Moved back to Ireland and questioning it!

ArseBurger · 04-03-2015 3:19am

massdebater wrote: »

Your problem seems to be that you keep making friends with only irish people. I moved here solo too and my first group of friends were irish. Of course, they left after about 8 months which sucked so I decided to make a group of aussie friends instead of going through the same heartache again. Was more difficult breaking into an 'established' group of aussies but now I have a great core group of friends who I know will be here for the long term. It's made my decision to stay here much easier and I don't have to go through the pain of watching all my friends leave.

This.

We've a good mix of established expats (mostly non-Irish) and Aussie friends. I know people who won't engage with you unless you've been here for a few years and are on a PR track. They've been emotionally burned too many times before.

Get out there and break away from groups of only Irish on WHVs. Get to know the people who live here. Otherwise it's just a ghetto life.

Caveman1 · 04-03-2015 9:28am

Not sure if anyone has been in the same situation, came to melbourne with the girlfriend last year with the intention of trying to get sponsored, I was the one who pushed coming out more so than her, we absolutely loved melbourne and made lots of friends and had good jobs, thing is we couldn't get sponsored with the companies that we were with but the opportunity arose for my girlfriend to go to Sydney to a job that are willing to sponsor her. We've been in Sydney 2 months now and for some reason I absolutely hate it, she loves the job and is happy with the city, I have a really good job too making more money than I've ever made but still can't settle. I'm strongly considering going home but don't want to regret it after a few weeks. I know I would have a job back home and a place to stay but I don't wanna feel like I'm giving up what's always been a dream because of a few bad weeks.
I have until the end of April until I have to decide so hopefully by then I'll know what I want, but at the moment I'm at a loss just can't shake wanting to leave.

markymark21 · 06-03-2015 1:48am

Cooperspale wrote: »

I work (with the public) in St Kilda and noticed in the last 6 months there's been a bit of a shift in mindset about Irish returning home, where once it wasn't an attractive option, the shine has now worn off the Aussie life for some & things ( I hear) are picking up somewhat back home. I'm seeing either singles or Irish/Irish and they've been here 2.5-5 years & their plan was never for the long term.

I work in a venue in St Kilda and it amazing how few Irish are kicking about St Kilda compared to two, even one year ago. We used to have big groups in having breakfast, drinks during the afternoon etc. Now most of the groups we see are the ones who have kids or the ones having leaving parties for their mates.

lg123 · 07-03-2015 2:08am

markymark21 wrote: »

I work in a venue in St Kilda and it amazing how few Irish are kicking about St Kilda compared to two, even one year ago. We used to have big groups in having breakfast, drinks during the afternoon etc. Now most of the groups we see are the ones who have kids or the ones having leaving parties for their mates.

ya, i think the cool place to go is now canada and the ones who are coming down under are heading west first. when discussing with my younger brothers how much longer they were going to stay on the dole before giving a stint abroad a go, it was the US or canada they were thinking about. no consideration of down here, which probably isn't a bad thing. the decision to stay would be much easier if it wasn't so far away.

ghogie91 · 07-03-2015 2:19am

Very simple answer is:

Do not come back to this country in its current state!
It's a grey, wet, corrupt, grimey struggle. Our news daily is depressing, our government are totally corrupt, there is no opportunity, everything is too expensive, weather is all over the place and the general feeling and happiness of the people is just about all sucked out of us at this stage!

Jamie2k9 · 07-03-2015 2:35am

ghogie91 wrote: »

Very simple answer is:

Do not come back to this country in its current state!
It's a grey, wet, corrupt, grimey struggle. Our news daily is depressing, our government are totally corrupt, there is no opportunity, everything is too expensive, weather is all over the place and the general feeling and happiness of the people is just about all sucked out of us at this stage!

That big chip on your shoulder is the only thing weighing you down!

Things are different but getting much better and those 14,000 Irish who returned home last year didn't for no reason and then a further 56,000 moved here to.

Plenty of opportunities for the educated, only problem is Irish people love to moan at anything but I'm sure anybody coming back can just avoid those types in your social circle.

ghogie91 · 07-03-2015 2:41am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

That big chip on your shoulder is the only thing weighing you down!

Things are different but getting much better and those 14,000 Irish who returned home last year didn't for no reason and then a further 56,000 moved here to.

Plenty of opportunities for the educated, only problem is Irish people love to moan at anything but I'm sure anybody coming back can just avoid those types in your social circle.

