First Impressions of Oz
Jun 15th 2009, 11:59 pm
#61
Oiiii.. You slaggg!
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Brisbaneshire
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Jun 16th 2009, 12:11 am
#62
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 82
Re: First Impressions of Oz
[QUOTE=Darren-Debbie;7666334]All Aussies are British really (I can here them all now)[/QUOte
Jun 16th 2009, 12:18 am
#63
---
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,994
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Its fast paced because it is. Good money is earnt people are hungry for it. If you want a country with good social services and a comfrotable life...you are in the wrong country.
Also their is a reason why 55 thousand kiwis migrate to australia every year next to no career options in NZ.
Also their is a reason why 55 thousand kiwis migrate to australia every year next to no career options in NZ.
Totally agree, I lived in New Zealand for five years before giving up and coming over to Australia which was the best move that I ever made in my life, that was more than 30 years ago. In New Zealand I had two jobs and worked around 70 hours a week but just couldn't get ahead, at the time almost everything was in very short supply, had to wait three months to buy an average watch. In Australia I now have a good self funded pension, top hospital cover, good home, good car and can afford at least two overseas holidays every year, we live well, eat well and are very content. Honestly there isn't really anymore that we want. We do visit UK often but have no desire at all to return permanently, always enjoy the trips but very glad to get back home to Australia.
Jun 16th 2009, 12:19 am
#64
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Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 413
Re: First Impressions of Oz
We arrived in Brisbane just over a week ago now as we plan on spending the year traveling while we wait for our 175 to be processed. We spent 3 weeks in New Zealand before we arrived and had the most amazing time, the people there were so friendly that it totally blew us away, so we arrived in Oz really excited.
However, its not exactly been the best time so far
We had done a lot of research before coming so had our exceptions set and a lot of these (food prices, costs of items, bugs etc) are all as we expected so thats fine, however one this we didn't expect to encounter is the appalling attitude of the people here!!! Things we have experienced so far:-
Hate to moan as we had been looking forward to this place for so long, but its just draining now. Like I say, before we came here we spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and they people there were met, every single one was superb. Never once felt uncomfortable, people were always friendly, if someone ever bumped you in the street they apologized etc.
All it feels like at the moment in Brisbane is London with much better weather and thats a serious shock. Everyone makes such a thing about how nice the Ozzies are but so far the only people which have been polite/civil are the Chinese/Koreans we've seen. Not seen many brits yet but every single Ozzie we have come across has been a total nightmare, and the amount of racism/crude attitude of people is a real eyeopener.
Sorry to rant, just had to vent a bit thats all. Hopefully it'll all change when we get out of Brisbane and into some less populated areas.
However, its not exactly been the best time so far
We had done a lot of research before coming so had our exceptions set and a lot of these (food prices, costs of items, bugs etc) are all as we expected so thats fine, however one this we didn't expect to encounter is the appalling attitude of the people here!!! Things we have experienced so far:-- People are NOT friendly round here. Tried talking to lots of people in shops/out and about and they are just rude as hell. Say hi when you get to a checkout and they ignore you for example.
- How many people stare at you with an expression like they have just crapped there pants?
- People walk round completely oblivious to anyone else
- Constantly getting bumped into where-ever you go, and no one ever says sorry
- The way blokes in shops/restaurants ignore women is plain rude
- People spitting on the street all the time
- Never seen so many people smoking!!
- Does anyone ever wash there hands in this country? No wonder swine flu is spreading so quick in Oz! Also seen lots of parents telling there little kids not to wash there hands after using the loo as its only a wee/poo ?!?!?!?
- Total lack of manners from people
- Racism - WOW! Its so blatant around here. Even had to get off a train early because a group of lads were harassing people on the train who were Kiwi or British, plus saw some very proud Ozzies families on the City Cat acting like complete idiots just to cause a scene.
- Never had so many people let doors go in my face
- People always squeeze through in front of you and look at you like you were at fault
- Been bumped into so many times and they then look at you completely gormlessly!
- General gormless attitude of people when you walk round, its like being in Land of the Dead.
- The pace of life seems SOOOOO fast. Feel like your getting your heels chomped on the high street people walk so fast and everyone always seems to be in a rush wherever you go.
Hate to moan as we had been looking forward to this place for so long, but its just draining now. Like I say, before we came here we spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and they people there were met, every single one was superb. Never once felt uncomfortable, people were always friendly, if someone ever bumped you in the street they apologized etc.
