Emmigration - 18 Yr Old - Wheres best?

[josh.thomas]

Wheres the best place to emmigrate, with English spoken, or at least spoken as a Second language.

The country must:
1. Be warmer than the UK
2. Have English speakers, even as a second/partner lang.
3. Require no immediate family there already.

Thanks Guys!

[Ethel]

Why do you want to emigrate?

What have you got to offer the host country? Every country will be looking for different skills.

Are you 100% fit and able, with no criminal record? Are you solvent and able to support yourself, at least for the first few months?

It may not be a case of going to live in a country that you want to, it may be finding a country that wants you.

[josh.thomas]

Well Ethel, My girlfriend was going to study in Chicago Uni next year, as her Uncle is a Prof. here - but someone on AB told me she can't get a permanent visa for the US, unless its a Mother, Father, Son or Daughter thats nominating her (Uncle won't work).

I was going to go there for 6months, we would most likely marry, then if she liked the area etc, I would get my visa and move out there permanently.

I am 100% fit and able. I'm not a gym-freak by any means, but I'm not obese or have any health risks. I have no criminal record at all, I have never ever been in contact with the police regarding anything I have ever done wrong (because I haven't)

At the moment, I have my GCSEs, my AS levels, and next year, my A-Levels.

The idea for America was, after I got my green card I would go to a Uni. there about a year down the line, and live there permanently.

The reason for moving is there is nothing to keep me where I am, the prospect of a future where I live now is unlikely at best. Yes, I could re-locate to somewhere in the UK, but there is nowhere that takes me fancy, or has what I want - which is change.

I haven't been happy with the people and things around me in the UK for years now, and want to make a clean break, and set up on my own. If I'm making the effort to pack up and move, I want it to be somewhere I find desirable for the at least the next 30 years (aslong as I like it obv.), not just down the road. I find this country has nothing to offer me now, and the way things are going, its not in the future either.

Hope that clears things up for you :)

[josh.thomas]

Forgot to say, I have money coming to me on my 18th, and I will have more for my 18th, I have some set aside myself - so finances will be fine for at least a solid 6 months. Covering rent, food, everything - all at good standard. My girlfriend, if we can't make it to America (explained above) will 90% go to the same destination together, so all costs will be 50/50 - and she benefits from the same financial stability as me, also.

[Ethel]

It will be very difficult for you to emigrate to the USA, Australia, New Zealand or Canada without specific work skills and experience that they very much need.

It would be much easier for you to move to an EU country - but you will need to be fluent in the language to secure a good job.

Every country has it problems that you may not be aware of - and why should you be? It is fair to say that whatever it is that dissatisfies you in the UK will event ually dissatisfy you in any country.

Further - there is a definite British backlash in some countries - frankly we are not wanted. Not as permanent residents anyway. This can be seen in many parts of France and Spain where the locals feel overwhelmed by the huge numbers of Brits that are undermining their culture and customs.

And don't forget - UK qualifications still have some kudos around the world, and may be more valuable long term than equivalent qualifications gained abroad.

You may be better taking a gap year and exploring the world, then coming home to get a useful degree. And learn a second language - French or Spanish will be very useful for life.

Good luck!

[josh.thomas]

There is nothing for me in the UK.

I don't want to relocate to a new area by myself. I can move abroad with one of my friends, and start a fresh, without all the personal problems that have bugged me here for years.

Most of them are now sorted, I just want to break away and carve out my own existence.

There is nothing in the UK that makes me think 'God, I'm so glad I'm here'. There aren't many job positions in the field I go to, and unlike any other members of my family, I want to stand out as the one that broke away and did something.

I know it may sound a bit stupid coming from a 17 year old, but I just want to get out.

So America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia are off the cards, no need to even consider them. Is there anywhere else you would suggest in your wise ways, Ethel? :)

[Ethel]

Josh - you do amuse me. :)

I know from experience you cannot escape yourself. If you are a miserable so and so in the UK you'll be a miserable so and so wherever you live. Not suggesting you are - but personal problems are baggage you cannot leave at the airport sadly.

I still don't know the sort of career you have in mind. I do know that the Republic of Ireland is doing very well at the moment - but the weather is hardly going to be any better.

If I were your age I would seriously consider being a holiday rep for a few years. The work is hard but you get to live in other countries, make good friends and more importantly - excellent life skills that will help in any future career. This might give you a challenge and bring more satisfaction to your life.

The need to move away from family is not particularly healthy and your reasons for needing to do so are a bit of a worry. If you can sort any problems out now, without running away, you will be able to enjoy your life wherever you live.

[josh.thomas]

Career wise, I'm interested in Psychology, and Social-type work, or Councilling was something I would be very, very interested in.

I'm not trying to 'escape' my personal problems, they've all been dealt with. I'm ready for a new chapter that I would like to continue somewhere new, escape from my usual scene for a few years, then settle down into an Education then a ''skilled'' job.

Hmm, well I will have to look into a few other options. Thanks for your help.

[parkesquay]

Take it from me that there are plusses and minusses wherever one finally settles. I am chronologically old enough to be your grandfather but I have spent more of my working life outside of the UK than in it. In addition when I retired(at 53) I went to live in Spain for 6 years(and yes I did speak an adequate amount of spanish) but now live back in the UK.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you can get to live in another country at somebody elses expense i.e. whilst you are working for a UK company then you not only have some security but are actually being paid to live abroad This then gives you the ideal of being able to suss things out without overcommitting yourself.

I have to say that at your age I would go to Australia and I think that Ethel should have qualified her statement by saying that it is only difficult to go to OZ if you don't have anything to offer. So the obvious answer is to find out if what you do have is enough and then do something to add to it if it isn't.

Oz for me is full of opportunity and meets all your criteria. It is an underpopulated place that needs and appreciates young people. So before you dismiss it go and try. If I was 20 years younger I would be off like a shot.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY