British Expatriate Network

Any of you thinking of coming home, or just about to? I came home to the Uk just a year ago, after several postings overseas. Each time I've returned to the UK, it's been different, but it's never quite as easy as you think.

The main difficulty is adjusting back from expatriate life and into the Uk scene. Many parts of Britain are quite parochial and it can be hard to find people with like minds and similar experiences. When I have come back I have found myself drawn to other repatriates or expatriates living in the Uk

I'm currently editing a website for Uk repatriates and expats coming to live in the Uk from overseas. There are articles and tips on repatriation, days out in the UK and my own monthly column.

Though the site is new, we have only just set up a support group in the Southeast and we meet regularly. The hope is to expand to other parts of the UK. If any of you are interested, the website is ukrepats.com. or you can email me for information at miranda@expatwoman.com

Even if you're not coming home, it would be nice to hear what you think.

Thanks

Miranda

Welcome to the site Miranda ! Nice site you've got going there, am sure it's going to be huge, a lot of interesting stuff.

Hi Miranda,

What you have experienced is very common. When we were in the US, I was in an International Group, but more than half the members were American repats - it was really hard for them to go back to Cincinnati having lived in Europe, Japan or South America. It was great for the group, as it gave it stability rather than having members stay only for a 2 or 3 years.

We haven't found life back in the UK too parochial, but we do mix with lots of expats in our day to day life.

Hi Miranda.

I see you're from my neck of the woods. I grew up just over the border in FarnHAM.

Thanks to you who have replied.

Ameriscot - are you in scotland? Can you get some of your expats to come on my site? we need to get it going!

Scramble, I originally come from London, but moved here with my husband's job. Farnham is just a bit nicer than Farnborough I think.

Miranda

Yeah, the best thing Farnborough has is that airshow every two years.

No, I'm just a few miles up the A30 from you, Miranda 8)

Aha, hence the gin and jag land thing.

You been back for long?

Miranda

Till the next assignment, but hopefully not in the near future.

Ah go on! join in our repat thing we've started in this area.

Miranda

Maybe - but only if you promise that it's not all whinging...

Corse not! Whinge..us? There's not a moaning pom among us! Just out to have a good time.

I feel a little excluded, being a guy that is who has just relocated back to SE England!!!!!!!

Yes, sorry, it does all seem a bit exclusive...it's really because we're linked to the expatwoman website which is mainly for women (

My husband and I were seriously thinking of returning back home up till a year ago. (I'm a British women who married an American 15yrs ago and has lived in Northern California ever since).
I have been home every year since living here and all my family including my 2 married sons are back in the UK.
Now, because of the economy there (i.e. property prices, cost of living ect) we would lose a lot of money if we decided to make the move.
Trying to decide what to do in this last year has been really hard, although the move would not have happened for at least another 15 or so years I am not very optimistic about the future.
One friend said to me "move to the east coast, you can buy property relatively inexpensive and still fly back to London for long weekends"
Maybe that's what we will end up doing.......