A content creator has shared her reasons for leaving Australia and returning to the UK, highlighting that no amount of sunshine and safety can replace the closeness of family and friends.
Ellie McClean's Australian Journey
Birmingham-based Ellie McClean spent two and a half years living in Australia, residing in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Although she felt safer in Australia, she ultimately decided to return home.
"I am excited to leave Australia, I feel like it's so not normalised for people to want to leave," the 28-year-old said on TikTok. "When you tell people that you're wanting to leave, they're like, 'Why?' You either have to pick the lifestyle and the weather or your friends and family and I just think there's no competition for me."
Yearning for Home Comforts
Initially, Ellie planned to build a permanent life in Australia. However, after more than two years, she began missing the simple things in Birmingham. "I've missed three years of birthdays, little celebrations, dog walks, cups of tea, Sunday roasts," she said. "You miss so much that you take for granted when you're at home. And you have to move away sometimes to realise what you've got."
Upon returning, she looks forward to cold weather, Percy Pigs, proper fish and chips, English television, and hearing English accents.
What She'll Miss About Australia
Despite her eagerness to come back, Ellie acknowledges she will miss many aspects of Australian life, especially the beach. "I don't know what I'm going to do with my free time because I feel like I spend so much at it at the beach," she revealed. She will also miss kangaroos, palm trees, Chemist Warehouse, food courts in supermarkets, Yo-Chi, and the superior coffee.
Ellie was laid off from her job as an influencer marketer before deciding to travel for six months and then return to the UK indefinitely. She has no plans to move back but recommends others try living in Australia. "It's been such an amazing experience living here but there's no place like home."