Jamie, I am one of the lucky ones who got a good job and am not victim to the current economic mess the country is in.
There are many factors that would weigh a person down in this country and people coming from Oz need to know that they are not returning to the land of the green Hills with postman pat the friendly postman who you see every Friday and Saturday night in the pub for a pint! Ireland has changed, its sad to see and hear the stories daily of what the people of this country have to do to try get a break to have some ease of living

catbear · 07-03-2015 3:02am

Just not listening to Joe Duffy vastly improves ones standard of living in Ireland.

jimd2 · 07-03-2015 3:49am

ghogie91 wrote: »

Very simple answer is:

Do not come back to this country in its current state!
It's a grey, wet, corrupt, grimey struggle. Our news daily is depressing, our government are totally corrupt, there is no opportunity, everything is too expensive, weather is all over the place and the general feeling and happiness of the people is just about all sucked out of us at this stage!

I am not happy with some of the decisions of the government but it is incorrect to say that it is totally corrupt. There are lots of positives to living in Ireland, I for one am happy to be still living and rearing a family here.

Panda_Turtle · 11-03-2015 12:23pm

Want to move back to ireland partly cause the football is on at crazy times of the morning.

lg123 · 13-03-2015 9:17am

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Want to move back to ireland partly cause the football is on at crazy times of the morning.

i remember when life was that simple

Chocolate fiend · 16-03-2015 8:08am

We have been in your shoes OP. We spent 3 years in Melbourne, and then moved back to Ireland in 2008 with our 6 month old baby. Within two weeks we were so sorry we had come home for good, and not just a holiday. Added to that I realised I was pregnant again and felt just horrible.

Fast forward to now, we moved back to Australia in 2012, we have 3 children now and we live in Sydney. My husband works hard but, the rewards are great. Two of the children are in school, and that has opened up a huge social scene that revolves around family and really works for us. We don't have family here, we don't have babysitters on tap, but, we do have a good life and the children are so happy and healthy and outdoors all the time. They are never sick, they play cricket and soccer, they swim, they really don't actually know how good they have it.

We are going for PR now, and I guess it has gotten me thinking, can I say we are here "forever" that is pretty hard, my family don't travel so they will never come to visit us and that really upsets me. I really wish they would come. My husbands family will come, they are due to come this time next year and I am already looking forward to that. Is looking forward to a visit that is a year away any way to live though? I am not always sure. I am mostly happy, but, sometimes the homesickness hits like a physical thing. I was having coffee last Friday morning and a group of Irish guys came in to the coffee shop, it was just me and them in there, and to hear the accents and the craic, I felt like I was home and tears came to my eyes. I don't think that will ever go away.

Tomorrow is St Patricks day, the boys will go to school wearing their St Patricks day badges and be proud of where they come from, but, they don't really feel like Ireland is home. This is their home.

SF12 · 16-03-2015 10:02am

Haven't emigrated, (and found this thread on the Boards homepage), but I'll say one thing to the OP.

Like most other students in the 2000s, I did a J1 in the States. I was there for several months. When I came back, I was hit by a complete shock to my system that I really didn't expect. It took me several weeks to settle back into Ireland. Totally took me by surprise, because I had only been away a few months. You only think about settling into the new place, now about re-settling in when you get home. Didn't see that coming.

I guess what I'm saying is that your original post was 4 weeks after you moved back. How long did it take you to settle properly into Australia? I'm guessing a bit longer than 4 weeks? Give yourself and your family a chance to settle back properly, if needs be put a time limit on it and maybe agree to discuss it again in 6 months or something. And there's probably always going to be things you miss about Australia. There's no real "right" decision in all of this, we can't measure in material terms things like being able to have an outdoors life vs being able to know your grandparents and extended family and having a less outdoor life (and Ireland is quite good for outdoors in a lot of ways). Nowhere is perfect I'm afraid, just depends on what your priorities are.

Long Gone · 16-03-2015 11:31am

kilo6 wrote: »

Another thing that riles my whiskers is from now till St Patricks day we will have to listen to gombeen politicians who have destroyed Ireland and ruined a whole generation of young people running around America blowing about how good it is here all paid by the Irish tax payer the poor auld sod.

Amen to that

Long Gone · 16-03-2015 11:43am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Things are different but getting much better and those 14,000 Irish who returned home last year didn't for no reason and then a further 56,000 moved here to (sic).

Plenty of opportunities for the educated, only problem is Irish people love to moan at anything but I'm sure anybody coming back can just avoid those types in your social circle.

