Thinking of moving back to the UK

[Guest]

My husband (who's Australian) and I moved out to Melbourne in January this year. The plan was to always treat it as a permanent move, but have in the back of our mind that we could go back to the UK if things didn't work out.

 

Since getting here, I have been having a lot of difficulty with finding a job (I'm a lawyer qualified in the UK) and despite doing a fair amount of research before we came over to see how easy/hard it would be to re-qualify over here, have found that it's going to take at least 6 months to go through the process as I have to go back to uni and study some additional modules at a cost of over $16,000.

 

When I was in England doing the research, nobody that I spoke to mentioned that it was going to be so expensive, nor did anyone mention how long it would take. Everyone I spoke to said that it was a straightforward formality and shouldn't take longer than a month, so I feel quite duped and it's doubtful that we would have moved if I had known what the reality would be.

 

Normally I wouldn't just give up on living here, but the added complication is that I am pregnant and without two salaries, my husband and I just simply can't afford to pay for me to go back to study as it would mean breaking into money that we spent years saving for a deposit on a house.

 

At the moment, I feel very homesick and I miss my old life. I used to derive real pleasure from my job and I've never wanted to be a stay-at-home mum as I worked so hard to reach where I am today, I just didn't feel like I could give it up when kids came along.

 

I wondered if there were any other UK qualified lawyers who went through a similar process (pregnant or otherwise) when they moved to Australia and could advise on how easy/hard it was for them to re-qualify as well as how expensive it ended up being. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Brisbane Susan]

Unfortunately, Australia seems to not recognise many qualifications and prefer to issue their own. I know a medical professional who had to study and pay for extra modules to make himself Australian qualified. He then moved interstate twice and each time had to satisfy the state regulations. Yep, that meant more study and more money - all from someone with 25 years experience!

[Quoll]

I guess you've checked but you might have no option - could your Australian husband get a visa to return to UK anyway?

 

Can't help with the lawyer retaining but I'm not surprised unfortunately - is quite common for top ups to be required and study is expensive.

 

Good luck

[Guest]

I guess you've checked but you might have no option - could your Australian husband get a visa to return to UK anyway?

 

Can't help with the lawyer retaining but I'm not surprised unfortunately - is quite common for top ups to be required and study is expensive.

 

Good luck

 

Indefinite leave to remain last 2 years of non residence I thought. So long as that was what was held.

[Guest]

I think your unhappiness is linked to you not being in work, to having to go back and study and the costs etc. Plus being pregnant with your first it can always make you want the familiar, your loved ones, Mum and the like. When things don't go as hoped it can really throw a spanner in the works and make everything feel so much worse.

 

If you'd been able to work, didn't have to go back and study and so on do you think you'd feel more settled there? Do you actually like Aus, Melbourne to live in? If you studied do you see yourself as being able to settle here long term or would you possibly still feel the same?

 

I can't comment about the study. I do agree though, Aussies seem to love their certificates and Aus training etc and often what is perfectly acceptable elsewhere isn't in Aus. And state to state can vary (as can in the US and other countries that have states governing themselves and having their own laws etc).

 

I think people can have babies on a tight budget. You just need to prioritise, perhaps downsize for a while and so on. I know we managed on one salary for a long time once I went on maternity leave. It hadn't been planned but I had a lot of problems after baby was born and the plan to go back to work after a year never happened and it was 2.5 years before I could even think of working part time and doing 15 hours a week. It was another year or so longer before I could do more than that. During that time we only had husbands income and so lived carefully. We did ok Babies don't need all the gadgets and fancy prams, they don't know any different. Thats us parents that want all that kit

 

You could study while pregnant perhaps? I know its not ideal but if you started soonish you could hopefully finish by the time baby is born. Then focus on getting back to work once baby is a bit older. It probably wouldn't be easy but then is heading back to the UK, no incomes and the chance of being hired while pregnant to then go on maternity leave might be slim? It might not of course but it does happen pregnant women get passed over for jobs.

