Hi.. wanted to pick your collective brains...


I have had an incredible 2.5 years. Rode from UK to Nepal over 4 months. Worked in Nepal for 8 months, and worked and traveled New Zealand for 16 months.


I have a three week trip back to the UK planned in a months time. I'm currently on a working holiday visa, and my job is fairly keen on getting me on a work visa next year, although it is not an easy task, the chap who runs the business really wants to keep me on and get me to stay. The wife on the other hand is a total nutter and we have a huge personality clash, she thinks me getting the visa is to many hoops for them to jump through. (It's a motorbike gear shop).


I am weighing up whether to call it quits for now and not to return to NZ. I'm 50%/50% at the moment. To add another spanner in the works, my motorbike engine big end is on its way out, so I'm here in the city without access to a working bike to carry on exploring


Pros of staying:
Summer coming
Never get the chance to get a work visa in NZ without totally retraining
Lifestyle here is a little cheaper, shorter commute, beaches nearby
Potentially have another year here- if I did 2 years, there is the chance of residency.


Cons of staying:
Risk that I might not get work visa and have to leave at short notice
Once on work visa cannot work second job, and pay is low
Will have to pay labour/workshop time to rebuild engine

Winter in UK, long commutes, having to look for new job
No bike to go on little adventures and no spare cash
No spare cash for emergencies/medical stuff
After March, I can no longer ride on UK plates and will have to register onto kiwi plates, more $$$.


Pros of coming home:
Can retrain/new career and save up for next big trip
Unlimited workshop space and help from dad on bike, can rebuild as and when budget allows
Miss my family terribly and can live with them - cheap rent
Feeling that I've been away for far too long and want to have some time back in my old community and rekindle old friendships
Shipping my bike back will not cost me a huge amount


Option 1: Come home in 1 month time
Option 2: Fly back to NZ, keep going with the job, open the motor up, see what the damage is, apply for visa, and if still no better situation and wanting to come home, go back to UK in March.


As the Nepali's would say, Ke Garne.. What to do?

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https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

Ask 10 travellers this question and you are likely to get 11 different answers. You have already been away for longer than I have on any one trip and I have been happy to get back home so would opt for a return. If you feel like going back I would try and get a definite answer from you boss, and his wife, then think about it.


If she see this it might make your decision for you.

Where's the dilemma, NZ... obviously!

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness

After 2 and a half years on the road, Home might not be quite what you remember.........

This is very true! Although missing family is very real, nostalgia and the perceived safety net of the UK with respect to job prospects might be unduly influencing your potential decision. Both options seem to end in coming home, so why not go for option two allowing yourself more time to arrive at informed decision? It sounds like you'd like to stay but are concerned financially (which is totally understandable!) about continuing to live over there. The fact that citizenship was mentioned tells me at least part of of you has considered this. March isn't that far off, by which time you might have a clearer idea about where things stand financially / visa wise.

If you came home, once you'd spent time with family and friends (which would've great), would you regret not having given it a little longer?

Re the wife - no job is 100%. There is always something that could be better!

With all due respect to your employer, his wife, everyone on these forums, the experts who give advice on how to make decisions, the neat list of pros/cons, and even myself, I say this:

Forget them all. What do you want to do?

Go do that. You'll find a way.

[edit: I'd be far more explicit and strong with a different F word if this site didn't censor what we write.]

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

hi Fern
As you know, my daughter lives in NZ & I sympathise how difficult it is to be so far away from family and friends. Skype will never replace a homely hug & a good ole chin-wag with people who know you well.

Are you thinking of moving because you think you should keep travelling or genuinely want to do something different? (a rhetorical question)

I'm older and in a different position to you but my advice would be - if you think you NZ could be home, go with the 2 year plan.
Once over 30, it's more difficult to get in. The world will still be there after you've earned your right to live in NZ

It's great that your employer wants you to stay - speak to an immigration officer for further advice. Maybe get the ball rolling while you're away?

If you retrain - have you decided what that would be?
Can you get the qualifications in NZ? Student fees in the UK are fairly high too. If NZ is your ultimate target, ensure the qualifications are recognised by immigration & on their shortage list.
Although my IT qualifications and experience are what will get me into NZ, if I stepped back 20 years, I would now choose a professional trade - there's an endless shortage of plumbers, electricians and engineers all over the world!

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Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way