still homesick 5 yrs later.HELP

**sally722** · 19-07-2011, 02:43 AM

Been here in Adelaide for 5yrs and still wondering if i have done the right thing,hubby and children are settled just me,

.
Any advice,help etc.

**HEAPS GOOD !!!** · 19-07-2011, 11:31 AM

Just gonna push this up the top for you, your not alone in this feeling.

alot of people feel like this just dnt say anything.

Where abouts are you living? maybe some of the members have some spare time to meet up.

Thanks for posting its the first step in trying to help yourself get through it.

It is by no means easy moving to the other side of the world.

HG

**phil&Sue** · 19-07-2011, 11:59 AM

been here 15 months n not feeling v settled, i now have a niece (6 days old) and we have lost a wonderful grandparent v suddenly, i had a good job in the airline industry (they couldn't offer p-time very much - now I am a mum) so we decided to give Oz a go. My other half travels bucket loads with his job now, so things feel q stressful, he is away so much, and i am far from family. I really am having a rant!!! Got to get it off your chest, as HG says most people don't say it, i hope to give it 2-4 yrs, sometimes i don't think i can give it 4 yrs. I love Oz, i struggle with the distance. I fear the job market in the UK. Me and my other half, have lots of work experience, not brilliant qualifications... Anyone else struggling a bit????!!!!!!??? I have made a few good friends, but it is a long way....... I have a job, but I am not overly enjoying it, that is half of the struggle I think.... Not sure Sally if i can advise, it is such a personal decision, some days I wish my OH had just changed jobs to try n better our life rather than such a huge thing we took on board..... It is tough to start from scratch again..... Any advice too out there??? Cheers lots for listening.... Think I am having a get it off your chest day!!!

**teresa** · 19-07-2011, 12:21 PM

Hi ya girls,
We are just in the process of getting my hubbies 476 visa. He will be doing a job in oz with more responsibility and travel. We are coming over in or around October time with our 10 yr old daughter and 2 yr old son. I have always worked and will not be working in oz. We will not know anyone when we arrive. im very close to my mother, who will be staying in the ukl. that said, ive never been so excited about embracing our new life in such a fab country. In the uk we moved from london down to the coast, it took us quite a few years before we felt settled, and that was just a move within the uk. As far as i see it, the uk has nothing left to offer our children, no work, education which now is so expensive that it may only be available to the priviledged few, and an NHS system which is stretched to breaking point. Theres probably not much left in this country but your friends and family. Its a shame, i do like the uk but dont like what its become. Cant offer any advice to you but im sure that what you are feeling is natural, and fully expect to go through it as well - im just sympathising with you.

**Riponian** · 19-07-2011, 12:39 PM

It is not easy be a long way from everything that you know and used to love all be it with its faults. Think you need to try and find out what it is actually you are missing and try and make them better.
I have been here 18mth and I love it but I have had my moments. I know Australia is the right place for us and for the kids. I have had my doubts about Adelaide for the long term and for now they are settled.
I have good friends enjoying running, squash and going to the gym.

The thing I am struggling with most is breaking into the aussie community and making them close friends. My son has started Kindy and that helps.
You just have to be bold, but if your not that type of person it is hard and ask them round for coffee. Or hold a party of some kind, tupperware or any of the other things that you are interested in.
Join parent groups and just talk to people and find people with similar interests to you.

Good luck and hope you can fiqure out what would make your life better friends, money, job, house suburb.

Michelle

**leeozbound** · 19-07-2011, 02:39 PM

We are about to make the move approx Feb 2012 after just getting our visa. I know this is from someone who has not yet made the move and therefore is not really in a position to say what is the right way to feel. We have been preparing for this moment for 9 years in total even going to the extent of my wife retraining as a nurse to get the right qualifications to be able to apply for the visa. Everybody's reason for making this move is different, so we will all naturally have different emotions once we are there. All you can do on a bad day is remember the reason that made you want to make this journey, whether it was the opportunity for yourself, your children, work opportunity, lifestyle change or all of these reasons together. We are taking video of some of the areas not far from where we live (we used to run pubs in some of the not so nice areas with naughty kids and parents that matched, having said that we had a lovely bar/restaurant with pretty much the same attitude.) this is one of our reminders why we have put so much hard work into making this move possible.

My Father inlaw told me that the grass is not all ways greener on the other side, I said maybe not but the sand is alot warmer.

**HEAPS GOOD !!!** · 22-07-2011, 07:54 AM

the grass is not always greener on the other side just a different shade, you still have to work for a living as you would anywhere in the world, but you cant put a price on lifestyle and thats what you get out here...well once it warms up a little anyway...lol

HG

**snifter** · 22-07-2011, 08:07 AM

To the OP

What in particular are you struggling with? Friendships? Getting to grips with the way of life? The differences between the UK and Aus? The climate?

Give me something to work with :) I'll gladly try to offer some suggestions.

**sally722** · 27-07-2011, 09:12 AM

Thanks guys for the replies,was having a bad day and needed to sound off.
Adelaide has a better lifestyle for the children and we have had some great times here but just does'nt feel like home.
I miss family,close friends and the familiarity.I know quite a few people will feel the same way too and good to know i am not the only one.
Am in a better place today,the sun has been shining.Really appreciate all your messages.Sally

**purplerdt77** · 27-07-2011, 09:40 AM

I cannot wait to leave the Uk and have been pretty gutted with the changes in the UK, I feel that the community spirit has completely gone and people are more materialistic than ever, I dont care what car you drive or if you have the latest gadgets life should be about people. We are hoping to come over early next near we have our visa just need to sell our house. I know leaving family will be hard but I am thinking about my family unit me my husband and little girl we work so hard in the UK just to pay bills and cannot afford to play at all, we are looking forward to moving somewhere where all you need is you and a picnic if thats what you want. Sykpe is a wonderful thing and I think we will probably see family face to face more than living just half an hour away like we do now I have seen my brother since Xmas. Leaving the UK has to be one of the biggest things you could ever do, but believe me you must make the most of it some people never get the chance to leave the town they were born in.