• ammieoy
      • hello Ammie-oy
      • Username: ammieoy
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    • Living in Other Countries

      • "Phnom Penh" Cambodia

        I'm from the UK but have travelled about a little. I spent just over a year in New Zealand - living a lot and working a little! Lots of fun. I also spent a year in Australia and worked outback in both New South Wales and Queensland. Both great experiences.

        After I had my son I decided to go out to Cambodia having previusly spent four months there. We left the UK when my son was 11 months old with a one way ticket and high hopes. Luckily I found a job and we stayed for four years.

        If I had the opportunity / money to live overseas again I would head to Australia in a heartbeat. I'd definitely consider the Netherlands, Spain or Scandinavia. I would also add Fiji to the list of strong contenders having spent five months there many years ago and fallen in love with the place. Pretty much anywhere in Asia gets my attention. India, Nepal, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Certain areas in Indonesia - not Bali or the islands east of it. Laos would be shorter term if past experiences are anything to go by but I could happily settle in Cambodia or Vietnam (and possibly Thailand) if I could afford to still see family and afford education for my son and medical care.

        Whilst I would love to travel in Africa I don't see myself living there - but never say never.

      • answered by ammieoy on 10/23/2011
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    • Speedy buses

      • Crosville SLL620

        After spending time in Phnom Penh my son and I found travelling in the UK a scarily fast experience. People say the traffic in Asia is crazy but it's slow speed crazy. The myriad vehicles and the way they weave around each other can be quite soothing but after travelling around Phnom Penh by motorbike and cyclo, at slow speeds, travelling in the UK was like being in a speeded up film. When I took my son to town on the bus we sat at the front on the seat behind the driver and the doors were open as we drove away from each stop and remained so for some time. My son screamed 'too fast' the whole way and I thought he had a point. It was really hard adjusting to the speed of traffic in the UK again.

      • answered by ammieoy on 08/16/2011
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    • Money certainly makes life easier.

      • Money won't make you happy but it can certainly take away a lot of what makes you unhappy. If I was able to make ends meet then I would have a lot less stress. If I were able to provide my son with some of the basics (though non-essentials) that his friends all receive and he does uncomplainingly without then I would be happier.

        I would love to be rich enough to donate (in large amounts) to worthy causes. I would like to have the wealth to counter the harm done by those who provide massive financial support to politicians who only want to maintain their lavish lifestyles and those of their fellow elite. We don't have a democracy because it's all about funding and of course, anyone representing the interests of the poor will not get enormous donations. Those that seek to bring about tax breaks for the rich, welfare cuts for the needy and assert that the only way to motivate the highly paid is by huge bonuses whilst the only way to motivate the underpaid and unpaid is by cuts and penalties only do so because they have the support of a large section of the wealthy elite.

        Being able to do these things would give me pleasure. Money alone might not make me happy but having the freedom that money provides would certainly help take the weight off! It would be nice not to have to worry about my student debt living longer than me (and that's a very real concern as a mature student whose debt remains for 35 years and doesn't retire with me).

        Money will not make a person happy but it can make the world an easier and friendlier place to live in. I get fed up of hearing how winning the lottery 'ruined my life'. Most of the super rich seem to cope well enough with oodles of money and the celeb set weren't all born into it. Surely with a little common sense your money can work for you and others to bring great happiness. It's all about how you spend it, how you feel about it and not letting it change the essential 'you' - that might be the hard part!

      • answered by ammieoy on 07/11/2011
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    • Just one day

      • What an odd question!

        It would have to be the birth of my son. I just kept looking at him in the crib - couldn't take my eyes off him and I just wouldn't give that up for the world. I've seen lots of amazing things, mostly in the mundane. For example, the sky last night was beautiful and I'm really glad I looked up when I did and was able to go out with my camera. But that first sight of my son... inspecting his toes and hands, checking him all over and getting to know him then just watching him sleep. Those hours can never be replaced or bettered.

        Picture taken at one and half days old.

      • answered by ammieoy on 06/14/2011
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