Sad pom in perth

[Sandra&Andrewinperth]

Hello Everyone,

Myself, Husband and two sons aged 3 and 1 moved to Perth in Feb and although I am really enjoying it and can't wait for the summer days at the beach, BBQs etc. I am also finding it so hard :( I am really missing my family (MUM) and friends (I new I would miss them but did not realise just how much) also I feel really guilty that I have taken the children from their grandparents... Although I think I have made the right decison :? when will I stop feeling sooo bad. I have real good days and some real stinkers where I just burst into tears, how long before this feeling goes away.


Any advice?????????????????

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Sarah

Sweetie, I do feel so sorry for you. Homesickness can be a terrible thing, but trust me, pet. People on this site WILL come to your aid. I'll put the word out to mates of mine from this site and we'll see what we can, between us, do to help you.

How about Mum & Dad going to Perth to visit you for all or part of the English winter? They could go for a minimum of 6 months if they wish, longer if they can spare the time. They would NOT be confined to a 90-day ETA only by DIMA. DIMA actually do realise that life is tough for new migrants and are very sympathetic to the idea that you could do with a dose of Mum & Dad and Mum's cooking right now. Parents can do a vast amount to help their offspring to setlle, and the family only has to do it the first time to realise how small the world has become, too.

I think that if something along these lines is possible, it might lift your gloom.

If you & parents think they could spare the time for an extended visit to Perth, then please see here for more info:

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/index.htm

Come back to me and let me know how you are, and if you need any more info on visas for Mums, believe me I am a veteran! My sister lives in Jandakot (SOR) and we have been getting tourist-visas for Mum for the last 15 years!

Chin up, chicken. We will not let you pine on your own, I promise.

Love and hugs

Gill
xx

[ali]

Hi Sarah,

Gill, has offerred you good advise (as always Gill!), it imust be really hard being so far away, with such mixed emotions, knowing you've made the right decision but missing the little things. I only moved 50 miles away when I met my husband but hated living here at first, missing my friends, family and the historical things like work, schools etc.,

It must be difficult to speak to your friends and family at home as you'll be trying to put on a brave face, which is where we can step in - you can use the forum or even PM people, there'll be lots of people willing to be an email pen pal, who you can off load to and we'll do our best to cheer you up - and we'll benefit from having a ready made friend on the other side.

Don't hesitate to write

Luv Ali x x

[nico]

Hi, Sarah

I'm still in England waiting for my visa, but can sympathise all the same, having lived in various places overseas at various times with small kids (and a husband who was never there). Lots of people these days seem to find that webcams, Skype etc make it so much easier to keep in touch, so even if you've never had a set-up like that back home, it might be worth thinking about it now. And Gill is dead right about getting your parents over for a holiday. Sometimes you only start to really appreciate a place when you're showing it to other people and hoping they'll like it too.

Hope you soon start feeling better, and find some new good friends in Oz.

[THE JONEZYS]

Hi there.
I have been looking at your post all day and trying to think of what to say. Everything that Gill, Ali and Nico have said is much better advice than I have to offer but even so, I wish you well and hope that if things get too much you would post how feel on here or PM someone as we are all in the same boat at the moment when it comes to this rollercoaster ride of emotions we are going through. I really wouldn't have got thro these last couple of months without this site, even tho I haven't had too much input, just reading other peoples posts has made me relise that what I am feeling is normal and it just helps putting down into words how your feeling and if you get a reply back from someone who is feeling the same or has been thro it at some stage then thats even better So chin up it could be worse, at least you have your summer to look forward to, it looks like ours is over already :!:
Luv n best wishes Lesley

[Sandra&Andrewinperth]

Hi Thankyou all , for your coments and support, it is great to have some one to whinge to as Andrew is getting a little bored of me i think (although he does not say it) and it does get a little lonely with only the kids to talk to.
I have mentioned to mum re visiting but she does not like flying, the furthest she has gone on a plane is Jersey or gurnsey (one of them). she has said maybe next year, I hope so but will have to wait and see . I have thought about going home for a month to see everyone but I think this would be a big mistake as I would most likely not come back so that Idea is out .
I know the first year even two is the hardest but will get easier. Also I know once I start meeting people when my son starts Kindy (Feb07) I will feel so much better. I think what also makes it hard is I have no history here, and nothings familiar.

Then the other side we have had some great winter weather and I have been out in the garden with my kids or at Kings park with them running around in t.shirts and I look around and think how great is this is.
If I could pick up my family and friends bring them here life would be perfect.


Thanks for all your support, and hope you have not fallen asleep


Sandra

[Echo]

Hi, I'm in Melbourne right now but moving to Perth early December. I've been here since 2001 and was in NZ for 18 months before that.

I saw the 'sad in Perth' post and felt compelled to register and reply simply because I've been going through the same waves of homesickness for all these years - and I know another British expat who's going through the same.

With children it's even harder although I had both of my boys overseas (one in NZ the other here in Australia) so I've never known what it's like to have family on hand to help and meet up with. I can imagine that to be accustomed to that and then leave it would be even tougher going.

I have this awful feeling of not belonging - and really anywhere now - I've been out of the UK so long that when I visited 2 years ago, I felt well and truly out of place although what was odd was that within a few weeks I had got back into the swing of things (I was there for 3 months) yet when I returned to Melbourne I felt truly alien.

Anyway, without wanting to sound too gloomy (!) - I've got a couple of young sons (18 months and 5) and would welcome meeting fellow expats once I get to Perth as aside from a scattering of distant family members my network over there is nil. I'm a firm believer in its people that make the party. I'd welcome people to get in touch.

Cheers & good luck to everyone -
Nat

[Echo]

Sorry..Ps> Moved from Surrey originally and will be moving to Como/South Perth or thereabouts.

[Sandra&Andrewinperth]

Hi Nat


I am glad I am not the only one who feels like this, when I read all the messages on here, and everyone sounds so happy and excited I think should I not be feeling like that....?

I have met a couple of girls and we all have kids of similar age, PM me and we can arrange to meet up I currently live North Perth but looking to move soon but will be still same sort of area, and no where here is far.


Roll on summer, It is soo cold and Wet today.

Sandra

[Echo]

PM sent - thanks!

Funny - I love it when it rains and is windy here - it reminds me of home! ...and yet I'm sure one of the reasons I moved away from England was because of the climate. There's just no hope is there