moneypenny20

Two years. Not in Adelaide though

Glasgowlass

Hi ozzieeagle
I still have my accent though a bit of a watered down version. I forget I've got one till I ask for a coke!

framac

That should say "Glesga lassie". Get yur auld accent back coz a huv great fun wi it at work. Coke, you got me there. Only been here over the year. Whereaboots ur ye fae in Glesga. Soapys fae govanhill and hoose prices huv went throo the roof since he left. Am fae sunny Clydebank for my sins. The posh part.

Glasgowlass

I was out one night and the waiter asked me what I wanted to drink and I asked for a coke...he came back with a cork!

I'm from Uddingston and no not the posh bit.

I'd love to relax and talk properly but I can't stand the stupid looks I get back. How do you get on?

framac

Coke....Cork. Billiant. Did they no make the tea cakes in Uddingston or am a talkin pish

Glasgowlass

Hiya Framac
They do indeed make teacakes in Uddingston and they sell them in Coles down the road from me! What more could a wee lassie want?

gillysm

Me. I've been here 10 yrs.

Glasgowlass

How did you find meeting other people 10 years ago?

gillysm

It took a long time but I didn't expect it to be any other way. I know when I've relocatd in UK it's taken ages.

We arrived at the end of November so school was just about to finish for the year. Just enough time to get enrolled and uniforms then 8 weeks where I didn't speak to anyone other than my OH, kids and people in shops. It even took a long time to get to anyone once they were at school. it was 6 months before I felt confident enough to invite people over and that was for a kids birthday party.

I wish BE had been around then. We came to Sydney almost blind - only had tourist books for info and didn't know a soul. Had never been there before - no recce as we were broke.

How about you?

Glasgowlass

No reccie for me either, I came with whatever info was in a very small tourist book on Adelaide. When I finally got a job the women I worked with were great and took me under their wing(s) but they were all my mums age. So the first years were difficult in terms of finding people my own age (20). And there was a couple of English women there who were the life and soul so I think that made a difference.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I've found it difficult to make anything but acquaintances over the years. The Aussies are super friendly and I love that about them but I find that their only friendly to a point. I guess I just wanted to know that prior to these fabulous forums did anybody find it hard to fit in with the locals?
It's just an observation on my part so I apologise if I'm offending anybody!

gillysm

A lot of people on here say the same thing which has really made me think about my friendships!
I don't really think that Aussies are only friendly up to a point - I just think it takes a LONG time to replace old friends. Also, other poms have an understanding of a large part of you/your life (emigrating) that most Aussies just can't understand (unless of course they have done something similar). Which is why we tend to get on better I think.
That's my experience anyway FWIW

Eastend Girl

I've been here for ten years and it is hard to make friends and I agree, I think it's because you can't replace the closeness you had with those you left behind. I also have found that although the Aussies are really friendly, a lot of them only chat to you to find out about you (sticky beaks). I was lucky because I came over to join my daughter who married a Brisbane guy and emigrated 8 years before I did so had a good start with meeting people.
Still miss my friends at home though.

TiddlyPom

I find this whole 'Australians aren't friendly' thing completely alien. I have met and made some wonderful friends here... I have two incredibly close friends that I know would do anything for me... They're fabulous.
I have a larger circle of friends that I catch up with from time to time as well as my two very close friends. I agree it's easier with British people because we have a shared history, but I don't see it as a barrier.

Glasgowlass

I don't think anyone's said the aussies aren't friendly? They're very friendly. The point I was making is that I have found it difficult to get past the acquaintance stage with them. In other words they let you (me, or whoever) in so far, maybe the odd bbq, but it never gets any further than that. You're very lucky to have broken through, so to speak.

TiddlyPom

There's lots of comment on this site about Aussies not being friendly or being 'shallow' or 'surface' but either way, I didn't feel as if I was breaking through anything.
And it wasn't anything to do with luck either.
It's been no different to getting friends in the UK.