Inside U.K. Migrating Britons By Richard Payne	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
海外移住するイギリスの若者 雨が多く、冬の長いイギリスでは、海外に移住する若者が増えています。移住先として人気があるのは、太陽がさんさんと降り注ぐスペインやフランス、地球の反対側のオーストラリア、ニュージーランドなどです。筆者は、海外での生活を選んだ友人たちに、その暮らしぶりについて聞いてみました。

It's that time of the year, when the British weather takes a distinct turn for the worse. It's cold, wet and gets dark in the afternoons. No wonder the thoughts of thousands of Britons turn to sunnier climes and to the lifestyle they could have if they moved abroad.

In fact, the recent census, which is carried out every 10 years to monitor changing trends in Britain's population, revealed that hundreds of thousands of people are quitting the United Kingdom to live overseas. And it's young people, in particular, who are opting for a new life abroad, many hoping to turn the rave culture they enjoyed on a Mediterranean holiday into a permanent way of life.

Thirty-year-old Jeremy Garratt is typical of many young Britons. He left the United Kingdom five years ago in search of a better life. After traveling around Europe, he ended up on the Costa Del Sol in Spain and now, having learnt the language, he shows little intention of returning to live in Britain.

"The weather and standard of living are better here, and when you speak the language, you can have the best of both worlds," he says. "There is a large English community, so you can get the English newspapers and tea plus the benefits of Spanish cuisine. With cheap flights available over the Internet, I can be quickly and cheaply back in the United Kingdom to see friends and family when I want to."

Jeremy is part of a new international community of Europeans living on the coast where most speak two or three languages, travel regularly and keep in contact with the rest of the world by Internet. "The world is definitely a smaller place for people of our generation," he said.

European countries like Spain and Italy are becoming increasingly popular places for Britons to start a new life. More and more of us are taking holidays in these places and, despite the language barriers, moving there permanently is a dream some are determined to turn into a reality.

However, the most favored destinations for U.K. citizens moving abroad are still Australia and New Zealand. These countries may be at the other side of the world and a 24-hour plane journey away but that doesn't spoil their allure. Spending several months traveling around Australia and New Zealand has become a rite of passage for many young Britons. Up to half a million British backpackers visit the region each year.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nicola Stall, a TV production assistant, spent several months in Australia and was tempted to try to move out there permanently.

"I loved every minute of it - the landscape, the cities, the people, the lifestyle and the weather," she explains. But she says it's not straightforward gaining residency. She explained that Australia operates a "points" system to determine whether an applicant should qualify for a visa. This is based on their age, education and the kind of work they do. "If, for example, you are a qualified nurse, accountant, physiotherapist or IT expert then you are more likely to go to the top of the queue," she said.

One IT consultant I know "down under" is, like Jeremy, a good friend of mine I grew up with in a village in England. Simon French, moved out to Australia five years ago with the company he used to work for. Even though he left that company shortly afterward, he decided to stay in Sydney and because his skills were in such demand the Australian authorities were happy to have him.

Simon has since married an Australian girl and had two small children. He admits he did get homesick for Britain at times. They tried to move back to London, but his wife hated it: "She couldn't cope with the weather, the pollution and the crowds of people everywhere," he says.

"It was a shock for me going back to Britain as well," he continues. "I missed our Sydney apartment overlooking the harbor, and I missed the laid-back attitude of the Australian people. Britons just seemed so stressed in comparison. We've decided that Australia is definitely where we want to bring up our children."

I sometimes envy my good friends. It is always exciting to read their emails and hear their stories on the rare occasion that they return to the United Kingdom. I can see why they've made the lifestyle they have but, for me at least, it's Britain every time - rain and all.

Shukan ST: Nov. 8, 2002

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