anyone ever just pack in their life, and start a new one from scratch?

poozers

im 25, a girl, and pretty fed up with my life. never finished college, dont have many friends, in a frustrating relationship, but still love him! love my family and get on great with them, and have 3 beautiful niece and nephews, with another one on the way! i absolutely despise my job that ive been in for nearly 6 years!!! all i want to do is travel but i've never saved, which i truely regret! have loan repayments but only about a year left of it! ive never lived out of my hometown!

but i would LOVE to just move abroad somewhere, start a new life! find a job somewhere, i dont care where! ive no serious commitments here, only my loan!! has anyone ever been in my situation?? and just upped and left??? how did you manage??? any replies will be much appreciated! i'd do it in a heart beat, but im quite shy and not very impulsive, i need things to be planned 100% before i do them! i wish i wasn't like that! i'd only miss my family really, but i dont think thats enough of a reason to stay here!! any advice appreciated!!!

Fremen

Done it a couple of times, and I'm about your age. Once to London, and again from London to Edinburgh. I've always had a job or college lined up before I moved though. I wouldn't fancy trying to find somewhere to live and a job all at once.

It's a bit scary at first, but don't forget that if it doesn't work out after a few months, you can always go somewhere else.

If you're not happy about your current situation, a move might help. I think a bit part of being happy is being comfortable with yourself - with who you are, not where you are. If you can't get your head around the first bit, a move might not help much.

Gordon

Yeah, I've done it a few times. First time was without a job lined up but I had friends in the country to sleep on their floor. I think you have to go with money in your pocket though as it'll take you time to find a job and a place to stay.

A suggestion is to take a day out on your own and write out a big list of pros and cons, then give it to a friend to read or tell them out loud, sometimes hearing the words can help. Also, keep in mind - you can't run away from your problems so don't burn your bridges as there's always another way to cross a chasm.

Where would you go?

R.D. aka MR.D

Do your best to pay off the loan first. Even if it means cutting way back on your spending so that you can speed the process up. Once your debt free then your totally free to do what you want.

Don't be afraid to do it. Even if it doesn't work out you'll at least have tried. When you get to the end of your life you won't look back and say what if.

best of luck x

Once you manage that debt, you can do whatever you like.. I sold the car, quit the job and got a one way to Bangkok with the likely intention of moving to Australia. Setup myself up now in Vietnam instead.

Once you do it once, ya realise how easy it is.. Try clear the debt as quickly as possible and get out there.

poozers

thanks for all the positive replies definitely goin to get rid of this loan as soon as i can! it's difficult when im not in a exactly well paying job, with rent and bills, but im looking for a new job now, that i can take all the hours i can get!!! hopefully i can find one soon!!!
im so glad that doing this has worked out for so many of you!!! i dont know where i'd go, but i did have S.E asia in mind, looking into TEFL courses too so i can broaden my skills to work!! its all just money money money!!! and has it been easy (i mean "easy" like hassle free) getting visa's to work in asia??? i am a little bit afraid of the loneliness, ive always had people around me, but i know i need to get out on my own and experience life, stop being so sheltered!!

Don't worry in the slightest about being lonely in S.E Asia.. It's absolutely impossible.
It's not like it is at home for making friends.. Out here, everyone is on for talking to anybody.

Check the Teaching forum for a big thread on teaching in Korea.. Will give you a good idea of what's needed. And you can PM me for any advice about S.E Asia.. Know a fair bit about the ESL scene from chatting to people who've taught all over. It's generally easier to come this end of Asia if you don't have a degree.

pog it

That's so true. I travelled around south east asia for a few months just, but when I was in Vietnam I met another teacher there who offered me a job teaching English in a school there, and almost the same thing happened me in Thailand. I wasn't even asking or enquiring about that kind of work!

Jagera

I have made five major moves in my life, and four of those were to different countries. Along the way I picked up a wife, and we had three children in three different countries.

Each move was a total new start, landing with suitcases.

It has enriched our lives to no-end, and we often talk about the many things we have done. In our later years, it will be a period of our life that we will definitely look back on with find memories, and happily bore our friends with many stories.

We are moving for the sixth time later this year. This will not be our last move either.

It was always difficult at the beginning of each move - settling down, learning the way of the land, but somewhere after 6-12 months you're happy and glad that you have experienced something different.

There are beautiful places in the world, and visiting them on a 2-3 week summer holiday is nothing compared to living there for a while. I can't suggest where to go, but when you get there - integrate, explore, make new friends and enjoy.

Fea.

I'd like to add in something here if thats okay.

I left school at 18 and said goodbye to everyone, my intention was never to stay in Ireland but to live anywhere else and come home to visit. 20 years later, I'm still waiting to leave. I've been stopped at every angle and option you can think of but I'm refusing to give up on my dream. If you are unhappy here, then you have to try your hardest to fix it.

No matter where you fly to on this whole planet, once you have a return ticket, you can come home at the drop of a hat and then you can say to yourself, 'well at least I tried'. Don't give up on your dreams hun, it is hard, but it will be very worth it in the end.

I wish you nothing but happiness, no matter where you find it. Let us know how you get on, some of us will be wishing we were with you.

xxx

poozers

Thanks again everyone!! my problem is is that i've no patience, which im going to fix...but im going to save to do a TEFL course, was looking around the internet for jobs, and tefl seems to be the way to go! does anyone know any websites for little jobs in like little cafes/restaurants/bars or something on the lines of that in SE asia, or even central europe???
i am trying to be more positive and comfortable in myself recently, but i keep getting these knock downs as soon as i start to feel good, and it's mainly to do with work!! the only thing i ever bitch about is work really!!! so i really do feel that if i find a new job somewhere else, or start to do what ive always wanted (Travel!!!) then i can start to be happier, its all i can think about!

LegacyUser

I did something like this.

From Finland to Ireland, 6 days notice. My english was far from good, I did not know nothing about Ireland and have never travelled on my one. Ok, I had a job ready and one day b&b booking and 1000e with me. First three months I wanted to go home and I did not like Ireland or Dublin at all. Then I started to get used to the country, altough I still dont like Dublin

Now 6 years and 3 moths later the idea to move to Ireland was most likely the best move I have done in my life, altough I feel now that it might be time to move on and relocate to some other country.

Yes it is tough to leave everything behind you, but when you have to take care of things and cannot trust the help of your parents for instance, it really means that you develope as a person.