Moving abroad

[P.addy]

Hey guys...

Not running from problems, just fancy a much nicer location to live and thought about moving abroad

Looking at buggering off to Cyprus, already PM'd local Cyprus resident Suntan Sid... planning to go out and have a view of the areas and see if its for me.

I know it would be leaving family and friends behind...spoken with the parents (geting older now, both disabled n that) and they said if it makes me happy, then go for it.

Other half left when I decided I wanted to move away so no worries there

Basically, who else...if anyone has moved abroad and stayed, or even if you moved and hated it and came back!?

Looking for it to be a permanent thing, using money I got from a crash a while back...but its tied up at the moment I hate banks (to be fair, my fault...for safety I put it in a savings I cant touch till im 25.)

Does anyone reckon this is a dumb move on my part? Obviously i'd go out there...do the whole application to live/work/find a job before actually shooting over there and wasting money.

[Rob]

Do it!

I've been living in NZ for the past year and a half and don't regret the move here... yet!

The hardest thing is leaving family and friends that you care about but Skype is a great thing!...
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Love is 1050cc

[BigTobyD]

Do it while you can, there's usually a limited window of opportunity between having the cash and being able to and 'settling down' by which point it becomes a lot more difficult.

If you don't like it, you come back with more life experience, if you do like it, you did the right thing.

Win win.
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2002 KDX220R - 2006 300EXC - 2006 EC300 - 2005 625SXC

[Marmalade]

Don't move abroad, it's full of foreigners..

..oh, wait !!
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[Jenks]

i did it about 1.5 years ago.

to germany. (Near the alps, right at the bottom)

Brilliant thing to do. Expecially for biking

But the lifestyle is so different, people are so friendly, no problems with jobs, or trying to progress. everyone seems to love the idea.

It was very very hard at one point, with family and friends, but at the end... its only a flight away??
you just tell people when your sorted, they can come visit.

you soon realise who your friends are anyway, and most people just wont even bother to contact you anymore!!
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Suntan Sid]

If you put it off, chances are you'll never do it! Even if it doesn't work out at least you tried it. At least suck it and see!

Don't expect attitudes and sensibilities to be the same as they are in the UK.

If you thought "Red Tape" was a British invention, think again.

Your chosen destination will not be "Just like the UK with, sun/rain forest/snow/desert/ whatever.

As a Brit you will, on occasion, be reminded of your colonial past!

Try not to "ghettoise" yourself, try and integrate.

Learn, at least, some of the language. (It's all Greek to me, never rang so true ).

Get yourself out of "Holiday mode" asap!

Despite what the press would have you believe, the UK is run rather efficiently, in comparison to a lot of other countries.

Don't close all of your UK bank accounts, leave one open with a small sum deposited. You have to jump through hoops these days to get a new account, especially if you haven't been resident in the UK for a while. (This was advice given to me by my bank manager before leaving).

All those things that you think you can't get anywhere else in the world, are all available at the local supermarket.

Last year, over here, two people where jailed on witchcraft charges!

No regrets from me, even when life sucks big time, guaranteed sunshine doesn't half go a long way to cheering you up!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[P.addy]

[P.addy]

[Suntan Sid]

[Jenks]

i kept my banks open, and i can use them here as normal. wont be closing them.

in respect of your family visiting..

then backwards??

you occasionally fly back 'on holiday'

Get to have a huge meetup with people you love and like....

you have to be in it 100% yourself before anything will happen...

and if anyone mentions 'dont look back' this is bullshit. Youll compair how much better it is!!

And remember, if you do go.. and you later decide its a bad choice... Whats stopping you going back????? Nothing.
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[DXB]

Left Blighty in 2001 and moved to the UAE, best thing i have ever done.
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superchargers good

[Bendy]

[Clanger]

Your friends will visit. You have to do what's right for you. If the weather and the change is calling, it's best to go with it. I have moved about from county to county, because I get itchy feet.

Worrying about being a bit lonely will just force you to learn the lingo and get out and about, join some clubs, find yourself some mates... and you are easy to get on with, so I doubt you'll find it that hard.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Suntan Sid]

[nowhere.elysium]

[kawakid]

When i was a student I lived in Ireland and France, Ireland was pretty much the same as the UK, but the weather was worse.

France on the overhand was quite different, for a start everything was much cheaper, ie my weekly rent was only £16 a week in the uni halls. alcohol in the supermarkets was a fraction of the UK costs. Saying that things like public transport were crap, utterly crap. Don't believe the Daily Mail not everything is better abroad.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[621andy]

I moved out about 10 or so years ago, but had been working abroad for some time before that...

Basically, don't get hooked on the 'sunshine every day' myth It's actually fucking boring sometimes! And it still does rain even in Cyprus and Turkey where I currently am.

In a lot of countries, finding a job is the first problem. The second one is getting one that pays what youthink you're worth.

I moved to Germany on a contract so didn't have to worry about that side of things, however when I started looking for alternative employment, I hit upon the problem that you are unqualified unless you've got a certifiacate that proves otherwise!

I ended up working for an employment agency for peanuts per hour, and doing unpaid overtime that was used as time-off in winter when there was no work...

The other thing is the paperwork. If you go to Germany, you must register at the local government office. You don't however need a work permit(eu).

As someone else said, keep your UK bank account. Getting a local bank account is not usually a problem, but they wantyouto have ajob first! The thieving bastards are the same the world over, regardless of nationality, but find a good one and you'll be fine.

I've lived in France, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus and Turkey, all reasonably long term, and the only thing I can recommend is to learn the lingo ASAP! ..and that includes Greek in Cyprus!
You'll integrate better, and it'll make dealing with government offices easier...

I wouldn't by choice live in the UK any more, however be very careful where you choose as an alternative! Germany at the moment is in dire straits, with virtually everyone I know on short time, jobless, or working longer hours for less money. The rich are still loaded, but the average man on the street is struggling.
France is still reasonably good jobwise, but wages are lower than the UK, due to the amount that employers have to pay for social insurance/health, etc. The shprter working week is a bonus though!

Cyprus from what I hear is struggling since becoming a Euro country, although someone may wish to correct me on that
But from what I hear, it's got very expensive and the tourist pound is makng its way over here to Turkey.

Switzerland likes its bureaocracy, but if you can get your foot in the door there, then you're laughing. Expensive to live there, but huge minimum wage and good health/social schemes, and of course stunning scenery if you're away from Basel.

Turkey- great weather, but can be fucing cold in winter, and it does rain a fair bit here too! Paperwork is an absolute nightmare, and work permit very expensive for a UK passport holder. Salaries a dire though, unless you're in an exclusive occupation...I am, at aleast at the moment

Anyway, I don't want to put you off at all, far from it, just think VERY carefully before you leap....
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'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)

[Dazbo666]

I lived in Germany for a short while some years ago. Loved the change of atmosphere, and the new experiences etc.
However, circumstances changed and I had other job opportunities back here in the UK

I'd say grab the chance if you can
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