Other places I've had short stints in include USA (Minneapolis) for 4 months. Could have been longer, but the wife wasn't keen. Also Cambodia, Holland, Libya (friendliest people ever), Qatar, Bulgaria, Cyprus.
Favourite places have been Berlin (was only 10 but have good memories and have been back twice), Taiwan and Cambodia. Not all been good, though. Missed my family when I was away, especially my 2 kids, and I fell too easily into the expat drinking culture sometimes. Good times were had but I've paid a price with my health.
I don't know if I'd move abroad again. As bad as this country is becoming, I'm settled more now and I'm hopeful it will turn around again soon (if people wake up). It does have a lot to offer in terms of culture and scenery and decent people (mostly). If I was to move, it would maybe be to Scotland or Europe.
SmallTown
Well-known member
Ah lucky you! Apart from briefly working there and having friends out there I don’t know the place too well but I just really want to live there. Something about it appeals to me a lot. I have even picked where: a cute neighbourhood in Tiong Bahru near where one of my friends used to live. Sadly it’ll be a pipe dream, unless something significant changes my other half would never move there.
Good luck if you do go back. Will you be ok for getting jobs out there?
Brian Marwood
Well-known member
Tiong Bahru is one of the best places in Singapore as it retains lots of the old charm but with ultra-modern too. Very close to Sentosa also.
I have an open invitation to return to my old job but if I return on a dependent visa I could put my feet up, ditch the career and play house husband instead
I spent a lot of time on long term projects out in Scandinavia earlier in my career and although it is a cliche, they seem to have figured things out way better than most other societies.
What do you do career wise, if you don't mind me asking?
SmallTown
Well-known member
now, there is the dream!I could put my feet up, ditch the career and play house husband instead
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
I'm a management consultant, and my time was mainly spent in Malmo, Helsingborg and Copenhagen for IKEA. However we actually moved to the US for my wife's job (she's in the pharma industry).
goalscrounger
Well-known member
Two and a half years in Washington DC and now coming to the end of my 4th year in Chicago.
While I can appreciate that the US is even more dysfunctional than the UK (and that Chicago has more than its fair share of problems), we are really happy where we are now and enjoy what Chicago and the surrounding areas have to offer. We bought a house and moved up to the northern suburbs last summer so we don't have to worry so much about gun crime and carjackings now. As I work in the centre of the city, I have a long commute, but it's worth it as the lifestyle in the North Shore is very good.
Chicago feels like home now and I've no urge to move on (just yet!) but I do like to come back to see family and friends (actually typing this from my mum and dad's house in Normanby on a quick stop off here on the way to a conference in Switzerland later this week).
We are definitely glad we made the break and my kids both benefited greatly from the experience (although they were in a private international school in DC rather than a typical American high school).
While I can appreciate that the US is even more dysfunctional than the UK (and that Chicago has more than its fair share of problems), we are really happy where we are now and enjoy what Chicago and the surrounding areas have to offer. We bought a house and moved up to the northern suburbs last summer so we don't have to worry so much about gun crime and carjackings now. As I work in the centre of the city, I have a long commute, but it's worth it as the lifestyle in the North Shore is very good.
Chicago feels like home now and I've no urge to move on (just yet!) but I do like to come back to see family and friends (actually typing this from my mum and dad's house in Normanby on a quick stop off here on the way to a conference in Switzerland later this week).
We are definitely glad we made the break and my kids both benefited greatly from the experience (although they were in a private international school in DC rather than a typical American high school).
LowMoorBoro
Well-known member
I lived in a fairly small place called Ochang just near to Cheongju. It isn’t a place tourists would visit but there was quite a big English speaking community, which was good because try as I did my Korean was terrible!Where did you live in Korea Lowmoor??? And when? What an amazing place!
Where did you live?
korean_boro
Member
I was up near the Border in NW Incheon .. a tiny place called Seogu Chong! 2009-2011 i think it was! Yeah i played in the SSFL league for Anyang FC and we visited Cheonju to play a team there a couple of times!
Fantastic memories .. i went back 7 years later and the entire country was different! New cities sprung up / new stadiums etc.. staggering how efficient they are!
Cheers
Redwurzel
Well-known member
My parents had an employee that moved to Florida (I think Miami) about 1979. He was a glazier (worked with glass etc) and continued that in the USA. He came back for a visit to a family party about 12 month later and had a nice tan. He was asked how he was getting on and he said he quite liked it, althought he had been shot, only once he added. My parents and friends were a bit shocked.
A Boro friend was telling me his sister has come back to the UK from South Africa - she had to live in a gated developement for safety and often had no electricity. This meant leaving her daughter and children in South Africa, which was very hard for her, but she felt it was the right thing to do. The NHS for all his faults is better than medical care in South Africa.
Ref Australia and New Zealand - I like the idea that there is less of a class system there so bright working class people say from the UK can do better than in this country. I can understand people who want a very quiet life going to these countries as there is lots of space and nice climate in most of those countries and no language barrier. However I was a bit shocked with the price of property there. I have some Aussie friends in the UK and they called the Aussie Government Nazis (over lockdown) but they are planning to go back to Oz, now they are retired . They have property in the Blue Mountains which is a forested national park in New South Wales. It was interesting that they prefered to live in the UK while working.
A Boro friend was telling me his sister has come back to the UK from South Africa - she had to live in a gated developement for safety and often had no electricity. This meant leaving her daughter and children in South Africa, which was very hard for her, but she felt it was the right thing to do. The NHS for all his faults is better than medical care in South Africa.
Ref Australia and New Zealand - I like the idea that there is less of a class system there so bright working class people say from the UK can do better than in this country. I can understand people who want a very quiet life going to these countries as there is lots of space and nice climate in most of those countries and no language barrier. However I was a bit shocked with the price of property there. I have some Aussie friends in the UK and they called the Aussie Government Nazis (over lockdown) but they are planning to go back to Oz, now they are retired . They have property in the Blue Mountains which is a forested national park in New South Wales. It was interesting that they prefered to live in the UK while working.
Nobby_Barnes
Well-known member
Moved to the USA (Uther Side of Acklam) for a week after the hot water tank burst 15 years ago.
Now back in Park End and would never leave...
Thanks
Now back in Park End and would never leave...
Thanks