Why You Keep Moving Back and Forth: A Ping Pong Pom Story

If you're looking to emigrate to Australia, then in this podcast we find out why you keep moving back and forth: a ping pong pom story. If you want to move to Australia with family or you're thinking you want to move to Australia from UK, this video podcast will help you. This is the true words from a registered migration agent Australia. Emigrating to Australia from UK can be hard. We wish we knew how to move to Australia from UK and how to move to Australia permanently before we moved. If you want to migrate to Australia from UK, then make sure you move to Australia 2023!
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[@craiglist879]

This is so common and it doesn't matter how many people tell you before you return home that you'll be back....you still go. I came to Australia in 1988 for a holiday, 1 month and then the following year for another month. I decided to emigrate and back in 1989 it wasn't quite as difficult but arriving here in Jan. 1990 was very daunting. I did have a sister here but no friends. Getting work was relatively easy and I was able to buy a house as prices were much cheaper than London. Seven years later, the old home sick bug hit hard. I sold up, shipped everything back to London and said bye bye to all my Australian friends. Christmas in Ireland with my family and then back to London where I'd lived since I was 18. I lasted 3 months.....I could not settle, everything was so depressing and house prices had gone through the roof. I returned to Australia after just 3 months. My furniture was still on the ship heading to London and I was back here. I've been in Australia 33 years. This is home.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks for sharing Craig

[@kanishmanchanda]

😂😂 What have you done to the furniture when you came back to Australia and your furniture reached London?

[@craiglist879]

I instructed the shipper to ship it back to Australia. In hindsight I probably should have just left it there but among the furniture were some quite sentimental items.

[@antheabrouwer3258]

I was born in England. But my family were Irish and moved to Australia with my family when I was three. My family moved back to Ireland when I was 19. I went back to Ireland when I had my first son but I was like a fish out of water. I was too Australian. Moved back. It was hard spending my life in Australia without my parents. However, my sister is the iconic, Moves here. Moves back. Moves here. Moves back. She has finally got her permanent residency now and coming back in May!!

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Wow she's come back and forth Anthea. Hope she settles this time

[@fugawiaus]

Chris’ problem was moving to Melbourne. Hehe

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

😆 🤣 😂

[@markb3146]

Not just Poms on this one, I have quite a few from Spain and a couple of other European countries, they never felt quite at home in Australia BUT found their other country even less inviting after moving over .... all are now resettled back in Aussie.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Perhaps ping pom people is more appropriate

[@michaeljones853]

I was born in Merseyside and cam over at 11. Went back at 25 and worked in London for 6 yrs then came home to Australia. Found it easy to slide back into English life but it wasnt Australia. Luckily most of my extended family had moved to Australia from 1966 onwards. I still miss a good ruby and chips/curry sauce.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Still looking for a good Indian

[@charliew4823]

Now there is a bloke who will make a great life for his family in Aus and he has really done the hard yards to make it work here.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Charlie

[@Bobblybook]

Very interesting - I've lived here in Melb all my life and it's interesting to see the perspectives of someone uprooting their life and coming here. I think a lot of the ping pong behaviour comes down to the "grass is greener" effect where you remember all the good things of your previous home, and when you move back there then you miss all the good things about the other place that you maybe got used to and took for granted. I think also it comes down to a bit of nervousness and worry about where you're wanting to settle, and not wanting to make the wrong decision and regret it once you've made commitments.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Great advice

[@haydnslater4333]

Best types of videos for me as someone who wants to move to Australia in 2 years after I have finished my apprenticeship in gas engineering, a lot of people just seem to show the good bits and fort get about the hard bits and to hear that it’s not easy for everyone but it works out in the end is a little bit settling for me.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Always want to share as much of the truth as we can

[@MrCraptakular]

This resonates with me, I went on a 482 Visa to Hobart on my own at 35. I am 39 now, and have a second offer. This time in Perth. I am going to do it on my own again. First time around the job was not right, I was dumped in Hobart in there winter and felt very very very homesick... I almost had a breakdown I think looking back so just came home. This time feels different. I 100% felt the same way as this gentleman.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Hope it goes well for you in Perth

[@daveamies5031]

I think from all the people I've met, that wanting to give your kids a better life is the #1 reason people move/stay in Australia, doesn't seem to matter from which country either. Great video Ross 👍

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Cheers Dave

[@charlesemerson6763]

Good onya Chris. It is a physical thing homesickness and it can eat away at you till you reach the point that you have to go back. I know myself as a sixteen year old it was bloody hard and within a year I was ready to go back but something happened that changed it for me, I bought a motor bike. Next thing you know I'm off travelling the country, all thoughts of going back disappeared into the back ground as I saw a whole new world. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but it worked for me.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

