shoebox20 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi all....and HAPPY NEW YEAR! So this is my first post here, Having been in Aus 4 years, on the cusp of citizenship (applying in feb) and I'm a few months into a new job (not totally my dream role but a good senior brand/packaging designer job, great team, decent agency and so far enjoying the work and challenges, learning lots and earning much more than my last role...BUT...I went 'home' for a month last year and somehow felt like I belonged again, realised how much I miss being close to my mum and the buzz of london (as a creative the European culture seems much more in touch there than here in Sydney) and so I've booked flights to move back ...now they're booked (for June) I'm all unsure, have I made the wrong decision, I'll miss my life here, but then I felt so happy there after being away so long, and surely I owe it to myself to go back and see how it goes and pans out...it feels right to try. I will get my citizenship first, but with all going well (on paper at least...but just because the boxes are ticked, good job, good lifestyle, nice apartment, etc doesn't mean we're happy, and despite having friends I often have such solitary moments) am I MAD to give it all up for a stint back in the UK? What if I don't get work there, and what if should I choose to come back here in 6 months theres no work here then...eek panic alert :-/ Advice, reassurance, experience, tips all welcome, I know you guys here are the experts Thanks Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi Lisa, It sounds like you are quite young or at least without too much responsibility to others so it doesn't sound like there is much to deliberate - do what feels right at the time and with citizenship it doesn't need to be forever. If there are things you can do to put things on hold in Australia rather than give up entirely (sabbatical from work? rent out your flat?) then that's always sensible, do try and get work lined up to come back to if you can or at least start warming up your old contacts. i work in a different field (IT) but it only took me a month to find work back in the UK after 5 years in Australia. One thing I would say is if you are applying for citizenship in February, you are unlikely to have it for June, as there can be a 3-6 month wait after the citizenship is granted (which is a month or two after applying) for a ceremony and then you have to apply for a passport - it varies according to where you live so you may have taken your specific circumstances into account but 4 months seems like an awfully short time frame. We applied in January and got our passports in the July and it was a bit nail biting to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Coming home for a month would probably have been a bit unreal but I expect you are aware of that. You will have been on holiday and everything a novelty. That said it seems you have good reasons to relocate to the UK and there is lots of work opportunities in London as I am sure you are aware. I would though review again your reasons for emigrating in the first place to see if they may still hold good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoebox20 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks so much for the feedback and advice, you're right about the month thing obviously it was very much a whirlwind of activity, also about the seeing how it goes. I came here originally on the WHV to give it a shot, always wanted to try it and things sort of all worked out real well, after a bit of a rut in England this was a fresh challenge, that now I think I'm ready for a new challenge nearer to family. I'm 34 so not really young, but don't have mega responsibility (no kids or mortgages) at the moment, 6 months more in my job I'm hoping might give me time to make a super impact in such that they might have me back...if ping pong-ing was the answer and I do have the UK (-2c...brrrrr) Oh heck on the citizenship though, I can apply 17 Feb, figured it would take a couple of months, and can I not come back for the ceremony? At the moment my flights are 31st May, and I got a return for end Nov, just incase but can change the return date for a small fee (one way flights were saving hardly anything and I'm sure I'll come back at some point, be it a year, two years...hence citizenship, in a dream world I could ship my mum back here with me Thanks for the support, and experiences...alll helps knowing I'm not the only one doing stuff like this, feeling like you 'belong' is something I may have strived for all my life, I'm not sure I ever will...but while I love Aus and 'fitted' here the last few years, I felt that I could settle back in London or England, for a bit longer...not forever, but so many things I didn't do or see when there I'm keen to tick off my list before I settle or kick back at least here in Aus, so I probably owe it to myself, and my family to have a try. L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 You are free to travel between the citizenship being granted and the ceremony, however our council gave very little notice of the ceremony, around a month (& that was only verbal when I called, it was even nearer to the date we got the actual invites). You need to be a little careful as to become a citizen you are pledging your commitment to Australia - now there are different ways to interpret that but I would certainly keep it close to your chest that you have plans to leave and it could be permanent. There would be no problem in saying you plan to be out of the country May to November and you could then have your ceremony and leave permanently but that's an expensive way to do it unless you really think you'll keep ping-ponging (& there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - it's a blessing to have dual citizenship, I had a business meeting with someone from New Zealand just this week - the possibilities are endless ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach pig Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi all....and HAPPY NEW YEAR! So this is my first post here, Having been in Aus 4 years, on the cusp of citizenship (applying in feb) and I'm a few months into a new job (not totally my dream role but a good senior brand/packaging designer job, great team, decent agency and so far enjoying the work and challenges, learning lots and earning much more than my last role...BUT...I went 'home' for a month last year and somehow felt like I belonged again, realised how much I miss being close to my mum and the buzz of london (as a creative the European culture seems much more in touch there than here in Sydney) and so I've booked flights to move back ...now they're booked (for June) I'm all unsure, have I made the wrong decision, I'll