Deer Hunter

I don't think that Aussies are any more or less racist than any other nationality but they are certainly more open about it.

BadgeIsBack

Yes, I've heard it happens in QLD a lot, I can imagine it happens on the beaches in Sydney too - and a bit down here depending on what people do. In some areas, people get up early to follow their interests, particularly if they are outdoor ones. It follows that they retire earlier to bed. Farmers and the like have been doing it for generations. People with families might do it too. In QLD, the lack of daylight saving and the heat make it a worthwhile activity.

If everyone is in bed early and you're not, and it's getting in the way of friendship then you are in the wrong area! Move into the city.

Hutch

God only knows I haven't got as much experience of this country as you - but I haven't experienced any either. Good friend of ours did, however, make a shocking joke about the 'abos' - which I'm not about to repeat here. Was a very uncomfortable moment ... tumble weeds blowing through the room. We explained our viewpoint - said that if you took the same 'joke' in the UK and replaced the word 'abo' with 'paki' or 'nigger' that even Bernard Manning would think twice about telling it. I guess the best you can hope for is that your attitude makes them think again about what they've said.

movetoperth

I think there may be a bit of an undercurrent here in Perth, but as Northernbird said it is mainly a problem for those who whinge about coles not being tesco etc. The shopping centre has just opened in our suburb and pride of place on the main road leading into the suburb is a shop called "a taste of britain".Now this may be racist or not depending on yhour feelings but i have had several comments made to me by Aussies and other nationalities alike, even some poms who have lived here for years, about the fact this shop gives the suburb the tag of little england and that they just wish the new poms could learn that they are not in england anymore and just get on with it. 3 years ago there were few poms in our suburb, now some days it feels as though it is 90% english.

One thing i do know irritates many people is when people pass thoughtless comments of the "that wouldn't happen in England" type, which although not meant to offend anyone could often do with engaging the brain before opening the mouth.

Badge, you mentioned the my cars bigger than yours thing.... you may like this then... my neighbours son (english) was telling my son the other day that they are better than us as they have better cars and his dad earns more money, he also had a go at my son and his friend about the national anthem, he said they didn't know the words, they then proudly sang the national anthem to which he said, not that one the english one what would you want to sing the australian one for, all its about is gold and freedom you want to know the english one......

Lynn

northernbird

the reason there are so many poms in far northern and far southern suburbs is down to price of property, simple as. You will find poms in other suburbs, there are quite a few where my daughter goes to school in Marmion but they have been here a lot longer and bought when the houses in Marmion and surrounds were cheaper.

Vash the Stampede

Most Australians are proud of the fact that we can't remember more than the first verse of our national anthem.

JaneandJim

Its not only Aussies who think that you're Geordies, though, is it? I get called Welsh more than anything else, then Irish and Scottish. And I'm not a Geordie either.

Jane

Lord Pom Percy

Just keep your mouth shut and no one will know you are a pom, try to pass yourself off as an Aussie mute

TeresaG

I think it is the same everywhere. In every place you go to, there will be some friendly people and some extremely rude people. I've encountered it here and in every place I've ever visited. I've met some very friendly Australians and also some rude ones here and when we were in Oz. I think it hard making new friends but that would be the same wherever you go. You might only go to a different place in the UK but if you don't know anyone it is going to be hard.

flip

I wonder if it is the same everywhere? I've moved a few times in the UK and it's usually taken a couple of years at least to settle in but in Melbourne I felt I'd come home pretty much straight away.

We have Australian and English friends - no idea of the statistics and they don't seem to mind me getting confused with the differences and me complaining that their popcorn's not as nice as ours, especially as they all know we love it here.

Is anyone able to do a poll on whether Australians in each state are friendly? I'd be really interested to know as I reckon Melburnians are the best. Please pardon my bias.

Thanks

Santa

For what it's worth, I think it's a city thing. I lived in the sticks in England, now I live in the sticks in Australia. Never encountered any anti English clap trap, having said that I dont walk around waving the Union Jack, which to a lesser extent I did see in Perth.

Sunny_Glesga

I`m 100% Scottish born,bread and dragged up!

Will i be taken as being a Pom?

I personally will take anyone/everyone for who/what they are when i eventually get there, even if they do decide to be horrible to me i will greet them with welcome arms and a great big lovely Glesga-Kiss

thats the kinda guy i am!



I`m

YoSemite

been here in brisbane for 9 months now and I can honestly hand on heart say that I have never ever ever had any kind of anti pom comment.

other than my expat buddies on here none of the people I socialise with are british. there's an irish guy, but the rest are from all over - papua, thailand, china, japan, iran, afghanistan, sri lanka, albania to name but a few!!!

was out at the pub on friday night and managed to make 6 new friends, 5 aussies and a kiwi....

also recently taken up motorbiking and have made a whole load of new friends from that. was out with about 40 other bikers the other weekend and was never once treated any differently than any of the aussies out there.

I can also honestly say that I have not had any problems making friends. I'd been here 3 months when my birthday came around and managed to get a great crowd round for a bbq. slightly different for me in that I'm studying over here so have made friends through that... but also i've found, certainly recently, that through hobbies I've made new friends.

I just get out there and get on with it..... it's ALL good!!

Tuxtrip

[QUOTE=Sunny_Glesga]I`m 100% Scottish born,bread and dragged up!

Will i be taken as being a Pom?

I personally will take anyone/everyone for who/what they are when i eventually get there, even if they do decide to be horrible to me i will greet them with welcome arms and a great big lovely Glesga-Kiss


Gosh, if you're a 'weegie' (am I allowed to say that?) they'll nae understand a word you're saying!! They'll think you're either Scottish or Irish though - not English. In any event, they're bound to tell you they can't understand you, but don't be offended - the Aussies are nothing if not direct - call a spade a shovel, whatever. You'll probably be a local celebrity!

Kwitie

Well as a born and bred teuchter (according to Weegies!) I found that the
Aussies could not have been more friendly. Explain to them [quite slowly for they will prob not understand you!]
"No I am not an English Pom. I am from Scotland."
I found this to change attitudes massively. Now this does not mean that they were unfriendly before but when my Scottishness was revealed they could not have done more for me.

As I say when they thought I was English - gentle wind ups,bit of fun. When they found out I was Scottish they bent over backwards for me.

For anyone trying to find out what a teuchter is there are multiple definitions
dependent on who is using it.

Weegies and other Cent Belters - Anyone from the North of Scotland.
North East Scotland - Farmers from NE Scotland.
Other Northern Scots - members of the Gaeltacht.
James Buchan