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Your reasons for emigrating

lufties

Not sure if this has been a topic before, but I'll give it a go anyway.

Having been away from Ireland a few years now, I reflected recently on my life then in comparison to now. The real standout thing I can say is that I'm more confident and comfortable in my own skin(perhaps that's down to maturing with age). Anyway this got me thinking why I left in the first place back in 2009. It wasn't actually things like unemployment, corruption or anything to do with politicians. The recession was only a small part of the reason that I headed off.

The main ones I came up with were the following;
Career-My career was stagnant at home and I didn't 'fit in' to the mould.
Excitement and adventure-A new life abroad,new place,new people etc.
Leaving the past behind-As it says, along with a fresh start.
Finding myself-I always cringed when people say 'oh he/she went off to find his/herself. Now I get it.
A new challenge-to challenge myself, to grow as a person and become more worldly.
Relationships-having had a couple of failed ones under my belt, I naively thought that finding 'the one' would perhaps be easier overseas.
Right time- It certainly was with the country on it's knees.

Anyway so I wondered as the thread title suggests ,why others have emigrated?

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lufties

SpaceCowb0y wrote: »

i love London for a break but any time i've been i just can never picture myself there long term, even though anyone who i know thats made the move sings its praises, it just seems a bit too similar to home for me to justify a move.

I'm doing it to be closer to home(currently in the far east), Also to put down some roots for a few years and chill, an anglophone country will be nice for a change. A career move also.

Legs.Eleven

Left in 2004 when I was 24 to do my final year in college in the midlands of England, which I was required to do as I did a PLC that only went as far as diploma level. Didn't think back then when I got the ferry with my stuff to Birmingham that I'd be gone for good. I was very happy in Dublin at that time, had great friends and was enjoying life generally but I was happy enough to leave as well.

Since then, I've been home for 2-4 month periods (about 10 months in total) to save money to head off again. I'm here now in Madrid over 4 years and am settled here and I'll be here a while longer yet although my boyfriend is unemployed long-term now, so we'll be leaving as soon as he finishes his masters and gets something. I think it's back to the UK for me again although I'm open to going anywhere as long as there's career prospects for me too.

Going back to university in September through distance learning that'll qualify me in something I can return to Ireland with when things pick up again. I would be happy enough to go home but happy enough to live elsewhere too. I genuinely have no idea where I'll end up.

deceit

Something a bit different, I emigrated to the uk to join the british army.
I wanted to see different places and wanted to see first hand what it was like in iraq and afghanistan. I joined as a royal engineer (draughtsman) and did medic training as I would be someone that would try help someone rather than kill someone (I know a stupid type of person to be a soldier :P )
Never got to go in the end as got a rifle through the knee :P, probably for the best.
I am moving to Germany this year as my son lives there now, hoping I can get a job when I move over.

x43r0

Because by flying only an hour away, I could take a better job and better money than I could have ever dreamed of getting Ireland for my experience level at the time (Graduate)

Legs.Eleven

Just to add, I really had a love/hate relationship with this place for a long time and now it's just love. Mad how a place grows on you over time and starts becoming home. The fact that I might have to leave in the foreseeable future makes me sad. For all their faults, Spain and the Spanish are wonderful and I feel part of this place now.

mandrake04

I went 10 years ago initially on 1 year working holiday visa, got sponsored within a month and decided to stay for 4 years. Just loved the lifestyle, boating & 4x4 etc. When the crash happened in Ireland decided to emigrate and stuck in an application for a migration visa so I could stay for good, love the place and got married to a local girl a couple of years ago.

I go back to Ireland every 2 years to visit the family and also remind myself how good I got it.

jonnyfingers

My main reason for leaving three years ago? Following a girl. We're getting married in August.

Other reason was I was hugely under-appreciated in a job in Ireland and had no real opportunities of a better job elsewhere. Since moving to England my career has really taken off so emigrating has proved to have been a great decision.

lufties

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Just to add, I really had a love/hate relationship with this place for a long time and now it's just love. Mad how a place grows on you over time and starts becoming home. The fact that I might have to leave in the foreseeable future makes me sad. For all their faults, Spain and the Spanish are wonderful and I feel part of this place now.

I feel similar about hong kong, the air here is pretty bad most of the time, but its such an International melting pot of people that it has a vibe you probably wouldn't get anywhere else. Also I live in a bit of an expat enclave outside the city and every day feels like your in a holiday destination. It's just the going to work think I don't like.

osarusan

Took off to Japan for the 2002 world cup on a one year visa teaching English, ended up staying a few more years and getting married.

Came back to Ireland to get more qualified, was perfectly happy back in Ireland, but no jobs teaching meant we were always likely to leave again, and got a good job in Japan through university affiliations.