miss my life here, but then I felt so happy there after being away so long, and surely I owe it to myself to go back and see how it goes and pans out...it feels right to try. I will get my citizenship first, but with all going well (on paper at least...but just because the boxes are ticked, good job, good lifestyle, nice apartment, etc doesn't mean we're happy, and despite having friends I often have such solitary moments) am I MAD to give it all up for a stint back in the UK? What if I don't get work there, and what if should I choose to come back here in 6 months theres no work here then...eek panic alert :-/ Advice, reassurance, experience, tips all welcome, I know you guys here are the experts Thanks Lisa Pretty much same dilemma as me but I've got three kids to think of as well . If it was just me and the misses I would be off. The possibilities are endless go for it and grab it. Don't think could've should've would've DO IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie22 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Try not to think too much about the "what ifs", chances are a lot of the worst case scenarios are probably only going to happen in your imagination anyway! Be positive, determined and adamant it will work out and it will. Follow your heart and your gut instinct which reading between the lines sounds like the UK - getting that citizenship leaves the door open to return when your heart may tell you something else in years to come. Only natural to get the wobbles especially if you're settled with a good job etc but that leap of faith can lead to many more positive experiences. My advice is enjoy your freedom while you have it, go back, enjoy London, enjoy Europe, enjoy your family and the best of luck! X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstone1975 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Just to chime in about the citizenship, I applied beginning of August 2014 I got approval for application about beginning of Nov. I'm still waiting for the letter from the council which is only issued up to 3 weeks before ceremony date. hoping I get mine within 2 weeks as I've been informed provisionally by Gov dept that I potentially booked in for Australia day. but till I get the letter that still not confirmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joek62 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi Lisa, Happy New Year. It's natural to doubt, as it is to worry, but the important thing is, we have to trust. In this case, trust what you feel. You do not sound entirely content, no matter what a good lifestyle you appear to have here in Sydney (all the boxes ticked). Making mistakes in life is NOT a disaster, if things don't happen as we hoped we reinvents ourselves with what is available to us at the time. I've been in Sydney only ten months and the climate is unbelievable, the café culture, the beaches, the coastline north and south is mind-blowing and the salaries are so much higher than the UK - but there's something missing, and l'm feeling Sydney is not the place for me, long-term. So l understand what you are feeling. Maybe l might try Melbourne that might be more suitable to me. I have jumped from one risky situation to another, and made mistakes, but l have NO regrets. In 2003, I was a creative retoucher with an advertising agency in the UK, I served four years with them before volunteering for redundancy to freelance and support myself; after three wonderful years and four declining years. due to recession, l left the UK and flew to Singapore with NO job. Within one week l was hired by IRIS Worldwide and spent three and half years in Singapore. I'm not going into details, but l then orchestrated a transfer to IRIS Sydney from Singapore. I moved my life here to Sydney in March 2014, after six months IRIS made me redundant. I'm 53, retouching is a specialised profession and jobs are quite infrequent and l have three months before my visa is revoked, before l have to make a tough decision of where to go. I'm enjoying life, I've traveled to unbelievable places instead of stock piling money, so l'm not sitting here with no concerns. Maybe l should be panicked, but l am not... l trust there is something there for me, as l did in 2003 when l gave up my livelihood, as l did in 2010 when l walked away from the UK to Singapore with NO job and l believe there will be something for me when the time comes. 'Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?' Matt 6:26 Yes, I am a christian...not a stuffy one and l trust in Christ, you may well not be - but trust in what you feel, things obviously don't feel right for you here in Sydney; DON'T concern yourself with tomorrow, when the time comes... trust that there will always be something there for you tomorrow, because there will be. Good Luck Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi Lisa, I think you have got it exactly right and your realistic that you may 'ping pong pom', but having taken the gamble initially to make the move at least in 10-15 years you won't regret anything. I have been in Aussie now 3 years and it's still not 'home' and I don't think it ever will be. Everytime I go back to the UK I love it. I'm 30 and have just moved to Sydney from Perth and think the same as you, (good job, good money, nice flat etc etc but something is missing. After spending New Years Eve alone in my local pub, I know how tough it is. If you wana catch up and have a good moan drop us a line. Ps.... That new English/ Traditional Chippy in Bondi is well worth a visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rinkie66 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I am also creative industry and also missed london a lot, work wise as well as other things, whilst away. We were in Sydney 9 years and returned in Nov, we now have 2 young kids. I, like you, felt I was home on my visits back and wanted to return for about 3 years before we actually did. I had read on here many people regretting their choice to move back and I was really stressed about making the wrong choice as the financial implications of an emigration for a family of 4 are huge. I was so sure by the time we actually moved that I was being really stupid, thanks to all the "why would you come back here" comments from friends in the UK. But now, I am so deliriously, wonderfully glad I stuck to my guns, and we did it. I knew the moment we arrived in Heathrow, but yes we are in honeymoon period. I have started freelancing already in a London Studio that I always followed the progress of. Of coursers totally impossible to say what you will feel when or if you do it. I just wanted to say you can feel, at the point of moving, that you are doing something crazy and stupid and will need to reverse it, and it still end