Emigrating - Who has done it?

D

Darko

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
627
Reaction score
21
Location
GP
Has anyone here left SA for pastures anew?

Did you go for work? Did you go for a change?

What's been the most difficult thing about leaving?

I am thinking of packing up and putting the EU passport to some use.
 
I am finishing my degree first and then I am out of here with my family. Unfortunately without a 4 year degree, and the line of work I am in now...I am not very "wanted".

You are a very, very lucky person to not have to deal with some of the things we need in order to be placed in an eligibility pile of 1000's of applicants.
 
Yup, to the U.S. for work. The most difficult part was leaving family, but now, with Skype, etc., I speak to them more than when I was in SA, so it hasn't been that bad. There are usually some cultural barriers to get over, but that just comes with time.
 
Inn3rs3lf said:
I am finishing my degree first and then I am out of here with my family. Unfortunately without a 4 year degree, and the line of work I am in now...I am not very "wanted".

You are a very, very lucky person to not have to deal with some of the things we need in order to be placed in an eligibility pile of 1000's of applicants.
Click to expand...

What field are you in?

The things that you mention that one needs to be eligible, what are those?

I am not necessarily looking to live and work in the EU, the USA would be first prize. So getting a working visa to the US would mean that I would also need to apply.
 
cguy said:
Yup, to the U.S. for work. The most difficult part was leaving family, but now, with Skype, etc., I speak to them more than when I was in SA, so it hasn't been that bad. There are usually some cultural barriers to get over, but that just comes with time.
Click to expand...

Nice! Where in the states are you?

What do you do? How did you get the job?
 
Never really put much serious thought into it but I married and it became an option, so I went for it.

Most difficult thing is being so far away from loved ones (family and friends).

There are pros and cons wherever you live though, it's just really a matter of choosing which pros and cons you can live with :p
 
Planning to in the next 2-3 years (before I'm 30). Not so much because I hate SA but because I want to gain international experience work wise and other. Will probably come back to Cape Town after a few years.
 
Lycanthrope said:
...

Most difficult thing is being so far away from loved ones (family and friends).

There are pros and cons wherever you live though, it's just really a matter of choosing which pros and cons you can live with :p
Click to expand...

True, and true.

I wanted to leave when I started working 8 years ago. At the time I wanted to get some proper work experience first. Now I have the professional experience, and the crime has recently reminded me I still need to make the move.
I started looking for jobs in Canada as a first prize, else I'll head to Aus- strangely I seem to be in a better position on the aus visa side. :/
 
cguy said:
Yup, to the U.S. for work. The most difficult part was leaving family, but now, with Skype, etc., I speak to them more than when I was in SA, so it hasn't been that bad. There are usually some cultural barriers to get over, but that just comes with time.
Click to expand...

Haha tell me about it. Cultural & language barriers a plenty.

Moved to Norway in August. VERY few people here speak ANY English so I've had to pick up the language quickly. That's probably been the hardest part...without it, all other logistics would've been much more manageable. I didn't hold any sort of farewell or anything when I left, most people didn't even know. A lot still dont, which is fine by me.

Im 2 months in and still living off my FNB credit card while waiting for my bank acc. here to open and whatnot, that's definitely an issue, so if you come over, make sure you've got enough spare cash lying around to help yourself out for a while.

No idea if what Ive done counts as emigrating, but Ive got a 3yr residence permit with option for permanent residence afterwards.

One VERY important thing to note:

Whatever your reasons for moving...make sure you move TOWARD something rather than running AWAY from something. You're not a refugee, you're a hard worker.
 
Voicy said:
Whatever your reasons for moving...make sure you move TOWARD something rather than running AWAY from something. You're not a refugee, you're a hard worker.
Click to expand...

Good advice this. Why Norway? And have you got a job that side?
 
Darko said:
Nice! Where in the states are you?

What do you do? How did you get the job?
Click to expand...

I've moved around quite a bit, but spent most of my time in the Bay Area (Silicon Valley). I'm a software developer with en emphasis on scientific and quantitative development. My first U.S. employer heard of me (it's good to have some sort of reputation), and contacted me directly (I kept contact details and CV up on a website - this was long before LinkedIn :)). I did a bunch of phone screens and then an on-site interview, and was offered a pretty good senior dev job, and took it.
 
Voicy said:
Haha tell me about it. Cultural & language barriers a plenty.

Moved to Norway in August. VERY few people here speak ANY English so I've had to pick up the language quickly. That's probably been the hardest part...without it, all other logistics would've been much more manageable. I didn't hold any sort of farewell or anything when I left, most people didn't even know. A lot still dont, which is fine by me.

Im 2 months in and still living off my FNB credit card while waiting for my bank acc. here to open and whatnot, that's definitely an issue, so if you come over, make sure you've got enough spare cash lying around to help yourself out for a while.

No idea if what Ive done counts as emigrating, but Ive got a 3yr residence permit with option for permanent residence afterwards.

One VERY important thing to note:

Whatever your reasons for moving...make sure you move TOWARD something rather than running AWAY from something. You're not a refugee, you're a hard worker.
Click to expand...

TehStranger said:
Good advice this. Why Norway? And have you got a job that side?
Click to expand...

Also curious about this. What field are you in?
 
Will know within the next 2 weeks...

I've been scheming hard on this front for a long time though so now that the time comes it seems almost trivial. That being said...many stars happen to be aligned in my favour...

It seems to boil down to right skillset/profession or right passport. Without one of those you're not going anywhere...
 
I have emigrated thrice. First to the US, then to SA, and now to Netherlands.

Most difficult thing about leaving is, at first, your family. Afterwards you get used to it.

Come to Netherlands, we all speak englis here :D.
 
Thanks for teh constructive feedback guys. Really appreciate it.

As an Eastern European refugee living in SA for the most of my life, I've never really felt at home here. It always seemed as some sort of stop over if that makes any sense? So I'm just keen for the next journey to start, and perhaps settle down and build my life somewhere.

Hope to go to the States as 1st prize, but Europe as a fallback.
 
Darko said:
Thanks for teh constructive feedback guys. Really appreciate it.

As an Eastern European refugee living in SA for the most of my life, I've never really felt at home here. It always seemed as some sort of stop over if that makes any sense? So I'm just keen for the next journey to start, and perhaps settle down and build my life somewhere.

Hope to go to the States as 1st prize, but Europe as a fallback.
Click to expand...
Nationality?
 
Darko said:
Thanks for teh constructive feedback guys. Really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

I wish you all the best for finding your home on planet Earth! :)

I lived and worked in England for almost five years, but it never felt like home, so I came back to South Africa. Now I'm home & can braai every night, which makes me extremely happy.

Good luck!!
 
kingrob said:
I wish you all the best for finding your home on planet Earth! :)

I lived and worked in England for almost five years, but it never felt like home, so I came back to South Africa. Now I'm home & can braai every night, which makes me extremely happy.

Good luck!!
Click to expand...

Thanks. Will see what happens. I think deep down I'm more of a daily subway commute and walk to work kind of guy. :)
 
Been in USA over a year now and loving it. For everyone, the change is different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X