First Impressions of Oz
Jun 21st 2009, 6:55 pm
#121
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 62
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.
Jun 22nd 2009, 1:59 am
#122
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Mission Beach, Qld
Posts: 41
Re: First Impressions of Oz
I still think they are more polite than people who live and work in London. Just my opion. In other words just another big city. Try the smaller towns people are more friendly
Jun 22nd 2009, 2:21 am
#123
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Bris
Posts: 564
Re: First Impressions of Oz
just reading comments on unfriendly aussies in cities , just wondering how many irish were on a bus looking at all the nice sights in brisbane when the windows of there bus came in on top of them with bricks and stones courtesy of those friendly wee irish people .well thats what happened today in belfast to oz and norwegian tourists ,beat that for unfriendliness
Jun 22nd 2009, 2:33 am
#124
Suncream, I need suncream
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,316
Jun 22nd 2009, 2:49 am
#125
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Bris
Posts: 564
Re: First Impressions of Oz
I admit I am very rude to people I don't know or people I just don't care for. I have learnt that this is the best way not to be manipulated or bullied into doing something or giving in to someone. I tried the polite refusal for several years and it only led to an eventual argument when I wouldn't relent.
So now I am a rude and obnoxious tosser from the very start and as a result I get a satisfactory ending.
So now I am a rude and obnoxious tosser from the very start and as a result I get a satisfactory ending.
For example the other day I was at the deli counter at Woolies.
I noticed a small middle aged woman standing over the other side. She looked annoyed because no one had noticed her.
Because I'm taller, the deli assistant noticed me and came straight over. I pointed out the lady waiting and that she'd been there before me. Decent thing to do right?
The deli assistant then goes over and promptly serves the woman. Woman still huffing like a twat orders her food. She snatches the food and walks off like someone had murdered her family. WTF? You got served you cow.
The woman knew I'd done this good deed but she didn't acknowledge it.
I felt that was rude. She could have waved, said thanks or even just offered a smile. Nothing.
You start to question whether you should be a gentlemen. If the roles were reversed I bet the old chook would go first. She wouldn't give crap about me.
There are so many middle aged people here with a bad attitude.
Jun 22nd 2009, 5:34 am
#126
Where traffic lights rule
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Brighton QLD
Posts: 2,460
Re: First Impressions of Oz
My wife went shopping at coles the other day and forgot her credit cards
But some random stranger offered to pay for her shopping, he gave her his contact details to pay him back and when she called him he told her to give the money to a good cause.
So you get nice and nasty people in all cities.
But some random stranger offered to pay for her shopping, he gave her his contact details to pay him back and when she called him he told her to give the money to a good cause.
So you get nice and nasty people in all cities.
Jun 22nd 2009, 6:19 am
#127
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Jun 22nd 2009, 7:10 am
#128
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 740
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.
- about 20% of the aussies are very nice, friendly, helpful, interested in foreigners. they are also usually well-traveled and open minded people.
- about 30% of the aussies are neutral or indifferant to the presence of migrants. they accept migrants to be part of life and it doesn't make them any happier or uphappier. these are generally middle-class, educated, well-to-do australians.
- about 40% of the aussies wished they did not have any immigrants in their country. they would usaully ignore you, seem aloof and uninterested. They will pretend that you don't exist, you could easily say this is kind of rude. However, these guys will also not be vocal about their feeling. This is the working class segment of the society.
- and you have the rest 10% extremists.... they will throw comments at you, especially when they are drunk or you are alone. some will even try to physically harm you, if an opportunity exists. This segment is a mixed bag i.e. they are everywhere to some extent but perhaps more prevailant among teenagers, jobless, failed or unsuccessful people.
I guess most members will agree on the categories but differ on the proportion depending on individual experiences.
Jun 22nd 2009, 10:55 pm
#132
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Re: First Impressions of Oz
Before this thread degenerates into mud-slinging and personal abuse, I suggest that a few people stop and think before posting. Any more insults on here and bans will be issued.
Jun 23rd 2009, 5:25 am
#134
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