All it feels like at the moment in Brisbane is London with much better weather and thats a serious shock. Everyone makes such a thing about how nice the Ozzies are but so far the only people which have been polite/civil are the Chinese/Koreans we've seen. Not seen many brits yet but every single Ozzie we have come across has been a total nightmare, and the amount of racism/crude attitude of people is a real eyeopener.
Sorry to rant, just had to vent a bit thats all. Hopefully it'll all change when we get out of Brisbane and into some less populated areas.
The first time we ever went into Brisbane CBD after arriving, it was raining cats and dogs (in true QLD fashion). We were totally unprepared but had to soldier on to the bank - we ducked into a bustop to give the three kids a bit of a break - they were all soaking wet by this stage. Would you believe, an older homeless man, actually gave us his umbrella. In his words - "you need it more than I do darling". That's the way things started for us and that's the way they have stayed.
Personally, I have never once, in more than a year heard or seen any racist behaviour. Not to say it doesn't exist, perhaps I am just lucky.
Brissy is a city trying to catch up to the rest of Australia. It's always been considered the "backward" cousin of Melbourne and Sydney. It's up and coming though with a lot of corporate business - with that comes the hustle and bustle.
Perhaps it's all in the eye of the beholder?
Good luck!
PS: forgot to add - your attitude is very "down" on the place. People can be very sensitive to this sort of thing. There is one thing that all Aussies universally hate - and that's a whinging pom. Just a thought - not meant to be nasty at all.
Last edited by dejags; Jun 16th 2009 at 12:21 am.
Jun 16th 2009, 12:23 am
#65
---
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,994
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Forgot to add that I stayed in Brissie for a few months in 2001 and as far as cities go I quite enjoyed it 
Jun 16th 2009, 12:26 am
#66
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Posts: 413
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Intensely offensive to the majority of Australians who are just normal people with normal lives.
Jun 16th 2009, 12:30 am
#67
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 4,298
Re: First Impressions of Oz
- People are NOT friendly round here. Tried talking to lots of people in shops/out and about and they are just rude as hell. Say hi when you get to a checkout and they ignore you for example. I've noticed people in pubs, shops and supermarkets are generally friendly...people in restaurants less so.
- How many people stare at you with an expression like they have just crapped there pants? None !
- People walk round completely oblivious to anyone else. I do this a lot of the time...
- Constantly getting bumped into where-ever you go, and no one ever says sorry. Can't say I've ever experienced this.. In fact I would say that this was one of the things I loved about this place when I first got here. It was very easy going, people aren't rushing to be in places and barging others out of the way.
- The way blokes in shops/restaurants ignore women is plain rude. Never seen this before...
- People spitting on the street all the time... or this...
- Never seen so many people smoking!!... or this. Try taking a walk down the street in any UK or American city...
- Does anyone ever wash there hands in this country? No wonder swine flu is spreading so quick in Oz! Also seen lots of parents telling there little kids not to wash there hands after using the loo as its only a wee/poo ?!?!?!? Haven't seen this at all.
- Total lack of manners from people. I have noticed that people here tend to have less manners than in the UK.
- Racism - WOW! Its so blatant around here. Even had to get off a train early because a group of lads were harassing people on the train who were Kiwi or British, plus saw some very proud Ozzies families on the City Cat acting like complete idiots just to cause a scene. Haven't noticed any nasty racism here, but the Aussies do have their own slant on what they would and would not consider as "racist".
- Never had so many people let doors go in my face. This frustrates me and it comes down to a lack of manners.
- People always squeeze through in front of you and look at you like you were at fault. Not me they don't.
- Been bumped into so many times and they then look at you completely gormlessly! Possibly has happened once in the 5yrs I have lived in Brisbane CBD.
- General gormless attitude of people when you walk round, its like being in Land of the Dead. Can't agree with you here, but this is just a subjective thing.
- The pace of life seems SOOOOO fast. Feel like your getting your heels chomped on the high street people walk so fast and everyone always seems to be in a rush wherever you go. I disagree - its all relative, of course, to the pace of life that you are used to...
Hello mate, sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time ! A lot of this is obviously perception based, so there is no "right" and "wrong".
May I ask, whereabouts did you come from in the UK if you reckon Brisbane is like London?! I've been here 5yrs now, and the previous 5yrs I lived in London.
Last edited by asprilla; Jun 16th 2009 at 12:33 am.
Jun 16th 2009, 12:41 am
#69
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Location: Brisbane
Posts: 413
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Clearly not you.
And people wonder why they don't settle in Australia. That would be because they don't bloody want to!
Then they come on here and whinge!
You are right... who gives a shit!
And people wonder why they don't settle in Australia. That would be because they don't bloody want to!
Then they come on here and whinge!
You are right... who gives a shit!
