Need some reasons to stay

[susanspain]

Originally Posted by SunnySpain

Its all about your "Expectations" versus "Reality"

What did you expect and what did you find when you got here ?

On my first visit I expected nothing much - just the excitement of trying something totally new....
Second time - (and have been here permananatly since - 8yrs).. I came with a slight trepidation of 'going it alone in a foreign speaking place'... but coped as it was what I knew I wanted in my heart.
Sadly the 'Reality' of the uphill struggle (from red tape to dicy employment possibilites) has slowly taken its toll.
I do not want to return to the UK.. But in the present climate it might be the only option.
Daily I have an internal struggle that it might be 'easier' if I were somewhere I 'knew' the system (and in my language - That said however, my recent experience of the UK was that things had changed a lot and I felt a newbie there all over again!). I guess on balance at least I 'know' the system here - but it is lack of financial support that is making it so hard.
Hoping things turn a corner...

[SunnySpain]

Originally Posted by susanspain

On my first visit I expected nothing much - just the excitement of trying something totally new....

I guess on balance at least I 'know' the system here - but it is lack of financial support that is making it so hard.
Hoping things turn a corner...

Hiya Susan,

I think you did the right thing by trying, but its important to remember that if you do return to the UK for financial reasons (the most common reason) then its not because you have in some way failed - thats just life.

Many expats have already returned and my guess is that many MORE will do the same in the next 12 months, mainly for FINANCIAL reasons - 1 Euro = 90 pence