MattyBoy 0 #1 August 11, 2003 OK people, here's the dilemma: I'm english and have been travelling around the world for about 8 months now. I've got as far as Australia and have been working in Melbourne which is a city I absolutely adore. My employer has given me the option of something called 'sponsorship' wherby I have to work for him for two years without leaving the country (in a decent job) and in return I will be granted Australian residency and eventually will be able to hold two passports. (British & Ozzie). The choice is pretty clearcut: I either stay in a place I love (with excellent dropzones just down the road!) and get something I really want (an Ozzie passport) OR I return to my wonderful family and friends who unfortunately live about as far away from here as you can get. (In London, a city I can definitely do without!) As a group, I value your opinions greatly...PLEASE HELP...this decision is driving me mad Thanks I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #2 August 11, 2003 Do what you love, your family will should support you.. while family is an important part of life it should never be your life, they cannot live for you, cannot be happy 'for' you. Only you can do that. distance is near irrelevant now. You can be as close to anyone as you wish to be, its all about the effort, not the physical proximity..I have friends on the otherside of the planet i talk to daily and friends not an hour away i hear from only when i make an effort to do so...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #3 August 11, 2003 Screw London.. I would LOVE to live in Australia!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 August 11, 2003 Well...I have to say....I did the travelling the world thing for 10 years in the military. I had fun.....but as I get a little on the older side (Turn 32 this year) I start to realize how important family is to me. See....I have learned that when everyone else abandons you....it's family that will always be there. If you are young.....I say go for it. I think you would probably be better off for the experience. Besides....2 years isn't really that long when you are young. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyBoy 0 #5 August 11, 2003 I'm not THAT young (26)...my philosophy has always been that when I hit 30, I'll start to think about being a bit responsible (unlikely I know!). I'm thinking I can get all this business out of the way before I'm thirty which still fits in with the big life plan?! I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 August 11, 2003 QuoteI'm thinking I can get all this business out of the way before I'm thirty which still fits in with the big life plan? Sounds good to me!!! I think I was about 26 when I went to live in South Korea for 14 1/2 months. It was an interesting time....although I think my liver is still holding a grudge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stylinmike1 0 #7 August 11, 2003 In ten years will you sit in conversation with some friends, deep into your pints, and everyone talking about the things we should have done.... Would you tell them that you really wish you had: a. Stayed in Melbourne? or b. Went back to London? It's a tough call for sure, being in a place that you love or being with the people that you love most. fwiw - having friends all over the world is not a bad thing and family will always be there. The world's not that big a place that you can't stay in touch with everyone who matters most with just a little effort. stylinmike (>O]-< Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #8 August 11, 2003 Have to agree with Zen on this one... family is truely important but takin' care of #1 and thinkin' of the future is ultimately the goal. Best of luck to you no matter what you decide! Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
digurman 0 #9 August 11, 2003 Families are overrated - unless you have left kids behind. Also, I have some close friends that I sometimes don't see for years at a time. When we do get together we have a great time. Email is just as valid as conversation, as far as a means of human communication. If email had been invented before speech, people would say things like, "I see my family all the time, but it is just not the same as email." Words aren't real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #10 August 11, 2003 Simple. Stay. I am in Sydney and I want to stay but it is a matter of persuading Doris... CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lizard 0 #11 August 11, 2003 Do they deduct the 8 months you have been there from the two years? Just curious how that works there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,439 #12 August 11, 2003 You can change your mind and move back to London far more easily than you can change your mind and move back to Australia. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #13 August 11, 2003 You won't get this offer a second time - take it ! As a person who lives 3000 mi. from most of his family and only sees them every few years, I can tell you that the time will pass quickly. In just two years you'll be able to fly home, tell everyone how much you love them, and then you can thank God you're not stuck in London. Sometimes getting what we want involves a few hard choices and some sacrifices in the short run. Do it, stay in Australia. And believe me, you'll be happy that you did. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #14 August 11, 2003 Remember, your friends are the family you pick. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyBoy 0 #15 August 11, 2003 No, its two years from the time I take the sponsorship...on my present visa, I'm only allowed to work for any one employer for a maximum of three months...so I've had a few different jobs since I've been here I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SadSue 0 #16 August 11, 2003 I don't think you need to think about this anymore do you. I'm sure your family will want the best for you. London is not good for anyone. Anyway youv'e spent enuf time there if thats were yer from. Why not stay and invite the family over for xmas or something. I'm sure Xmas in Austraila rocks, and your family can live with hanging out there, for a few weeks :) Hope you don't get Banned! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #17 August 11, 2003 One rule in life. Be happy. Without that, you can pass no happiness to others. Stay in Oz. Your family will love you nomatter where you are. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suz 0 #18 August 11, 2003 As an Australian...I voted for you to stay here. Not many people get the wonderful opportunity that you've received, and in a magnificent country as ours. I would love to have the experience to be able to live in another country and to get paid for it! Just remember that if it all turns to shit here, you can always go home. If you go home now...you may never be offered this wonderful opportunity ever again in your life! Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pds 0 #19 August 11, 2003 dude, is this a trick question? never seen melbourne, but queensland was amazing. two years _can_ be a blink of an eye. give it a shot.namaste, motherfucker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drewboo 0 #20 August 11, 2003 It's a tough choice..only you can decided. Im 54 yrs old, two years out of your life isn't a lot...will you be allowed to fly home for a vacation..or do you have stay for a continuous period? Im thinking if i were you...id stay. You know London better than I, but a friend of mine had a job there for a year..the weather was so bad, she could hardly ever jump..found it pretty much a drag. Did a few years in the army..i didn't have a choice as to where they told me to live...i did the time...it don't mean a thing now. Stay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #21 August 11, 2003 I think the result from the poll says it all! I vote ya stay here... after all Melbourne is the most livable city in the world! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiltboy 0 #22 August 11, 2003 Hell I left the UK for the US 6 years ago now and while I miss family and friends they moved on with their lives without me. 2 years is nothing and you can always visit them. David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alanab 0 #23 August 11, 2003 stay!!! you sound too happy there to go back to london... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
txblondie 0 #24 August 11, 2003 I say stay. If you want to see your family, or they want to see you, they can bring themselves to you. There's too many reasons to stay and not enough reasons by far to leave. I've never been "down under" but I'd love to go; I'm told there's nowhere on earth as beautiful. Enjoy it, two years isn't a long time, really. And family? Like I said, that's what AIRPLANES are for (besides jumping out of them!) ***************************************** Blondes do have more fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyBoy 0 #25 August 12, 2003 Well that says it all...100% say stay!!! Looks like I'm staying...anyone fancy telling my mum for me?! I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