 

What does your husband think about it all? If you did want to be in Aus long term, then I think working it out to stay here is an option. If he is happy to head back to the UK and you'd rather be there too, then think that over. Would the UK be a long term move or only while the baby is young, so you could do the courses or save some more to do them and then return to Aus? So many possibles, its really hard to know what to suggest.

 

Personally, if you had both wanted to make Aus your home for the long term and aside from the study costs and the baby, you both still feel the same, I'd say try to make it happen and work towards it. If Aus isn't for you both, head back to the UK and stay put. Keep in mind that being pregnant can raise all sorts of questions in even the most rational mind of a mum to be. And the wanting to be near Mum or loved ones (that are not your husband) can be strong for some. You may be ok with these feelings, you may not. Impossible to know how it will unfold. I was fine and didn't need or want my Mum or family close. Husband was the one for me and never felt the desire to 'move back home'.

 

You can still save towards buying your own home, just might need another year or two before it happens. Renting can be a good option to begin with anyways.

[Peachy]

Hiya

Just a quick one. I do sympathise regarding the additional courses - I am in the same position re costs, although I was aware before I left UK and managed to get quotes from universities in Australia before the move. Given the cost I have decided to put my legal career on hold for the moment. As a lawyer you will have a wealth of transferable skills. I have got a permanent job with the government and couldn't be happier - flex time and no more billable hours! ! Pay is pretty good too.

Have you looked at other options? If you do decide to stay completely revamp your cv and work on what skills you do have. Adapt to the jobs you apply for. After getting over the dilemma of 'wasting' 17 years in law by not qualifying over here I have realised there is more to life than a qualification.

Good luck with the pregnancy and hope all works out for you.

[Guest]

I guess you've checked but you might have no option - could your Australian husband get a visa to return to UK anyway?

 

Can't help with the lawyer retaining but I'm not surprised unfortunately - is quite common for top ups to be required and study is expensive.

 

Good luck

 

Oh yes, he has a British passport so that isn't a problem at all.

[Guest]

You're definitely right there Snifter... I've always worked since I was 14 and find it really hard not working. I guess when I came over to Aus I just thought it would be fairly straightforward to find work - I never thought for a second that I wouldn't based on my experience of working in London - but then Melbourne isn't London so.....

 

I think we'd be able to afford either the study or the baby on one salary, but probably not both without eating into savings that we've both worked long and hard for and which neither of us want to part with unless it's for a deposit.

 

Luckily my husband is very open to the idea of going back to the UK - he lived there for 15 years so it feels like home to him too. That said, when we both started talking about moving here we were both super keen on the idea of living in Australia for many, many reasons, and maybe you're right that being pregnant and out of work is causing my emotions to run high. I'm not finding it hard to make friends and whilst I'm homesick, I do feel ok about being away from my family as family always has its good and bad sides! I think it just boils down to being able to work and finding it very frustrating dealing with the Australian bureaucracy as well as the steep costs! Goodness knows how students find the money....

 

Thanks for all of your great advice and for taking the time to write a response - you really have cheered me up somewhat and I hope you have a lovely evening

[Guest]

Hiya

Just a quick one. I do sympathise regarding the additional courses - I am in the same position re costs, although I was aware before I left UK and managed to get quotes from universities in Australia before the move. Given the cost I have decided to put my legal career on hold for the moment. As a lawyer you will have a wealth of transferable skills. I have got a permanent job with the government and couldn't be happier - flex time and no more billable hours! ! Pay is pretty good too.

Have you looked at other options? If you do decide to stay completely revamp your cv and work on what skills you do have. Adapt to the jobs you apply for. After getting over the dilemma of 'wasting' 17 years in law by not qualifying over here I have realised there is more to life than a qualification.

Good luck with the pregnancy and hope all works out for you.

 

Thanks for the tips there Peachy - I will definitely give local government jobs a try. Is there a website that is good to use for that?

