Why people leave the UK?

[DanT99]

I can well believe what you have written, I hear that sort of thing often. People do think the grass is greener and then find out the hard way. We also lambast our health service etc but then some people do still get excellent results from it. The climate is a moot point, but the changing seasons we have are nice...even if there is sometimes a tad too much rain, but thats what gives us such a green and pleasant landscape!

[Suenneil]

Dan - your comment regarding the health service in the UK is a very valid one - its not perfect but again its perhaps difficult for people who have never lived outside the uk to recognise just how good it is! The Spanish system is very good too - we have had first hand experience of it - but when you are ill it can add to the stress when you are struggling with another language! despite how good you think your Spanish is it tends to fail you at important times.
And again I agree with on the seasons you get in the UK - one of the things I do miss is the autumn .. which you dont get here.
Having said that I feel I should praise all that is good about living here (Im not one of the sterotypical expats who expects fish and chips and warm beer on every corner!!) ..... the long summers, the menu del dia, the chiringuitos (beach bars), great coffee, relaxed atmosphere and a strong family way of living! .... it certainly makes our weekends enjoyable despite the very long working week!

[DanT99]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Dan - your comment regarding the health service in the UK is a very valid one - its not perfect but again its perhaps difficult for people who have never lived outside the uk to recognise just how good it is! The Spanish system is very good too - we have had first hand experience of it - but when you are ill it can add to the stress when you are struggling with another language! despite how good you think your Spanish is it tends to fail you at important times.
And again I agree with on the seasons you get in the UK - one of the things I do miss is the autumn .. which you dont get here.
Having said that I feel I should praise all that is good about living here (Im not one of the sterotypical expats who expects fish and chips and warm beer on every corner!!) ..... the long summers, the menu del dia, the chiringuitos (beach bars), great coffee, relaxed atmosphere and a strong family way of living! .... it certainly makes our weekends enjoyable despite the very long working week!

I was happy to read your comments: I love spain and used to work a lot with that country (contracting hotels for a city break company) but now am more involved with Italy. I love tapas...patatas bravas, boquerones (sorry for the spelling!) and of course gambas! I also rather enjoyed their beer as well as way of life and was fortunate to have a friend in Madrid who used to take me to the bullring (is it las ventas?) anyway I can only ask if you can have a cold san miguel on my behalf later. I am drinking guinness (the extra calories get me thru the UK winter...)

[Suenneil]

ha ha! consider it done Dan ... its beautiful here today and the weekend forecast is looking good - so I know that we will be visiting a chiringuito at some point over the weekend .... sunday mornings is usually a good one - pick up the sunday papers (the only time we but a UK newspaper), walk down to the beach, read and watch the world go by ... Im looking forward to it already!!!
Enjoy your guiness and I hope the eventual UK summer is kind to you

[bxb]

the uk is a beautiful country filled with the most stunning scenery. it has a rich history, the most beautiful old buildings and people have much better manners there, especially on the roads. driving through places like mid wales will take your breath away. its not all hoodies and politics just travel around a bit and you wont be disappointed

[Pasanada]

Originally Posted by jlms

The property prices are falling due to exuberant construction:

People are pouring out of Dubai - Boing Boing

It is a society that does not understand the meaning of political, cultural and social openness:

WSJ Europe pulls Dubai tennis sponsorship | Sports | Reuters

British author Geraldine Bedell banned from Dubai book festival - Telegraph

and that has a disgraceful record of dealing with poor foreign workers:

Dubai’s Kerala Connection

If that is an Utopian place to live, then I hope Utopia will never ever come to us.

I would like to ask you; have you ever been to the UAE? If not, then instead on relying upon the media for an opinion, actually visit the country and then give an opinion based on experience.

I'm not disputing there are Asian workers who are abused by their employers but even in a country such as the UK, you will find workers are also abused, work long hours and paid peanuts. Don't believe for one minute the UK is a civilised country.

As for the banning of people entering the country, well, sorry to burst your bubble but it happens in the UK too, the most recent case was of a Dutch MP being refused entry.....who says free speech is welcomed in the UK???

You will find property prices are falling globally!!! I lived in Spain for 5 years before the Middle East (still own property there and visit often) and I can tell you that due to over building, greed and corruption, Spain is facing similar problems due to exuberant building practices....it's not just a UAE problem so your posting of more media drivel is unfair...

I don't make the rules of any country but based on my experiences, I enjoyed my time in the UAE and it will always hold a special place in my heart. At least I can say I've never been a victim of crime there, enjoyed wonderful weather, wasn't taxed to the point of death and met the most well mannered people out of anywhere I've travelled to, expats and Emirates alike. I'm ashamed to say that as a native of the UK, I never experienced anything like that.

So, to conclude, Eutopia for me is the UAE, despite some of it's problems, but I never would claim its for everyone, jlms. Your posting of media hype is biased and one sided, check out other countries too and tell me that they don't have problems. I hope you enjoy my home country.