up being right. Of course, like everything, that's not true for everyone, but you will regret it if you don't try. I said I would allow us one move back here, and then one move back to Sydney (as we never had lids when we lived in London last so couldn't make an accurate comparison). Now, I really can't see us going back. I really hope we don't have to, it just feels right for us, here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sustain Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi all....and HAPPY NEW YEAR! So this is my first post here, Having been in Aus 4 years, on the cusp of citizenship (applying in feb) and I'm a few months into a new job (not totally my dream role but a good senior brand/packaging designer job, great team, decent agency and so far enjoying the work and challenges, learning lots and earning much more than my last role...BUT...I went 'home' for a month last year and somehow felt like I belonged again, realised how much I miss being close to my mum and the buzz of london (as a creative the European culture seems much more in touch there than here in Sydney) and so I've booked flights to move back ...now they're booked (for June) I'm all unsure, have I made the wrong decision, I'll miss my life here, but then I felt so happy there after being away so long, and surely I owe it to myself to go back and see how it goes and pans out...it feels right to try. I will get my citizenship first, but with all going well (on paper at least...but just because the boxes are ticked, good job, good lifestyle, nice apartment, etc doesn't mean we're happy, and despite having friends I often have such solitary moments) am I MAD to give it all up for a stint back in the UK? What if I don't get work there, and what if should I choose to come back here in 6 months theres no work here then...eek panic alert :-/ Advice, reassurance, experience, tips all welcome, I know you guys here are the experts Thanks Lisa Have you considered after getting your citizen ship working in Auckland? The vibe is far more European and great talent to work with, with many new arrivals from Europe and North America I found the culture more sophisticated (Digital Design) than Melbourne/Sydney where its was pretty much juvenile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoebox20 Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hi Lisa,I think you have got it exactly right and your realistic that you may 'ping pong pom', but having taken the gamble initially to make the move at least in 10-15 years you won't regret anything. I have been in Aussie now 3 years and it's still not 'home' and I don't think it ever will be. Everytime I go back to the UK I love it. I'm 30 and have just moved to Sydney from Perth and think the same as you, (good job, good money, nice flat etc etc but something is missing. After spending New Years Eve alone in my local pub, I know how tough it is. If you wana catch up and have a good moan drop us a line. Ps.... That new English/ Traditional Chippy in Bondi is well worth a visit. You're totally right, and nice to hear of someone around the same age (might be 34 but mentally, as a creative about 15 with the same dilemma, I really do love Aus, made some amazing friends here (mainly traveller or non sydneysiders too...Sydney is quite clicky I find) and spending New Years on my apartment rooftop with random neighbours and watching fireworks, it just often gets quite isolated despite being surrounded by people doesn't it...do you find Sydney very different to Perth? As Lady Rainicorn suggested, I know I'm ready for some UK time again, be nearer to family, and European Culture, and architecture/arts....but deep down I know I'll be back on that return flight (probably in Nov as its booked for) to stay here again, and celebrate the citizenship ceremony, but need to get the UK allure out my system first, I'm glad I'm holding out for Citizenship, it would be crazy not to with my plan to return. Auckland...is a great idea, I haven't been but some fantastic design agencies in NZ, I can see myself moving to melbourne too, definitely more European and feels like I'm less far from home, if only I could move my mum across there too. New Bondi Chippy, not really a Bondi fan (I know I'm British whats wrong with me ;-) but will definitely have to check that out, and the new small bars popping up city wide, even over the north side near me in Crows Nest are another addition to the 'bits I love about living here' side of the list, I'l be back, but first I have to get at least one English summer in Thanks everyone, keep those opinions, experiences and tips coming :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Hi Shoebox, Yeh I think Sydney is so work focused most people work long hours and talks mainly involves work. Perth is very small place compared to Sydney and people are more friendly, I pretty much only hung around with my English/Irish mates as the expat community in Perth is huge. I'm struggling at the minute to meet people as my work is only small 4-5 guys all married. I have been looking at doing my RSA to get out and fill the boredom and meet people. If you have any tips where I can socialise with people in a similar situation just let me know as I feel pretty lonely at the minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoebox20 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Hey Northern, Sydney is definitely more 'clicky' than other Australian places I've visited, but thats just my experience and I'm sure it depends where a bouts you are, where are you based? I'm in Crows Nest and met most of my friends either locally just generally chatting in coffee shops (amazing what wearing a Liverpool FC shirt on my way to the gym does to get people commenting, let alone being a girl who even likes football, or should I say soccer! and theres a website called meetup, thats pretty good for meeting people as they organise get togethers or events. I'm guessing you're Bondi way from the previous chipshop mention, and while I might be heading home later in the year if you're ever north side and want a coffee/moan let me know...I'm normally around and about in the city with friends or solo on weekends too so happy to catch up sometime, meeting new people here really depends what you like doing, as a creative I love movies/live music/comedy/galleries which aren't exactly places to make new mates, even after 4 years I've got few, but really good friends...mostly as I said out and about and from flatting with people. I'll pm you my email/deets and if you fancy a chat/moan/football banter catch up we can sort something out....even if I leave Aus I've friends who are sticking around Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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