To emigrate, or just move down South...

I've just got back from a week in Iceland and loved it. Sure it's not the same as moving there but I got a good idea of the people, culture and weather.

The people are great and the weather isn't much worse than here in the UK. The only issue I had was the 56MPH speed limit and long boring roads. If you're based in Reykjavík it has plenty to keep you occupied, the food is amazing and there are plenty of hot ladies to keep you entertained on the cold winter nights.

If I was single and got the opportunity I'd be there, no question. You don't have to stay there long term but the chance to work there would be too hard to pass.
 
Sounds like Iceland will be amazing! What an opportunity!

How easy would it be to work there if you dont know Icelandic / Just English?
 
Looking forward to tomorrow now - the whole time won't be a holiday as I will be doing research etc and i'm not there long but should be a very interesting few days.

I've said before I'd love to do something like this and to actually be over there scoping it out with the chance to do it - If i don't do it maybe I never get another chance and I'd deff regret that forever. Life is too short for regrets!


From the people I've spoken to over there, Expats and locals in the HR team English is very widely spoken - the workforce at the company is very international too as they are recruiting from a number of EU countries and maybe even outside of EU.
If I was living there long-term I'd like to pick up the language but at least in the company English is the No.1 spoken language.
 
When I was 25 I emigrated to Belgium for a job in Brussels. It was the best thing I done, I loved living abroad it felt like re-discovering life all over again. The way Belgians do things are in some cases quite different to the way life is in the UK. I have travelled quite a lot of the world, partly due to a job that I get paid to travel overseas for but also do it for pleasure too. I enjoy different cultures and getting a taste and experience of life and customs in different countries. Living in a country is dramatically different to visiting. You get to become part of that culture and that can be extremely fun.

My experience for emigrating was first 6 months are the worse. People saying moving house is the most stressful thing you can do. Try moving house to another country while changing from one job with people you know to a completely different bunch of people. It is extremely stressful ! You really have to put yourself out there to socialise and meet new people, remember you are here to stay so take the culture in show interest in the place you are living. Local people will be more willing to help you if you show an active interest in the country and city/town you are in. In that first 6 months you will miss home comforts and family and friends. But you will get past this. Don’t be on the phone or Skype constantly to be calling all your friends and family, get out there and make new friends. Don’t neglect your friends and family in the UK, still keep in touch but realistically you can’t be on the phone every other day just to see how things are... that will just make you more homesick. You need to accept that the country you are in now is home. If you make the effort to go out see and do things it makes it even more enjoyable when you have friends and family from the UK visit you as you can show them things not all tourists would ever do. Also don’t constantly be trying to get “home to the UK” I only ever went back to the UK for Xmas (although one year I had my family come to Brussels for Xmas) and the odd holiday/break. I went back the UK maybe 2-3 times a year max and each trip was 1 week long max, apart from Xmas which I maybe had 2 weeks back. Again this will help get rid of the homesick part. Get used to local produce.... you won’t always be able to get UK tea or UK (Danish) bacon. I’m not 100% what Finland is like for that but certainly in Brussels getting “British Bacon” was next to impossible, unless you was prepared to pay a lot of money for it, same with British tea. Try Speak to as many people who live there to try find out if it’s the sort of place you would enjoy living. Overall after the first 6 months I found myself settled in my new home and I loved it and stayed there for 3 years at which point it was time for a new adventure.

I’m now back in the UK for now... I’ve got another job lined up in Romania and will be moving to Bucharest early next year and I am really excited to get there. Romania is a cracking place, despite what many “typical Brits” (yes generalised sweeping statement but it’s not far off) tend to think of Romanians I love moving around life is for living and I intend to enjoy as much of it as possible.... there is far more out there than what’s just on “The ISLAND”.

That’s just a few of my thoughts off the top of my head. If you want to ask me anything more OP feel free to post here or ping me a trust, happy to help if you have more questions about emigrating or life with it. Keep in mind I did this on my own, I had no “parents money” or dependants. Everything I did and researched on my own, so I like to think I have a fair bit of experience in this area.
 
Last edited:
Adsta said:
SNIP
Click to expand...

Interesting read, thanks. It seems to have a similar outlook to me on it all really.

I've handed in my notice at work yesterday and have received confirmation that they are offering me the job. I'm just waiting on the formal offer of employment with wage and relocation package coming through.

I met the new team on Friday and was taken around town, the site and then from 5pm-3am on a night out. There are a lot of Expats there, many who have only just moved themselves and more will be moving in the coming months/year. So meeting everyone and making friends seems like it will be super easy there. I enjoyed the night out (even if I drank more than I have since I was 19).
The locals seem friendly and laid back which suits me and it's low population density is a plus.

The company is very interesting - it's much more on the Scientific side than Manufacturing which appeals to me.

So yes I agree it will be challenging at first, but they provide me with someone to help with the move and put me up in a city centre flat for 4 weeks too. My friends and family all support the move so while I will miss people I've never been one to get that attached as I've always thought one day I'd move away. Plus my mates are all moving in and settling down with partners anyway so I'd see them less and less.

So yeah - everything went well, and they told me while there I'd get an offer and have received confirmation of this - recruitment agency are pushing them to get it through ASAP as they can be a bit too laid back.

:cool:
 
blitzwing85 said:
Interesting read, thanks. It seems to have a similar outlook to me on it all really.

I've handed in my notice at work yesterday and have received confirmation that they are offering me the job. I'm just waiting on the formal offer of employment with wage and relocation package coming through.

I met the new team on Friday and was taken around town, the site and then from 5pm-3am on a night out. There are a lot of Expats there, many who have only just moved themselves and more will be moving in the coming months/year. So meeting everyone and making friends seems like it will be super easy there. I enjoyed the night out (even if I drank more than I have since I was 19).
The locals seem friendly and laid back which suits me and it's low population density is a plus.

The company is very interesting - it's much more on the Scientific side than Manufacturing which appeals to me.

So yes I agree it will be challenging at first, but they provide me with someone to help with the move and put me up in a city centre flat for 4 weeks too. My friends and family all support the move so while I will miss people I've never been one to get that attached as I've always thought one day I'd move away. Plus my mates are all moving in and settling down with partners anyway so I'd see them less and less.

So yeah - everything went well, and they told me while there I'd get an offer and have received confirmation of this - recruitment agency are pushing them to get it through ASAP as they can be a bit too laid back.

:cool:
Click to expand...

Very nice. I think you just won at life :)
 
Hey, what do you have to loose <wink> <wink>.

Seriously, do it. Especially if you have no ties to the homeland (GF, familly business, ect...). And if it doesn't work out, then at least you've been to Iceland.

Language would be the first thing though. Good luck with that!
 
Well...I'm starting my new job in Iceland on the 1st Feb :)

It is kind of exciting and daunting at the same time but I asked them to wait a couple of weeks so i can just enjoy the Xmas hols with friends/family and not have to start getting ready to move until the new year.

I'll be moving over w/c 25th as I'll be taking my final week at current employment as a holiday thus getting paid to the end of the month while I move.

Not going to lie, it feels really weird to think in 6 weeks I won't even be living in this country any more!!
 
Six years since I lived in the UK now. Love living abroad, although you do have to put in some effort to build a new social circle, adapt your food and lifestyle.

The people that don't hack it as expats are the ones that spend their whole time trying to replicate home abroad. Just embrace your new country and you can't do wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom