It would be great if there was a place to talk to others living outside Australia, to share experiences with people who are looking to make the move, and also for those who have moved back to Australia after an expat experience.

I lived in th uk for 6 years. have been back for almost 12 months. it does get easier but it was hard at first missing family and friends.

good idea about a section on this as there are alot of people around who live/d overseas.

I lived in the UK for 3 years and have been back in Australia for nearly 6 years. We moved to Sydney and have just moved back to Perth. Its been hard leaving the UK for me, not so much for my husband.

I second this idea. I'd love a section like this

If all goes according to plan, come 2012 we will be living in the USA. My DF races speedway for a living, and it's a much bigger and profitable scene over there. I can't wait!

Bring it on!

THanks girls, such a great response.

Nat are you still living in the US? We moved to TN in November.

To the girls that are now back in Australia, how did the transition go? I know that i really haven't liked being here so far (being pregnant and sick hasn't helped), however i really don't know if i would be any better in Aust because things have changed since we left.

Yep, we're still here, going on almost 9 years in the US total so far. Two in New York city and seven here in San Francisco.

I can relate to how you're feeling being pregnant and all. I have two children and whilst we had been in the States for over five years by the time we had our daughter, when I pregnant was when I missed being home even more. It would've been so nice to have had my Mum around more (she came over for the birth) to be able to share the excitement of shopping and to have the support through doctors visits etc. I also really miss not being able to share the journey with my best friend back home. She also has two kids and I'm so hoping we'll be able maintain a friendship between hers and mine. We see them every time we go and home and chat on Skype.

How long are you planning on staying?

How long are you planning on staying?
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At this stage 2 years (so back to Aust in Oct 2011) i think that might be part of the problem, it's a long time ot be away from home but not really long enough to get really settled. Will just wait and see how the rest of the first year goes, and take it from there.

We also get a trip back to Aust once a year, so we will be back in Aust for Bub's first christmas, which i'm happy about.

What do you miss most about Aust? and are you planning on being here for several more years?

Yep, well be here for a while yet. We had plans to move back when our oldest was school aged but are just about to apply to kindergarten for her. To be honest I'm currently struggling with making the decision to move back or stay. Our apartment is getting a bit small for four of us. My husband (who is english) wants to buy a house and stay in the states for the foreseeable future. I thought our next move would be the move home and so am struggling with the idea of staying. I will say that one of the pitfalls of being away for so long is the distance it places in your relationship with your family (more than just physical distance iykwim). All our emotions are compressed into the few weeks we see each other and things don't get resolved the way they would if we lived there. Our last two trips home (both for Christmases) have been full of family drama and the shine of moving back is wearing off. I definitely think its easier to move back when you have been away a shorter time. We are reaching the point of evaluating what we will actually be getting in return for giving up what we have.

On another note - I don't know where in Tennessee you are but if you are in Nashville and are looking to meet some expats I know there is a netball club there. Obviously you can't play in your current state but you might meet other expats with babies.

http://www.nashvillekangaroos.org/

THanks Nat,

We have met some of the people from the Nashville kangaroos, and i am hoping to play once bubs is born.