Well "different" is one word for it.... Personally I think people must be mad to move back at the moment.

Plenty of opportunities ? - "Let them eat cake" - One of the biggest problems at the moment is that the gombeens in the government are trying to figure out more and more ways to take money off the few people who actually still have any....

Long Gone · 16-03-2015 11:49am

lg123 wrote: »

ya, i think the cool place to go is now is Canada

It's cool alright - It's -7 C in Edmonton at the moment and getting cooler every day....

CB19135 · 16-03-2015 1:14pm

ghogie91 wrote: »

Jamie, I am one of the lucky ones who got a good job and am not victim to the current economic mess the country is in.
There are many factors that would weigh a person down in this country and people coming from Oz need to know that they are not returning to the land of the green Hills with postman pat the friendly postman who you see every Friday and Saturday night in the pub for a pint! Ireland has changed, its sad to see and hear the stories daily of what the people of this country have to do to try get a break to have some ease of living

You are 100% right.

CB19135 · 16-03-2015 1:16pm

jimd2 wrote: »

I am not happy with some of the decisions of the government but it is incorrect to say that it is totally corrupt. There are lots of positives to living in Ireland, I for one am happy to be still living and rearing a family here.

Have you ever lived anywhere else?

catbear · 16-03-2015 1:31pm

The bubble period of the 00s was an exceptional period and by no means a norm so expecting a recovery to mirror that period will lead to disappointment.

Rural depopulation was temporally reversed by the building boom.

Australia is a mostly urban society whereas Ireland is mostly made up of small towns and a few major urban centres. Returning to these small towns does mean a massive reduction in options and that can be crushing for people who've gotten used to the Australian Urban lifestyle. Your family and friends at home will never understand what you're missing so a period of social ineptitude will happen on return; it always happens me!

Rural Ireland can have massive benefits too. Freedom to wonder, short commutes, cheap rents, family support, cheaper fresh food and basics. I think that if you have a job you love then rural Ireland can be great but the job is the thing.

seachto7 · 17-03-2015 12:20am

Rural Ireland is f*cked if you're looking for a good professional job.

Canis Lupus · 17-03-2015 11:59am

I left Ireland Ireland in 05 I think. Spent around 7 years in London and loved it but took a chance to travel and then due to a girl I met in London I ended up here in Brisbane.

I miss London more than I miss Ireland

but I think Australia is my future. It's a nice town/city balance. Good weather although it does get oppressively hot at times during summer but I have a bbq I can and do use almost everyday and I've a motorbike that I can ride virtually every day and the countryside is literally a 10 minute ride. Outside life, hanging out with mates on verandas with a beer. It's a good life.

Now if only they could flipping roll out NBN and get me decent internet I'd be super happy.

justback83 · 17-03-2015 12:07pm

bladebrew wrote: »

The insurance is so high because after 2 years your NCB is basically gone, those prices are with no NCB, your 5 years might be intact but they are not taken into account, this problem seems to be mentioned a lot as people move home after years away,

Actually - I had the same issue when I came home after 4 years. Not one insurer would take driving in Australia into consideration. I thought I was gonna have to give up the car. Then I called Aviva! They were the only ones who took overseas driving into consideration, I got 4 years NCB with them.

L'prof · 17-03-2015 12:07pm

Thought I'd share a more positive perspective here. I'm back in Ireland 1.5yrs after a year long trip around the world including a 6 month stay in Melbourne. Not as long as some people have invested abroad I'll grant you. While Melbourne is a fantastic place to live and work, it's just not Ireland. I guess it all depends on the reasons you left in the first place but we're about to buy a house now in Galway and are loving being back home.

jim-mcdee · 17-03-2015 12:41pm

have to say, no joke, if i lost my job tomorrow i would be gone the next week. if i didn't value family so much I would be already gone long ago. ireland is not as it was, and while many things have improved materially and liberally, it has dis improved quality of life in my opinion. old values like respect for self and others are long gone, drugs, crime, me first selfish attitude has taken over but the small mindedness has remained. and if i was abroad thinking of returning, my advise would be to not even consider it without a job offer in advance.

jimd2 · 17-03-2015 1:08pm

CB19135 wrote: »

Have you ever lived anywhere else?

Not permanently but I have spent a lot of time in the US and Europe through work mostly. Been in NYC, Ohio and Arizona for 4 to 6 months on occasions.

I am unsure of the reasoning for your question, are you saying that I am not qualified to comment about Ireland because i didn't live in Australia. Or I didn't agree with the sentiments that all politicians are crooked?

