Drunken Bungle Whore

The UK may have it's problems - but there aren't any spiders hiding under the loo seat ready to bite you, or poisonous snakes in the loo, or sharks in the sea - all of the things that would put me off life abroad.

Every country has it's good and bad points - I just avoid reading the papers as much as I can and when I watch the news I try and take most of it with a pinch of salt. Bad news sells, so that's what they put in the papers - simple. It's not really all doom and gloom!

As for education - there are some excellent state schools and some shocking private ones. Interesting TV prog a while ago exploring which were 'best'. The conclusion was that there were no broad, easy answers. Some state schools are run down and over crowded, but in the private sector teachers aren't subject to the same stringent checks.

I love living in England and really couldn't see me living anywhere else - but it wouldn't do if we were all the same!

If you're deadly serious about moving I'd do LOTS of research first!

The Rani

Oooh does that bring back memories

Jonathan Davies

Norway? If they'll have you. Or Sweden, where they would. They'll take all sorts, but still have an excellent education system and a very low reported crime rate. High taxes mind you.

Or maybe Montana? Low tax, empty roads, and plenty of lunatic survivalists who have a firm line on personal respect.

Flatcapdriver

I think you need a better expression. There's no way you could describe Perth as 'redneck' which is far more cosmopolitan that Sydney which seems to be populated by people so far up themselves, they're permanently lost in their own ****. Either that, or parts of it have been take over by Westies who aren't much better.

As others have said, utopia doesn't exist and all countries have their problems, whether you can relate to them or not and although there does seem to be less respect for others in the UK since I arrived here (unrelated) it also has a lot going for it.

Shark Man

Can't Say I noticed a problem whilst I was there

Sounds like the north vs. south debates Brits do so often

brumdaisy

6 months in Greece/Turkey, 6 months in Goa

me and the other half are planning it at the moment and cant wait

whats to miss in this bloody cold, expensive materialistic country?

Maz

iTrader: (34)

It's not that bad Daisy!

KiwiGTI

Sydney is a showy city, all fur coat and no knickers. Tourists love it but when you live there it's another story. Rednecks? Try Kings Cross or Parramatta.

IMHO Melbourne is so much better - like a mini New York with it's different neighborhoods - Italian, Chinese, Greek, Bohemian, Vietnamese etc. Sydney just has ghettoes.

And people in the know rate Melbourne over Sydney for nightlife, culture, restaurants, sport, fashion etc.

Shark Man

Like a mini New York? Funny comparison That has gehttos, slums, gangs culture, is abolutely filthy (although much better these days) locals have a f**k off attitude and is infested with immigrants who can't their drive yellow cabs.....

But you know what - I love New york. It grew like that. It's not a soulless purposely deisgned waterfront boulevard like many hotspots are.

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

We live in France and despite attempts to return to the UK we are still here, not much to do but after 2 years getting used to it but, still miss Manchester, just bought another house here to do up, not sure after this but deffo (at the min) going to move on, do like Italy a lot but expensive.
Advice - rent wherever first or get a motorhome, motorhoming outside Uk is brilliant, France is well geared up, free hookups in many villages
Greece is another place, top food as well
France is nice but v different from Italy and maybe Greece, here its all indoors, Italy and Greece all outdoors, makes a difference
UK is so expensive but maybe return in the future.

Its really hard for the first 12 - 24 months but gets better and gets harder to go back.

Good luck
Lee

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Just to add

You mention respect, once outside Uk for a bit you get to see what respect is
France is walking with respect, I was amazsed whilst waiting for a mot a bloke walked in, said hello and shook my hand, he made an appointment for a mot and off he went, different world.

What i would liked to have done was, rent the UK house out and have 6 months UK 6 months Caribbean.

Jerome

As LeeMac says, rent for a while in the new country first. Ideally have a long holiday there first as well.

If the country has extreme seasons (such as Toronto), make sure you've experienced both before taking the plunge. I experienced late 30's plus humidity in the summer to -45 in the winter.

Don't burn your bridges in the UK before you've lived in your chosen country for long enough to decide you like living there. You will only really find out the full story about which areas are nice, and those that are not so nice, when you live there and get to speak to a few people that know the relevant areas rather than some over optimistic tourist or immigration guide.

You may even find the things that are important to you are too expensive. Just ask Markus about car insurance in Toronto for example.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Heaven is where the police are British, the chefs Italian, the mechanics German, the lovers French and it is all organised by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German, the chefs British, the mechanics French, the lovers Swiss and it is all organised by the Italians.


So it really depends what you are looking for

There is a regular publication as to best cities in the world to live in based on quality of life, education, public services and entertainment. Edinburgh is usually featured in the Top Ten.

In terms of party towns remember that Newcastle was rated the 7th most party town in the WORLD alongside Rio and Sydney

Birmingham did not feature in either of these surveys