going home to oz!

diana16 · #1 (**permalink**) 15th January 2008, 04:13 PM

Hey, I've been away from home for nearly 2 and a half years travelling (one year was spent in China, 1.5 years in England), i know that's not very long compared to proper expats but i think it's quite a long time to be away if you're just on a holiday. My problem is that i have mixed feelings about going home. On the one hand i really want to go home because i've been away for so long and it would be great to see my friends and family but im scared of feeling lonely and isolated and going through that stage of post travel blues where you're readjusting to a whole new life again. I know i'll be gutted to leave and worried that when i get home i'll feel like my adventure is over.

Has anyone else experienced it and if so how did they cope with it and how long did it take them to get over it. Can anyone relate to what im saying?

peacefuljourney · #2 (**permalink**) 16th May 2008, 11:53 AM

If I may? Your life is your adventure. I think that, having been away for so long, you will see your country in an entirely different light; in a whole new way. Of course, since I am not from the UK, but am moving there, it willl always be a new country for me, but you can always travel throughout Europe. The hard part is not boring your friends with your stories of "life abroad" or seeming ostentious because you have that experience. I know that when I return stateside for my visits, I always feel somewhat odd myself. Best of luck.

kaz101 · #3 (**permalink**) 16th May 2008, 09:50 PM

Hi Diana,

I agree with peacefuljourney that you will probably see Oz in a different way. If all us non-Aussies can settle in there I'm sure you'll be fine. There are some posts in the Australian country section about settling in and some of that may apply to you too since you've been away for so long.

Good luck with your move.

I know I'd rather be in Oz - that's why we moved here in July 2007 from the UK.

Regards,
Karen

sgilli3 · #4 (**permalink**) 17th May 2008, 06:50 AM

Hi there,
Totally understand how you feel.
We moved from Oz to the ME.
After a fe years we returned to our much missed Oz.
We feel in love with the country all over again...but, it wasnt always easy.
We found that we had "moved on" in our lives-yet and friends hadnt...hard to explain, but Im sure you know what I mean.

Moving back to our old home, was also a mistake...it didnt feel like our home anymore.

We left Oz again over a year ago, and miss it everyday.
We (well the kids + I) will head back in Dec 2009, and cant wait...though this time, we know what to expect (in relation to our feelings of the adventure being over/readjustment time)...but have decided to move to a totally different area...so that we have another adventure to look forward too.