Emigrating - Who has done it?

[Wyzak]

I realise that, but there is still a longing.

I have moved around to different countries, and although the UK may be safer, there are still more problems than just the weather.

My youngest (4) is lucky to be here, thanks to the mess made by the NHS. A colleague of mines daughter was not so lucky with her child, again because of mess ups by the hospital. We don't plan another, but if one came along, we would take the other kids out of school, and move to the Philippines for a year or so. Sad, but never again here!!!

My eldest two who are in SA, were born in Pmb, and at that time greys was excellent, my eldest here was born in a private hospital in Pmb, again top notch.

My point was to make sure you are certain, and the decision is based on the right reasons, there is no going back for most people!

Yep, but it's a longing to a place that no longer exists I'm afraid. So it's an illogical longing because you can't go back there no matter what you do.

When was the last time you came here for a visit? I would really recommend that you come here for a visit just to open your eyes again to what's going on on the ground.

Glad to hear that your kids are okay. Can you get private healthcare in the UK? Doesn't seem fair to compare private with public.

I have friends who are staying in the UK who are also very unhappy there and they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They don't have the guts to start over again somewhere else, and they don't see a live for themselves in the UK...

 

[HavocXphere]

Jumping end of the year as well. Really excited - new country, new adventures, new job, new people, new landscape and much more opportunity for outdoor activities (Gauteng >> Ocean side). Plus its reasonably low risk for a bachelor like me.

Getting murdered isn't something you can learn to deal with.

Actually Life Pro Tip:



(Thats a joke in case an idiot reads that)

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

Which country you going to Havoc?

 

[HavocXphere]

UK side

 

[Bryn]

Think long and hard.

Why can you not go back to your own country?

If you don't feel like SA is home after so long, what reason is there to think that another country can become home?

Will you not just be swapping one set of problems for another set of problems in another, strange place?

Have you got a wife and kids? A major reason for wanting to leave, but also a major change for them.

The grass is generally only greener in Europe because it doesn't go brown in winter.

In the UK................

Prices are high, unemployment is high, pay for many jobs is fairly low, required skill sets are different, SA references and qualifications usually mean nothing, people can't be bothered, unless you have something very special to offer. With hundreds of applicants for each job, lack of local experience and references is a serious disadvantage.

Housing, transport, energy (gas, electricity petrol etc) are all very expensive.

I left, leaving my two eldest kids behind, I don't regret leaving for the reasons I did, but I long to be back in SA, impossible dream though it is. That longing gets stronger with time, not weaker!


Look at what you have, be realistic about what you would have if you move (dreamers get nowhere), and do a lot of research.

I don't know of a South African who would not rather be in SA if circumstances permitted.

To have a 3 bed detached bungalow on 1/4 acre (typical in SA) you would have to be in a top earning bracket.

Well obviously you miss SA - you left your kids here. And you went to the UK too, a country that's very difficult to foreigners to make much money in. I know plenty of happy expats, mostly in Canada and Australia. Emigration doesn't work unless you go when the circumstances are right: no kids or young kids, whole immediate family goes, cosy job is waiting or you're simply loaded, lots of support from overseas employer etc.

If you don't do a big move right it will always be a long term exercise in frustration, whether you're going to Sydney, Vancouver or Cape Town.

 

[TheSangoma]

Well obviously you miss SA - you left your kids here. And you went to the UK too, a country that's very difficult to foreigners to make much money in. I know plenty of happy expats, mostly in Canada and Australia. Emigration doesn't work unless you go when the circumstances are right: no kids or young kids, whole immediate family goes, cosy job is waiting or you're simply loaded, lots of support from overseas employer etc.

If you don't do a big move right it will always be a long term exercise in frustration, whether you're going to Sydney, Vancouver or Cape Town.

In my case, there is a lot more to it, that has had a huge impact, but nobody is interested in personal life.

To answer other comments, I am well aware that the SA I knew has gone, and I am well aware it is a futile longing, but I have it, and so to lots of others.

The purpose of my posts was to encourage more consideration in case anyone has not thought of the other sides of the move.

There is private medical in the UK, more expensive than in SA, and the payments are not tax deductible, even though you are saving the state money!

The NHS was once the pride of the UK, and in many areas it is still very good, but there are huge holes in it, and in the service you receive.

Also remember that you you pay about R130 for every item on a prescription, that means if the doctor gives you a script for example some tablets and ointment you pay about R260 to collect it from the chemist.

I agree on the comments about being single with no kids being the best time to move, but unless you want change or have a particular urge, that removes most of the reasons for moving.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Jumping end of the year as well. Really excited - new country, new adventures, new job, new people, new landscape and much more opportunity for outdoor activities (Gauteng >> Ocean side). Plus its reasonably low risk for a bachelor like me.


Actually Life Pro Tip:

View attachment 167963

(Thats a joke in case an idiot reads that)

 

[Betonro]

I would give up every cent and every possession I have for a chance for my wife and I to move to the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany. We live a rather simple life, so I care very little for a big house or nice stuff. I have a great need to be part of a country where human life is valued, ingenuity and knowledge is sought and where I can ride my bicycle to the gym or shops, without being afraid.

What is happening in SA lately is getting the better of me. I used to be aware of all the corruption and cruelty, but lately it's affecting me quite deeply. I work hard for the betterment of our country (I’m in research) and I’m incapable of not caring, but lately it feels completely futile. But I have no idea how to get out.

