help

[Guest jules]

a big hello to everyone i have been trying to persuade my wife to move to adelaide for months,her biggest fear is that we have no family or freinds in oz.we have 2 girls 2 and 4yrs old.it would be great if people could let us know what it is like to live in adelaide with kids compared to the uk thanks.

[Guest aussiewannabee]

Hi We are in the process for applying for visa ourselfs, We have 2 young children ourselves, my daughter is aged 7 and my son aged 3, you have to think of there future.

That is why we are trying to leave this violent, taxed to the hilt land that we all call home.

I know family is a major factor for moving away, but you have to think of your childrens future in all of this bcos at the end of the day, although you are leaving your family behind, you are taking the most important family members with you to have a better life.

I hope you can understand what i mean when I say that there is nothing left here for our future generations.

I am determined to give my children the best start in life, and I personally think that an australian education is worth more any money I could give to them.

Hope this helps your decision.

 

Aussie.

[Guest bev_stef]

Hi we are applying for visa at the mo, have 2 boys, nearly 5&2 this summer. We will definately miss family & friends, and dread removing kids from the love of their nanny, but its their future we are thinking of, and want a better life for them. Its scary but hopefully, visa granting permitting, we will head over, and they will learn to make new friends, and give us very expensive telephone bills!! I have to say, its only the people we are close to that we will miss, nothing else from the "good old uk".

 

Good luck with your plans.

 

Bev

[The Monaghans]

Hi Jules, we moved here in July last year and our kids are nearly 4 and 2. There's so much for them to do here, they have swimming and ballet lessons, they go to a childcare centre for 2 days a week and also a couple of playgroups. The beaches here are perfect for children and the sun shines a good deal of the time which is a big bonus! It can be hard at first without family and friends around you, that's why something like Poms in Adelaide is sooo important. We made the effort as soon as we got here to go to playgroups run by members of PIA and to meet as many people from the site as we could. As a result we've made some wonderful friends here, we have a pretty good social life and I know that in an emergency I could call anyone of them and they'd drop everything to help. Of course, we still miss family and friends from the UK but we skype them every week and talk on the phone regularly as well. Both our parents have been out for a visit already (my mum is still here now) and love Adelaide and all it has to offer. Hope this helps a bit, it's a big decision to make but if you don't try you'll never know!

[Guest Nick11]

Hi Jules, we moved here in July last year and our kids are nearly 4 and 2. There's so much for them to do here, they have swimming and ballet lessons, they go to a childcare centre for 2 days a week and also a couple of playgroups. The beaches here are perfect for children and the sun shines a good deal of the time which is a big bonus! It can be hard at first without family and friends around you, that's why something like Poms in Adelaide is sooo important. We made the effort as soon as we got here to go to playgroups run by members of PIA and to meet as many people from the site as we could. As a result we've made some wonderful friends here, we have a pretty good social life and I know that in an emergency I could call anyone of them and they'd drop everything to help. Of course, we still miss family and friends from the UK but we skype them every week and talk on the phone regularly as well. Both our parents have been out for a visit already (my mum is still here now) and love Adelaide and all it has to offer. Hope this helps a bit, it's a big decision to make but if you don't try you'll never know!

 

Well said Liz.

Your friends become your family , but in a nice way.

Have met lots of lovely people here - made much closer friends than I ever did back in the uk. People seem to be more genuine here - maybe its because we are more vulnerable.

Sure I've met people who I thought - can't see us ever becoming friends - but only because we didn't click. But it's a 2 way street and it wouldn't be normal if we did.

Only advice I can give is you must get out there and meet people.

[Guest Libby1971]

Well everyone else has said it really!

 

We have been here a year now. In the UK both of us had to work full time as teachers in order to make ends meet, sometimes not too successfully. We didn't see as much of the kids as we wanted. We were tired, and stressed and the journeys were frantic. Our market town had grown massively with new developments but the infrastructure hadn't so everything took such a long time to get around. We hated going into the nearest city as it took so long and was so crowded. Gangs of kids everywhere, an increase in violence - I was intimidated physically at the school by a group of kids who took exception to a detention and then a suspension that they were given and all in all we couldn't see a bright future for our children.

