Is it time to go home?
Australia has always been a popular destination for many expats looking for a new life overseas with the weather, the laid-back atmosphere and the job prospects all coming together to offer what many believe is a better life. But is the grass really greener in Australia or are you looking at the country through rose tinted glasses which may lose their focus when you arrive?
While we have seen a number of “moving back to the UK stories” this one is a little different as it offers a number of different angles regarding why you may have moved there in the first place, why you are moving back and whether in fact the UK you left behind some years ago is still in place.
Moving to Oz or moving away from the UK?
There is no doubt that thousands of people move to Australia on an annual basis but are they really moving to Australia or are they really moving away from the UK? This is something which you need to address in your mind before even considering putting your plans in place and moving lock stock and barrel to the other side of the world.
If you’re moving away from the UK then there is the chance that you may have overlooked what Australia has to offer and unfortunately this has happened to a number of people who have then felt the urge to return home. However, if you’re moving to Australia, rather than away from the UK, and you have done your homework then there is no reason why you cannot give this adventure a go and see how it transpires.
An Englishman in Australia
For many years now there have been significant connections between the UK population and the Australian population despite various run-ins with regards to the cricketing ashes, politics, the Queen and sporting events. However, while many in the UK expect Australia to be a mirror image of UK society with the sun and sand this is most definitely not the case. Australia has progressed and moved on from the days when it was dominated by the UK and has now, in the words of one poster, been Americanised.
Those expecting a home from home move may be somewhat disappointed although for many people the opportunity to make a life for themselves has been taken with both hands.
Australian society
While many of the British population look towards Australia as something of a long lost relative, a number of comments on the thread have suggested certain characteristics in the average Australian which can be annoying at times. They have a certain manner and a certain way of doing things which is not to everybody’s liking and can sometimes cause friction. But why should Australians change and revert back to the old stereotype when the country itself, the economy and the government has moved on since the days of heavy UK influence?
Have you given Australia enough time to accept you?
Even though the post originally began as a request for shipping companies and advice regarding moving back to the UK, it has very quickly moved on to the general opinion of Australia, Australian life and what you may be returning to if you decide to go back to the UK. As ever, there are numerous suggestions that many people who have moved to Australia have not given themselves enough time to settle down and enjoy the Australian way of life before becoming “homesick”.
While at the end of the day if you’re unhappy there is no point staying in a foreign land, but do those moving back to the UK always give themselves the chance to settle down in Australia and make the most of a country which has its critics, but certainly has a lot to offer.
Why are you returning to the UK?
One subject which is very rarely discussed on the forums when members are looking to return back to their homeland is the fact that places such as the UK may well have changed, and continue to change, since those involved moved away. There is always a danger of looking back home, when you are “homesick”, through rose tinted glasses which could in itself cause significant problems in due course.
Let’s not forget that many people who leave the UK move for specific reasons yet many will move back to a country which still has the problems they left behind. A number of posters have also mentioned the various changes under the current Labour government and while there is a political edge to this particular argument there is no doubt that things have changed. Whether they have changed for the better or for the worse is open to debate but many people who left the UK over a decade ago will be returning to a very different country and a very different society.
Is it brave to return to your homeland?
There are many people in the forum who express the opinion that people who move back home do not give their new homeland much of a chance before becoming “homesick”. The suggestion that returning home is the easy option is open to debate as moving back to your original homeland with your “tail between your legs” is not easy and in many ways can be the bravest option.
What is the point of letting your pride get the better of you and sticking it out in your new life in a new country which is making you sad and possibly depressed. While you could argue that those who do return home may not have done their homework regarding their new homeland this is not always the case. It is brave to make the move in the first place but in many ways it can be braver to admit defeat and return home.
Conclusion
Australia is as popular now as it ever has been but we have seen a number of stories of late regarding expats who’ve moved back amid suggestions that the Australian life they expected never materialised. There is an argument that many people still expect the old stereotypical Australian way of life, beer, sun and sport even though the country itself has changed over the last decade and is continually changing as we speak.
As suggested above, it is brave to make the move overseas but in many ways it can be even braver to put your hands in the air, admit you made a mistake and return home. The alternative for those unhappy in a foreign land is not worth contemplating as it can affect relationships, health and ultimately your financial well-being.
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