I think I'd go for it in your position, probably worth trying to plan ahead a bit more for 'the return' though.
If the plan is to be able to afford a deposit on a house when you return then you need to try and get an idea of how much you can save a month whilst over there, tricky but info from your parents should help regarding bills etc.
Then you'll also need jobs when you return, not sure if nurses need to stay current with regular certs in the UK but I guess your wife could probably get a job easily enough on returning but what about you? Management training is a pretty niche thing in the UK, probably largely based on contacts to, you probably need to plan on 2-3 months looking for a decent job on your return which needs to be factored into your saving plan (plus would make getting a mortgage impossible for a while).
I wouldn't leave for money alone. If it was an adventure and the whole family are on board, I would consider it.
Unless you are going to earn mega money, I would be weary that you/your family will adjust your lifestyle to fit and end up spending accordingly.
I would also never split my family up, I have to work away about 1 week in 6 and find it really hard. My kids do too, despite the daily calls and facetime.
This is IMO of course, some people make it work just fine.
Thanks for the continued feedback.
Spoke to my folks last night, I'm going for a 'meeting' with my Dad on Saturday, he's promised me a full warts and all report on the job, living there everything, if we're still keen he'll start the ball rolling.
Mrs seems cautiously keen, a few years ago she wouldn't have even considered it but a lot of her family live abroad now.
I haven't said as much as I don't want to talk myself into it, only to find that it's not actually possible, it's an opportunity with a lot of challenges to over-come, it's not as easy as "Yeah, okay let's do it" and they hand me a book of flight tickets, keys to a house and a car, but it's the adventure aspect I fancy as much as the money - I've always wanted a life less ordinary, I've always resisted the 'obvious path' - but put that aside when I got married and had kids, then it was a case of 'do the right thing' but this seems an opportunity to have and adventure and provide for the kids.
I'd go. The UK's going through a rough patch at the moment and things are going to get a lot rougher before the light at the end of the tunnel.
This light at the end of the tunnel you mention, I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist at the moment.....
That's because it's not a tunnel, its as a deep, dark, scary hole with no obvious means of escape....This light at the end of the tunnel you mention, I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist at the moment.....
Sure it could all go mammaries skyward, but in the final analysis does it pass the deathbed "I wish I'd done it" test?
So out of curiosity, how much higher are the salaries in somewhere like Bahrain to the UK? Management training is a pretty wide group, but I can't imagine many people in that line of work in the UK are on more than £35-50k a year. How much better is the middle east to make it worth the upheaval?
@ji hard to answer, can easily be double or treble with little or no tax so the take home pay is far far higher. Things like housing is more expensive as is booze of course. IME places like the Gulf appeal to those who like warm weather but are perhaps no so "outdoorsy" more of the lie by the pool sort.
[url= https://www.justlanded.com/english/Bahrain/Bahrain-Guide/Jobs/Working-conditions ]https://www.justlanded.com/english/Bahrain/Bahrain-Guide/Jobs/Working-conditions[/url]
I've just come from six months in Bahrain and whilst it's not somewhere I'd settle for the rest of my life, it sounds as though, in your situation, this represents a good opportunity to turn your life in a beneficial direction.
In my short time I did find the place pretty boring but I didn't have the opportunity to go out of country.
I'll be honest, I didn't go out much as the beer was too expensive and I'm not really into the cheaper 'alcoholic buffets' at the weekend as they seemed to be the Bahrain version of a flat roofed pub in the UK. You also have to except the fact that at the weekend it turns into a drinking and whoring venue for Saudis although the expat community may be more cloistered.
Finally, don't worry about the security situation as it's very localised and entirely directed at their security forces.
This light at the end of the tunnel you mention, I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist at the moment.....
Switched off - strong and stable leadership, delivering savings in the governments leccy bill.
Do you agree with the values of the society you will be contributing to?
Good luck with whatever you choose. You'll find more about Bahrain from your dad/sister than any of us can tell you on a short post. The Middle East isn't all the same - except for the heat.
Personally, I don't know Bahrain, but I did go to primary school in Oman. Those were the best years of my life. And it gave me a kick start in education that followed me all through life.
Assuming your dad doesn't put you off, then just give it a go. You're not a prisoner out there. If you hate it after 12 months then just come home.
Wzzz - Do you agree with the current values of the UK?
I would take the opportunity, indeed I have recently used a similar link to change careers and perhaps even have the option of retiring one day. While I haven't had to move I can assure you that six months in the reduced stress of making ends meet is life changing and like you I was the jack of all trades and master of none but that is starting to change.
If my wife had her way we'd move overseas but so far the right opportunity hasn't presented itself.