If only everyone could be helped by a motorbike

[@peteb5866]

Probably my favourite video so far. Well done to Chris. He seems like a sound, genuine, hard working family guy that wants the best for his family, so all the very best to them all.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Pete. I know Chris would really appreciate that

[@gordinistanopolis]

I never forgot something my mum said about coming from the UK and arriving in Australia she said it reminded her of Dorothy opening the door in Wizard of Oz and her going from drab black and white to being dazzled by the bright colours of the sky and the land and the Ocean. I came to Australia in 1984 been back a few times got homesick a little bit early on but not now . Australia as you say is a much better place to bring up children

[@patrussell8917]

This nation needs skilled people but government is bringing in unskilled workers for doing jobs Australians wont do . More of what you say and the kind of people that you interview are what is needed. Ross you are the best salesman for Australia ever

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Pat!

[@davidc9516]

This is the best episode yet and so great to hear that your guest knows he’s in the right place for his family! As a sandgroper (Western Australian) I can definitely recommend Esperance, but please make sure you tell your guest to do the National Park just east of Esperance called Cape Le Grand. If you want a really memorable life experience, try the Duke of New Orleans Bay Caravan Park on New Years. It’s really something else down there, nothing on earth compares, like many of Australia’s unique remote landscapes

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks David. Really appreciate it

[@boppermacca9346]

That was a genuinely fascinating interview & insight into both what it takes to move here & also the reasons to make such a big move. To Chris & your family I hope you have a happy life here, you sound like you are going to be an asset to this beautiful place we call home

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Our pleasure!

[@isabellehenrisson3004]

Love this video, thank you!

[@68arclight]

Another really good interview. Chris sounds like a great asset to Australia. Best wishes to him and his family.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Geoff

[@JohnJEM-po3qs]

Watch a lot of your videos and it gets me more and more excited to move bit got 2 years left to get my degree then I can start counting down to move 6 months later, time is dragging though but saving up so much bit so hard as it's hard enough to get by 😢

[@WestAussieBackyardNature]

Chris's wife will LOVE the beaches at Cape Le Grand in Esperance!! Whitest beaches in Australia & crystal clear Waters 👍👍 Stunning!!❤️ I gotta get back down there sometime...from Perth. I lived in the UK for 3yrs-'90-'93(Eastbourne & Seaford). I loved it for sure but the lifestyle & weather is too good here in Oz. You know it makes sense😉😁

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Agreed

[@WestAussieBackyardNature]

@@ThatJohnstonLife Lucky Bay in Esperance has just been voted the World's Best Beach. So get on over sometime. 2 other WA beaches made it into the 50. Hellfire Bay, Esperance & Turquoise Bay on the Coral Coast Ningaloo 👍

[@Jacko19877]

Another good content, guys! I am only two weeks into my Australian journey. It is difficult when missing family.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

You can do it Jack!

[@Jacko19877]

@That Johnston Life Thanks Ross, it means a lot. Your content is really good. It helps people. I was watching your videos 2 years ago when I was in the UK. It motivated me to pursue my Australian dream! It does have a cost leaving family behind. However, it is a better life here in Australia.

[@moda_crypto869]

The thing is there is no perfect solution. Both countries have massive plus points and there is always going to be that question of whether your going to regret it in the long run. I've lived in Melb 11 years and my partner is Aus. I've longed to go home for last 3 years and actually tried twice but pandemic and the mrs mum getting ill halted that. We were going to try a 3rd time but with little one starting school early next year have decided to stay here. Its a great life for kids and that's the way I'm looking at it now especially with all the economic trouble in Europe. The downsides are obviously missing family and my kids growing up not really knowing their English cousins etc. Also me and the Mrs haven't had a night out together in 4 years (her family aren't in Melbs) so not having family around can get quite lonely. Personally id move back, the weather doesn't bother me and miss the football and English people but now have made the decision for my family who are all very happy here. Cant rule out going back one day but forever feeling undecided in my mind is maybe halting me living life to the fullest here. Good luck to everyone who is moving or stuck in the ping pong limbo

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

I think it would be weird if there weren't some things that we missed. It's ok to have your heart in many places

[@lukegilham3643]

Always love your videos! Please keep making them

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thank you! Will do!

[@nakedarse2507]

Great interview , thanks lads !

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@moda_crypto869]

Great interview thanks to you both

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@t4680]

Wow! What a story! Great video Ross 👍🏻👏🏼

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks a ton!

