Moving away.

[Dr. Kucho]

To the ones that once decided to move away/abroad, how did it work out? Where did you go? And how did you get to meet new people?

 

The thing is that I think the time has come for me to move on. At 26 I still feel young and free but with most of my mates settling down and having kids life has started to become a bit boring, nights out don't happen that often any more.

 

Now I have been thinking about moving back to the UK (have lived in The Netherlands for most of my life) and with my work (I work in the sports and have a UK bank account and NI) applying for jobs shouldn't be to much of a problem.

 

So just wondering how it worked out for others that moved away at sometime and what the do's and donts are.

 

Cheers

[Brussels Saint]

Seriously at 26 your friends are now settling down?

 

I moved to Brussels at 26 and spent the next 10 years, pretty much living an out 3-4 nights a week lifestyle. There is a huge number of late 20's, early/mid 30's international people doing the same thing week in week out. It's only in the last couple of years I've slowed down a bit as we age and settle down, but am still out probable twice a week on average.

 

My advice, would be choose carefully where you live. Follow the lifestyle you want rather than the job.

 

If you are moving on and won't have friends etc. in the place you go, make sure you choose a location that has lots of people in the same situation. Most large cities or expat destinations will help.

 

If you are on your own, follow the tried and tested worldwide strategy of spending a lot of time in an Irish pub, where you are sure to meet other like minded drunks.

It does however take time and effort to make a new life, but if you put the effort in you will be fine.

 

If you feel like you want a change, just do it.

[Ken Tone]

To the ones that once decided to move away/abroad, how did it work out? Where did you go? And how did you get to meet new people?

 

The thing is that I think the time has come for me to move on. At 26 I still feel young and free but with most of my mates settling down and having kids life has started to become a bit boring, nights out don't happen that often any more.

 

Now I have been thinking about moving back to the UK (have lived in The Netherlands for most of my life) and with my work (I work in the sports and have a UK bank account and NI) applying for jobs shouldn't be to much of a problem.

 

So just wondering how it worked out for others that moved away at sometime and what the do's and donts are.

 

Cheers

 

 

It's not always easy to get work back in the UK after a long spell abroad. Don't underestimate the effort you'll need to make to sell yourself.

[dubai_phil]

It's not always easy to get work back in the UK after a long spell abroad. Don't underestimate the effort you'll need to make to sell yourself.

 

Have had a lot of mates move back - VERY few settled.

 

So many stupid things change whether it is the names of Companies to simple rules on your Business Expenses. Finding "Politics" back in the workplace as opposed to the work politics can really mess people up.

 

From the people I know who have tried to return well over half failed and ended up miserable

[Tokyo-Saint]

I have been happy since I have been back. Bit of a culture shock at first but soon got over it.

[Dr. Kucho]

Seriously at 26 your friends are now settling down?

 

I moved to Brussels at 26 and spent the next 10 years, pretty much living an out 3-4 nights a week lifestyle. There is a huge number of late 20's, early/mid 30's international people doing the same thing week in week out. It's only in the last couple of years I've slowed down a bit as we age and settle down, but am still out probable twice a week on average.

 

My advice, would be choose carefully where you live. Follow the lifestyle you want rather than the job.

 

If you are moving on and won't have friends etc. in the place you go, make sure you choose a location that has lots of people in the same situation. Most large cities or expat destinations will help.

 

If you are on your own, follow the tried and tested worldwide strategy of spending a lot of time in an Irish pub, where you are sure to meet other like minded drunks.

It does however take time and effort to make a new life, but if you put the effort in you will be fine.

 

If you feel like you want a change, just do it.

 

Thanks for the post Brussels Saint!

 

Yes most of my friends seem to be settling down at their mid 20ties. The other week I was at a mates party and I was the only one who didn't have a girlfriend, all the other were living together and were planning/expecting or already had kids. That made me think it was time to get away from this place (I live near a average size city in Holland) before I end up like them (nothing wrong with my mates, just not the lifestyle I want).

 

Can I ask why you decided to go to Brussels? Was it work related?

 

Ken Tone and Dubai Phil,

 

I spent 3 months in the UK last year and often travel over to see relatives. The UK has changed over the years but everytime I get of the plane or boat it feels like coming home. Work could be hard to get as the competition for places is murdering in the UK, however if you do well there are more possibilities then in Holland.

 

Thanks for the replies! Would prefer to work somewhere in Europe so please share your experiences of working on the continent (and the UK)

[norwaysaint]

I left the UK at 28 (just shy of 42 now), but it was to be with my the girlfriend, which made it easier to settle in over here. I could never move back to teach in the UK as I have always been amazed at how much less administrative work there is in teaching outside the UK, both in international schools and the Norwegian system. It would be horrific to go back to that now.

 

Most countries have ex-pat groups you can probably find on the internet. I worked in an international environment so I kind of slipped straight into an existing English speaking social group and could develop my social life from there.

 

I always feel like a foreigner in the UK now. I kind of don't fully belong in either country I suppose but Norway feels like home now and I'll never move back even if my marriage were to break up. Maybe I could retire to the UK, but I think I'd miss Norway too much if I did.