Moving Abroad - Why or Why Not?

[Ry_Tower]

Same sentiments I have. We tend to see the present comfort but not so much for the long term. I regret that I didn't mustered the courage a decade ago to challenge my comfort zone and pursued something that I know will be better for my kids' future. At the time that the risk was less I should have taken the chance. Somehow the economic boom 5 years ago convinced me that perhaps this country is going to recover. That perhaps is just a temporary thing.

For now middle income earners here in PH are enjoying a comfortable lifestyle but that's a transient thing when it comes to third world countries like the Philippines. There's no assurance that such comfortable life will remain the same. There are too many risks (natural and man-made) that can put this country into jeopardy. Let that sink for a while whenever we think for our children's future. For the cash rich Pinoys, the risk is quite minimal since they can easily move to another country. For hard working middle income earners and poor families, it's always going to be a struggle.

I can see friends enjoying a comfortable life at Australia. Sure they'll feel some longing to go back home, but that's something that can be easily remedied. Home is where you choose to be with those people that really matters. It's not bounded by land or nationality. It's not a destiny we blindly believe into but a choice we make.

Very good point, sir. It seems that even the middle class in our country is not safe anymore by just going with the flow.

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[jut703]

Same sentiments I have. We tend to see the present comfort but not so much for the long term. I regret that I didn't mustered the courage a decade ago to challenge my comfort zone and pursued something that I know will be better for my kids' future. At the time that the risk was less I should have taken the chance. Somehow the economic boom 5 years ago convinced me that perhaps this country is going to recover. That perhaps is just a temporary thing.

For now middle income earners here in PH are enjoying a comfortable lifestyle but that's a transient thing when it comes to third world countries like the Philippines. There's no assurance that such comfortable life will remain the same. There are too many risks (natural and man-made) that can put this country into jeopardy. Let that sink for a while whenever we think for our children's future. For the cash rich Pinoys, the risk is quite minimal since they can easily move to another country. For hard working middle income earners and poor families, it's always going to be a struggle.

I can see friends enjoying a comfortable life at Australia. Sure they'll feel some longing to go back home, but that's something that can be easily remedied.

The future of the kids is really the biggest benefit of moving. Having a first-world passport opens a lot of doors, and even public school education in the first world is sufficient.

But my friend and I were talking about this earlier - while living in a first world country gives you social and government support that assures your children education and opportunities, you can also do the same here if you save enough.

There will always be demand for well-educated Filipinos to run big local and multinational companies. So if you can give your child a good education locally, that sets them up for at least an upper middle class life.

I also realized that first-world education doesn't automatically make you better off. My tito's family moved to AU over a decade ago so the kids got the benefit of first-world education. When I compare myself to my cousin who's a few years older than I am, he's not really better off anyway.

You have to have a good job or business here to match the middle class life in a first-world country, but I find the former easier to achieve than the latter, especially once you consider that not all who move find better pastures.

Home is where you choose to be with those people that really matters. It's not bounded by land or nationality. It's not a destiny we blindly believe into but a choice we make.

The people who really matter to me are here - my family and my friends. So it will never be the same moving to another country and it certainly isn't easily remedied.


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[EQAddict]

Kinda related to Jut's post as any immigrant will need housing....but housing prices in the USA are really going crazy. I wonder if the same will happen to Metro Manila.

Long article but very interesting:

Landless Americans Are the New Serf Class




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[SpinCycle]

Well it’s official, my wife and I are heading to London. Got our Visas last Friday and the deadline to be in the UK is June 6! So little time to prep for the move [emoji28]

Already booked our AirBnB for 3 weeks which we’ll use to search for a long term lease flat.

Now I need to book the plane tickets. Any suggestions based on your experiences from Manila to UK? [emoji1374]


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[chronicle]

Congrats. Less than 1 month prep.
How long was your application?

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[SpinCycle]

Congrats. Less than 1 month prep.
How long was your application?

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Thanks

We had it expedited so it took around 2 weeks. This for a Tier 2 Visa.


