"Move back to Britain - No way" - any other Albion ex-pats seen Telegraph article

[Herr Tubthumper]

Our ex-pat friends were leaving in droves.

Probably due to all that ill-informed right wing drivel you spout

 

[Miami Seagull]

I've lived in the US since 98. I can't think of any circumstance which would convince me to move back. Yes, I miss the Albion (but have a season ticket anyway) and family and I love to visit. But. I love it here. So many more work opportunities, I am private security consultant, our quality if life is hugely better than in the UK. I really don't like the way the UK has developed over the past few years and miss it less and less. Our medical insurance costs 900 a month (dollars) and that hurts but overall the costs of such things even out and the quality of life shines through. In my 15 years here I could count on one hand the number of Americans that would like to live in the UK.

 

[dale jasper football guru]

Not a stat mate just my personal experience...but I live 20 miles from Detroit the motor city .....it's not the most popular location to emigrate too unless its for work !

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

And the bronx is better

Don’t live in the Bronx. Check the other posts – I’m not the only one commenting on Brighton’s current state. Stick to reading the Mirror mate.

 

[AZ Gull]

Been living in Spain for 12years moved to New York this year with family,loved Spain don't mind the States just feel Europe has more to offer would move back to England if needed to but would find it hard to afford a house etc miss my football but have Fox soccer so can watch all Palace games now we are in the old first division.Before anybody mentions Croydon I grew up in Mid Sussex and that would be the area I would choose.

I'm afraid if you are watching Fox Soccer, you won't see ANY Palace games this season. You might want to check out NBC instead.

 

[Amsterdam Albion]

I have lived in Amsterdam since 1998 and love it. Before I lived and worked in London for 10 years. I earn less and pay more tax here (52%) but my quality of life is so much better. Cycling to work instead of commuting by train is fantastic.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

The UK does seem hell bent on making it towards an ultra integrated, free for all utopia while paying at least its share in foreign aid and worldwide defence. Yet I do wonder if we can afford it. It seems no longer good enough to look after our own indigenous population and allow a reasonable level of immigration. I do recognise that we need some immigration to fill jobs including those that locals can't be asked to do but the EU mobility requirements seems a bit too generous.

We also need to take into account what is spent on foreign aid and the 'defence' budget, which seems a misnoma as most of it is spent on military activities around the world and remote from what we might regard as defending the home front. Once (or should that be 'if') we fully withdraw from Afghanistan it will be interesting to see what our defence strategy looks like. I'm a firm believer in having strong defence policy but feel it should be far more focused on the UK and that might also feel more cost effective too.

What our governments want is people they can push around, accept any old crap and say thank you for the mess they have created. It makes sense in this case to flood the country with as many people as possible. They get a new voter and they get people who will not complain, accept the crap because they never knew how good the UK used to be. The UK is finished whether we like it or not and there is sod all we can do about. The people who left this country I think made the sensible choice. Its something I will consider doing in the future because I hate the direction my country is going in.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Not a stat mate just my personal experience...but I live 20 miles from Detroit the motor city .....it's not the most popular location to emigrate too unless its for work !

Your post also suggests money makes for better quality of life. Whilst money certainly takes the sting out of being poor, quality of life is much much broader than simply having a few extra pennies in your pocket. In fact, all of the qualities I look for have nothing to do with how heavy my wallet is.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I have lived in Amsterdam since 1998 and love it. Before I lived and worked in London for 10 years. I earn less and pay more tax here (52%) but my quality of life is so much better. Cycling to work instead of commuting by train is fantastic.

I have recently started cycling to work as well. Now I have figured out how to use the the cycle paths, road markings and traffic lights (I sat at one for a good 5 minutes before I realised I needed to push a button to activate it) it's a breeze and quite wonderful.

 

[HovaGirl]

Probably due to all that ill-informed right wing drivel you spout

Ill-informed? I studied politics and history at degree level and was an activist member of 2 different political parties, one Left-Wing and one Right-Wing. I don't do propaganda, like so many people do today.

 

[HovaGirl]

Where did you get this statistic from? A lot of ex-pats I know chose the location then found a job to make it work. I simply do not believe this figure I'm afraid.

A lot of the ex-pats I came into contact with were on high-level contract jobs at through-the-roof remunerations. On the other hand, I also know a lot who struggle, and all they have to do all day is sit in bars with other ex-pats because there is nothing else to do and nowhere else to go and no one else to meet.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

A lot of the ex-pats I came into contact with were on high-level contract jobs at through-the-roof remunerations. On the other hand, I also know a lot who struggle, and all they have to do all day is sit in bars with other ex-pats because there is nothing else to do and nowhere else to go and no one else to meet.

My experience is very different to yours. Most of the Brits I know are not on staggering salaries – they are doing OK (some definitely better off than in the UK) but earning more money is not always the prime reason for moving. They want a new start, they want a better environment for their kids, they want to experience a different way of life etc. etc. – if it’s just about the money go somewhere tax free like Saudi. I have an American girlfriend and generally have more contact with Americans both at work and socially – if you are just going to sit with other expats in bars I’m not really sure what the point is in going. Like most things it needs a bit of effort.

