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[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by bstar

IBrazil is a lot more tricky, and I was completely flumoxed there!!!

Would that have anything to do with them speaking Portuguese rather than Spanish?

[bstar]

Originally Posted by MotherBear

Would that have anything to do with them speaking Portuguese rather than Spanish?

oops...yes! Forgot to mention that!! Again, just presumed people would know what I was waffling about!!

[loopylu]

Yes I think I can only manage one language at a time and spanish is definitely the most prevalent so have started my CD lessons in the car to-and-from work every day (advantages of a long commute)... am also thinking of getting some private lessons as well as maybe going over and spending the first week at an intensive language school in Mexico to really ensure I've got the basics... it's one of my biggest worries not being able to speak spanish... but I speak French fluently so am hoping that it should give me a good grounding and should pick it up pretty quickly

Originally Posted by Dawn

IMO how on earth can you travel to all of those astounding places and then want to go back to the UK? Don't get it! Fingers crossed for you loopylu! Quite frankly, he's only a man and he should do as he's told

Just re-read this thread and realised I missed your comments first time around Dawn... don't worry I have every intention of "making him do as he's told" but as always you've got to make them think it's their decision and have been using various psychological theories to help convince him to even take this first step...!!! But like you say I just don't understand how he can visit all these places and still want to go back to the UK and am pretty convinced that New Zealand will work it's own magic as soon as he gets there... and if not I'll have to resort to other ways... In all honesty he's done a complete turn-around already as he was against the idea of travelling for 12-months yet he's really excited about it now and can't wait to go... so there's hope for us setting down permanent roots in NZ yet...

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by loopylu

Just re-read this thread and realised I missed your comments first time around Dawn... don't worry I have every intention of "making him do as he's told" but as always you've got to make them think it's their decision and have been using various psychological theories to help convince him to even take this first step...!!!

Lucy, you originally pointed out that your OH was really really close to his family. Do you envisage any problems with them pulling him back to the UK or aren't they 'that sort of family' and would be happy just to see him happy? It's just something that crossed my mind, but I guess if he's been away 'on holiday' for 12 months they'll have got used to not having him around and the same goes for him, so maybe all will work out well in the end. Digits crossed for you.

Could be a good idea to do a language course in Mexico as the South American Spanish is a bit different to European Spanish.

[loopylu]

MB - yes family ties are definitely strong for him and would definitely be part of any decision to return to the UK. He comes from a relatively big family so he wouldn't be leaving parents on their own or anything... and I would guess that there would be mixed messages from them about what to do... some wanting him to return to the UK and others being able to see the benefits from his point of view... like you say I'm hoping that after a 12 month 'holiday' they will have got used to not seeing him all the time and communicating in other ways... and vice-versa for him...