Snotty

I'm SOOOOOOOO confused. As an Aussie contemplating a permanent move to the UK, I've been reading the comments on as many threads as are relevant in attempt to make an informed decision. I read good and bad about both places and agree with you ALL. It seems there is no overall good, bad or even better country/place. It really depends on your own personal feelings, lifestyle preferences and circumstances at the time. At the moment, I'm trying to choose between a move to Gippsland, Victoria; Tasmania, Scotland, England or Wales. No idea where I'll end up. They all appeal for different reasons.

Hi Kiwiinaus, With regard to women who've sacrificed for their families being able to have it all; you are absolutely right! I left school at 16 years old. Didn't start my Degree until 36 years old. Similar reasons to yours. Now 60 years old, a qualified and experienced teacher, qualified and experienced Counsellor, qualified and experienced hairdresser (only began training for that 7 years ago). Currently running my own salon and looking for the next intellectual challenge. God bless you. Never give up! For all that, I do have trouble getting my posts and especially my replies to 'take' on this computer.

Woe is you! You've inspired me to try one more time! Let's see if I can remember what I wrote. It wont be as good but here goes:- I grew up in Sydney, so have experience of their education system too. What I think I said was, a parent's view of a particular school depends upon what the parent expects from the school. Some parents value educational achievement, some, sporting achievement, some, the facilities provided, and some dont' "give a rat's", so long as their child is off the streets and supervised for the day. I dont' for one second, mean to imply that you are the latter. Furthermore, I believe a teacher's perspective differs from that of a parent. We see 'behind the scenes'. Our opinion of a particular school may depend on whether or not we are physically attacked by the students, or it may be coloured by the overall philosophy of the Head Teacher with regard to how the school is run. It may even come down to how many students show willing to learn. I'll stick my neck out and go so far as to say, allowing for differences in individual ability, a student's achievement at any school depends, not on whether the school is private or public, nor in which country it is situated but largely on the attitude of the parents to education. Not sure whether I'm being helpful or just having a little rant lol

Hi again Jacaranda. I just wrote you two really long replies and lost both in trying to post them. My computer must die! I've lost the will to try again. Maybe tomorrow lol

Hi Jacaranda, I taught in the South East of England; Kent mainly. In Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

Hi guys, I've taught for many years in public and private schools in Australia and the UK. So far as my experience goes, the quality of education is the same, however, while the behaviour of students generally, here and there has deteriorated over the years, the behaviour of UK students was far worse. Kiwiinaus, you are under a misapprehension if you truly believe you get a different quality of education by paying for it. All teachers are trained in exactly the same way. A teacher of any quality may get a job in a private or a public school. The quality of the teaching depends entirely on the talent, knowledge and conscientiousness or lack thereof, of the particular teacher. Furthermore, my experience of private schools has been that the main difference lies in the enforced 'fixing' of marks to reflect a false level of achievement by students and impress parents to maintain the numbers and therefore, the income to the schools.

Hi Bob, I'm an Aussie contemplating a permanent move to the UK this year. Do we have Petair this end for sending our pets over there?

Hi Bob, I'm an Aussie contemplating a permanent move to the UK this year. Do we have Petair this end for sending our pets over there?

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. My computer is mucking up a bit and so far, I've only been able to read and reply to Lady Raincorn. Hoping the situation remedies itself shortly and I can access all your replies

Thank you so much, Lady Raincorn, for your helpful advice. I really appreciate your taking the time to reply. You've put my mind somewhat at ease about my dog and I will do as you suggest to find more information about that side of things. Regarding the work situation, I am still a registered teacher with experience teaching University, Secondary and Primary schools and I am also a qualified Hairdresser, currently operating my own salon. Apart from that, I'm considering self-funded retirement, so hopefully, pensions won't come into it. I completely understand what you mean about the feelings of not belonging. For me, it was a cultural thing. I felt completely at home in the UK landscape (my forebears are Scottish, Irish and Welsh), and I detest the Australian bush. The beach just gives me sunburn. I did fit in well in the UK and made some very good friends there. As you said, it seems to be the cultural differences that prove the most challenging. You do feel a bit like an alien and some people go out of their way to reinforce that for you. Maybe that happens to everyone who moves to a different country. I did feel as though I had to 'prove' myself to every new person I met; to show that not all Aussies are loud, aggressive, boozing 'convicts' who like barbeques. It does become exhausting and sometimes disheartening. My UK friends have experienced the same when they moved here. As you said, you don't really notice it until you meet up with one of your 'own kind', then you realise there are differences. I thought people must get used to it after a while, but reading all the forum posts and speaking with my friends who've moved here from other countries, I no longer think everyone does. I guess its a trade-off. If there are enough pluses about the new life in the new country, maybe that part is tolerable. If not, I guess, so far, we can all go back. No real harm done and maybe some great experiences under our belts. You've all given me much food for thought. Thank you so much.

I am actually an Aussie. Born here and lived here for all of my 60 years. I married an Englishman who hated the UK. We were subsequently divorced. I worked in the UK for several months during 2004 and fell madly in love with everything about it. I came back singing it's praises and saying how much better it was than Australia in every possible way; the food, the scenery, the history, the medical system and most of the people. My son and I have Right Of Abode and are contemplating a permanent move to the UK this year. I joined this forum to help me decide whether or not to do so. Most of the criticisms aimed at Australia, I agree with. However, as most of you have expressed pros and cons relating to both continents, I'm really confused about whether or not to do it. One of my concerns is, many of you want to go back primarily due to homesickness, which I did experience while over there. There was that feeling of 'not belonging'. I'm worried we'll do what you've done; move and then regret it. My other main concern, which I know will seem minor to some, is the experience my pet dog will have on the plane. I've read lots on the forum about HOW to send dogs over but nobody ever says what the experience was like for the dog. From when you part with them, it's about 2 days before you see them again when you pick them up at Heathrow. Can someone please tell me, good and bad, what actually happened in that time. Do they go hungry? Is the Singapore stopover safe? Do they defecate in their crates and have to lay in it for hours? Are they exercised at any point with other dogs that may attack them? I definitely wont risk my dog until I'm sure. In fact, truth be told, that's the main thing stopping me from going.