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Moved abroad? Is it a let-down or amazing?

fussyonion

Like a lot of people, many of us have relatives or friends who have moved abroad and it seems they're all having the time of their lives.
But if you're abroad, are you enjoying it?

Is it everything you hoped it would be? Or is it a big let-down?
Do you miss Ireland and do you plan on coming home for good or have you made a new life for yourself abroad and see yourself there forever?

I'm just interested because a friend of mine has decided to stay another year in Oz as opposed to coming home.

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the evasion_kid

Depends were you go,the only times I got really homesick abroad was when things weren't working out too good ie.no job,low cash.then again my brother who went through a messy divorce jacked it all in good job,house and took off,the last time I heard from him he was living in a tree house in mexico and was adamant he wasn't coming back.

Tarzana2

jester77 wrote: »

In Ireland I've often been in company where someone would say something to someone and once that person has left they would make snide comments about them. I've never once experienced anyone making such comments here.

No observed back-biting in 15 years seems unlikely.

irelandrover

the evasion_kid wrote: »

Depends were you go,the only times I got really homesick abroad was when things weren't working out too good ie.no job,low cash.then again my brother who went through a messy divorce jacked it all in good job,house and took off,the last time I heard from him he was living in a tree house in mexico and was adamant he wasn't coming back.

One of the funniest things I've read here in a long time.

Spunge

Moved up the north. its mind blowingly exotic

[Deleted User]

ShiftStorm wrote: »

I have lived in two other countries besides Ireland and my reasons for going were to get away from issues at home but in reality, I probably brought those issues with me in my own mind. Coping with any sort of emotional issues when your usual support network isn't around you is tricky! When things get tough here or I get bored, I still find myself having those escapist fantasies and have to remind myself that life is life, no matter where you live.

You can't move away from yourself, which would be a nice holiday to have sometimes.

By far the hardest thing about my folks being far away is that feeling loneliness when the brown stuff hits the turbine. On one hand it really develops independence and you become very self reliant, on the other it can be very isolating if you're low on coping at the time.

Crooked Jack

I moved to Canada. Came back after a year. i was in a good position to stay as long as I wanted but a mix of personal and professional reasons lead me home.
Maybe if I'd gone when I was younger or wasnt madly in love with a Donegal girl (who subsequently told me to fuck off back to canada for all she cared; cant blame her) I would have stayed.
Maybe it was Vancouver in particular. Everyone was beautiful and fit and happy and healthy and ambitious and mentally balanced and loving life. I cant handle that fuckin sh!t.

Crooked Jack

Candie wrote: »

You can't move away from yourself, which would be a nice holiday to have sometimes.

By far the hardest thing about my folks being far away is that feeling loneliness when the brown stuff hits the turbine. On one hand it really develops independence and you become very self reliant, on the other it can be very isolating if you're low on coping at the time.

This is almost word for word what I wrote for that Irish Times Generation Emigration thing.
Exactly how I felt after I came back

Your Superior

SteM wrote: »

Odd, my English wife's family constantly about the NHS and their transport infrastructure (late trains, the cost etc). As for big cities she hated living in London, much prefers Dublin due to it's size. Different people will view things in a different way to you. And Ireland doesn’t have wonderful countryside now?

The rest are whatever floats your boat.

Oh I agree, it's all opinion. Ireland has amazing countryside. As for cities, Dublin is my least favourite European city, but it's just my opinion. I have no problem with roads or trains in the UK, never have had really.

[Deleted User]

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

Does your granny live in Ireland, Candie?

South County Dublin, Dublin born and bred.

Delighted de fella got a job, congrats to you both, must be nice to have the pressure off a bit!

OldMrBrennan83

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Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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God yes. We just wish we could give it back to you.

OldMrBrennan83

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Your Superior

Patww79 wrote: »

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I get that feeling in Westmeath.

suicide_circus

There's an old saying;

Where ever you go, there you are.

You cannot escape yourself. If youre a tosser in Monaghan, you'll be a tosser in Melbourne.

Crooked Jack

Patww79 wrote: »

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We'll fix that when we get rid of the border.
I actually love Belfast and Derry although places like Craigavon and Coleraine are depressing holes.
Dublin's nice, Galway can go fuck itself but my favourite place in the country has to be Cork

Spunge

suicide_circus wrote: »

There's an old saying;

Where ever you go, there you are.

You cannot escape yourself. If youre a tosser in Monaghan, you'll be a tosser in Melbourne.

i dunno the status quo in regards acts to reaching tosser level must be higher in melbourne

QuantumP

I've lived in Austria which was amazing, I spent some time in Germany too which was less so but still nice. I think the most important thing is the people you're with, not where you are. You could be in the biggest hole in the world but if you have good company it doesn't matter, and you could be in the most amazing place but with w*nkers and you could hate it.