 

We didn't make the decision lightly. I miss my sister like I can't tell you. I can't wait to see her, but have a holiday booked for later this year. But my children are my priority, I have made my own family and above all else they have to come first. The rest of my family can make their own decisions although I am trying to get them here. My father was very ill and had been given months to live so we made the decision to stay while he was alive. Becuase we knew the end would come quickly, there would not have been time to get back. That was the right decision for us - he was the only one I stayed for, and when he died I used the migration process to help me cope with losing him. Not the best way for some but it worked at the time.

 

Friends, well, some people that I thought I was close to haven't kept in touch at all which has hurt to be honest. But I have met some amazing people here, people who have been sooo open and honest that you can't help but respond to that trust and therefore trust in return. Because we are all in the same situation, you are quick to recognise in people whether the same interests, values etc are there and therefore as Nick says can work out whether or not you are likely to become friends.

 

It is important here to accept invitations and to be almost forward in issuing them back. I would say that if your wife comes here undecided it may make it harder for her to settle. She has to be ready for this 100%. Maybe a reccie would help. I am sure there are some people on this site who would be happy to meet up with you whilst here to respond to any questions she and you may have.

 

My girls are happier here. We are more relaxed, we have more family time as we can live well off one wage. We spend more time socialising and work is done to support your social life and not the other way around. Kids learn their responsibilities here, not their rights and are less streetwise. All in all, a much nicer way to live - remember the UK about 20 years ago when we were teenagers running around being stupid and relaxed about it? Welcome to Adelaide!

 

Hope this helps

 

Libby

[Guest Guzzler&Sas]

Hello Jules and welcome to the site!

 

I can only echo what everyone else says, but would really like to add - you must both be behind this move 100% if not 150% because otherwise it will only make the journey harder and you will end up blaming each other.

 

Our children (both girls) were 18mths and 3.5yrs when we came over and they were our main reason for doing this. My eldest has been through her year at pre-school (kinde) and has just completed her first year at school and my youngest, now 3 and a bit, will start kinde at the end of this year. My youngest was bearly talking when we arrived and does not remember much about the UK. When we go back to the UK (not home!) for a holiday, I am sure they will struggle, because they are used to wide open spaces, being able to trust grown ups, having lots of friends around to play with, going out for day trips and it not being a stressful outing due to traffic, weather, cost etc.

 

But please remember this is NOT utopia for everyone (or anyone depending on who you ask!), and some decide it is not for them - if you can afford to come and try before you buy, it may be worth doing that, but only if in your hearts (both of you) know that it could work for you.

 

I could not imagine a life back in the UK now - this is our home!

 

Good luck

Sas

xxx

[Guest The Pottertons]

Hi Jules, Welcome to PIA, You have a fab page of advice here. I am the wife who was too scared to contemplate upping sticks and moving away. I spent 8 or so years changing the subject or coming up with excuses as to why i didnt want to go. But this last year ive completed my family and my outlook changed. I hate the idea of childhood in this country. It makes me want to cry that this is all i can offer my kids- then i realised i could offer them a hell of a lot more in oz. I suddenly had a drive to do my very best for my children and the fear disappeared. Im still nervous and wonder if its the right thing somedays but if it doesnt work out we'll come back. At least we can say we tried. Now i cant believe it took me so long to make up my mind!!! Maybe a reccie would help your wife, we are going out in 4 weeks and i cant wait to see the place! Good Luck guys, you will work out which option is best when the time is right! Yvonne xx

[Guest JULIE210]

Hi Jules,

 

What a fantastic web site this is!! I WAS in the same boat as your wife with my boyfriend trying to persuade me to move. I kept on putting him off but I have now changed my mind....why? because I have finally realised that living in this country is not good and I want to give my children the best prospects I can and living in England is not going to do that. I have not been to Adelaide yet, we are going in August for a look but I can honestly say I cant wait!!

 

I am, I must admit daunted by it all, but I think its something that if I dont give it a try i will regret later in life. If it doesnt work we can always come back.

 

And the people on this site are brilliant and friendly and once we get over there, I cant wait to meet some of them.

 

If your wife wants a chat anytime just tell her to mail me.

 

I wish you every good luck.

 

Julie, Steve, Beckie and Mel