 

And cheers for the tip about revamping my CV if I do go down that route. So far, I've always based it on what I've done as a lawyer, but as you quite rightly point out I do have a heap of other transferable skills that could be put to good use in another field.

 

There is definitely more to life than a qualification, but I just really want a job

 

Thanks for all the tips and for taking the time to respond to my message - have a great evening.

[petitescargot]

Google 'Victorian government jobs'. The website lists jobs for all Vic gov agencies. Despite not being able to practice law, your skills are extremely transferable and will still be considered for jobs like legal policy officer, project officer etc roles in the department of justice or the police. These jobs are relatively well paid and secure, are often a flexi time contracts and are based in the CBD.

[Guest]

Google 'Victorian government jobs'. The website lists jobs for all Vic gov agencies. Despite not being able to practice law, your skills are extremely transferable and will still be considered for jobs like legal policy officer, project officer etc roles in the department of justice or the police. These jobs are relatively well paid and secure, are often a flexi time contracts and are based in the CBD.

 

Cheers petitescargot I definitely will and thanks for your help have a lovely evening

[Rachel Tilley]

What type of law do you specialise in? Just wondered whether you could do some volunteering for a Citizens Advice type organisation to help people out on a voluntary basis to start with to see whether this could lead to some employment using your legal experience in the short term until you've had the baby and have the time/funds to do the studying?

 

If, on the other hand, you know you want to move home to the UK then there are legal reasons why it would be more prudent to do it before the baby is born...

[Guest]

What type of law do you specialise in? Just wondered whether you could do some volunteering for a Citizens Advice type organisation to help people out on a voluntary basis to start with to see whether this could lead to some employment using your legal experience in the short term until you've had the baby and have the time/funds to do the studying?

 

If, on the other hand, you know you want to move home to the UK then there are legal reasons why it would be more prudent to do it before the baby is born...

 

I primarily work in finance, but I'd be happy to do anything so I'll definitely look up the volunteering side of things as well - good tip!

 

In terms of the legal reasons as to why it would be more prudent to move to the UK before the baby is born, I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to (think baby brain is hitting me hard!).... so please could you elaborate

[starlight7]

The CABs here are not like the ones in the UK- mostly they seem to be involved in emergency relief, not legal advice. I would steer clear!

[Rachel Tilley]

I primarily work in finance, but I'd be happy to do anything so I'll definitely look up the volunteering side of things as well - good tip!

 

In terms of the legal reasons as to why it would be more prudent to move to the UK before the baby is born, I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to (think baby brain is hitting me hard!).... so please could you elaborate

 

There are a few posters on here who want to go home but their husbands don't. When you have children neither one of you can return home with the children if the other party doesn't want to and/or won't give permission for you to take the children home with you. Once your baby is born you may fall in this category if your husband decides that he wants to remain in Australia. Lots of women feel the pull to go home even more once they have a baby. If you both went home before the baby was born then you won't have to cross that bridge!

 

There's a huge amount of info on this thread here

 

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/news-chat-dilemmas/47091-children-what-happens-if-you-your-partner-decide-go-home.html

 

As long as you are forewarned and fully aware of the situation you could face then you can make informed decisions now. Most of us don't know about the law in this area until it's too late and then we find we're stuck in Australia because we don't want to leave our children.

[Guest]

Being blunt you can't have it all and anyone that hasn't worked that out before they have a family certainly does when a baby arrives!

 

Up to a certain point in my life I could control outcomes by the choices I made and the effort I put in and that resulted in a successful career, I suspect your life has been the same.

 

It sounds like you had expectations in moving to Australia that with reasonable ease you would continue along that path, buy a house with the nest egg you had worked hard to accrue, happy days. Instead you have been thrown a couple of curve balls and the main problem seems to be instead of following a new path you are steadfastly trying to stick to plan A. Your life has changed since you made those plans so let go.

 

One of my favourite quotes is: 'Trees that bend to the force of the wind don't break' You need to bend!

 

Now the bending could be in terms of staying in Australia but quite frankly I do not think anyone should make life changing decisions whilst pregnant or in the first year - too much other change is going on!! Though Rachel's post is pertinent and something to consider.

 

It seems that you want a baby, a career and a house and finances don't stretch to all three - well the baby is on it's way so which of the other two is more important? Only you can decide that - personally I'd say your career is going to be less important anyway once you're a mum and you will value accommodation stability even more but that's just based on my own experience.

 

As an aside babies cost very little - I had £3000 savings specifically for 'baby stuff' and spent virtually none of it - my parents bought a birth to 5 pushchair for us (£49,99) and virtually everything else - cot, car seat, baby bath, clothes (and more clothes!!) were handed on to us, in the end I was like 'I would actually like to buy something myself'! We were in the UK then so had lots of friends but there are 'nearly new sales' for this kind of stuff, gumtree, ebay etc. I breast fed and used washable nappies (one of the things I did have to buy but there is a huge second hand market there too) so really spent very little in the first couple of years. The main costs started when I went back to work as child care was expensive but that was a choice we made and Australia is much more supportive to working parents in terms of covering costs of childcare.

 

Your life is about to change more than you can possibly imagine so to be honest i wouldn't worry about anything for now - if you can find some work, great - if you enjoy it - even better. Any decision you make now is not in possession of the full facts i.e. what your life is like as parents.

 

Sorry if I have been a bit harsh but I have been in your position - moved to Scotland with 'a plan' (which included having a baby), got the job, bought the house and got pregnant (first month we tried!) oh how smug I was - the job turned out not to be everything I hoped and when my son was 6 weeks old my OH was made redundant! So from earning £50k plus we were on benefits, and I have been thrown more curve balls in the last 12 years than you could imagine but I have learnt to bend in the wind and I am a happier person than I would ever have been as a result.

 

From your responses to others it sounds like you are willing to bend career wise and trust me, you might make some duff decisions but you'll look back in 10 years and trust that everything happened for a reason - I know I do!

[Imapla]

You're definitely right there Snifter... I've always worked since I was 14 and find it really hard not working. I guess when I came over to Aus I just thought it would be fairly straightforward to find work - I never thought for a second that I wouldn't based on my experience of working in London - but then Melbourne isn't London so.....

 

I think we'd be able to afford either the study or the baby on one salary, but probably not both without eating into savings that we've both worked long and hard for and which neither of us want to part with unless it's for a deposit.

 

Luckily my husband is very open to the idea of going back to the UK - he lived there for 15 years so it feels like home to him too. That said, when we both started talking about moving here we were both super keen on the idea of living in Australia for many, many reasons, and maybe you're right that being pregnant and out of work is causing my emotions to run high. I'm not finding it hard to make friends and whilst I'm homesick, I do feel ok about being away from my family as family always has its good and bad sides! I think it just boils down to being able to work and finding it very frustrating dealing with the Australian bureaucracy as well as the steep costs! Goodness knows how students find the money....

 

Thanks for all of your great advice and for taking the time to write a response - you really have cheered me up somewhat and I hope you have a lovely evening

 

Hi

Like you I have left my job to move countries and it is more unsettling than you would think - your job kind of defines you and that takes away a whole pillar of your life. I would think that if you want to give Aus a real go you need to invest some of your savings into your qualifications - not only will you be able to earn that money back once you are qualified but you will have really achieved once it is all done (my husband had to do the same as an electrician - it is expensive, it is stressful and it is frustrating when you have many years of experience under your belt but that's Aus for you - licences and qualifications needed for everything!)

 

In the meantime could you get a less job in a law practice eg administrator - there are so many temp jobs available for legal companies and you could probably do that with your eyes closed - plus it might be a foot in the door. At least then you would have some money coming in and be back to the enjoyment of working (assuming you get to work in a nice place!). I know quite a few people who have had to go backwards in their career in order to get it going again

 

Then when you have to stop work to have your baby you could fully concentrate on the studies.

 

Hope all works out well for you

[Rule Britannia]

I can empathize to your cause, and it surely must be a somewhat tricky decision to make, having to pay an extra $16,000 ouch! with regards to employment in Australia (Perth) especially, it has been an absolute knightmare to find a job, I have never in all my life applied for so many positions ever period. I am an educated person with a degree and have worked for the top 3 organisations in the world, (not that i list them) as it has the opposite effect of what would normally be a bonus in LONDON...i have been here 9 years (too long) as far as i'm concerned and I totally regret well not totally regret, but wish I had gone back 5 years ago, but we can't think this way as it's a little negative, but with your thoughts of returning, I completely hear you Loud n Clear and will be heading back real soon, the only sad news is I have to part with my two buddies (pups) of 8 years which is going to hurt. I would honestly not think of it as giving up at all, far from it, I have known quite a few people who just cannot understand this thing with Australia about having to re-study to their ways....'are you serious' what aren't our Universities up to scratch or something, that's Ridiculous and quite honestly I know so many people heading off back to blighty currently as prices of Everything here in Australia are completely out of wack so to say, and i find it totally super expensive, I could and should write a book on this subject without a doubt, as I have also lived in two other countries, but here in Australia is most certainly the most difficult to find employment, and when I leave (which is soon) I will without a doubt not be returning in any situation...my apologies here as I know you asked and requested to any one with similar experiences to yours, but sometimes it's good to hear others thoughts on certain matters and I just had to speak my mind... My thoughts are return home and go get your self that job that is waiting for you at Clifford C....e or Norton R..e ....excuse my babble but at least I'm aware of it...and since when did the qualifications of Australia be in a higher degree (no pun) than the rest of the world or the UK how does that work

[Guest]

Being blunt you can't have it all and anyone that hasn't worked that out before they have a family certainly does when a baby arrives!

 

Up to a certain point in my life I could control outcomes by the choices I made and the effort I put in and that resulted in a successful career, I suspect your life has been the same.

 

It sounds like you had expectations in moving to Australia that with reasonable ease you would continue along that path, buy a house with the nest egg you had worked hard to accrue, happy days. Instead you have been thrown a couple of curve balls and the main problem seems to be instead of following a new path you are steadfastly trying to stick to plan A. Your life has changed since you made those plans so let go.

 

One of my favourite quotes is: 'Trees that bend to the force of the wind don't break' You need to bend!

 

Now the bending could be in terms of staying in Australia but quite frankly I do not think anyone should make life changing decisions whilst pregnant or in the first year - too much other change is going on!! Though Rachel's post is pertinent and something to consider.

 

It seems that you want a baby, a career and a house and finances don't stretch to all three - well the baby is on it's way so which of the other two is more important? Only you can decide that - personally I'd say your career is going to be less important anyway once you're a mum and you will value accommodation stability even more but that's just based on my own experience.

 

As an aside babies cost very little - I had £3000 savings specifically for 'baby stuff' and spent virtually none of it - my parents bought a birth to 5 pushchair for us (£49,99) and virtually everything else - cot, car seat, baby bath, clothes (and more clothes!!) were handed on to us, in the end I was like 'I would actually like to buy something myself'! We were in the UK then so had lots of friends but there are 'nearly new sales' for this kind of stuff, gumtree, ebay etc. I breast fed and used washable nappies (one of the things I did have to buy but there is a huge second hand market there too) so really spent very little in the first couple of years. The main costs started when I went back to work as child care was expensive but that was a choice we made and Australia is much more supportive to working parents in terms of covering costs of childcare.

 

Your life is about to change more than you can possibly imagine so to be honest i wouldn't worry about anything for now - if you can find some work, great - if you enjoy it - even better. Any decision you make now is not in possession of the full facts i.e. what your life is like as parents.