[Deleted User]

Not a let down or amazing anymore.. It's just what it is. Left for Melbourne four and a half years ago and didn't get past South East Asia and haven't been home since.

Can see myself living in South / Central America and Europe before I'd move home.

baker59

QuantumP wrote: »

You could be in the biggest hole in the world but if you have good company it doesn't matter

I agree with that. Studied in Linz, Austria. Decent city, had a blast but after everyone left, I would have hated to stay as one or 2 people did.

Live in France now. Settled. Would never say never about returning home but I'm fine for the now.

Pantech

Moved to the US () a few years back and living in NJ, near NYC - absolutely loving it since.

Pro's:

Has been a great experience for our kids. Despite the reputation America has for public school education, our experience has been very positive, but maybe we are in a bubble - probably a different story in Alabamba. Much smaller class sizes than Ireland (from 13 to 19 kids is about average). Lots of science from an early age. No time wasted on religion. Tons of free after school activities and extra-curricular programs they can join.

Taxes - lower than Ireland. Some parts of the cost of living are much higher though, e.g. property taxes are about $10k/year, so I think overall you end up with the same percentage of your wages going on tax. However, in general, cost of living is lower (petrol is 1/3 the cost of Ireland, no road tax, food shopping is generally cheaper).

Activities - always something to do here - lots of great state/national parks, shows, street festivals, etc. Can be in NYC within an hour on the train.

Weather - great during the summer, and if you like snow, great in the winter too. I'd prefer less snow tbh.

Positive attitude - corny I know, but there is a tangible positive attitude over here that is a contrast to Ireland.

Cons:
Being away from family and friends, but we have had a steady stream of people coming to visit, and have made it home a few times also.

Will we ever move back to Ireland? Hopefully not, I think we would all find it very hard.

OldMrBrennan83

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Zippie84

Neither a let-down or amazing .

Just normal life, but a much better one at that .

Pantech

Patww79 wrote: »

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Are you here on a business trip or have you moved? Business trips are not exactly the best way to judge a country!

OldMrBrennan83

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c_man

Pantech wrote: »

Moved to the US () a few years back and living in NJ, near NYC - absolutely loving it since.

I suppose this depends on your work, but how do you find the lower vacation time compared with Ireland/Europe?

I know they have no mandatory vacation time but in practice employers do give it, still I was a bit shocked talking to a guy in work over from the US. My role and his would be comparable, yet he gets less than half the number of days I get per year! I didn't say this obviously, he was telling us he was thinking of using a few days to explore Ireland while here.

murpho999

Lived in Holland for 7 years, didn't really like the place.
Very cramped, no nice scenery. All the houses are the same red-bricked shell.

No colour in the place.

Also, the Dutch are a pretty dull bunch who socialise mostly in houses and by appointment, don't know how to be spontaneous at all. They also eat the bread and cheese for breakfast and lunch EVERY DAY.

They also seem to think that their country is amazing

That said, I found it difficult to settle as well when I moved back and had to readjust. Moving abroad does change you.

Also, arriving and buying a house just before the arse fell out of the market has not helped my finances but I am happy here. Just wish I hadn't bought when I did and that the weather could be a bit better.

ceadaoin.

Lived in London for 4 years, loved it. Then was back in dublin for a while but now I've been in the US for just over a year. I do miss family being around, especially for my daughter as she loves her granny and grandad and cousin but we get home at least once a year and they visit here too. I don't miss ireland itself that much, I think the benefits of living here (and in London) lifestyle wise are worth it.

Lucena

murpho999 wrote: »

Lived in Holland for 7 years, didn't really like the place.

Also, the Dutch are a pretty dull bunch who socialise mostly in houses and by appointment, don't know how to be spontaneous at all.

This is also the same in France. FML.

Pantech

c_man wrote: »

I suppose this depends on your work, but how do you find the lower vacation time compared with Ireland/Europe?

I know they have no mandatory vacation time but in practice employers do give it, still I was a bit shocked talking to a guy in work over from the US. My role and his would be comparable, yet he gets less than half the number of days I get per year! I didn't say this obviously, he was telling us he was thinking of using a few days to explore Ireland while here.

Luckily not an issue for us as I'm with my company a number of years, so I have 23 days. Most companies here start you off on 13 days (10 standard plus 3 floating, which are essentially the same as regular paid holidays but historically were used for any religious observance), and allow an additional 5 for each 5 years of service, so after a few years with a company you should be on fairly decent holidays per year.

cloud493

Well I moved to Ireland from abroad (as far abroad as england is anyway)

Yeah its a let down.