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[expatinuk]

I've been head hunted by two USA universities in the past two months. Of course I still can't get my very Brit husband to consider moving across the pond.

So, would you go back if you got the 'right' offer?

[qrypt]

I would.  I'm really feeling the distance from my brothers and my parents in recent years, and I'm bummed about my kids seeing their grandparents so infrequently.  I'm also nervous about my department.  And the Jewish community here leaves quite a lot to be desired. 

I would have regrets.  My work life in the US would be harder -- more demanding students, more teaching time.  I'm terrified of the health care system there.  I would miss all the travel opportunities I have here.  In general I think life would be more stressful in the US.

So it's not an easy call -- but it's pretty clear that the reasons for going back are more important than the reasons for staying.  Not that I currently have the choice you appear to have...

[expatinuk]

I have to say that my field in the US is much much much more respected than in the UK. It does get depressing to hear negative comments all the time about what I do. And that's prob'ly the main reason I'd like to move back to the US.

[crumpet]

My discipline works much better for me in the UK. I also prefer the way the terms are organized. The travel possibilities and connection to international academia is also something I really enjoy and take advantage of.

That being said, if I had the option to return to my home town in the US, I would jump at it. I realize that I miss this particular location but not the US as a whole.

[science_expat]

It would have to be a d@mn good offer!

[the_walrus]

Ditto qrypt's regrets and add to them the higher degree of difficulty of securing grant money and decreased frequency of sabbaticals.  But still, my partner and I would do it for the right offer at one of about six or seven universities that are both good and located in the right places.

[monsterx]

I'm not in the UK, I'm in Europe, but I'd be very hesitant about moving back.  I might if there were a really attractive offer, and also one for my wife.  But the health care system, education system, automobile focused infrastructure, and general fact that the USA seems to be swirling around the drain with even less ability to turn it around than Europe, probably means that no realistic offer could ever be good enough to attract me back.   

[boggy]

Currently in Ireland, and I don't think there's any way to drag me back to the USA (mainly because I'm not American and never felt at home there despite living there 8 years as an academic).  Now I'd go back to Canada in a second should the Irish job evaporate, but have been out of touch with academics there for over 10 years.

[drspouse]

After a recent sabbatical there, mrspouse would go like a shot (despite having health problems that are hard to get treated properly even with very expensive healthcare, over there). I have mainly lived in the UK and would go again for a few years, but probably not permanently - the work issues (students, teaching load, ability to get medium-sized amounts of research funding which is what I generally aim for) and personal issues (mainly healthcare) would make it hard. If I had a serious headhunting (senior research appointment) then maybe. But that's not too likely. Also, some of my research is now geographically based (not all in the UK, actually, but some in places that are more convenient to the UK).

We have also talked about retiring over there; mrspouse is quite a bit older than me though and we'd need to get him a green card and then citizenship, and we'd need to do that soon, meaning we'd need to be over there for a few years beforehand.

[scotia]

I have to say that my field in the US is much much much more respected than in the UK. It does get depressing to hear negative comments all the time about what I do. And that's prob'ly the main reason I'd like to move back to the US.

Oh yes. The joys of academic snobbery. My experience suggests that there is nothing a historian with weak research likes more than to look down upon someone - no matter how strong their research record - in one of those fields that no gentleman would dream of entering.

[academicduo]

We had the opportunity last year to move back to the US for two persuasive positions at the same university/different departments. Although this would have spared us the complications and obvious pains of one of us commuting across Europe, we decided against it at this point. We felt that despite being in the same town, we would probably end up with less quality time than we are blessed with now. We calculated that the demands of the respective positions and the implications of living in a US town, which inevitably involves at a minimum one car (we have been sans-car for three years…) would not be able to make up for what we have now. Spouse AD is American, as is child. I consider myself half American, having spent most of my formative years in the US. We also have close friends and family in the US, so that is a serious consideration. However, as is often the case, they live all over the place and even being in the US would not mean that we would get to see them any more often than we do now… but things change and I would never exclude moving back under the right scenario.

[parispundit]

I would probably accept an offer from Harvard. But it would be a mistake.

[crumpet]

So an awesome job just came up in the US just a few hours from my ideal location. Its at a great institution and is a perfect job for me.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to head back to the US. I'm also not sure about possibly applying as I'm about to complete my probation in England.

Hmmmm.

[science_expat]

So an awesome job just came up in the US just a few hours from my ideal location. Its at a great institution and is a perfect job for me.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to head back to the US. I'm also not sure about possibly applying as I'm about to complete my probation in England.

Hmmmm.

AFTDJ!

[drspouse]

Exactly, what can it hurt?

But if you are just about to complete probation here, I'm assuming it's a TT job so you'll have to go through that process.