I thought I would share to perhaps give some insight into why some of us want to leave. A big motivator is also fear. I work hard and live a good life, but it seems my future is under the control of some of the most misguided people I have ever seen.

 

[HavocXphere]

I would give up every cent and every possession I have for a chance for my wife and I to move to the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany. We live a rather simple life, so I care very little for a big house or nice stuff. I have a great need to be part of a country where human life is valued, ingenuity and knowledge is sought and where I can ride my bicycle to the gym or shops, without being afraid.

What is happening in SA lately is getting the better of me. I used to be aware of all the corruption and cruelty, but lately it's affecting me quite deeply. I work hard for the betterment of our country (I’m in research) and I’m incapable of not caring, but lately it feels completely futile. But I have no idea how to get out.

I thought I would share to perhaps give some insight into why some of us want to leave. A big motivator is also fear. I work hard and live a good life, but it seems my future is under the control of some of the most misguided people I have ever seen.

If you're a researcher chances are you've got sufficient academic credentials to move? e.g. Canada uses a points system that will value say a PhD quite highly.

 

[Betonro]

If you're a researcher chances are you've got sufficient academic credentials to move? e.g. Canada uses a points system that will value say a PhD quite highly.

I only recently started my PhD (Engineering), so it will be at least another two years before I have it. Hopefully it still has some international credibility by then.

 

[Bryn]

In my case, there is a lot more to it, that has had a huge impact, but nobody is interested in personal life.

To answer other comments, I am well aware that the SA I knew has gone, and I am well aware it is a futile longing, but I have it, and so to lots of others.

The purpose of my posts was to encourage more consideration in case anyone has not thought of the other sides of the move.

There is private medical in the UK, more expensive than in SA, and the payments are not tax deductible, even though you are saving the state money!

The NHS was once the pride of the UK, and in many areas it is still very good, but there are huge holes in it, and in the service you receive.

Also remember that you you pay about R130 for every item on a prescription, that means if the doctor gives you a script for example some tablets and ointment you pay about R260 to collect it from the chemist.

I agree on the comments about being single with no kids being the best time to move, but unless you want change or have a particular urge, that removes most of the reasons for moving.

I don't know if I'd say the old SA is 'gone'. I have lived here all my life and things are still good. Sure, the government is completely inept, the currency has lost a lot of value and you have to be constantly vigilant about crime, but that doesn't make life unbearable. Here in PE the weather is nice, stuff is still affordable (other than Apple products), my 8Mbit uncapped and unshaped DSL is decent enough, PC games are cheaper than the rest of the world, my family is here, NMMU has arguably the best computer science department in SA, if you have a tablet you can buy magazines, newspapers and comics from anywhere in the world at great prices, music is cheap thanks to Simfy and iTunes, Unotelly lets you stream Netflix, BBC iPlayer and whatever else you want, properties are very big compared to first world cities, St Francis Bay (40 min from PE) is borderline paradise, SuperSport is amazing if you watch lots of sport, braaing is as prevalent as ever etc. etc.

There's plenty to like about SA. There's also plenty to not like about it. My family is toying with the idea of the whole lot of us emigrating to Vancouver, but we're not in a particular rush.

 

[Salazzar]

I absolutely love that. Also, Iæm paying more tax now than what I grossed in SA, but I dont mind it because I can see where the tax is going...and its not Nklanda.

Good luck!

Good one.

 

[Mortymoose]

I would like to carry on working in Africa, but once the offspring are all off me hands and living in other parts of the globe, would like to sell everything and "retire" to a 1st world place like Canada,Oz or NZ.........

 

[Wyzak]

I would like to carry on working in Africa, but once the offspring are all off me hands and living in other parts of the globe, would like to sell everything and "retire" to a 1st world place like Canada,Oz or NZ.........

Once you are retirement age it's unlikely that you will be able to retire in any of those countries unless you have a fortune of cash to buy your way in.

 

[The Voice]

The Mrs and I are packing up and heading back to the UK (she in January, and I'll follow a couple of months later when I've tied up loose ends). I lived there for two years before (as well as the US) and EVERYTHING is so much better. It made me sad to see how far behind and broken this country truly is. And you really have to be blinded to think it's EVER going to be a properly functioning country. I love South Africa. I was born a Saffer, and I'll die one - but (hopefully) not here.

Yes, the UK is grey for most of the year, but I like ****ty weather, so that doesn't bug me in the least. There are loads of job opportunities for us over there: the locals aren't too keen on working because of the doll, and if they do work, they want exorbitant salaries. We'll work for much less - salaries that are comparatively still much higher than they are here. And the quality of life is far better.

We're doing this for the future of our kids, because we feel there simply isn't one for them here. The UK may have its own set of unique problems, but it's nowhere near the crap we have to deal with here. And we may not stay in the UK forever. It's a lot easier to get around the world from there than it is from here - we've got family in Australia, so that's also an option. Canada, too.

 

[satanboy]

if we were meant to stay in one place, we wouldn't have been born with legs...

I thought those were there to keep the laptop from falling on the floor.

 

[HavocXphere]

if we were meant to stay in one place, we wouldn't have been born with legs...

I smell an Oscar joke...