Jun 16th 2009, 3:01 am
#70
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Posts: 1,855
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Yep Perth is on our list of places to travel too. Like I said in the OP, I do think it may just be the city mentality of people that is causing the problem as we are both looking forward to picking our camper up on Friday and then heading out of here. Hopefully once we get out of the main city area the people will change and be more friendly, just like what we experienced in New Zealand because if they do then it will be everything we were hoping it would be when we arrived.
Its funny as well, people told us before we went to NZ that people were rude there and we found the total opposite, so like you say its strange how different peoples experiences can be of places.
HAHAHAHA! Will try that tomorrow
Its funny as well, people told us before we went to NZ that people were rude there and we found the total opposite, so like you say its strange how different peoples experiences can be of places.
HAHAHAHA! Will try that tomorrow
It seems to me the problem is you were expecting Brisbane to be like some laid back country town where everyone is friendly and says G'day, but it is a large city , perhpas you should advoid the cities and travel through country OZ.
Jun 16th 2009, 3:54 am
#71
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Re: First Impressions of Oz
I have been to some where you would swear we were had grown second heads, or purple skin. I dont know what it is but they either know somebody new is in town or you just look different.Brissie is far less smoke ridden than melb and sydney, however cause of all the banned smoking, people congregate in bits they can smoke causing a hell of a stink and giving the impression of severe nicotine nation.
I dont think aussies are that friendly, sure there is all the 'how are you good how are you good' nonsense, but can you imagine that person actually wanting to know you, its a training manual greeting, often mistaken by those from OS as some overwhelmingly friendly nation.
People in bris are probably rushing about now as they think its cold, I mean it must only be 22
in summer its a right bloody chug to get around. Brissies OK, quite beautiful in parts, like when your in an old suburb/park and the lilac jackaranda trees are out, or some massive summer storm is brewing. Or a crisp winters day when you cant see a single cloud. However its people are the same as any city, just getting on with what they have to do.
BTW to the person who took some homeless persons brolly
bloody hell thats mean, the poor old bloke probably slept under thatOh yeah and I do agree lots of people dont wash their hands in OZ, soap in many state schools was a new thing only a year ago, then it was such a novelty some schools removed it again.
Last edited by jad n rich; Jun 16th 2009 at 3:57 am.
Jun 16th 2009, 4:11 am
#72
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Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Reading this my experiences have been totally different, I went to new zealand auckland for a couple of weeks to validate visa and hated it. It was a lot like what you describe aus.
Now being in perth for a few years the worst I can say about it is that its a bit backward, things are a little old fashioned but the people are completely diffferent to what you describe. At first I was suprised by how friendly people were, I wasnt used to people randomly talking to you at traffic crossings or in elevators places like that, but here they do. My advice to you would be to get out of the city, maybe ome over to perth, its a totally different experience. I lived in adelaide for a year, and can definetly say that perth is everything you expected and wanted when you first thought of comming to australia.
Now being in perth for a few years the worst I can say about it is that its a bit backward, things are a little old fashioned but the people are completely diffferent to what you describe. At first I was suprised by how friendly people were, I wasnt used to people randomly talking to you at traffic crossings or in elevators places like that, but here they do. My advice to you would be to get out of the city, maybe ome over to perth, its a totally different experience. I lived in adelaide for a year, and can definetly say that perth is everything you expected and wanted when you first thought of comming to australia.
People keep pretty much to themselves or the people they are with. One can find a variety of reasons to be in Perth but perhaps socialbility is not really one of the under lining factors that one would necessary relocate here.
Jun 16th 2009, 4:18 am
#73
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Re: First Impressions of Oz
Hello mate, sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time ! A lot of this is obviously perception based, so there is no "right" and "wrong".
May I ask, whereabouts did you come from in the UK if you reckon Brisbane is like London?! I've been here 5yrs now, and the previous 5yrs I lived in London.
May I ask, whereabouts did you come from in the UK if you reckon Brisbane is like London?! I've been here 5yrs now, and the previous 5yrs I lived in London.
In fact a female friend of mine from Brisbane swore London was far friendlier...
Jun 16th 2009, 4:24 am
#74
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Posts: 3,337
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Well, thought i would put my tuppence in. We have been here just over a year. 5 months in Sydney and the rest in Perth, (Mandurah, but i work in Perth).
Cant say that i have seen all that the poster has experienced, but a few things that i would agree with.
Racism - Oh boy, Oz makes the KKK look tame. If you meet any indigenous people just ask!
Manners - what manners. Most Australians dont even know the meaning of the word.
