I'm Moving Back to the UK!

[Shiola]

It's true. I've decided to move back to my home town of Worthing on the south coast of the UK, near Brighton. My American adventure is over.

This is totally my choice, I haven't been lynched by Immigration or anything. Basically I'm getting very bored of my job and want to move on. I want to try and work for myself, doing freelance stuff and also trying to do more online stuff like developing Shiola more (which shouldn't be hard considering I've done virtually zilch in ages) and putting together other sites. Another factor was this 2 week vacation bullshit - I ended up spending 2 weeks going home every year!! I've managed to get out and about to a few places here, but limited time and money does...well, limit you. Also, ever since I came back from my last vacation to the UK in August I've felt homesick. Never felt it before and it just smacked me all of a sudden and wouldn't let go. I've got no ties here and I didn't want to gain any so I couldn't come home at a later date, plus seeing friends and some of them are having kids so I didn't want to be miles away and be this random person overseas that you only see once a year. So the time to go home has come around.

I'm leaving at the end of November, so I will have been here for 3 years and a few months. The experience has been amazing. If anyone here gets the opportunity to live in another country DO IT! Not only do you learn about the new country you're in but you learn alot about your home country and about yourself. It truly is a unique experience.

One thing I've learned is no matter where you go, alot of people always complain about where they live and think the grass is greener...which is kinda funny. I thought only us English complained, but others do....although maybe not as much I've loved living in America especially as it's the world's superpower, policeman, biggest economy, Hollywood, etc, etc. You hear so much about it in other countries that it's easy to build up your own opinion about it, but to come and live here you realise that the actual country is beautiful with so much variety and the people are great, friendly and open. To see America through Bush's foreign policy and 'Friends' isn't seeing America at all. Everyone seems to have an opinion or an idea of what America is like and there are many stereotypes, and some may have an element of truth but lke anything else, you need to see it with your own eyes.

Like anyone going to England and visiting London, I'd say make sure you get out of London even for just one day, cause London is not the whole of the UK. If you go to America don't just stick to New York, Orlando or LA, get out of town or even head somewhere 'unusual' that everyone else doesn't go to.

I've had to think alot about moving home cause living in year round sun on the beach is my ideal location, so leaving it, especially in November to go back to cold, rainy England resulted in me having to figure out if I'm actually losing my mind or something. But home is where the heart is and unfortunately mine isn't on Miami Beach. I'm hoping I can earn millions and buy a holiday home here in the future though

What am I going to miss about America? Cheetos, Baseball, the sun and beach in Miami, girls liking my accent, Cuban food, huge steaks, barbeque sauce on a lot of things, pancakes available everywhere, cheaper goods than UK, The Daily Show/Colbert Report, drive thru ATM's and probably a whole lot more that I can't think of.

O'yeah, the friends I've made here too

So anyway, that's my news for the week. I'm planning on getting into the UK at the end of November, finding a place to rent, and then get setup and start a new chapter. Looking forward to it more than I'm going to miss where I am today, so I think that means I'm doing the right thing....although, ask me in 6 months and I'll probably be cursing the Gods about why I thought it was a good idea to swap Miami for Worthing!

[evilfarter]

Good stuff Ben! All the best!

[boudicca]

Good luck Ben mate! I hope you are choosing the right thing to do. I'd love the chance to live elsewhere for a while, but, as long as my kids are in the UK, I will be too!

It is all about taking oppertunities, trying out new stuff. Life is very short and travel is a wonderfull thing if you have the time and the money to do it.
But, home is where your heart is.......

[dontpanic]

You have to do what's right for you. Hell, I think it's pretty brave to quit a job and move anywhere...even if it is back home. Well done! Don't worry about the Cheetos...let me know where to send 'em and I'll hook you up. I'm already supplying Scotland with Miracle Whip.

[staticxess]

I think the best decisions are made when you've weighed your options and I can't blame you for wanting to leave Miami.
It's a great place to visit but the hell with living there.
May I ask what became of your girlfriend that you originally moved to Miami for?
Either way this sounds like a good thing for you. Follow your heart brother.

I've lived all over the US incl Alaska & Canada and never have I heard a better explanation for the stereotypes than you stated. Thank you for saying "To see America through our government & it's corporations isn't seeing America at all." That goes for the stereotypes of americans in general & it's Federal domestic policies as well. There is a bigger sense of connection when you live or travel to more than one place.

I wish you the best of luck & at least I / we can still chat with you here at Shiola when possible. Take care Ben. Life is short, enjoy it while you can!

[boudicca]

Ben so long as you realise you're coming home to a hell hole? The country is falling apart. Jeeze! I'm scared!!

[Shiola]

The girlfriend and I split up about 6 months ago. Irreconsiliable Differences is the technical term I think

lol - when I said 'Friends' I actually meant the TV show 'Friends' not corporations, but I like your way better, made me seem more intelligent. Thank you for over-estimating me.

[muntjack]

You can't underestimate the pros of living in another country no matter what got you there in the first place. You have found indeed that America is the land of diverse opportunity.l I am still discovering alot about Canada having gone past the stereotype of molson swilling lumberjacks.But when you've come to the conclusion that all thats been done and your still thinking of where you came from then its time for a change. We ex-pats know this "Home is Where The Heart is"

As far as homesickness goes I'm kind of in the same place, particularly after my last visit. It seems more prolonged to the point making me a morose bastard that its actually killed my last relationship..but thats an entirely different take that will likely crop up here somewhere in the forums best done in an anebriated state of mind. I'm willing to stick it out here for a bit longer inspite of not haveing a warm clime and bikini clad birds with in my range.

Anyways..best of luck then and hope it all goes well.

Wate did you move to miami for a bird then? Thats brave.

[boudicca]

Munt, whatever else you do, stay in Canada! This country is dying on it's knees!

[evilfarter]

C'mon Bouds! Can't be that bad right? OK, granted that I lived in London for about two and a half years as a student, so it's not the same as actually "living" there on a permanent basis. Funny thing is that I absolutely adored the UK, believe it or not. Crap, didn't want to go home!

But then again, I guess I didn't live there on a "permanent" basis like you guys, so it is difficult to compare.