Been here another 3 years now, with one or possibly two more on my contract, before the university will force me to leave.

Would be happy to live in Ireland again, but it will likely be elsewhere due to jobs, at least until I can get an even better qualification.

SpaceCowb0y

osarusan wrote: »

Took off to Japan for the 2002 world cup on a one year visa teaching English, ended up staying a few more years and getting married.

Came back to Ireland to get more qualified, was perfectly happy back in Ireland, but no jobs teaching meant we were always likely to leave again, and got a good job in Japan through university affiliations.

Been here another 3 years now, with one or possibly two more on my contract, before the university will force me to leave.

Would be happy to live in Ireland again, but it will likely be elsewhere due to jobs, at least until I can get an even better qualification.

Oh wow... sorry to go off thread but have you managed to do any snowboarding over there??? It's high up on my bucket list!

osarusan

SpaceCowb0y wrote: »

Oh wow... sorry to go off thread but have you managed to do any snowboarding over there??? It's high up on my bucket list!

A small bit of skiing but no snowboarding. And when I say skiing, I mean falling.

crockholm

I really wanted to stay in Ireland,however with the Construction industry going tits-up and some predatory punters offerring only 60 euro a day to work a full day,I decided to work abroad and work towards the goal of living in Australia.
Worked like a dog in Rotterdam for 8 months to build a warchest for oz,was then told to hold back on going out until after Xmas-so I decided to do a short term job in Stockholm-alas,met a girl,had a kid,got married and now stuck here and rather unhappy.

Trying to convince her to move(I really want to move to Norway,Ireland or somewhere else)but she ain't for turning. She is a nurse and could work anywhere,but she's a fcukin homebird.Every month I like this place less and less,but I'm trapped.

Sweden has been good to me,but I just don't enjoy it here anymore.

I really miss Ireland

lufties

crockholm wrote: »

I really wanted to stay in Ireland,however with the Construction industry going tits-up and some predatory punters offerring only 60 euro a day to work a full day,I decided to work abroad and work towards the goal of living in Australia.
Worked like a dog in Rotterdam for 8 months to build a warchest for oz,was then told to hold back on going out until after Xmas-so I decided to do a short term job in Stockholm-alas,met a girl,had a kid,got married and now stuck here and rather unhappy.

Trying to convince her to move(I really want to move to Norway,Ireland or somewhere else)but she ain't for turning. She is a nurse and could work anywhere,but she's a fcukin homebird.Every month I like this place less and less,but I'm trapped.

Sweden has been good to me,but I just don't enjoy it here anymore.

I really miss Ireland

Interesting tale. Why are you tired of sweden out of interest, just need a change of scenery?

hedgehog2

Left Ire in 2001,lived in 4 different countries the lastvone being Asia.
Became rather disillusioned with my job,decided to head to Ireland and ooen my own firm.
Did'nt workout,in the process of changing career now and setting up a new business.
Were lookin to emigrate again in 2yr time most likely the Far East but if I can swing it west coast of America.
Have to say I feel way happier living away from Ireland,free to believe in new opportunities,better optimism and greater hope for our future living abroad.
Ever since I was 10yrs old and I took my first holiday to France I knew Ireland was never for me and it still feels this way.

lufties

hedgehog2 wrote: »

Left Ire in 2001,lived in 4 different countries the lastvone being Asia.
Became rather disillusioned with my job,decided to head to Ireland and ooen my own firm.
Did'nt workout,in the process of changing career now and setting up a new business.
Were lookin to emigrate again in 2yr time most likely the Far East but if I can swing it west coast of America.
Have to say I feel way happier living away from Ireland,free to believe in new opportunities,better optimism and greater hope for our future living abroad.
Ever since I was 10yrs old and I took my first holiday to France I knew Ireland was never for me and it still feels this way.

Ireland has its positives, I wouldn't be rushing back to live there as I've probably moved on in a lot of ways. Its not the worst place to be by any means.

hedgehog2

No its not but I feel more at home living in an Asian country than I do here.
Its possibly down tobthe fact that I dont drink;hate the weather and corruption by a select few.

lufties

hedgehog2 wrote: »

No its not but I feel more at home living in an Asian country than I do here.
Its possibly down tobthe fact that I dont drink;hate the weather and corruption by a select few.

depends where in asia, i've lived in malaysia and HK so far, perhaps singapore or thailand. but thats about all.

hedgehog2

lufties wrote: »

depends where in asia, i've lived in malaysia and HK so far, perhaps singapore or thailand. but thats about all.

Ive lived in Hong Kong myself and loved it,rented an apartment by the pier on lantau my escape from the busy streets.

lufties

hedgehog2 wrote: »

Ive lived in Hong Kong myself and loved it,rented an apartment by the pier on lantau my escape from the busy streets.