[@margueritedilosa2944]

Great interview , makes us very proud . Our Ancestors moved here from England and Ireland , how hard it must of been because they couldn’t afford to move back. Now they would look at their choice and say they were very happy with their choices. We are all highly educated , married -some to Italian immigrant families some to English, own homes , and had a very comfortable life and I love hearing your stories , making life better for the kids .

[@financialfreedom775]

This was an bsolute top video Ross! Sometimes you just don’t realise the grass is actually greener where you are !

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Gald you enjoyed it

[@louisaklimentos7583]

When people move to another country then they move back home and then they return back to the other country , shows me that they are unsettled with in themselves . They need to look deep into their soul and what they can do to heal their soul . You then will become content with your life . I know it is very hard to migrate to another country but eventually things will pan out . Best of luck what ever you do !

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Sometimes people need the process to realise what they want as well

[@louisaklimentos7583]

@@ThatJohnstonLife True

[@keefij]

This is everything I feel right now. I’m also a British panel beater who has been living in Brisbane for the last seven years until recently returning back to the U.K. in the last six months due to family. I’m sat here now in the wet and cold wondering whether I really made the right decision at the moment.

[@Fish29077]

Great story mate. Thank you for sharing. So interesting hearing the thought process behind these moves to Australia. If you get to Esperance WA, it’s probably worth heading towards the other parts of south WA. Albany and Margaret River are areas I keep returning to for holidays. Hope your family becomes an Australian citizen one day.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Great tips. Thanks Joel

[@julesmarwell8023]

most interesting vlog you ever done.. you're a born interviewer. concise and informative. Thanks mate. keep it up.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Wow, thanks Jules!

[@victorwilks88]

Great information

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Glad you liked it

[@retromark4558]

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Glad to help. Good luck!!

[@markaustin1323]

Wonderful video, good job 🎉🎉

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thank you 🤗

[@Kailan_Moala]

As an Ozzie ,I really enjoy all your content, regards from Canberra.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Awesome! Thank you Ariana

[@carolsanders637]

Great interview.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Carol

[@bSMith266]

been binging your old videos, so funny to see how you have picked up the Australian accent, it comes through around 30% of the time.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

You think so?

[@coraliemoller3896]

@@ThatJohnstonLife. As an Aussie, I thought you were one of us when I first heard you on someone else’s reaction video. Then I detected a bit of a UK accent but it is quite subtle. I think you had been in Oz for 5 yrs then. Chris still has his pommie accent, as does your wife. I expect teaching exposes you to more of the local variant. Your kids will sound true blue growing up in Oz.

[@davidelliott294]

Great story, learned a couple things from this (5 year rule on PR visa and Move Cube). Good luck on the house purchase Chris.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@AlannaArgudo]

Your videos have helped me prepare for my move and settle in. If you're ever looking for current or former international student interviews, I have friends I know who would be interested! I'm definitely too new to give my perspective

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Sounds great Alanna, guests are always welcome on the podcast. Please email or message us on Instagram

[@abdoaiman]

This is a nice story

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Cheers

[@josephc6773]

Another great video, really interesting interview. And Ross, you're starting to get a bit of an Aussie twang mate. :D

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

You think so?

[@josephc6773]

@@ThatJohnstonLife 100%

[@joehughes513]

Lodged my 190 visa in December 2022 and waiting for a grant

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Hope it comes soon Joe

[@andrewboy3159]

Great vid! Inspiring me to make the move! Which area are you in Chris?

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Northern Brisbane Andrew!

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Love the thumbnail that’s so me I’m a ping Pom lol 😂

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Thanks Mel

[@BenAyres67]

Can you do a video on the Australian equivalent of child benefit and how much you get and how it works?

[@arnolddavies6734]

Not me. Emigrated to Australia with my parents back in 1971. They have been back to England once, but I’ve never been back. Don’t want to either. If I did travel overseas, there are better places to see. All those “ping pong” poms realise they have made a mistake when they move back again. ( To England.) Before making the decision to go back where they started from, they need to remember why they went to Australia to begin with. Move forward, and stop going backwards.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Great advice Arnold

[@inbox_au]

My parents are immigrants. My mother gets homesick so goes home every few years for a long holiday. She is always happy to return.

[@user-tv9gq2wp5s]

This was a great video but I don't think all industries in Aust offer the lifestyle balance. I work in corporate and, in my experience, most people in my industry work horrendously long hours for similar wage to the same job in UK/Europe. So I really think it depends. But I do agree that trades here can offer good hours, good remuneration.

[@tcailey80]

OMG this story is so similar to my families story.........

