Another job offer - somewhere over the rainbow!
I think I remember posting some time ago that I had applied for an academic position in Australia...I've been offered it. In some ways I'm excited, it's a nice university and it's a proper research and teaching post in my subject. I should be really excited and I know that I should definitely go for it - good money, nice country etc. But, in all honesty, I'm actually quite scared. I've never been abroad and it's the other side of the world. I won't know anyone and I won't have any friends. However, I'm now 30 and should be able to stand on my own two feet. There's not really anything going in this country and travelling to and from work 4 1/2 hours every day is starting really wear. What would you do? It won't be that bad will it? I have watched Neighbours and Home and Away and it does seem quite English to be honest. Would you go for it if you were me? I have no children (that I know about). No mortgage. Nothing that means I am committed to living in the UK. It is life changing though. :-(
Wow...Minus the job offer I could have written your post Wally. That's my thinking. I'm dying a death here but share all the same concerns you have. I've only been away for conferences and only to Europe. Would I do it? With a very, very, heavy heart I think I would. My attitude is I would be going away for a good job, there's nothing aside from my family to keeping me here (parents, siblings) and if it didn't work out I could always come back but know that at least I gave it a try. I know many people who have moved to Australia and only one regretted it (it wasn't that he didn't like Australia but just he was dreadfully homesick). That said, all the people I know that have moved were part of a couple and so had each other. I totally understand your concerns though and have probably ran each and everyone through my head.
I hope you make the right decision for you.(up)
Hey Wally, congrats on the job offer :)
I live in Australia (I am Australian), but I have lived and worked in other countries including the UK, and I understand your worries about moving so far away. Don't know which uni you will be at, but most are very international, and chances are most of your department will be in/ have been in a similar situation to you. Most Australians will be sociable and welcoming also, and chances are you will meet people and make friends in no time. There are hoardes of British people here, and they don't seem in a hurry to leave, so they mustn't be hating it too much! And it seems like opportunities and funding in research, academia etc are much better here at the moment than in Europe or US.
I think you should go for it. Just think about it as a temporary thing, you can see how it goes and can always go home at any point. And no, it really won't be that bad :) Feel free to pm me if you want. In the unlikely event we're in the same city, I'd be happy to meet up if you'd like to.
I see no reason to not go for it except fear of the unknown. That's not a great reason to turn it down in my opinion. Take the job. If you don't like it after a few months you are allowed to quit and go home. I bet that doesn't happen though.
It's understandable to be apprehensive of it, but you'll really regret it if you don't go. It's better to regret something you did than something that you didn't do. Plus Oz is a great place!
I have two friends who took academic jobs in Australia. One loved it and is still there flourishing and one hated it and came home asap. Based on their experiences, I'd suggest thinking about the following in making your decision:
1) do you like the sound of the city you'd be living in? Trawl expats forums to get a sense of how other Brits have found it. Remember how big Australia is - if you don't like the city, it's not as easy to escape as it is in Europe.
2) What support does the department offer in terms of conference travel? If you want to keep the option of returning open, you probably have to keep networks here and attending the big conference in your field is probably the easiest way BUT it isn't cheap so you can't self-fund as you might here.
3) Is the department a decent academic fit for you? The friend who came back agonised over going to Australia but forgot to think about the dept and found himself intellectually isolated there.
Good luck with the decision.
Everything you say as a negative (including "life-changing", not knowing anyone and not being England) I would view as a positive. Go for it! What've you got to lose? If it doesn't suit you can always come back. Plus the whole "I won't know anyone and I won't have any friends" is fairly similar whatever you do - if you get a job in a new city in England, for example.
Also, if you've never been abroad before and you've spent a fair proportion of your life in education, ain't it about time you went exploring a bit? If you don't try something, you'll never know if you like it or not.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain
But, hey, that's just me. I'm full of frustrated wanderlust :$ If it's a Politics job and you don't want it, you can always recommend me as your replacement 8-)
I wouldn't take it because I hate spiders (and don't believe the "you never see them" rubbish - pah!). I'd def take it if it was New Zealand though. YOu have loads of things in your favour. You don't have to negotiate with a partner (do you?) you don't have kids or property - this is the time!
Just think about the long term though - if you want to move back to the uk in 5 or 10 years, then consider whether this will be possible and what you'll have to do - I have a few family members that moved out to NZ and OZ 20 years ago and can't get back now because they can't afford house prices in the UK now.
Thank you all for you kind comments and words of wisdom. I'm going to do it. The wage is amazing, far in excess of what I currently earn. It's an amazing opportunity and I have to at least try (I can always come home if it doesn't work out). I'm not a hermit crab or someone with the etiquette of a slavering pitbull, so am sure I will make new friends. For once, I'm actually speechless. As Slizor commented, it really is time to go exploring! At least I have a few months here to get my affairs in order. Thank you.
Congrats on the job! And on taking the big decision to move to Oz! A very good English friend of mine just started an academic post in Australia and by all accounts is enjoying it--albeit with a few adjustments that come with moving to a new country ( says the selection of cheese is poor!). I upped sticks and went to England for my PhD and stayed with subsequent academic employment, so I fully sympathise with the pangs of moving to a new country. Having been to Australia to visit a few times ( and having been an exchange student there in high school) I would give the place a big thumbs up. People are very friendly, the weather is nice, lots of things to see and do, etc. It can take awhile to make friends in a new place, but it does happen. Of course moving to a new country on your own half way around the world is scary. On the other hand its easy to stay connected to"home" through the internet, email, Skype, whatever. Think of it as a giant adventure--one that will have of course its ups and downs as you settle in not only to a new country, but a new career, and the very weird environment of academia.
eek how exciting - I would say I would come and visit but 1/ You haven't invited me and 2/ I can't go to Oz cos of the spider INFESTATION they have there.
But I'm sure you will love it! Also be careful of the sharks!! On the plus side I think tazmanian devils are really cool so you could get a pet one and feed it bits of annoying students