 

Sorry if I have been a bit harsh but I have been in your position - moved to Scotland with 'a plan' (which included having a baby), got the job, bought the house and got pregnant (first month we tried!) oh how smug I was - the job turned out not to be everything I hoped and when my son was 6 weeks old my OH was made redundant! So from earning £50k plus we were on benefits, and I have been thrown more curve balls in the last 12 years than you could imagine but I have learnt to bend in the wind and I am a happier person than I would ever have been as a result.

 

From your responses to others it sounds like you are willing to bend career wise and trust me, you might make some duff decisions but you'll look back in 10 years and trust that everything happened for a reason - I know I do!

 

Thank you for your advice - sometimes it helps to hear a few harsh words. I'd rather people be blunt and honest with me rather than sugar coat everything. And in many ways you're completely right - I do need to bend to the force of the wind

 

In terms of what is more important, the baby is something my husband and I have wanted for a long time so the baby is definitely number 1. Whilst my career is very important to me, I'm willing to put it on the backburner but I do want to work, not necessarily for the money side of things but for the social side of it, the day to day contact with other adults, the chat and the routine and the satisfaction of achieving something at the end of each day. The house can definitely wait for sure and looks like it will have to, but houses will always be there!

 

I'm really pleased to know that having a baby can be done on little money - I'm definitely not one of these mums that wants their kids to have the latest in-thing. I'm also really pleased that despite all the curve balls you have been thrown, you've managed to adapt and it sounds like things have worked out one way or another, even if that wasn't the way you had originally envisioned it.

 

Thanks again for your advice and I hope that everything continues to work out for you

[Guest]

I can empathize to your cause, and it surely must be a somewhat tricky decision to make, having to pay an extra $16,000 ouch! with regards to employment in Australia (Perth) especially, it has been an absolute knightmare to find a job, I have never in all my life applied for so many positions ever period. I am an educated person with a degree and have worked for the top 3 organisations in the world, (not that i list them) as it has the opposite effect of what would normally be a bonus in LONDON...i have been here 9 years (too long) as far as i'm concerned and I totally regret well not totally regret, but wish I had gone back 5 years ago, but we can't think this way as it's a little negative, but with your thoughts of returning, I completely hear you Loud n Clear and will be heading back real soon, the only sad news is I have to part with my two buddies (pups) of 8 years which is going to hurt. I would honestly not think of it as giving up at all, far from it, I have known quite a few people who just cannot understand this thing with Australia about having to re-study to their ways....'are you serious' what aren't our Universities up to scratch or something, that's Ridiculous and quite honestly I know so many people heading off back to blighty currently as prices of Everything here in Australia are completely out of wack so to say, and i find it totally super expensive, I could and should write a book on this subject without a doubt, as I have also lived in two other countries, but here in Australia is most certainly the most difficult to find employment, and when I leave (which is soon) I will without a doubt not be returning in any situation...my apologies here as I know you asked and requested to any one with similar experiences to yours, but sometimes it's good to hear others thoughts on certain matters and I just had to speak my mind... My thoughts are return home and go get your self that job that is waiting for you at Clifford C....e or Norton R..e ....excuse my babble but at least I'm aware of it...and since when did the qualifications of Australia be in a higher degree (no pun) than the rest of the world or the UK how does that work

 

Yes the $16,000 price tag for the studies was a real shocker! If I felt that the subjects would help me get to grips with the field of law that I work in, I would definitely fork out the money, but they aren't and they're completely useless. It just very much feels like it's a tick in the box for the sake of a tick in the box, rather than a proper analysis of my skills along with the field I want to work in, to come to a conclusion about what would be the best subjects to study in order to get re-qualified.

[Loopylu]

Yes the $16,000 price tag for the studies was a real shocker! If I felt that the subjects would help me get to grips with the field of law that I work in, I would definitely fork out the money, but they aren't and they're completely useless. It just very much feels like it's a tick in the box for the sake of a tick in the box, rather than a proper analysis of my skills along with the field I want to work in, to come to a conclusion about what would be the best subjects to study in order to get re-qualified.

