I have been living away from my home country (not by choice) for nine years. And its still hard, after having children it got worse. I come from a country where infrastracture has broken down and phones calls and letters are almost non-existing. My three year old who has seen my Mom 5 times is always asking when he's going to see her again, he thinks she lives round the corner. So anyone who is close to there family, don't bother immigrating, nothing is worth not having your family around.