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Lots of ping pom poms

[@tcailey80]

@@ThatJohnstonLife We moved here in Sept 2017 and things were an adventure and fun until March 2020. We had twins here in the pandemic in Melbourne and were locked down to November. We got an exception to return to the UK for 6 months in November 2020 and the week after arriving the UK went back into a full lockdown (even though this had been ruled out in September every happening) and barely saw family/friends. We had to return to Melbourne in May 2021 as the nursery fees and costs of living were too expensive to stay. We then returned to Melbourne in May 2021 and after undertaking two weeks lockdown, Melbourne then went back into a full lockdown within a month. We were then locked down until November/December and by this point I said to my wife I wanted to leave Melbourne and return to UK. The magic, fun and adventure feeling had gone. We then returned to UK in May 2022 with a plan to move to Tunbridge Wells for a new adventure and due to a range of factors had to move to my home town of Leicester where we owned an investment property. Living in Leicester was the most depressing experience of my life; I had not lived there for 20 years and had outgrown the place on every level. Due to inflation, nursery costs and my wifes pay in NHS, we have recently relocated to Melbourne as for now its the better place to be for our children. We came back to give things another go now the pandemic has ended. We don't feel like we have a home and feel quite lost. Previously we both lived in London 15 years and came here for the new experience; sometimes I wish we had stayed in London as things were good. Sorry for any negativity, just been through alot. Our boys are doing well here in their nursery and are happy though :-)

[@marchargreaves1020]

I think it’s all relative though. My husband is working more here. We would be better off financially in the UK. But are from the north. Yes education being laid back is ok if you want to be a tradie or work in a bar.

[@NoirL.A.]

i'm yankee but i lived in wollongong, nsw fer 2 1/2 years with an english gf. i moved there once and then eventually returned to L.A. fer reasons i won't go into but even that took a hell of alot out of me i can't imagine moving that distance back and forth several times that sounds like my definition of hell on earth. i love oz it's alot like the states in many respects but i learned perdy early on if you yerself are yankee you are better off not mentioning out loud how similar it is to the states many especially males REALLY don't wanna hear that and they think yer just being some gung ho fist pumping american tooting yer country's own horn, so to speak. and yeah they have nicknames fer many immigrants ("lebos", etc.) which is fine but i couldn't help but notice especially some ozzies esp. males throw the words "pom / pommie bastard" and "yank / seppo" around like a white racist saying "nigger". i just blew it off and it wasn't everybody or all the time but it was often enough to be noticeable. that said we got tons of ozzies here in L.A. always have even since i was a kid in the 70's and most seem to adjust to life here pretty well and don't have much negative to say about L.A. or the states. and, of course, coming from L.A. where my accent is meaningless it was always a little odd how as soon as people in public heard my accent it was like time stood still. "halo effect" i suppose esp. since i lived in an area that didn't get alot of tourists. great country, though, i love australia although i'm very glad i did it i really don't see myself moving there again nothing against the country just personal reasons. interesting to hear yer guy's stories though for sure.

[@Liammulli]

So many people leaving Australia now because of the cost of living and also the authoritarian government/police state. Do you find the cost of living to be a bit much or is it more affordable than where you came from?

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

More affordable, less authoritarian

[@4R53Hole]

Is the authoritarianism not different for each place? i.e. different states, cities, towns etc.? Would have thought it be more relaxed in smaller places and tropics. Aren't the wages and job opportunites better? Where are people going?

[@stevebrambley9948]

Having emigrated to Aus 20 years ago from the Uk I would strongly recommend against it. Emigration splits families and causes issues particularly if you leave your parents behind. Remember, they will be become old and will need you. What then if you’re the other side of the world? I guarantee you will miss the English culture, sense of history and just the sheer amount of places to go that are different. Aus is very 2 dimensional and shallow.

[@marchargreaves1020]

Agree

[@user-bi8wp6wy3l]

As far as I know the border is not there to keep disgruntled Poms from moving back to the sunny UK ...We have a housing shortage here at the moment maybe you could help us out by freeing up some space for a family that would appreciate what Australia has to offer.. As an Aussie I have no idea why we sometimes use the term whinging Pom do you ? ....

[@inbox_au]

Why didn’t you move back then?

[@geoff825]

Well said! 😀@@user-bi8wp6wy3l

[@4R53Hole]

What are these places to go that are different?

[@Smart_Tamaha]

I have been wanting to move to Australia from the UK since the 90's after my graduation, now I live in Toronto, Canada. I am hoping to visit Australia one day soon.

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Do it

[@aidanphillips802]

Big fan of your videos! Thinking of moving in November with my wife, I love the podcast style. Good to hear different point of views 😁

[@ThatJohnstonLife]

Great to hear! Good luck with your move Aidan