Its interesting you mention how NZ was different. When we came to WA we held a bbq and invited all the neighbours. A get to know you thing. The only Oz that turned up, walked in grabbed beers and left. The NZ neighbours all brought dishes and made a great day.
If you can get over the above, its a nice place
Cant say that i have seen all that the poster has experienced, but a few things that i would agree with.
Racism - Oh boy, Oz makes the KKK look tame. If you meet any indigenous people just ask!
Manners - what manners. Most Australians dont even know the meaning of the word.
Its interesting you mention how NZ was different. When we came to WA we held a bbq and invited all the neighbours. A get to know you thing. The only Oz that turned up, walked in grabbed beers and left. The NZ neighbours all brought dishes and made a great day.
If you can get over the above, its a nice place
Jun 16th 2009, 6:22 am
#75
Account Closed
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 86
Re: First Impressions of Oz
We arrived in Brisbane just over a week ago now as we plan on spending the year traveling while we wait for our 175 to be processed. We spent 3 weeks in New Zealand before we arrived and had the most amazing time, the people there were so friendly that it totally blew us away, so we arrived in Oz really excited.
However, its not exactly been the best time so far We had done a lot of research before coming so had our exceptions set and a lot of these (food prices, costs of items, bugs etc) are all as we expected so thats fine, however one this we didn't expect to encounter is the appalling attitude of the people here!!! Things we have experienced so far:-
Hate to moan as we had been looking forward to this place for so long, but its just draining now. Like I say, before we came here we spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and they people there were met, every single one was superb. Never once felt uncomfortable, people were always friendly, if someone ever bumped you in the street they apologized etc.
All it feels like at the moment in Brisbane is London with much better weather and thats a serious shock. Everyone makes such a thing about how nice the Ozzies are but so far the only people which have been polite/civil are the Chinese/Koreans we've seen. Not seen many brits yet but every single Ozzie we have come across has been a total nightmare, and the amount of racism/crude attitude of people is a real eyeopener.
Sorry to rant, just had to vent a bit thats all. Hopefully it'll all change when we get out of Brisbane and into some less populated areas.
However, its not exactly been the best time so far
We had done a lot of research before coming so had our exceptions set and a lot of these (food prices, costs of items, bugs etc) are all as we expected so thats fine, however one this we didn't expect to encounter is the appalling attitude of the people here!!! Things we have experienced so far:-- People are NOT friendly round here. Tried talking to lots of people in shops/out and about and they are just rude as hell. Say hi when you get to a checkout and they ignore you for example.
- How many people stare at you with an expression like they have just crapped there pants?
- People walk round completely oblivious to anyone else
- Constantly getting bumped into where-ever you go, and no one ever says sorry
- The way blokes in shops/restaurants ignore women is plain rude
- People spitting on the street all the time
- Never seen so many people smoking!!
- Does anyone ever wash there hands in this country? No wonder swine flu is spreading so quick in Oz! Also seen lots of parents telling there little kids not to wash there hands after using the loo as its only a wee/poo ?!?!?!?
- Total lack of manners from people
- Racism - WOW! Its so blatant around here. Even had to get off a train early because a group of lads were harassing people on the train who were Kiwi or British, plus saw some very proud Ozzies families on the City Cat acting like complete idiots just to cause a scene.
- Never had so many people let doors go in my face
- People always squeeze through in front of you and look at you like you were at fault
- Been bumped into so many times and they then look at you completely gormlessly!
- General gormless attitude of people when you walk round, its like being in Land of the Dead.
- The pace of life seems SOOOOO fast. Feel like your getting your heels chomped on the high street people walk so fast and everyone always seems to be in a rush wherever you go.
Hate to moan as we had been looking forward to this place for so long, but its just draining now. Like I say, before we came here we spent 3 weeks in New Zealand and they people there were met, every single one was superb. Never once felt uncomfortable, people were always friendly, if someone ever bumped you in the street they apologized etc.
All it feels like at the moment in Brisbane is London with much better weather and thats a serious shock. Everyone makes such a thing about how nice the Ozzies are but so far the only people which have been polite/civil are the Chinese/Koreans we've seen. Not seen many brits yet but every single Ozzie we have come across has been a total nightmare, and the amount of racism/crude attitude of people is a real eyeopener.
Sorry to rant, just had to vent a bit thats all. Hopefully it'll all change when we get out of Brisbane and into some less populated areas.
Really sorry, its very bad experience you got in bris. I am just shcked to know that people may behave like this in bris.
Its still hard to believe that what you wrote above is about Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Are you non-EU-US-UK-SA migrant, means from asian, african or any other area like that?
I wish you very special best luck with your move to Ozland.