Sunday, January 22, 2012

Moving Home

It's time to come clean about this after a few comments in my blog the past few months...Simon & I have made the decision to move back (well, 'back' for me..) to the US in 2012.  We're aiming for Seattle within the next few months, but would seriously consider San Francisco for the right jobs.

Somewhat because of the finances (seriously...this city is *expensive*), and with a final kick in the pants to make it happen when my dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons late last year, it's odd that while I know I moan about living in the UK rather frequently, I'm already sad about the prospect of leaving.

There's just two eensy weensy things standing in the way of us making this happen sooner:  a job and Simon's green card.  Is that all, you ask?  Silly details, I know.  When we first even started toying with the idea last year about moving back in 2012, we actually thought about just upping sticks and moving-with the green card, but no jobs.  We had a grand plan of taking a few months off to explore the US cross country while finding jobs, and then land in Seattle as job hunting kicked into high gear.  Then the US economy recovery seemed to falter, and we decided against this plan.  So, we're doing the responsible-but challenging task of trying to find a job before we move so that a)we'll have income when we land and b)we'll have an employer that will financially support the physical move.  Good times.

I'm sure over the next couple of months, just like my move here (and the blog posts..), there will be stress, and uncertainty, and lists, and logistics to tackle, but it will hopefully be worth it in the long run.

I'm excited about moving back to be with friends again, but know that a LOT has changed since I've been gone.  Lots o' babies have been born, marriages, and a few folks have moved away as well.  I don't expect to return to Seattle and just settle back in to life as if I'd never left (that would actually be a bit sad..), but I am curious to see just how much has changed since I've been gone-and a little trepidatious.

So, wish me luck as Simon & I embark on our biggest adventure to date.  I'm not sure how this is all going to shake out, but I'm excited about the change!

14 comments:

  1. Excited to follow your journey heading to the States! It would be amazing if you could get a job that would help cover the costs of moving back.

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  2. Having done this exact thing 3 years ago I feel for you! We did the green card (DCF in London) and moved without a job for my husband. It was probably the worst possible time to do so, and while it all worked out it took a while for him to find one so he ended up getting his MBA instead. Good luck with it all!

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  3. Sad to see you go. Have been following your blog (quietly) for a while. x

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  4. Thanks, ladies. Exciting (and scary) times ahead. @Andrea, that's an entirely realistic situation for us as well-and funny you mention the MBA; we've been talking about that as a possible option as well!

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  5. Sad to see you're leaving, but excited for you to be moving forward with your life, and for Simon to have the experience of living in America. I hope you're both able to get jobs here fairly easily and the stress will be minimal. I'm hoping the MBA route works for me, maybe it would work for you, too, though it's preferable to just be able to find a job and go.
    I'm still sputtering around over here trying to find the rest of the funding to do my MBA in London, all that stress and uncertainty and logistical nightmare is happening for me now and it is extremely stressful, but I take it one day at a time like the AA folks do and I'm muddling through okay. I certainly wish you the best of luck!!

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  6. FYI, it is harder than you think. I've been home about 6 months. On balance home is easier than London--certainly cheaper--but it wasn't nearly as easy as I expected.

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  7. AHLondon...as long as it isn't more difficult than the move here, I think I'll survive. If it's more difficult, I may have to rethink this!
    @Gennifer...thanks!

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  8. I've been reading your blog for a year and while happy that you're doing what you have to, will be sad to see your blog end. I've been living vicariously through your post since I love London yet will never have the opportunity to live there. It's hard when parents get old and tough decisions need to be made.

    Good luck to whatever happens and and to paraphrase a famous character: " You'll always have London."

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  9. It's been fun following your adventures on the blog. Sad that you're leaving London, but it's all for the right reasons. Now that you're moving to Seattle we can finally meet for a coffee.

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  10. HI There!

    I just found this blog as wifey and I JUST came back to London. Was looking for other people in our situation as we try to get my American self settled here! (I'm from Southern California - She's from London)

    Long story short, we met in the states while she was working there, we got married, she missed friends and fam, I love London so lets give it a go! So here we are.

    I feel your pain about the moving and looking for work. It was quite stressful for us. Fortunately we had savings and her loving family to take us in with lots of space and we didn't have to move all our "stuff" - we sold most everything in the states and brought the little things.

    We also opted to travel for threes months around the world because most jobs wanted us in the country before consideration. So we thought we'd get the travel bugs out of our system and see the world for a bit before we start to grind that axe in the big smoke when we land. We are so glad we traveled because now we appreciate all we have and are really energized to get things going again. I think had we quit work, moved and had no break it would have been way more stressful. So if you have a little bit saved, We vote you travel and keep blogging! following your dreams and going for it. We are so glad we did it!

    Thanks for keeping this blog, I'm sure I'll be referencing it quite often to see how you have been finding things.

    Cheers & Good Luck!

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  11. @Dylan N...oh, what a great story! I hope you & your wife enjoy being here again! We had originally planned to do exactly what you did: take 3 months off and travel-a bit here in Europe, and a long cross-country trip in the US were what we were aiming for. Then we both just got a little 'chicken shit' about it all. :) Decided we should get the jobs first...blah blah blah. But, you make some good points. Perhaps it's time to revisit the idea with the hubby. :)
    ~kristina

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  12. Hi there, I just stumbled across your blog. I am a Seattlite myself looking into moving to London and trying to find expats and learn from their experiences since the hardest thing so far I am finding is the visa process and finding work in/around London. Your blog has been one of the best I have found, so very sad you are leaving. Can I ask you when you moved to London, did you go sponsored with a work visa? I am trying to navigate all of this and it seems pretty difficult. Seattle jobs aren't too difficult to find, we are doing much better here for available jobs that many other areas around the country.

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    1. Hi Diane,
      So sorry it's taken me this long to get back to you-your comment came right in the midst of holiday & I'm just now back to the blog!
      I moved with my company-and in truth, think it'd be crazy to do otherwise. Don't get me wrong-the job market in London isn't that bad (*depending on the industry*), but logistically...to find a job and get a visa -while here on a tourist visa-would be a huge challenge/risk.
      In truth, the visas (type & process) change several times a year-the visa I have now doesn't even exist any longer, so I can't give you a lot of insight on that bit per se, but you can find full details here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

      I did a post a few months ago about finding a job in the UK. Give it a read. I think there would be some helpful bits in there for you: http://anexpatinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/getting-job-in-london-or-uk.html

      Good luck!

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  13. Indeed, there is no place like home. Hope you are already settled in the States. Share more of your experience in your hometown.

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