 

[HovaGirl]

My experience is very different to yours. Most of the Brits I know are not on staggering salaries – they are doing OK (some definitely better off than in the UK) but earning more money is not always the prime reason for moving. They want a new start, they want a better environment for their kids, they want to experience a different way of life etc. etc. – if it’s just about the money go somewhere tax free like Saudi. I have an American girlfriend and generally have more contact with Americans both at work and socially – if you are just going to sit with other expats in bars I’m not really sure what the point is in going. Like most things it needs a bit of effort.

Indeed, but hanging around in bars with friends is the reality for many expats, at least, in Europe. I've seen it in Spain, Greece, Germany, France and Bulgaria, especially amongst those who do not have children living with them. When children are involved, there is a lot more opportunity for finding things to do and people to meet, through the other parents at the children's schools and the school activities. But then, the same would be true at home in the UK. When all's said and done, go indoors at night and shut the curtains or blinds, and your four walls could be anywhere in the world.

 

[Adders1]

I moved to Christchurch just about a year ago, but can't say that it's a better place to live than Brighton. There might be plenty of big houses, and more open space, but in Brighton you don't have to remortgage your house to buy out of season vegetables, and you don't have to plan a night out as if it were a military operation, because there is a city centre and a decent public transport system. You can also watch football with your mates and be considered for jobs without having to know the person who is interviewing you for 5+ years. It's a very protectionist political and social mindset over here, can't recommend it over Brighton at all.

 

[ryeseagull]

I've lived in the U.S. for 12 years and am a dual citizen. If the right position opened up in the U.K., I would consider going back, but I am quite happy here. I probably prefer visiting "home" rather than living there. I work in higher education and the system here is far more meritocratic.

 

[topbanana36]

I moved to Christchurch just about a year ago, but can't say that it's a better place to live than Brighton. There might be plenty of big houses, and more open space, but in Brighton you don't have to remortgage your house to buy out of season vegetables, and you don't have to plan a night out as if it were a military operation, because there is a city centre and a decent public transport system. You can also watch football with your mates and be considered for jobs without having to know the person who is interviewing you for 5+ years. It's a very protectionist political and social mindset over here, can't recommend it over Brighton at all.

Blimey at last someone who has seen beneath the veneer. Beautiful country but extremely flawed.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Indeed, but hanging around in bars with friends is the reality for many expats, at least, in Europe. I've seen it in Spain, Greece, Germany, France and Bulgaria, especially amongst those who do not have children living with them. When children are involved, there is a lot more opportunity for finding things to do and people to meet, through the other parents at the children's schools and the school activities. But then, the same would be true at home in the UK. When all's said and done, go indoors at night and shut the curtains or blinds, and your four walls could be anywhere in the world.

See what I mean by ill-informed? You are making sweeping judgements, yet again, on your somewhat limited exposure. I cannot claim to speak for everyone but what I can state is my experience and the experience of quite a few people I have discussed ex-pat life with is very very different to the one you portray. Your version may well be the case in certain sunny ex-pat ghettos but in international cities you will find a different approach as well. I make an effort to meet locals and hang out with locals and have a nice circle of German friends I socialise with.

I think Lyndhurst feels the same.

You simply cannot say hanging around in bars with other ex-pats is the "reality for many" with any authority.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ill-informed? I studied politics and history at degree level and was an activist member of 2 different political parties, one Left-Wing and one Right-Wing. I don't do propaganda, like so many people do today.

See my post above.

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

Lived in France for 12 years, 8 of which I did removals and a weekly radio show. did our best to integrate with local people rather than ex-pats, with their weekly paper reading coffee mornings, meetings at market every Monday etc.....Had a saying at the time referring to the four 'D's , Disease, Debt, Divorce, Death, as being the biggest contributory factor to bring people back to the UK.
Although I was retired and worked to supplement my works pension, my wife continued to work in the education system until her retirement. By which time I'd had a minor heart attack, so had to give up work. Living, as we did, in a tiny village, decided, aged 60, to return to Brighton, to the house we'd kept, did it up, sold up and moved to Dorset.
Best thing we ever did was move back.

 

[surlyseagull]

A lot of people moved to Spain Portugal and the states and paid the price regards house prices ,and Australia the cost of living ,those houses are now not worth a quarter they were and those same people are desperate to move back but cant afford to sell or move back to the Uk ,that is not the fault of the Uk .I have lived and worked all over the world all my working life ,and it never ceases to amaze me how many people look at there adopted homes through rose tinted glasses and run the Uk down but would come back in a shot if they could .If people think our country is not one of the most beautiful then they have clearly not seen it,the four seasons are truly wonderful and our country changes all the time in winter spring etc ,of course the Uk is not a utopia and of course it has its problems and I wouldnt mind betting neither is anywhere else ,but I still get an immense sense of pride and belonging when I land in my country ,and as much as people may deny it we are still the envy of the world .