Thread: Why do Brits move abroad? Your stories!

Hi,

For my university degree I am doing a book on why so many Brits move abroad and was hoping you could help me with some of the content. I need stories on your life abroad.

Can you please tell me what made you move abroad? Do you have any stories that you would like to share on how it has changed your life?

If you would like to contribute but don't want to post anything on here you can email me at simmone.gardiner@northumbria.ac.uk.

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me.

Thanks
Simmone

Hi Sim

Hope that you'll get some feedback that will help you out.

:)

I was 22 when I decided to go and work abroad.
Why did I decide to go?
1 Fledging the nest....three is a family triangle, difficult to balance.
2 Father was a traveller - inherited his genes, and absorbed his stories of 'abroad'.
3 Wanted to 'see the world' and earn at the same time.
4 met my BRIT expat husband-to-be abroad, because he liked travelling too.
5 got paid well on contract abroad
6 better climate - more sun abroad
7 as a biologist wanted to see all the biomes and wild animals before they disappear
8 love air-travel and the freebies they once offered
10 like to meet and live with the locals, teach them, get involved ion the community, learn the culture and language.

Back in the sixties the reasons for becoming an expat were listed as follows.
YOU ARE ONE OF THREE Ms....YOU ARE A MISSIONARY, MERCENARY OR MISFIT, if you go abroad!
Yes, Ithink most people who consider themselves expats fit into one or more of these categories if they are honest.

Originally Posted by SimG

Hi,

For my university degree I am doing a book on why so many Brits move abroad and was hoping you could help me with some of the content. I need stories on your life abroad.

Can you please tell me what made you move abroad? Do you have any stories that you would like to share on how it has changed your life?

If you would like to contribute but don't want to post anything on here you can email me at simmone.gardiner@northumbria.ac.uk.

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me.




Thanks
Simmone

That's great, thanks for your input.

Simmone

For some it's just work that takes us to other countries, and some stay longer than originally intended because of extra opportunities that arise, or a change of circumstances due to the time spent there.

Back in the late 70's with no O-levels and no job prospects to my liking I fled leaving a taboo relationship that tore me up. At the time my social life was brilliant however that alone was not enough to keep my lifestyle afloat.
Fortunately, I had two sisters living in Canada which was essentially 'my ticket'. The opportunities appeared more abundant with I believe less red-tape (not so much the case today) and although I miss 'the crack' in the U.K
I was often put off in general in an annoying British cheapness, it's penchant towards petty crime and an intimidation one could notice just walking down the street from local louts (now I believe referred to as CHAVS).
Also by emigrating I was also attracted to Canada's proximity to the U.S. and yes MORE SUNHINE.
I still tend to be somewhat of a Loyalist as I feel the Monachy helps keep standards up worldwide, unfortunately for me today the nation has lost it's allure and admiration I once had.
I am however very proud to be an English Canadian.

Hi Simmone! What you're doing is very interesting; I hope you collect enough information. Although I'm not an expat myself (or at least not yet), an old friend of mine (we know each other from high school) is. In his case, however, it was neither the money nor good weather that motivated him to move abroad, as he decided to move to... Poland. He now seems to have fully embraced the Polish culture, and he's happy working as a translator and English teacher. I think he always felt a bit out of place in England, and surprisingly found his new home in Warsaw instead. I guess he finds people over there more open or just more 'compatible' with himself. He also travels a lot. I don't think he'll ever come back to live in the UK.

Ages since I've been on here..!!

Our main reason was to have new challenges / second crack at life - get off the boring treadmill.

It worked and we are living a life and doing things we would not have thought of 10 years ago.

We just could not stagnate in the UK.

Originally Posted by Tyke

Ages since I've been on here..!!

Our main reason was to have new challenges / second crack at life - get off the boring treadmill.

It worked and we are living a life and doing things we would not have thought of 10 years ago.

We just could not stagnate in the UK.

Woa there Tyke,
just came across this old post of yours and thought I would bump it just to say hi.
I haven't been around here for a while either.
Shame really as this is a nice little site.
I must visit more
t

Originally Posted by thearmchairdetective

Woa there Tyke,
just came across this old post of yours and thought I would bump it just to say hi.
I haven't been around here for a while either.
Shame really as this is a nice little site.
I must visit more
t

That would be nice... best behaviour tho.