restfamily Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Hi I thought it was time for me to post an update on my journey so far as Saturday marks my first anniversary as an Australian citizen! I emigrated in April 2007, six months pregnant with my second child and a lot has happen in the 3 years or so since then. There have been many highs and lows but on average, Canberra is now home. It feels more like home than anywhere else I have ever lived and I put that down to the wonderful friends and lifestyle I have managed to achieve here. In the UK you acquire many friends over the years but when you move somewhere new you have to go and consciously make friends. I have therefore found although I have less friends here each one I do is a good friend, each one I could call at 3 am and ask for help. I had not lived close to my parents since I was 18 so I never really missed them in a daily sense, but I do miss them when major things happen, like birthdays, moving house and illness. I had to hit the ground running when I first arrived in Canberra as I was pregnant and I had to quickly work out the medical system and find a rental urgently. Finding a rental can be stressful but I did find somewhere after a few weeks of looking. After only a month I took a financial risk and bought land in Canberra and then the following year I built my first Aussie house. I have since sold that house and am in the process of purchasing my second home in Canberra, so I guess I am staying put for a while! I struggled with the isolation of Canberra for a while, as I was use to just saying “let’s go to Oxford for the day” etc. The distance really became a reality for me when my 12 week old son was seriously ill in HDU and required transfer to ICU. It was at that point I discovered despite being the capital we do not have a paediatric ICU in Canberra and it was time for a helicopter to Sydney. Thankfully he pulled through and in the end we stayed in Canberra and have only had to go to Sydney for specialist treatment, but that still feels like a major expedition just to see a doctor! The healthcare system does take some getting used to and on many occasions has close to sent me broke. Things like the fact you have to pay for children’s prescriptions. I find health insurance is not really insurance (i.e. it doesn’t pay out when you are sick so you not struggling when you are ill) but more a part payment system. I have had my children in good childcare centres and am pleased with the education system so far. My daughter has been classed as gifted and has started primary school a year early and is doing really well. I was also pleased to discover some of the primary schools in the ACT have special programs for gifted and talented children. I had a few check point milestones along the way. The first after 18 months when my husband and I separated and the second after my first trip back to the UK after 3 years. Deciding to stay and stick it out as a single parent was a tough one. In the end it came down to the fact single parent life would have its difficulties anywhere in the world, I had moved to give the children a different lifestyle, I had moved to cut long commute times, these were all still true. When I think about it now there is no way I could have balanced all this in the UK. In Canberra I can drop the children at school and still be in work by 9.15am, I doubt I could do that in the UK. I also have managed to establish a lot of activities to keep me busy, many of which I couldn’t have accessed in the urban sprawl of the SE England. I recently visited the UK for the first time and concluded yes I missed things, but they were mainly materialistic things: NEXT, M&S, supermarkets…. I do not miss the weather, the traffic, the small houses. The only thing I really still struggle with is my career. Whilst I doubt I will ever really be out of work in Canberra, I do not have the same type of work I enjoyed in the UK, but I just have to remind me at the cost that came at: 6.30am trains, a collection of air miles, hours on the M4… compare that to a 20 min drive to work without traffic! I have got my evenings back, I feel healthier because I have more time to exercise, to cook and I can get out for a walk in the sun most days of the year. I guess in summary, a place is what you make of it, keep a balanced view of what you have changed for the better and what you are missing and why. Take the opportunity to meet new people and do new things, but most of all put your head down and get on with life here like you have no choice for a least, I know everyone says it, 2 years. For me 3 years was a good time to head back to the UK, I wouldn’t have wanted to go earlier. In fact I got stuck there for an extra 8 days due to the volcanic ash cloud and I got really upset because I just wanted to go “home”. I am happy here for now and I am going to keep capitalising on that. All the best no matter what stage of the journey you are at. K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddysMum Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Wow! you really have had highs and lows. But you sound as though you are winning and I love your attitude. I just want to give you a big hug and say "well done", and thank you for posting such an upbeat but very balanced post. I would love to know more about Canberra. It's not one of the most popular destinations, is it? I guess because of the beach lifestyle seekers that we often are. But it obviously has something going for it. I really hope that life goes well for you. I think you can make that happen with your attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy123 Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Great honest post :notworthy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Congratulations! You surely are part of the great Canberra family now - almost an old timer!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stockies Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Great reading, I look forward to your next installment.... Claire. xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sunnyday Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Inspired post, thankyou x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Yuills Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 You have had your highs and you have had your lows..but have come throught the other end. Congratulations on a positive attitute which comes out in your post. Well done to you. xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeza Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 you sound like a wonderful person - really balanced and able to make good decisions even in tough times. I agree with you about the benefits of staying. Really glad to here that life is good! Jenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dragsterwish Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Thanks for sharing the story of your journey. Its really inspiring and it fuels the patience of many awaiting our visas.... we needed that badly... We are glad you've made the right choice to stay. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.