IT seems like an eternity ago, but at the same time it only feels like yesterday. Our decision to move to London was made with more haste than most would make when considering such a serious move. But we left our jobs, our home, our dog and our families, and settled on the other side of the world.
It was my partner who wanted us to move here, much more than I did two years ago, but it was a decision that I will be eternally grateful for.
Too many Australians (believe it or not) are unwilling for whatever reason to live abroad. Too many Brits dream of moving Down Under, in search of a new life but see it as “too hard”. Too many of us all never consider doing it, or become too comfortable in our own bubbles and never lean out to smell the roses.
The Hard Word should know, I was one of them. But I’m here to urge you all thinking about moving to another country to take the opportunity with both hands.
London has a lot to do with my incessant nagging. While Australian cities are consistently rated among the world’s most livable cities, the English capital has proved a surprising orgy of history, culture, eccentricity, beauty and surprises. While New York is the city that never sleeps, London is the city that lies awake dreaming of sleep. Everywhere you look this city throws at you another key to its mysterious puzzle, another lesson to learn in understanding its rich, dark history.
But it’s more than that.
Whether travelling alone, with a friend or with a partner, working and living in another country helps you learn things about yourself. It forces you to put yourself out there, to meet new people, to integrate, maybe to learn a new language, and to appreciate (or not) a new way of living.
Of course there are far more challenging moves one can make than that of Australia to Great Britain (or vice versa), but it’s still an incredibly big move.
It’s been an absolute joy learning to speak ‘proper’ English, understanding what makes the Brits tick, what pisses them off and above all what makes them British.
My work as a journalist over here has allowed me to understand and appreciate global news on a much greater scale than ever before.
I’ve had such an amazing journey over the past two years and will take a piece of Britain back to Australia with me forever. It has stolen a piece of my heart, and I’ve made some friends for life. I’m not one to have regrets or think about ‘what if’, needless to say I’m in no hurry to leave. I’ve said before that I think Great Britain is an incredible country, perfectly situated between two other amazing places known as the USA and the Continent.
To all the readers of The Hard Word, to all those who posted their (mostly) intelligent and considered reactions to my columns, thank you for doing so.
It’s been a pleasure to write this column and to write about issues that affect Australians living in the UK.
So long and goodbye.
Have you enjoyed reading Nathan’s columns? Do you share his sentiment that Aussies should move away from Australia to really get a sense of home? Tell us below:
[ Source: Australian Times ]