Head The Wall · 17-03-2015 4:15pm

The point is it's very different to move somewhere temporarily than the potential finality of emigration to the other side of the world. I know you can always cone back but it's the having to cut most of your ties to what and where you live that is very daunting.

I have lived in, US, London and moving to Australia next month.

catbear · 17-03-2015 4:42pm

Head The Wall wrote: »

The point is it's very different to move somewhere temporarily than the potential finality of emigration to the other side of the world.

As long as there's no kids involved there isn't sense of finality, you can ping pong indefinitely.

audi12 · 17-03-2015 4:46pm

Dont know why anyone would come back crap weather , no jobs for graduates i should know, same news every day fine gael finna fail take shots at sinn fein about something that happened 100 years ago they take shots back etc etc oh and how could i forget the one positive we are so much craic according to ourselves and were not a bunch of alcholics again according to ourselves even though every other country thinks we are.

catbear · 17-03-2015 5:05pm

audi12 wrote: »

.....and how could i forget the one positive we are so much craic according to ourselves and were not a bunch of alcholics again according to ourselves even though every other country thinks we are.

Per person Australia consumes more than ireland. (I'll dig up a link later)

At least Australian politicians leave you in no doubt of their opinion, regardless of how distasteful it is.

audi12 · 17-03-2015 5:08pm

catbear wrote: »

Per person Australia consumes more than ireland. (I'll dig up a link later)

At least Australian politicians leave you in no doubt of their opinion, regardless of how distasteful it is.

Dobut they talk about as much as irish people do you swear it cures cancer or something

catbear · 17-03-2015 6:19pm

audi12 wrote: »

Dobut they talk about as much as irish people do you swear it cures cancer or something

?

audi12 · 17-03-2015 11:50pm

catbear wrote: »

?

As in irish people never shut up talking about going drinking

Chocolate fiend · 17-03-2015 11:59pm

catbear wrote: »

As long as there's no kids involved there isn't sense of finality, you can ping pong indefinitely.

Even kids don't bring a sense of finality. Kids are flexible, travel is good for them depending on their personalities and how it is framed I guess. Our kids have lived in Ireland, Canada and now Australia. They will most likely live in Ireland again at some stage in the future.

Nelson Muntz · 18-03-2015 12:03am

As was mentioned, staying or moving back depends on your original reasons for moving I think. One thing I have noticed though is that when you do move home, after the initial excitement, family tend to get back to their own lives.

Chocolate fiend · 18-03-2015 12:10am

Nelson Muntz wrote: »

As was mentioned, staying or moving back depends on your original reasons for moving I think. One thing I have noticed though is that when you do move home, after the initial excitement, family tend to get back to their own lives.

As you would expect surely? and you get back to yours.

Nelson Muntz · 18-03-2015 12:15am

Chocolate fiend wrote: »

As you would expect surely? and you get back to yours.

Yes, of course, but some people expect to move back to where they're from and have everyone fuss over them indefinitely.

It just doesn't work out like that in real life but it's human nature to wear rose tinted glasses when looking at what you think you want.

Mongfinder General · 18-03-2015 12:28am

audi12 wrote: »

Dont know why anyone would come back crap weather , no jobs for graduates i should know, same news every day fine gael finna fail take shots at sinn fein about something that happened 100 years ago they take shots back etc etc oh and how could i forget the one positive we are so much craic according to ourselves and were not a bunch of alcholics again according to ourselves even though every other country thinks we are.

If you don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. You want to know what it takes to make it? It takes BRASS BALLS to make it. Go and do likewise

catbear · 18-03-2015 12:44am

Mongfinder General wrote: »

If you don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. You want to know what it takes to make it? It takes BRASS BALLS to make it. Go and do likewise

Well I guess it being Paddys night if you raid a few pubs just as they're closing then it's very possible!

Zambia · 18-03-2015 12:51am

Mongfinder General wrote: »

If you don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. You want to know what it takes to make it? It takes BRASS BALLS to make it. Go and do likewise

Are you a stripper?

Geraldo · 18-03-2015 12:54am

This is a fascinating thread to read. Myself and my wife seriously thought about emigrating in about 09 when things were really bad and we had just had our first kid. We stuck it out in the end mainly due to not wanting to be away from family for ours and our kids sake.
I did live abroad for a while when I was in my 20's though and one thing it taught me is that I love living in Ireland. The main reason is the sense of familiarity. It has plenty going against it but most of those you will get in every country and far worse in plenty. For every scandal here you'll find something similar wherever you go. Ireland is no better or worse than most countries, it's just another place to live. But it's the place where I'm from and where my folks live and that makes it more comfortable for me personally.
But I'd kill to get better weather!

Mongfinder General · 18-03-2015 12:56am

Zambia wrote: »

Are you a stripper?

Money's out there. You pick it up, it's yours. You don't, I got no sympathy for you. You wanna go out there tonight and close, CLOSE. It's yours. If not you're gonna be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying - bunch of losers sittin' around in a bar. 'Oh yeah. I used to live in Ireland. It's a tough racket.'

Nelson Muntz · 18-03-2015 1:05am

mandrake04 · 18-03-2015 1:51am

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Money's out there. You pick it up, it's yours. You don't, I got no sympathy for you. You wanna go out there tonight and close, CLOSE. It's yours. If not you're gonna be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying - bunch of losers sittin' around in a bar. 'Oh yeah. I used to live in Ireland. It's a tough racket.'

Ah right I see, so in your defense you just tell the Judge you found the money because it's 'out there'....and you just happen to have picked it up.

Brass Balls indeed.

catbear · 18-03-2015 2:39am

Hang on Mongfinder General, are you the fecker that knocked off that chernobal childrens shipment the other night?

Slideways · 18-03-2015 2:49am

Sounds like someone just watched The Wolf of Wallstreet.. :pac:

catbear · 18-03-2015 2:50am

Or got lucky playing poker....once.....

AngryHippie · 18-03-2015 5:36am

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Money's out there. You pick it up, it's yours. You don't, I got no sympathy for you. You wanna go out there tonight and close, CLOSE. It's yours. If not you're gonna be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying - bunch of losers sittin' around in a bar. 'Oh yeah. I used to live in Ireland. It's a tough racket.'

Yeah but some of us aren't prepared to get

rode up the hole all day at work

Metaphorically or not.

I can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. You want to know what it takes to make it? It takes BRASS BALLS to make it. Go and do likewise

That's a wonderful contribution.
Poker isn't just about brass balls, neither is betting on horses or Football.
I'd also warrant that if you are playing poker for 2 hours, you'll be relying on getting the right cards at least once.

Dont know why anyone would come back crap weather , no jobs for graduates i should know, same news every day fine gael finna fail take shots at sinn fein about something that happened 100 years ago they take shots back etc etc oh and how could i forget the one positive we are so much craic according to ourselves and were not a bunch of alcholics again according to ourselves even though every other country thinks we are.

There are very few graduate jobs, the news is like a groundhog day reel, The vast majority of FF, FG and SF TD's are a band of self-serving yes men whose only function in society is to do fcuk all while appearing busy and making the other fella look like a worse choice, We are great craic, and we are functioning drunks. The vast majority of us have never been to that meeting that would help us define ourselves as alcoholics.
I miss my family, I miss my friends, but I don't miss the life I left, the choices I didn't have, the weather (that was endured, not enjoyed), the constant gossip and small talk chatter that gives rural Ireland their essential distraction from the fucking dismal situation they are in.
I can see it from the outside, but I never could when I was there. I could only feel it and believe that it was better far away, and when I got there, it was, different, and better.
Each to their own though. Some people love living in Ireland, and I can understand that too. It's just not for me.

Chocolate fiend · 18-03-2015 8:39am

Most of the people I know who love living back home would dearly love to give somewhere else a try but, they are afraid. Afraid of going out there without their support network, their friends, their home comforts. I don't blame them at all. Arriving in Sydney airport at 7am, after 24 hours of travelling, with a 4 year old, a 3 year old and a 9 month old and not knowing a single person there was one of the most confronting experiences of my life.

catbear · 18-03-2015 12:30pm

Mongfinder General wrote: »

If you don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. You want to know what it takes to make it? It takes BRASS BALLS to make it. Go and do likewise

I figured it out, you're this guy!

CB19135 · 18-03-2015 2:57pm

jimd2 wrote: »

Not permanently but I have spent a lot of time in the US and Europe through work mostly. Been in NYC, Ohio and Arizona for 4 to 6 months on occasions.

I am unsure of the reasoning for your question, are you saying that I am not qualified to comment about Ireland because i didn't live in Australia. Or I didn't agree with the sentiments that all politicians are crooked?

Well if you have not experienced living somewhere else.for a long period of time then you wouldnt truly understand all thats on offer in other countries as a resident over whats available in Ireland.

Moved back to Ireland and questioning it!

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