Do you agree with the values of the society you will be contributing to?
Not sure I agree with the values of a Conservative UK / Brexit UK.....
I got bored reading the OP's bit.
Whats your exit strategy ie for coming back?
No matter what you earn its always hard to save and being richer doesnt mean more disposable income.
I'd do it if the opportunity arose. Not for the money, just for the experience of living somewhere different. If it doesn't work out, come back. What's the dilemna*? 😉
*On a completely unrelated note, it seems that dilemna is actually spelled dilemma - looks totally wrong to me though!?
LOL @ Kenneththecurtain
OP - deffo take you and missus for a look-see, meet another family out there for a blether. That'll give you a good indication. Make sure to check costs of Schooling, Housing, and Healthcare - when you get numbers for those be pessimistic and take worst case answer and add 10%. likely that those three might well take any shine from salary package.
Generally, as you seem to be considering, don't want it too badly, make sure options are stacked in your favour, remember that inter-continental removals are a horrible experience, then Crack on!
There's a whole big wide world out there, stacked with fun and interesting people and experiences - go see it!
Broadly- yes, I'm proud to live in a prosperous society that looks after the less well able, provides a refuge for those in danger and manages to be world class in so many activities.
There is no utopia, there are things I'm not proud of, and perhaps the UK has nudged awkwardly towards what I would say is the wrong direction, but I'm fully confident we will waver around the middle mostly going in the right direction for another couple of centuries at least.
I have travelled the world, been comfortable in some places and felt deeply uncomfortable in others.
You may miss the culture. Expats can get pretty bored and whilst the money can be good, there's a reason they pay.
Consider whether you can rent the house you are buying whilst you're away; that could make a big difference to your security when you return.
Expat life puts a huge stress on marriages, particularly if one partner isn't working and stuck at home. Separation is trickier as long-distance relationships are harder to maintain.
Your daughter, like your sister, may benefit from a better education than she's currently getting; that also depends on her, and expat schooling doesn't suit everyone.
Why not take time to visit your parents with your family and check it out.
If you do go, it looks like you'll be financially better off, you may gain in other ways, but you may give up some things too.
The job you do may progress your career - choose carefully. It can be difficult to return to the UK.
Good luck and do let us know how you get on.
If there are plenty of Persian women, which I think they have, just look don't touch or you will get into very serious trouble. They can be rather attractive mind ... at least some of the ones I know. 😆
Do it, I just moved to New Zealand on a similar offer (though my company rather than family) decided if I didn't like it I would just move back.
Oh and it was days after my 40th....its a sign!
(btw loving it here and so are the wife and kids)
A quick update if anyone has invested ha ha.
Spoke with Dad earlier - there's a few roles I could apply for now. He was fair and honest, it's not his job to give me, but he would recommend me. I'd have to embellish my CV slightly to meet the criteria but he says that's fairly common and he's couch me the correct answers to give.
The package is amazing - take home is a grand a month take home more than I make now, plus comes with a house, 2 return flights a year, twice annual profit share and 14% salary a year as a leaving bonus when you leave.
My Wife salary (same company owns the hospital too) would be £500 a month more take-home plus there's allowances for all sorts.
School fees for the kids, health insurance etc etc
Between the taxation, free house etc we'd be £3k a month up on what we're on now, which is life changing.
The biggest shock is that whilst my Dad originally said "they're always recruiting" and they are, it's actually a specific expansion they're recuititng for so I'd be applying in 3 weeks when he gets back after Ramadan, it's a slowish recruitment process but if I got it, it would be a start date of about September, which all seems terribly soon now.
Mrs seems keen, scared but keen, we've spent the last hour watching YouTube videos, they're either very expensively made promo vids or grainy vids of the 2011 uprising or terribly made vlogs.
You're still here.......START PACKING!
What do you think you'll do? Will you apply? Will you take it if successful?
Wow! It's a great opportunity for you and your family. Don't bump along the bottom, get ahead, go for it!
fanatic278 - Member
What do you think you'll do? Will you apply? Will you take it if successful?
I'm not sure - the biggest sticking point at the moment seems to be the timing, my Wife is very cautious by nature, she'd like to go for it and have a year to get ready, but that's just not going to be possible, even if it was a year I'm sure she'd think it was too quick. In fairness my folks took a year or two to decide, plan and move but it was a complete unknown to them.
I'm very keen, I've watched every vid on the place on YT, read ever blog and thread I could find good and bad and see little practical downsides, I'm at an age where my social life is little to zero, I'd really miss hanging out with my mates riding, but I'd still manage to show my face a few times a year on home leave.
