****Advice From Ex Pats/Anyone living/ed abroad****

[Guadagnia]

Hi..
Im looking for ex-pats to share their experiences good or bad, and advice for moving abroad.

After a lot of soul searching I have for some years now longed to live abroad, I guess my mum planted the seed she has a holiday home in Brittany.

I was thinking of Spain but am open to other countries, my requirements are I want to live in a country house thats probably 30 minutes drive into nearest town.

Because I have two children I need to think about schooling and medical facilities, and need to be close to the airport.

I will keep a terraced property in the UK in case I want to come back, or need to come back. I would like to buy somewhere outright so my budget is probably 75k-90k, although dont mind a smallish mortgage.

I know its not like being on holiday all the time, and the way of life, language and culture needs to be embraced to integrate, which I have given alot of thought to.

So, if you have your story to tell, ie how did you get to live were you do, what you do for work, and a comparison of your life now to how it was in the UK.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to any members who can offer me ANY advise.

Rgds
Guadagnia

 

[Sammystar]

I've lived away from the UK for twelve years now. I went to live in Berlin after Uni, then came to Switzerland, moved to France for a couple of years, and am now back in Switzerland for good.

You need to think very hard about where exactly you want to end up, and the lifestyle you can acheive when you are there. I think Spain or France would be your best bet. There are lots of other ex-pats in both those countries so you can easily tap into the support networks available.

On the budget you have you could easily buy accomodation in Southern France, but obviously you need to think carefully about how you are going to support yourself. It's absolutely essential that you learn the language fluently if you are to be happy. Many Brits go to France and end up struggling because they can't integrate.

It's not an easy life, but I'm sure you know that already. It can have rich rewards though. Take your time and do lots of research, and spend lots of time over there with the kids before you make a final decision.

If you are interested in France I can point you in the direction of some very useful websites and forums.....

Let me know if I can help.

 

[Sherlock]

I spent most of my 20's living overseas. Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands and some time in the US.

I had to learn to speak German and Dutch of course, as to be able to embrace and integrate into any culture you need to speak the native language. I also consider it rude not to It's important if you want to be able to make friends, socialise, attend school meetings and so on. What age are you children? The younger they are the easier it is for them to pick up the language and attend local schools. As kids get older they become more self concious. I do know an English lad who was 7 when he started going to a Dutch school. He struggled for about 6 months, till he was adept in the language, and then excelled. He used Dutch when out, English at home. However, he also had the added advantage in the Netherlands that they speak excellent English so were able to converse with him in that if he got really stuck. But he didn't really get that happening often.

I think as has been said, you need to consider the end point and the lifestyle you hope to have. If that is a warmer climate, with stone floors and a local lifestyle, then somewhere semi rural in southern France would be good, or Spain away from the tourist areas. However, rural Spain, or living in the non ex pat areas is not all its cracked up to be. I find French culture more ameanable in that instance then. But it is a very different way of life, different holidays observed, things shut down in the summer, it really is about embracing the culture.

I met a fair few people who moved overseas but never fully left the UK behind. They were the ones who never really settled elsewhere and would spend most of their time searching out other Brits and spending time reading English newspapers and mixing with them more. They also shipped in daft amounts of English food and so on.

I on the other hand went native I made local friends, found local haunts for going out in, was able to follow the news and attend cinema, theatre and so on and welcomed the new food and trying different things.

I am also married to an Australian. He has lived here for a few years with me now, and has no desire to return to Australia, nor does he miss it too much. However, he didn't have to overcome the language and he has thrown himself into living life here, rather than living an Australian life here. We have no plans to move there, but are looking to emigrate to New Zealand in a few years.

When you do your research and see places you like, visit them, but try to do so out of season if its a tourist area of any kind, gives you a picture of local life better then. If its non tourist based, then go see it in winter and summer. Don't compare too much with the UK when looking. Compare with other places overseas you have found. See what appeals and if you find somewhere you think you could spend time in, try to stay there for a month over the summer holidays. Only don't make it a holiday. Try to live a normal day to day life. Rent an appartment, get up, go to the library, the shops, cook, attend a play or a concert, drive a car around the town, see if you can work the washing machine in the local laundrette, browse the equivalant of the Yellow Pages for plumbers, find local amenities the kids might like, parks, bike hire, swimming pool, watch the local TV, don't resort to DVD's in English on the computer too often, listen to the local radio stations... all the things you would do in day to day life here, try to put some into practice there.

Ummm probably TMI there I'm good at that Feel free to drop me a PM if you have any questions about things. I'll be happy to try to help

 

[Squiglet]

I lived in the UK til I was 23 then made the move to Spain... I've been here nearly 6 years...I wouldn't move back but my life is here...my husbands not English so he wouldn't live in the UK anyways. I love it here, the culture and the people, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't things I didn't miss about the UK and that I haven't felt homesick at some point.

sammystar is right...you do need to think long and hard before you move. This area of Spain has a huge ex pat population, and there is a thriving community here. You can easily live your life without speaking a word of Spanish although there will be some occasions that you will need a translator. many people come here for a few years and eventually move back...others live here for the rest of their lives.

I think you would struggle to find a property on your budget in this area with your requirements...mainly because this area isn't very rural...so you'd have to move further a field into more Spanish areas which will mean that you will need to learn the language. I spoke no Spanish before I moved here and now speak it fluently. So its not hard

If you decide to move to Spain...I used to work in legal/fiscal/conveyancing services before my pregnancy and can help you with any paperwork you need to get arranged, as well as purchasing property. www.eyeonspain.com is a good forum to look on..

 

[Guadagnia]

Thanks ladies your brilliant

Sherlock - My kids are 3 yrs & 2 months

Keep the info coming in

 

[Squiglet]

Thanks ladies your brilliant

Sherlock - My kids are 3 yrs & 2 months

Keep the info coming in

Tia started Spanish school at 3. She speaks fluent english, Spanish and valenciano now if they are that young it won't matter. they will learn the language in a matter of months.