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[chronicle]

Thanks

We had it expedited so it took around 2 weeks. This for a Tier 2 Visa.


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Wow. That is fast. Good luck to you and your wife.


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[Ry_Tower]

Well it’s official, my wife and I are heading to London. Got our Visas last Friday and the deadline to be in the UK is June 6! So little time to prep for the move [emoji28]

Already booked our AirBnB for 3 weeks which we’ll use to search for a long term lease flat.

Now I need to book the plane tickets. Any suggestions based on your experiences from Manila to UK? [emoji1374]


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Congratulations and the best of luck in your new challenge in life.

[shadow]

Habol pa sa Royal wedding.


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[dreamur]

Well it’s official, my wife and I are heading to London. Got our Visas last Friday and the deadline to be in the UK is June 6! So little time to prep for the move [emoji28]

Already booked our AirBnB for 3 weeks which we’ll use to search for a long term lease flat.

Now I need to book the plane tickets. Any suggestions based on your experiences from Manila to UK? [emoji1374]


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Try PAL. I think they are having a promo now. Congrats bro and good luck!

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[StockEngine]

Congrats!

FOCUS

[flakez]

Tagal na rin namin pinag-iisipan ni misis to. was planning for New Zealand before pero nagbago sila ng rule so yung course ni misis bumaba yung points and hindi siya umabot sa points na kelangan. And hindi rin kami sure rin kung gusto namin talaga. We are both doing well here, may bahay at kotse na rin and few investments. And problem namin pag nag migrate kami sa New Zealand hindi kami sure kung makukuha namin yung trabaho namin ngayon dito don. Maganda na rin salary namin dito so hindi rin basta basta pwede mamasukan as a blue collar kasi baka halos ganon lang din kitain namin mas mataas pa cost of living don. We are both IT professionals here.

For me and my wife ang main reason lang talaga namin is kung mas makakakuha ng mataas na rate and of course with respect sa cost of living don. Kumbaga dapat mas mabibili namin yung mga bagay na hindi namin kaya dito don.

Ang sinasabi naman ng mother ko is isipin ko na lang daw yung anak ko. Mas maganda raw pag don lumaki. Hindi ko masabi ako ba hindi mo napalaki ng maayos dito. hehe. As long as kaya mo pag-aralin anak mo dito, na sa kanya naman yan kung magtitino siya. And syempre makakatulong din kung sa magandang school. Kung nagawa nga natin maiangat buhay natin dito sa Pinas, what stops them from doing the same.

Hindi ko pa alam ang health insurance sa New Zealand kung libre ba o hindi. Pero kung employee ka naman madalas may HMO na. So hindi mo na rin gaano iisipin yun. Or you can get on your own kung businessman ka. Wag lang talaga tamaan ng malaking gastos.

Mas less risk ang pag migrate kung wala kang trabaho dito or blue collar worker ka. Madami ako relatives na walang trabaho dito na nag migrate ng Canada. Madali mga nakahanap ng trabaho don and nakabili na rin ng mga sasakyan at bahay. Kung dito pa rin sa pinas sigurado nga nga sila. hehe

Tumira din ako sa UK ng almost 1 year last year, ok naman ang cost of living basta hindi ka pala gala. Ang mahal talaga yung bahay. Pero mura kotse. hehe

[SpinCycle]

Tagal na rin namin pinag-iisipan ni misis to. was planning for New Zealand before pero nagbago sila ng rule so yung course ni misis bumaba yung points and hindi siya umabot sa points na kelangan. And hindi rin kami sure rin kung gusto namin talaga. We are both doing well here, may bahay at kotse na rin and few investments. And problem namin pag nag migrate kami sa New Zealand hindi kami sure kung makukuha namin yung trabaho namin ngayon dito don. Maganda na rin salary namin dito so hindi rin basta basta pwede mamasukan as a blue collar kasi baka halos ganon lang din kitain namin mas mataas pa cost of living don. We are both IT professionals here.

For me and my wife ang main reason lang talaga namin is kung mas makakakuha ng mataas na rate and of course with respect sa cost of living don. Kumbaga dapat mas mabibili namin yung mga bagay na hindi namin kaya dito don.

