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Should I stay or should I go?

GO HARD OR GO HOME: It’s that time of year when Antipodeans begin their mass evacuation from the UK and I am asking myself, ‘Should I stay or should I go?’

By on 25 August, 2011 3:20 pm in Feature, Go Hard or Go Home, UK Life / 2 comments

 
 

IT’S that time of year when Antipodeans begin their mass evacuation from the UK.

Summer is as good as gone, and so are many Aussies and Kiwis.

The season of festivals, holidays and picnics is history, and so the appeal of warmer climates Down Under proves too hard to resist for many of us.

But for some, it’s more than just the weather driving that’s them to Heathrow – it’s a matter of law, as their two-year working visas expire and they have no choice but to leave.

It’s an emotional time, as we’re forced to say goodbye to friends who have become like family for the past little while.

I’m lucky enough to have a grandparent who was born in the UK, entitling me to a five-year ancestry visa.

But when I left Australia I thought two years would be more than enough time, so I took the easy route and went with the youth mobility visa. Silly.

Now, as my two years come to an end, I am asking myself, ‘Should I stay or should I go?’

If I stay I have to go back to Australia to apply for the damn thing, which means spending an unknown amount of time away from my job and my flat while it is processed, forking out a load of cash in the process.

But considering I spent the bulk of my first year in London setting up a life, ie finding a job that is tolerable, a house that’s livable and making friends whose company I enjoy, it feels like a bit of a waste to go home now and throw away all that hard work.

But as I watch so many of my Australian and Kiwi friends leave, I find myself wanting to do the same.

Naturally, they’re talking about the things they’re going home to – reunions with family and friends, amazing weather and things I never thought I’d miss, like owning a car again.

I know the fact that I can make either of these two wonderful countries my home is a privilege in itself, but it doesn’t make my decision any easier.

Until I decide, that repetitive song ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ by The Clash will keep on playing over and over in my head.

If only it could point me in the right direction.

What should I do? Are you, or do you have friends, in the same situation? Comment below now.

 
 
 

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About the author

Shannon Crane is an experienced journalist who has recently returned to Australia after living in London for two years. Travel, music, shopping and discovering Melbourne's best-kept secrets are just a few of her favourite things. Oh, and The Sound of Music features quite highly on that list, too.

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    2 Comments

    1. Louis says:
      September 4, 2011 at 1:36 pm

      I have been in London for 3 months, spent a lot of money settling down, now working in IT/Finance and already planning to move back to Sydney.

      First, the horrible quality of life here, ranked 26th by UN in 2010 compared 2nd for Australia, out of 170 UN member states.

      Then its the bad European economy altogether, harder to find jobs, and for me as a professional with post-grad qualifications earning an embarrassing salary which I don’t need to finish school to earn the earn the same in Australia. As a comparison, the minimum wage for an adult over 21 is only £5.93 which is less than $9AUD, compared to $15.50 in Australia. Higher taxation, higher cost of living, ridiculously expensive. A very nice and beautiful country, so why not just come here for a holiday? Only if I knew all these before I left!

    2. J says:
      September 1, 2011 at 11:45 am

      I left, unfortunately. I had a two year visa but my partner is a dual citizen, so the option to come back is there after we are married next year. But a part of me thinks, if I go back, will it seem less wonderful then it does now? And even if we do decide to return, we will probably still leave again one day, which will put me through all the heartache of leaving behind my life again. I’ve been home for 2 weeks now and it’s been a total whirlwind, so I don’t even know yet if I have made the right decision!