[IOWgirl]

You may also be interested to know that I am a brit living in Canada. I had employers, (I was their nanny), who totally tried to take advantage of me when I was applying to become a landed immigrant. Also I have heard of some real horror story's of phillipino nannies being completely bullied, taken advantage of, even one being locked up like a prisoner. No country is perfect.

[jlms]

Originally Posted by Pasanada

I would like to ask you; have you ever been to the UAE? If not, then instead on relying upon the media for an opinion, actually visit the country and then give an opinion based on experience.

I'm not disputing there are Asian workers who are abused by their employers but even in a country such as the UK, you will find workers are also abused, work long hours and paid peanuts. Don't believe for one minute the UK is a civilised country.

As for the banning of people entering the country, well, sorry to burst your bubble but it happens in the UK too, the most recent case was of a Dutch MP being refused entry.....who says free speech is welcomed in the UK???

You will find property prices are falling globally!!! I lived in Spain for 5 years before the Middle East (still own property there and visit often) and I can tell you that due to over building, greed and corruption, Spain is facing similar problems due to exuberant building practices....it's not just a UAE problem so your posting of more media drivel is unfair...

I don't make the rules of any country but based on my experiences, I enjoyed my time in the UAE and it will always hold a special place in my heart. At least I can say I've never been a victim of crime there, enjoyed wonderful weather, wasn't taxed to the point of death and met the most well mannered people out of anywhere I've travelled to, expats and Emirates alike. I'm ashamed to say that as a native of the UK, I never experienced anything like that.

So, to conclude, Eutopia for me is the UAE, despite some of it's problems, but I never would claim its for everyone, jlms. Your posting of media hype is biased and one sided, check out other countries too and tell me that they don't have problems. I hope you enjoy my home country.

Yes, I have been to the UAE, if I quote the media is just to make my point, not because I have not been there.

What is going on in the UAE is not remotely comparable to any abuses that may be going on in the UK, to even suggest this shows a shallowness that begs belief, as reported by Human Rights Watch “One of the world’s largest construction booms is feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they’re treated as less than human,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

The UK certainly bans people entering the country, every country does, but while the UK does this in order to avoid minorities to be unjustly demonized (like Mulsims) the UAE does so in order to censor ideas. Now, that is fine, if a country wants to live culturally in the dark ages that is their choice, but for goodness sakes, don't come here to tell us that is a plus.

Now, the UAE can do whatever they want, that is their problem, but any Westerners deciding to live there should know that relocating comes at a price that other people are paying in the currency of human misery. Closing our eyes to this is completely immoral.

[Pasanada]

Originally Posted by jlms

Yes, I have been to the UAE, if I quote the media is just to make my point, not because I have not been there.

What is going on in the UAE is not remotely comparable to any abuses that may be going on in the UK, to even suggest this shows a shallowness that begs belief, as reported by Human Rights Watch “One of the world’s largest construction booms is feeding off of workers in Dubai, but they’re treated as less than human,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. - Having 38 years experience of the UK (born and bred), I dispute that. I come from an area where ethnic minorities are abused by their employers, we just don't see too much of that reported in the Media. You may not be aware of the Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morcambe due to the negligance of their employer's or hear of the attrocious conditions they had to endure or the below the National Minimum wage they received. It goes on all the time in the UK.

The UK certainly bans people entering the country, every country does, but while the UK does this in order to avoid minorities to be unjustly demonized (like Mulsims) the UAE does so in order to censor ideas. Now, that is fine, if a country wants to live culturally in the dark ages that is their choice, but for goodness sakes, don't come here to tell us that is a plus. - And you think the UK don't censor anything? I've worked for the British Govt, I've SEEN whats censored so that it doesn't harm the reputation of the Establishment. I agree that Muslims or any other social group should not be demonised but it's not stopped the Govt from allowing religious fanatics demonising the majority of British people, has it? Read up about Finsbury Mosque for a start.....

Now, the UAE can do whatever they want, that is their problem, but any Westerners deciding to live there should know that relocating comes at a price that other people are paying in the currency of human misery. Closing our eyes to this is completely immoral. - My eyes were certainly never closed, before I moved to the UAE, I researched as much as I could about the country before making my decision, many don't and ultimately find themselves in a predicament. I have studied Islam and Islamic culture for many years so I know a little about how Islamic countries operate.

At the end of the day, you dispute my opinion, I respect your views but I also ask you respect mine too. No country is perfect. I see you're from Mexico, your country has it's fare share of problems too and based on what Mexican friends tell me, I wouldn't dare step foot inside your country, I'm quite attached to my head!!!

Have a good day!

[jlms]

Originally Posted by Pasanada

Have a good day!

I respect your opinions, they just have no base on reality.

Honestly, the UAE just makes it too easy to see how backwards they really are:

UAE plans ban on negative economic reporting - Boing Boing

it would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.