Job Discussion Forums

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

This was a posting from a few years back, and boy, was it popular. The overall consensus was that no you can't go back to your home/originating setting after 5,10,15 years abroad. But at what point does it become impossible ?

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I've been in this for about 16 years, and have maintained some connection to my country, but not too much.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I went abroad for a training course, and returned after two months to sell my business and stuff. I can honestly say that at some point during those first two months, my decision to live outside the States became pretty much irreversible, at least so far. That was over 10 years ago and I feel just as strongly about it today as I did then.
Zero desire to go back.
Fortunately, no need to! Very Happy

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

Well I HAVE to go back. I will never be able to collect my government pension until I spend my last year as a resident (actually physically in the country).

That said I wouldn't think of going back before I absolutely have to and even then I think I can get away with being in the country for 180 days to call myself physically resident (as opposed to being resident for tax purposes - that's a lot easier). And then I will be off!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'm from the US, but am currently based part time in Calgary (spouse's job). I've got permanent residency status in Canada, but I'm going to cheerfully lose it by not meeting the residency requirements. Too much like the States for me!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I left in Jan 2002 for my last year of uni. Although I did go back from Sept to Dec to do an internship, but since then haven't been back for long, just short visits. It gets harder to go back. YOu lose touch after a while. Only two of my friends live in the same state as my parents and they're usually working when I go back. I get the same quesitons, like what's the food like? Or do they speak English in X? One of my friends thought that Peru was in Southeast Asia. Guess geography isn't taught very well in the States.

I renewed my license and state ID, but don't think that I will do it next year, I'll just let it expire.

Personally, I don't want to go back. My husband doesn't want to live in the USA either, which is a relief. I think that it'd be hard to go back especially being on a Peruvian salary. WE'd have to take out loans at first and I have no desire to get into debt.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I don't remember what I said on the earlier thread a few years ago (I'm assuming I read it, since I've been around here for a few years!), but my answer now is of course you can go back! If you want to, of course... a couple of people here have said they don't want to.

Some people say that things change, old friends change, you can't get back into the job market, EFL experience is worthless, etc., but I don't feel that those problems will affect me. Of course things will change and people will change--I have changed too over the years, and not just because I have been away. People change as they grow up... And as far as the job market goes, if necessary, you may have to get retrained and go into a different field if you're dead set on coming home but can't get a teaching job. It's just a question of priorities. And as far as EFL experience being worthless, given that I plan on continuing to teach when I return to the US (in community colleges, universities, maybe TEFL training courses, etc.) I certainly expect my experience to help me!

Maybe I just have a naively positive attitude, but I do plan on returning to the US permanently within the next couple of years, and I expect to just carry on enjoying my life and my job. I also have a fairly clear idea now of who my life-long friends are, and I know they aren't going anywhere--not in the geographic sense, but in the emotional/closeness sense.

The only negatives that I see to returning home are I will not be able to travel nearly as much (for financial reasons) and I will have to put up with all of the crap that passes for news in the US. I'm willing to accept those things, though, because I know that this place is my home, for better or worse.

d

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I know people like Denise who've successfully returned, and have been happy. It's not for me, but, like many questions on the forum, there's no 'One-Size-Fits-All" - except when it comes to legal issues Very Happy

Sherri · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

Can and have. Left in 1980 and came back in 2004. Spent my entire adult life abroad. Slight cheating because instead of returning to the State where I grew up in the midwest, I chose Hawaii?

Sherri

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I put "6 years" as the threshold. With Sicko (M. Moore) just having been released, I would say as a Canadian, (not USA) free health care as you age becomes ever more vital an issue. Insurances ? hmm?

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

Never, never never! My 'year out' as an English assistant in France did it at Uni. After that there was no turning back-ever!

Sherri · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject:

Successfully returning depends on so many things. I don't think you can put a number of years on it, like after 10 years, you can never go back. Clearly you can and many do!

It has more to do with your age if you have to put a number on it. The older you are, the harder it would be to fit back in and find a job. In my case I stayed in my field (EFL/ ESL) so my experience and quals helped me. I think it would be much harder for people who just backpacked around only working in language schools and not developing themselves in their field. The longer you stay in another country, the better you can make your life, you get comfy. Sometimes it is hard to give that up and start over at age 30, 40 or 50... If you have no savings you are in big trouble because start up costs are high. The older you get the more likely you are to have a family and kids (I do) but obviously I didn't when I first left the US.

It also depends on WHY you decide to return. If you had asked me after 5 years of being away, 10 or even 15, I would have said that I am not going back. I wasn't ready, I didn't want to. Things change, your life changes (in good ways!). If you really want to, if you plan, you can always come back.

Sherri

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

medusa · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 50 Location: France / India

I think you can, but I personally couldn't.

Like Miska, after a student exchange programme to France, I never went back. I now call Bordeaux 'home' and am currently working in India. When I finish in India I will return to France unless I get another wonderful offer elsewhere. I have entered into the French system now, pension, taxes etc etc so I really have no ties or need to return to the UK. Parents who spend every other month in France too and a brotehr in the States, I don't feel I'm missing out on anything. As a previous post said too - I know who my true friends are, and after ten years of living abroad they are still true friends despite the distance.

Victoria