What do you not like about living in OZ
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:05 pm
#76
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Joined: Feb 2005
Location: The Gold Coast, QLD
Posts: 443
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
Not sure if some of these posters are actually serious about what they are writing.
There is something called due dilligence which surely they carried out before coming here especially those who come without PR.
Australia is a small nation on the edge of the world and completely in a world of its own. Apart from towing the line on some USA policy resulting from the second world war, mainstream Australia is completely oblivious to any thing apart from itself.
Why would a sophisticated, succesful European come here in the first place. It is full of people who have run away from something, the clever ones embrace Australia and make a good life in a country that allows you to do just that.
Jeremy Clarkson did an excellent article on expats which raised a few hackles.
The worst thing about Australia for me is that I still get to hear the names Sainsburys, Tescos and Marks and Spencers mentioned.
There is something called due dilligence which surely they carried out before coming here especially those who come without PR.
Australia is a small nation on the edge of the world and completely in a world of its own. Apart from towing the line on some USA policy resulting from the second world war, mainstream Australia is completely oblivious to any thing apart from itself.
Why would a sophisticated, succesful European come here in the first place. It is full of people who have run away from something, the clever ones embrace Australia and make a good life in a country that allows you to do just that.
Jeremy Clarkson did an excellent article on expats which raised a few hackles.
The worst thing about Australia for me is that I still get to hear the names Sainsburys, Tescos and Marks and Spencers mentioned.
Last edited by neil248; Jul 2nd 2010 at 10:29 pm.
Jul 2nd 2010, 11:54 pm
#77
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Woodvale, WA
Posts: 1,674
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
Reading some of these responses my two thoughts are:
1. Why the hell did you people move to Australia and not realise it was going to be hot in summer and a long way from Europe? A brief glance at an atlas might just have given a clue.
2. Did you do any research at all or did you just turn up at Heathrow and say "one ticket to Home-and-Away land please?"
BB
1. Why the hell did you people move to Australia and not realise it was going to be hot in summer and a long way from Europe? A brief glance at an atlas might just have given a clue.
2. Did you do any research at all or did you just turn up at Heathrow and say "one ticket to Home-and-Away land please?"
BB
What? Did you expect us all to love the place and have no complaints about living here? Of course there are niggles, just like we all had in the UK. Much of living here you can't research or know about until you live it. Being here has taught me an awful lot about myself. One thing being that I prefer to experience different cultures on a short holiday and not other parts of Australia all the time where, as I said above, it is same shops, money and people.
Same with the weather. I knew all about a WA Summer after being here several times on holiday but day to day life, ie commuting in it is completely different to being here on holiday.
I didn't appreciate how dried out our grass and plants and trees and countryside was until a trip to QLD in May. I was amazed at how green everything was! I couldn't take my eyes off the trees!
Jul 3rd 2010, 12:35 am
#78
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
Reading some of these responses my two thoughts are:
1. Why the hell did you people move to Australia and not realise it was going to be hot in summer and a long way from Europe? A brief glance at an atlas might just have given a clue.
2. Did you do any research at all or did you just turn up at Heathrow and say "one ticket to Home-and-Away land please?"
BB
1. Why the hell did you people move to Australia and not realise it was going to be hot in summer and a long way from Europe? A brief glance at an atlas might just have given a clue.
2. Did you do any research at all or did you just turn up at Heathrow and say "one ticket to Home-and-Away land please?"
BB
The use of the word(s) whipper snipper to describe something that is a noisy smelly 2 stroke petrol strimmer!!!! Usually applied to lawn edges at 7 in the morning. Whipper snipper sounds quiet and soothing. It ain't!
Jul 3rd 2010, 1:27 am
#79
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,442
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
Having lived on the Gold Coast for just over a year now I can honestly say there are far more positives than negatives about living here. I could write dozens of things that are fantastic about Oz but keeping to the relevance of this discussion....Although I had visited Oz a number of times before moving here permanently I really did not appreciate how expensive it is - rates and taxes, utilities, groceries, car reg, flights etc. are all more expensive than in the UK. They have found very imaginative and mind boggling ways to tax you here. Nearly everything is more expensive, except for petrol. Health care (Medicare) is definitely not free! Most people will need to take out private health insurance.
I have not encountered any racism here, most people are friendly and it is a very multicultural society. Like everywhere in the world there are all kinds of people here, the good, the bad and the ugly. I have found customer service to be better than the UK overall and as for the driving, it is very similar to many European countries and by no means "dreadful" - compared to Africa and the UAE it is very civilized indeed!
I have not encountered any racism here, most people are friendly and it is a very multicultural society. Like everywhere in the world there are all kinds of people here, the good, the bad and the ugly. I have found customer service to be better than the UK overall and as for the driving, it is very similar to many European countries and by no means "dreadful" - compared to Africa and the UAE it is very civilized indeed!
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:05 am
#80
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Bunbury WA
Posts: 16
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
I agree wholeheartedly with the above but I do have one complaint:
The use of the word(s) whipper snipper to describe something that is a noisy smelly 2 stroke petrol strimmer!!!! Usually applied to lawn edges at 7 in the morning. Whipper snipper sounds quiet and soothing. It ain't!
The use of the word(s) whipper snipper to describe something that is a noisy smelly 2 stroke petrol strimmer!!!! Usually applied to lawn edges at 7 in the morning. Whipper snipper sounds quiet and soothing. It ain't!
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:10 am
#81
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
it was nice to see the use of the words, "Bin Men" on here recently...here it is the garbos...rego....arvo...while I'm here..funniest thing I ever saw in Viz: Trampitheatre...sucken town square frequented by tramps.
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:15 am
#82
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Bunbury WA
Posts: 16
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
lol yeah and a bottle of piss, not a bottle of beer. oh the classic lollies not sweets!!! aaarrrgggghhhh lollies are things with bloody sticks in them not jelly teds. chips are what you eat with fish not out of a walkers bag!!!!
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:17 am
#83
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Location: Bunbury WA
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Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
and not forgetting you dont go round someones house you 'swing round or rock up' lol
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:18 am
#84
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Jul 3rd 2010, 3:18 am
#85
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
I do love it here....Australian is an easier language to learn than German, or French or Spanish or Italian. What must it be like relocating to a European country?
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:23 am
#86
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Bunbury WA
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Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
yeah we love the place just our niggles seem to be the same as loads of other peoples, i suppose we have been more exposed as we own a busy shop and have had lots of different encounters. even so i dont recon i could live back in england again....... too cold!!! and wet
Jul 3rd 2010, 3:25 am
#87
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Inner Melbourne
Posts: 4
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
hi was very interested with the post 'what do you love about living in oz' and people all asked why only positive comments.
so i took the time to register to add a thread to ask what people dont like about this place, thought it would only be fair!!!!!
anyway look forward to your comments good and bad would be interesting if we share the same views!!!
so i took the time to register to add a thread to ask what people dont like about this place, thought it would only be fair!!!!!
anyway look forward to your comments good and bad would be interesting if we share the same views!!!
Too many fit yummy mummies
Better value for money cars - how dare people pay the same for a brand new holden that my 2nd hand BMW is
So close to Asia and NZ I am constantly flying on holiday
Schooling so much more advanced
Jul 3rd 2010, 4:07 am
#88
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Asia Pacific
Posts: 4,922
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
Not sure if some of these posters are actually serious about what they are writing.
There is something called due dilligence which surely they carried out before coming here especially those who come without PR.
Australia is a small nation on the edge of the world and completely in a world of its own. Apart from towing the line on some USA policy resulting from the second world war, mainstream Australia is completely oblivious to any thing apart from itself.
Why would a sophisticated, succesful European come here in the first place. It is full of people who have run away from something, the clever ones embrace Australia and make a good life in a country that allows you to do just that.
Jeremy Clarkson did an excellent article on expats which raised a few hackles.
The worst thing about Australia for me is that I still get to hear the names Sainsburys, Tescos and Marks and Spencers mentioned.
There is something called due dilligence which surely they carried out before coming here especially those who come without PR.
Australia is a small nation on the edge of the world and completely in a world of its own. Apart from towing the line on some USA policy resulting from the second world war, mainstream Australia is completely oblivious to any thing apart from itself.
Why would a sophisticated, succesful European come here in the first place. It is full of people who have run away from something, the clever ones embrace Australia and make a good life in a country that allows you to do just that.
Jeremy Clarkson did an excellent article on expats which raised a few hackles.
The worst thing about Australia for me is that I still get to hear the names Sainsburys, Tescos and Marks and Spencers mentioned.
Anyone who says that they love everything about Australia is either a liar or sets their personal bar pretty darn low
It therefore follows that we're allowed a tongue in cheek whine about those things which irritate us as expats
Jul 3rd 2010, 4:24 am
#89
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
No, Renters do not pay rates. These are paid by the lanlord.
Medical:
You pay for prescriptions, and for Dentists.
Bulk Billing Doctors are free.
About 30% of people pay for doctors visits, but reclaim a major part of the cost.
State Hospitals are free, Private ones you pay for.
Private Specialist are expensive, with only a small part repaid by Medicare. Government ones are free.
Jul 3rd 2010, 4:26 am
#90
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Joined: Feb 2005
Location: The Gold Coast, QLD
Posts: 443
Re: What do you not like about living in OZ
I thought absolutely everything written on this site had to be taken tounge in cheek.