It’s been almost six months since leaving my home in Australia and touching down on English soil. Already I have found myself being asked time and time again, “Why did you move to England?”
Now that I’ve had time to settle into expat life and set up my new home from scratch, I’ve summarised why I made the move, and here it is.
Why not?
First and foremost I have to be honest with you, I didn’t really give it too much thought. After being confined within Australian borders, more specifically, a 5 kilometre radius of my Sydney apartment, I was desperate to escape somewhere that didn’t plague me with familiarity. Don’t get me wrong, I love my home country, but I also love escaping the norm and going on spontaneous adventures. England seemed like the perfect place to start.
The English charm
England is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and carries a kind of cosy charm that I’m yet to experience anywhere else. Small villages and hamlets play host to timeless stone cottages and quaint village halls that spatter the countryside and national parks in this green land. Whilst in total contrast, grand industrial and cultural cities from all four corners of the compass offer a deepinsight into the wonder of regional dialects, cuisine and past times.
The location
After escaping Australian soil and seeing more of the world, it’s become quite evident that my home country is extremely isolated. England’s geographical location makes for an idyllic home base in the world of travel. Not only is it apart of the United Kingdom which homes three other stunning countries, it also sits on the doorstep of the easily accessible continents of Europe, North Africa and North America. These factors allow for regular trips, affordable flights and shorter distance travel.
The history
England may be small in size, but a millennia of historical and cultural shifts more than makes up for it. Whether it be exploring Roman and viking ruins, strolling around medieval castles, taking in the prehistoric stone henge or simply strolling one of thousands of country villages, you will feel like you’re stepping back in time.
the language
Moving abroad regardless of how many times you have done it, is overwhelming for anyone. No matter how similar you think your destination may be, there is an element of “culture shock” that will be experienced by all, no matter how big or small the change. Thankfully, England’s mother tongue is, yup you guessed it, English, which meant I could ease myself into the culture with full knowledge of what the locals were speaking – except the scousers and Geordies! Not even the English natives understand them!
For love
I have always wanted to live in England despite the country being completely foreign to all and who I knew. As luck would have it, I ended up marrying an English backpacker which allowed me to develop connections with new friends and even a new family. After spending some years in Australia, my hubby became my own personal tour guide and chauffeur in his own country, and here we are.
Wander Mak 
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