Ang sinasabi naman ng mother ko is isipin ko na lang daw yung anak ko. Mas maganda raw pag don lumaki. Hindi ko masabi ako ba hindi mo napalaki ng maayos dito. hehe. As long as kaya mo pag-aralin anak mo dito, na sa kanya naman yan kung magtitino siya. And syempre makakatulong din kung sa magandang school. Kung nagawa nga natin maiangat buhay natin dito sa Pinas, what stops them from doing the same.

Hindi ko pa alam ang health insurance sa New Zealand kung libre ba o hindi. Pero kung employee ka naman madalas may HMO na. So hindi mo na rin gaano iisipin yun. Or you can get on your own kung businessman ka. Wag lang talaga tamaan ng malaking gastos.

Mas less risk ang pag migrate kung wala kang trabaho dito or blue collar worker ka. Madami ako relatives na walang trabaho dito na nag migrate ng Canada. Madali mga nakahanap ng trabaho don and nakabili na rin ng mga sasakyan at bahay. Kung dito pa rin sa pinas sigurado nga nga sila. hehe

Tumira din ako sa UK ng almost 1 year last year, ok naman ang cost of living basta hindi ka pala gala. Ang mahal talaga yung bahay. Pero mura kotse. hehe

Have to agree with the price of houses and renting in the UK. Lalo na sa London. When I think how much we’re paying for rent here, we could easily amortize that into getting a condo in Greenbelt Residences.


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[_Qwerty_]

free health insurance sa NZ same with OZ..

[_Cathy_]

free health insurance sa NZ same with OZ..

This is one major factor why a lot of people prefer to move abroad. Canada maganda din ata health care

[ice15]

Thread is 5 pages long and I honestly haven't read everything...

I'm not based there...

IMO, moving abroad

US, Canada, Europe (excluding UK), Aus, NZ - you go there to stay there for good. Start saying goodbye to family and friends.

SEA, mid-East - work, you can bring your family, but you can't retire there

Yes, public schools are good... But I still wish I enrolled my daughter in a private school... iba pa din.

Sometimes, we all forget that Singapore / HK etc schools may have great facilities, overseas field trips/camps, but it's still a public school. With kids from A-Z! In PHL, we will find a private school we can afford and our kids will have friends from the same status.

Opportunities? I've met people who are doing good in their current field... Staff nila, the locals!

We're not living in the best country... Sometimes it still shocks me how KL and BKK looks better than Manila... But I can afford a full time nurse, driver and maid there... Overseas? Totally different story.

[krono]

based on my experience, kapag first time magabroad at walang kakilala sa pupuntahan sobrang hirap magadjust lalo na kung may mga pinoy na inggitero.
pero kung kasama mo ang fiance mo, then go for it!

ang thinking ko kasi dyan:
1) Parehas lang naman yung gagawin nyo sa Pinas at sa abroad (magtatrabaho pa rin) doon ka na sa malaking kita.
2) Si Fiance, sya na rin naman ang mundo mo, sya na rin naman ang pamilya mo e di wala ka ng aalalahanin pa. Yung parents/siblings mo sa pinas, wag mo na masyadong isipin kasi magstart ka na ng sarili mong pamilya.
3) Mas madaling magipon kapag kasama mo ang fiance/asawa mo sa ibang bansa.

Yung planong magipon lang tapos uwi sa Pilipinas magtayo na lang ng business, ganyan din ako pero nakapagSaudi, Micronesia at ngayon nasa Singapore na ako, manghihinayang ka kapag inisip mo ulit magforgood sa Pinas at magbusiness na lang lalo na kung kalakasan mo pa,kumabaga nasa peak ka pa lang ng iyong career.

[Dead Guy Sligh]

This is one major factor why a lot of people prefer to move abroad. Canada maganda din ata health care

I spoke to a Canadian and I asked him that his homeland's healthcare is good. He said it "used" to be good then but all of the good doctors and practictioners have moved to the US for a better pay/salary.