Plan is currently to go for it, if it doesn't work out we'll caulk it up to experience and forget about it, if it all pans out we've got until the day we hand in our notice to change our minds and pull out without a problem and we could still change our mind before we step on the plane.
I'm at an age where my social life is little to zero,
It's not an age.
If you're going for it there has to be a best time in the year to start. I started every training job in September. Companies model their training programmes on the school year which may seem strange but meant every start date except one was in September. I always employed people with a September start. Anyhow, find out when you'll be needed and make you plans to be ready for that date.
it sounds to me like you're going to give it a go. So good luck.
In my experience having a supportive wife helps dramatically. Mine is up for adventure, which helped massively when we went expat with three kids, one of them being only 4 weeks old. Plenty of things will go wrong in the first few months, so you need to be resilient - individually and as a couple.
fanatic278 - Memberit sounds to me like you're going to give it a go. So good luck.
In my experience having a supportive wife helps dramatically. Mine is up for adventure, which helped massively when we went expat with three kids, one of them being only 4 weeks old. Plenty of things will go wrong in the first few months, so you need to be resilient - individually and as a couple.
Yeah, there's a couple of serious challenges in the way, I've got to get the job first of course and then it's the bigger job of convincing my Wife to take the leap, but yeah in my head it's full steam ahead.
I'm going to speak to a guy today, he's the head of international sales for a Japanese manufacturer. The company is Bahrain is one of their biggest clients, he's goes there a couple of times a year and he'd also make a great reference. He works 5m down the corridor from me.
Fingers-crossed nothing further develops with the Qatar situation...
Fingers-crossed nothing further develops with the Qatar situation...
Yeah I read about that this morning, my Dad says that in Bahrain, UAE and Saudi things like this rarely amount to much and large scale war is unlikley with the US 5th Fleet on the Island, but you never know.
Yeah I read about that this morning, my Dad says that in Bahrain, UAE and Saudi things like this rarely amount to much and large scale war is unlikley with the US 5th Fleet on the Island, but you never know.
I'm watching what Oman have to say, if anything.
The sheer volume of people moving in the next two weeks will be immense.
[url= http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/150718/Qatar_Expats_Say_Leave_Canceled_Travel_Restricted_After_Arab_Rift?utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2017-06-23&utm_content=&utm_campaign=industry_headlines_1 ]this sort of thing isnt uncommon in the region.,....... [/url]
A little update for anyone who still cares.
My Dad is back in work after Ramadan, my CV has been revised and revised, partly because to make the terminology less UK centric (we don't half talk in riddles here compared to the rest of the world) and partly to make it suit their needs and will be given to them on Monday.
I should know in a week or two if they want to interview me, this'll be a telephone interview on a Sunday (thank Allah for the Muslim Sabbath) at home. I'll be briefed beforehand with a few pointers etc, but I've got to stand on my own two feet.
If that goes well the next stage will hopefully be an informal interview over there late August
The decision to go, I’m still not sure – some days I want it so much I’m worried I’ll be so disappointed if I don’t get it I’ll forever wonder “what if” some days it seems so farfetched I laugh at myself for even dreaming about it and some days I can’t think of anything worse than living in a desert thousands of miles away – they’re usually the days I’m riding through the greenest of green woods without a care in the world.
Knowing me if they offer it I’ll say “yeah, **** it, why not?” and go for the chance of a life less ordinary.
Oh P.S. the whole Qatar thing is seen as a bit of a non-issue in Bahrain at the moment.
Is it just me that reads this and thinks that the op is needing to sort his life out here? It screams one thing to me
MONEY DOSNT MAKE YOU HAPPY!
Sort your self out make the most of what you have. Down size the rental house etc. Live within your means. I don't have much. but I have a small mortgage on a small house. an old car. a couple of bikes but I'm happy I have no other dept apart from my mortgage
If I can't afford to buy it cash I dont simples. Running away for a few years isn't going to make u happy
P-Jay good luck, you've thought this through and you and your family will make the right choice I am sure.
If you don't melt in late August that will be a positive, I do wonder whether they did that on purpose
Money might not make you happy. It makes life a **** load less stressful though. I'd rather be unhappy with money, than unhappy without it!
If you believe you have some understanding of political/cultural/religious/racial considerations and are comfortable with them - or can tolerate - go for it.
Based on what you have posted - if it were me, I would go.
I wouldn't post on a forum where random posters can comment as they see fit without helping you.
Take your decision then just get on with your life.
No advice on the middle East, but on a tale home of 3500, if that's what it is at least, and £900 rent I can't see why you couldn't save 1500 a month if you're careful. Two years of that would see a deposit of 36000, and a 200k house would be affordable without any stretching.
I'd not do the middle East thing personally, though leaving the UK wouldn't be the issue.
