New winds
Time has passed since I've written about how we are. That may be because I haven't been so sure myself how we are, and what we want from our future. We have spent months thinking about what to do with that future. Some of you may have heard about the Australian visa procedures and terms, but for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about I'll brief you.
To be able to get Australian permanent residency (PR) visa you must be eligible to it and pass a certain mark in a test. This test is a set of your professional and language skills, age, your spouses age and skills and few other things. Once you get a certain amount of points you can apply for the visa. The older you get, the less points you get. There is also always the chance that your occupation might not be on the 'skills list' next year or so. Once granted the visa is valid for 5 years, before which you have to be in Australia, other wise you are not able to return as a permanent resident. You also need to enter Australia for the first time to 'activate' you visa in just a few months after it's been granted (within 6 months if I remember right). For those of you interested more on the visa terms and details please check http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/
So getting a visa to Australia requires a lot of luck and paperwork, not to mention it costs money to pay for all the medical examinations, and the visa itself. Regarding this we consider ourselves very lucky to have this opportunity and chance to have that visa. We also realize that it is very likely that we will ever receive this visa again if we were to let it expire. Which we have decided not to let happen 
As this visa, and possible return to Australia before it expires, is in our thoughts constantly we have not been able to permanently settle here in Finland. I find myself reluctant to buy furniture, clothes, not to mention anything bigger like a house, thinking all the time about how I might have to sell it soon if we were to return. So we decided to stop wondering and make a decision.
We decided to give Australia another go right now instead of later just before the visa expires. Economic situation there seems to have picked up a little too, and last time I checked, there were more open positions on my search than when I first saved it in January 2009. I've used this search as a sort of indicator of the job market development and it has indeed taken a huge jump ahead.
I guess somehow it was good that we did spend this year here, although to some this might seem completely crazy to move around the world once a year ('Come on make up your minds', I can hear someone screaming in the background LOL). To us the move hasn't been that big since we did sell everything already when we left to Australia last time. We shipped only a box of 2 cubic meters and I don't think it's gonna be any more than that this time either. Still, of course there is stuff to be arranged but we're almost done with all that too. Only thing to do is to pack stuff, find a suitable crate/box to put the stuff in, arrange shipping, oh, and of course buy the flight tickets.
We are aiming to fly in the beginning of August so that we have a few months to look for a house to settle before new term at school starts for the kids. (Yaiks, yes Laura will be going to school too!!!). There is yet another reason for returning now. Aleksi would have started school here in Finland in August and we didn't want him to start it since it would be much more difficult for us to leave later once he gets friends from school.
We still have no idea where we want to spend the rest of our lives, but I do know that right now this feels like the right decision. Just like returning to Finland did. We are all very excited about returning, including the kids. They are looking forward to meeting their Australian friends and so are we. This time we are seriously aiming for the citizenship (4 years of living in Australia), but it's best not to make any definite plans. Who knows what next year brings? Or the next?
I do know I won't miss this..... kids' clothes drying after playing outside for just a few minutes during spring =) Good that we got Saunas where to dry the quickly for the morning!! Then again there will be many other things I will miss, just like there are a lot of things I miss from Australia....
I really look forward to this new era in my life. I honestly feel I'm stronger now as a person, as a mother and as a wife. This immigration is a test for the relationship. I believe if you pass that test, you can pass almost anything in your relationship (or in life for that matter)! I guess the saying is right; ' If it doesn't kill you, it can only make you stronger'.
So see you soon, everyone we miss in Australia, and I miss you already, everyone we love here in Finland. Be sure to visit us Down Under!!
Great to see your plans coming together and can't wait to meet you in Australia!!
Nic
xx
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Good on ya, Kati and Kaitsu! Your experiences from immigration are very familiar indeed. I think it was perfectly right for you to return to Finland, likewise your return here! I'm truly happy you coming back to Oz! That's just part of immigration, really, coming and going, and I consider you guys are really lucky to have had that chance. Obviously the aim is at settling somewhere with a peace of mind. That's what I have now after two periods in Finland (6 months and 7 months during the past 5 years). Welcome back, really looking forward to seeing you guys and all the exciting and great stuff ahead of you!
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Welcome back! I'm sure you're making a right decision. We'll see you soon in Brisbane.
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Kati, te varmasti tarvitsitte sen vuoden siellä Suomessa nähdäksenne mitä todella haluatte. Minulla on toisinaan samanlainen olo että pitäisikö muuttaa Suomeen takaisin, sillä en pysty kuvittelemaan millaista on asua siellä sen jälkeen kun on asunut muualla.
Neljän vuoden jälkeen voin sanoa että edelleen kaipaan Suomeen, mutta kaipaan vain satunnaisia asioita sieltä. Eikä tarvitse kuin vilkaista Suomen uutisia, kun jo alkaa miettimään että haluanko minä todellakaan tuonne enää. Voi olla että jonakin päivänä haluankin.
Mutta tosiasia on että kun kerran asuu muualla, ei ole sitä yhtä ja oikeaa kotia enää. On aina koti ja kaipuu sinne toisaalle, toiseen kotiin. Sen kanssa pitää vain oppia elämään ja käydä sitten kyläilemässä
Lämpimästi tervetuloa takaisin, pienten lasten kanssa tämä on aivan unelmapaikka, ja ainakin meillä taloudellisetkin realiteetit puhuvat Australian puolesta. Näkymisiin...
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Kiitos Merja! Mukava tulla <3
Kai tama on tallainen tietynlainen prosessi joka pitaa vaan lapikayda ja oppia sen kanssa tosiaan elamaan.
Ja olen aivan samaa mielta tuosta taloudellisuudesta. Syys/Kevat-talvi ja kesa vaatteet paalle kolmelle..Huhhuh!! Kylla rahaa palaa! (ja ei taalla niita mun rakastamiani hameitakaan ole viela tarennu ilman sukkahousuja pitamaan... ja on jo kesakuu!!)
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Tervetuloa takaisin! Kyllä teitä jo odoteltiinkin
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