the toughest decision of my life...i need advice.

If you haven't ever been to London, or even to the UK, then I personally wouldn't give up everything to move to a place I hadn't even visited and wasn't sure I would be happy living in. But that's just my opinion! Before I moved over here, I only spent one week in the place where I would live (I spent one week in London before that, but I ended up living 400 miles from London, so I had to come back to see the village I was moving to), but the one trip was all I needed to know I would love it so I went ahead and moved and haven't regretted that decision at all. But if I had any reservations at all, or wasn't sure if I would be happy here, I may have needed to make another journey or two to be sure. I know you say you couldn't afford two trips, but I really do think it's important and would make you feel much more reassured about what you are doing. I'd wait as long as you had to in order to make sure that trip happened first, if it were me. Best of luck to you!

When I moved to the UK, I had never been here. I think different things work for different people - partly around how much risk you are willing / able to take and that is sometimes related to one's life stage. 

Sounds like for you, given your concerns, if you can at all swing it, I would consider a visit to help familiarise yourself.

Best of luck with your decision! 

i'm just scard s%&$#less right now..ive heard its very hard for even the educated folks to land a job these days in europe...on the other hand if i do give up my one and only security, i would be forced to survive somehow and this might be the best thing for me..i dunno since i aint never done it before..

thanks for the thoughtfull emails.

I only have my high school diploma and work in a call centre/admin background. Not very unique and not someone who stands out - normally. Work can be found (I've been interviewing for about 16 months, temping in between, just unable to actually land the job) just keep looking. Being in a large city like London, I think its easier to find work if youre not uni/college educated than it is in smaller cities.

As you're someone who has run her own market stall, you have management skills, inventory and sales experience, with loads of customer service skills. I wouldnt say thats someone who isnt desirable. Once you move here, you WILL be someone who has worked abroad and that is desirable for people.

As others have said, I would investigate whats missing from the markets to the area youre moving to. If whats missing is what youre already doing, you can probably set up one of your own (and some areas markets are indoors!) and be working for yourself again. England, especially working and middle class England, love their markets. I prefer shopping in ours for fresh meat and veggies. You can find some steals on some of the stalls for clothing and antiques as well.

Yes youre worried about giving up your safety nets, its one of the downsides of moving abroad. If stressed, once you do get work, try keeping some money to the side, so if need be you can get back home and set yourself back up again.

It will be okay no matter what YOU decide to do.

Kerri-

I thank you for your words of encouragement..yes, i guess at the end of the day if nothing risked then nothing gained. It will be a monumental step for me to give up the flat..but as you have pointed out, this is part of moving abroad..giving up my humble comfort zone.

I guess time will tell if i made the right choice...I"ve now decided to take the plunge and move to UK. One thing i am certain of is that i can no longer look back, and yes if i do save enough money in the future i may still do a brief visit to my old neighbourhood..but i know i wont afford to live live in my own flat there like i had in the past.

fingers crossed
1on1

Just saw this- good luck 1on1!

Just saw this too!  Congrats 1on1 on reaching such a tough decision.   Please keep us updated on how everything turns out.  Again, best of luck