[Risha]

I've been ruminating on this idea for a few months now - my fiance and I can move to Australia, she can have her medical specialization there and I can work in our company's Australia office (or worst case I can find other jobs there). Then eventually have a family there and live a first-world life.

We've parked the idea and decided to just proceed with our lives here in the Philippines - I stay at my corporate job while my fiance finishes residency, then when she has stable income as a consultant, we can perhaps dabble into business.

But then I thought, what if I'm dreaming too small?

I had dinner with my college friends last night and one of my best buds is moving to the Netherlands on a permanent international assignment (local hire) for an FMCG multinational. He's planning to bring his girlfriend there too and propose, then live their married life there and eventually have kids. Another friend is waiting for his expat assignment in Singapore before settling down and popping the question.

The biggest benefit I see with living abroad is that our kids will have much more opportunities growing up. A first-world passport and first-world education will bring them places. And while the first few years of immigration are definitely gonna be hard, once you get established, you live a fairly easy first world life. Plus, doctors earn mega big bucks in Australia.

One drawback is the distance from family, but if you have a comfortable income, you can fly back to the Philippines several times a year anyway. A bigger concern is the risk - it's expensive to move, take the medical certification exam, find a job, and so on.

Anyway, for those who've tried living abroad, or have considered doing so - hope you can share your insights so I can have a better idea of everything that needs to be considered. Thanks!




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Been in US for 18 years now. Me and my husband visits PI every year and now that he is almost retiring we are thinking to move to PI for good. Life abroad is very difficult. You have to work hard to get what you need and wants. Wala pang katulong, i mean mahal. Lahat ikaw gagawa kahit na parehas kayong may work. Tapos yung rent/housing sobrang mahal din kahit na malaki ang sweldo mo. Kung meron kang pinag aralan sa pinas at may kaya na kayo or pwede kang mag negosyo or kung maganda trabaho mo. I’ll stay in PI

[shelu]

I've been ruminating on this idea for a few months now - my fiance and I can move to Australia, she can have her medical specialization there and I can work in our company's Australia office (or worst case I can find other jobs there). Then eventually have a family there and live a first-world life.

We've parked the idea and decided to just proceed with our lives here in the Philippines - I stay at my corporate job while my fiance finishes residency, then when she has stable income as a consultant, we can perhaps dabble into business.

But then I thought, what if I'm dreaming too small?

I had dinner with my college friends last night and one of my best buds is moving to the Netherlands on a permanent international assignment (local hire) for an FMCG multinational. He's planning to bring his girlfriend there too and propose, then live their married life there and eventually have kids. Another friend is waiting for his expat assignment in Singapore before settling down and popping the question.

The biggest benefit I see with living abroad is that our kids will have much more opportunities growing up. A first-world passport and first-world education will bring them places. And while the first few years of immigration are definitely gonna be hard, once you get established, you live a fairly easy first world life. Plus, doctors earn mega big bucks in Australia.

One drawback is the distance from family, but if you have a comfortable income, you can fly back to the Philippines several times a year anyway. A bigger concern is the risk - it's expensive to move, take the medical certification exam, find a job, and so on.

Anyway, for those who've tried living abroad, or have considered doing so - hope you can share your insights so I can have a better idea of everything that needs to be considered. Thanks!




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one word of caution, don't expect life is easy abroad. we tried living in london with the whole family (4 kids). me and my wife are working in hospital there. salary is good but earn pounds, spend pounds. environment is better, cool and clean. BUT college education for the kids is expensive. while we're there, life is really difficult, we were alone. laban, luto, gawaing bahay, inyo lahat. then, iba ang level nga trabaho doon, supervisor ka dito, simula ka sa pinaka mababa doon. and yes, though some people may not agree, racism is true. after 4 years there, we went home and life is even greater. mas masarap ang buhay dito. basta, di ko kaya ma explain kasi magka iba tayo ng priorities sa buhay. iba pa rin ang buhay sa pinas. marami pa ang kasabayan namin noon na gusto ng bumalik pero lubog sa utang sa abroad. just my 2 cents.. follow your hearts desire.

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