 

Hi LIM

 

I am a lawyer who requalified in Oz nearly 7 years ago now. I was lucky and requalified via the NSW route and only had to take 3 subjects (Aus Constitutional Law, Prof Responsibility and Accounts). It took me a year to complete the study and get admitted as I was working full time as 'an overseas legal consultant'. About a year later, they standardised the process across all States and made it a lot harder to requalify, making you do lots of additional subjects. As I did the CPE (and not a straight law degree), I reckon I would probably have had to do most academic subjects again...

 

Although married to an Aussie, I was sponsored over by a top tier law firm as I specialised in energy law and they were short of lawyers in this discipline. They therefore paid all my study costs. It may be difficult now you are pregnant, but if you work in an in demand area of law (eg there seem to be loads of construction jobs going at the moment) you may be able to get a job working as a consultant and study part time and be subsidised by your employers.

 

All the best whatever you decide to do. I have been here nearly 8 years and still get homesick quite often. It's the friends and family and British culture that I miss...

[Guest]

Hi LIM

 

I am a lawyer who requalified in Oz nearly 7 years ago now. I was lucky and requalified via the NSW route and only had to take 3 subjects (Aus Constitutional Law, Prof Responsibility and Accounts). It took me a year to complete the study and get admitted as I was working full time as 'an overseas legal consultant'. About a year later, they standardised the process across all States and made it a lot harder to requalify, making you do lots of additional subjects. As I did the CPE (and not a straight law degree), I reckon I would probably have had to do most academic subjects again...

 

Although married to an Aussie, I was sponsored over by a top tier law firm as I specialised in energy law and they were short of lawyers in this discipline. They therefore paid all my study costs. It may be difficult now you are pregnant, but if you work in an in demand area of law (eg there seem to be loads of construction jobs going at the moment) you may be able to get a job working as a consultant and study part time and be subsidised by your employers.

 

All the best whatever you decide to do. I have been here nearly 8 years and still get homesick quite often. It's the friends and family and British culture that I miss...

 

Hi Loopylu,

 

Thanks for your email and for the info. I too did the CPE so am expecting to have to redo more than four subjects... oh the joys!

 

I am definitely missing the British culture as well - wasn't expecting it to be quite so different here - but the weather does always help.

 

All the best to you as well

[Marisawright]

I am definitely missing the British culture as well - wasn't expecting it to be quite so different here

 

 

This is a sentence that should be framed and emblazoned across the top of the PomsinOz forums! Australia is a foreign country that just happens to speak English - I've been reminded of that forcefully since I've returned to the UK. It's a pity more migrants don't understand that before they migrate.

[JockinTas]

This is a sentence that should be framed and emblazoned across the top of the PomsinOz forums! Australia is a foreign country that just happens to speak English - I've been reminded of that forcefully since I've returned to the UK. It's a pity more migrants don't understand that before they migrate.

 

Beats me why migrants find it so different. It's over 10,000 miles away from the UK. Of course it's different. It's a foreign country on the other side of the world. Just so happens it's an English speaking country. You wouldn't expect South America or India to be the same as the UK so why does it surprise people so much when they find Australia is different? I thought everybody would realise it stinking hot in many parts of Australia in the summer.

[Patphillips47]

Beats me why migrants find it so different. It's over 10,000 miles away from the UK. Of course it's different. It's a foreign country on the other side of the world. Just so happens it's an English speaking country. You wouldn't expect South America or India to be the same as the UK so why does it surprise people so much when they find Australia is different? I thought everybody would realise it stinking hot in many parts of Australia in the summer.

Exactly

it's not the UK

It's not utopia it has it's ups and downs as does all countries

I often think anyone who emigrates needs to change their own ideology to move on and get on