Yea I'm on lantau myself, don't think I could hack the city, especially in summer.

I am pie

Moved here to bring with the missus,she had been 10 years in Ireland. Needed a change as my brain was turning to mush with boredom. We both love Ireland but the weather is grating and the excess boozing stops being fun after a while. About to take fluency exams in Spanish and enjoying the change.

Sunshine87

i was sick of the constant negativity of people, the rain, being in a job that was not using my skills and knowing deep down that i was not gonna get on the career ladder in Ireland; because it seems to be about who your father/mother/uncle is, and not about how good a worker you are or what you are qualified in, which i had enough of.

The recession probably tipped it for me, but it wasnt the biggest factor as my pay was good, i just wasnt in the job i wanted to do. i was bored with my life- i felt like i got myself in a rut and couldnt get out of it

so March 2013 i sold most of my stuff and got on a plane to Toronto. By August i had the job i was qualified for and im earning almost double i was last year. and i also met my boyfriend here. Cant see myself going back but never say never i suppose.

Stojkovic

Endemic corruption.

lufties

I am pie wrote: »

Moved here to bring with the missus,she had been 10 years in Ireland. Needed a change as my brain was turning to mush with boredom. We both love Ireland but the weather is grating and the excess boozing stops being fun after a while. About to take fluency exams in Spanish and enjoying the change.

Spain?.. Excess boozing has been everywhere I've been, but yea I see what you mean. Life can be too grating in Ireland and requires a certain mentality and thinking outside the box.
Think if I went back I'd focus on hobbies more like surfing, hiking, nature, reading, languages(learn Irish properly perhaps). My head was a mess when I lived in Ireland ,due to too much drink I was depressed out of my mind a lot of the time. Its hard not to be lured into that lifestyle though.

lufties

Sunshine87 wrote: »

i was sick of the constant negativity of people, the rain, being in a job that was not using my skills and knowing deep down that i was not gonna get on the career ladder in Ireland; because it seems to be about who your father/mother/uncle is, and not about how good a worker you are or what you are qualified in, which i had enough of.

The recession probably tipped it for me, but it wasnt the biggest factor as my pay was good, i just wasnt in the job i wanted to do. i was bored with my life- i felt like i got myself in a rut and couldnt get out of it

so March 2013 i sold most of my stuff and got on a plane to Toronto. By August i had the job i was qualified for and im earning almost double i was last year. and i also met my boyfriend here. Cant see myself going back but never say never i suppose.

good to hear it worked out for you, Your right about the nepotism, its awful, but to be honest we'd all probably avail of it given the chance. Us Irish tend to excel overseas in a lot of ways which is incredible.

marozz

I left for the Netherlands in 1987, I had a Dutch girlfriend at the time, but leaving Ireland was the norm in the 80's. It was a great adventure, I managed to travel all over Europe, went to art college and learned to speak Dutch. I spent 10 years in Holland but I'm glad I came back. I met a Dublin lass got married ...etc:)

I am now working for the Dutch department of a large US company. Pays the bills, and the Dutch lingo came in handy.

lufties

marozz wrote: »

I left for the Netherlands in 1987, I had a Dutch girlfriend at the time, but leaving Ireland was the norm in the 80's. It was a great adventure, I managed to travel all over Europe, went to art college and learned to speak Dutch. I spent 10 years in Holland but I'm glad I came back. I met a Dublin lass got married ...etc:)

I am now working for the Dutch department of a large US company. Pays the bills, and the Dutch lingo came in handy.

I'm currently learning dutch(the pimsleur method) simply because i find it an interesting language. Its hard when you don't speak on a daily basis, but the bit I pick up might come in handy someday:)

Thargor

Is 30 too old to emigrate now do you think?

lufties

Thargor wrote: »

Is 30 too old to emigrate now do you think?

Nope definately not, I worked with a guy in Oz who emigrated from England in his 40s with a wife and 2 kids.

crockholm

lufties wrote: »

Interesting tale. Why are you tired of sweden out of interest, just need a change of scenery?

Well,yeah.
And funny that you mention scenery,because where we live,there isn't any.It's the same old flat land,forests and lakes,and rocks poking outta the ground.And it's the same if you go 300km South or 300km North.
I just get the feeling that the economy here is starting to turn for the worse,the schools here are absolutely sh1t at everything bar English and gender-studies.
All these thing and more are just making me want do something drastic.

Thargor

Thanks, what do people usually do, save up 6 months living expenses in the target country (probably Oz for me) then just go? Or should you line up a job first? Scientific background, just realising now Ive never really done anything interesting and wanderlust is starting to creep in...