Jolyn

Hi - I posted this as a reply elsewhere and then realised it didn't match the thread so here goes (sorry about the long post):

I'm an Aussie who has lived in the UK and NZ as well so I can give you a few impressions. My English husband and I moved from the UK to Sydney for a year a while back so I know how he found it too. In a couple of months we're all off to Melbourne for good.

Most of Oz is a bit like you see on TV. Like living in the UK but with better weather and more relaxed. Australians actually work quite hard (harder than you might think without so much of the 'world owes me a living' jobsworth stuff) but have a good social life too. Most migrants settle well and have a great life there.

It's true that up to 50% of British migrants to Oz come back again and there was an analysis done a few years ago of the reasons. The main ones I remember were distance, family and pubs. If you can come to grips with those before going you'll have a headstart.

DISTANCE = it's just FEELS so far from 'home'. News coverage mainly covers pacific/asian areas and even music has a lot of local bands you've never heard of. The comedians on TV are different, celebs in the news are different and so on. So your whole background cultural references (which you may not even realise permeate your life in the UK) are different. This makes it feel more foreign than you might expect. Not a problem as you will acclimatise quickly but just be prepared for it.

FAMILY = they're not around to help out. Everyone expects the obvious being away from family but those who are used to mum popping by to mind the kids for a few hours or family lunches at the weekends can really underestimate this. If you have a very close and helpful family who lives nearby in the UK think seriously before moving and plan ways around it. Arriving in a new country with kids when you don't know anyone takes time to adjust to - if you've never had the kids on your own all the time it can be really hard!

PUBS = no 'local' to meet people at. Pubs in Oz mainly fall into 3 camps: smelly dives mostly men only, backpackers outdoor drinking spots (near beaches with live music), gastropubs good for sunday family lunches. Aussies make friends at work and through clubs and family activities. Most socialising is done around the BBQ at home or outdoors with the whole family together. A much better lifestyle for families (I think) but anyone used to going down the local every night will have to make a real attempt to meet people in other ways.

The really big thing is to be happy to be there when you're in Oz. Australians are quite patriotic (like any country) so love anyone who loves their country and will be welcoming and friendly. 'Whinging poms' will be advised (regularly and with real Aussie directness!) they'd be better off to go home.

Any questions on Oz, feel free to ask. I'll try to help - time and toddler willing!

Good luck with your plans - hope to see you there!

booboo1

The family thing is very true. Luckily for me we do not have close family and dont have family members popping in or babysitting. We are very close to each other as a result (just the three of us) and I believe this will be very helpful to us no matter where in the world we settled. We are not pub people, so no bothers there.

BooBoo

carolerussell

Thanks for all the advice/info. We are hoping to move to perth around october this year. We are easy going, and love the outdoor life. Our lifes don't revolve around the T.V. or going to the pub. We are hard working and love having friends round for meals. I'm sure we will fit right in.

paulf

good post, thanks

jopaulss

Yeah good post , your right about the family thing , we never relyed on the family back home , so we are at ease with having no one to have the kids , something we have always coped with . If we go out we take the kids , if its no kids , we dont go . We live in a street which is full of aussies and we get on great with them , we do try not to moan as i have said in a previous post , but its hard sometimes. Like now i have flu , its the 2nd day of winter , cold , we have all the fires going and its bloody raining again !!!!! Otherwise we love it Roll on spring and summer !
Dont really think about the distance thing i have to say , if i want to speak to my mum , i ring her , just like i did at home. It all takes a bit of getting used to , but it gets better as time goes on , we have some good friends here now , and they are a lifeline i have to say
Joanne and Paul

SteveBannister

Can you do Rolf Harris or Dame Edna?

No, seriously, this has got to be one of the best posts for a long time. Thank you.

We lived in South Africa for quite a few years and the social life is just the same. Nine times out of ten you entertain at home. I'm sure we would do the same here, if the houses were bigger. I have never been one to go out drinking everynight and the idea of me having a 'local' frightens me. I do want somewhere to go for a sunday lunch though, and I want to do the 'family thing' as much as possible. In South Africa, people take it in turns to entertain and every boby brings some meat or a bowl of something or a dessert. Sounds good to me!

Let's have some more informative posts like this.

Steve.

suffolkdiva

Thanks for this post, Jolyn

It's good to hear a balanced view from an Aussie.

We're headed Melbourne way too. Booboo is organizing a picnic and it would be great to meet you if you could come along.

tinaj

Great post, we need more balanced realistic views like this.

I think you have given good advice about the areas we will find difficult. Hopefully if they don't apply directly to us then it will be less likely to lead to problems.

I strongly agree with the family issue, if you are very close to your families and see them frequently it will obviously be more challenging for you than if you see them once a year!

Thanks for the sound advice.

Poppy

Thanks Jolyn.

Just wondered why you didn't settle in Sydney? how did you find it and why have you chosen Melbourne?

We have still not decided where we will be going and Sydney and Melbourne are two on the list of possibilities - your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers - Good luck with your move.

Jaykay

Here's one for you.

My family moved out to Australia in 1972 when I was 9. Mum & Dad got to know people and the first time we were invited over for a BBQ, Mum was told to "bring a plate".....so she did. She brought over her best china plate.

To anyone who doesn't know, "bring a plate" literally means bring some food with you.

Made me laugh when Mum told me about it a couple of years ago

Don

When I was a student needing a party sometimes they said bring a bottle and if we were feeling a bit poor that's what we did. Milk bottle, lemonade bottle...

footie chick

Good posting.

We are also not close to family and as kids are older we take them with us now.

Thanks

footie chick

Badge

<QUOTE To anyone who doesn't know, "bring a plate" literally means bring some food with you. </QUOTE>

a Lamington is quite popular - a sponge cake with all those cocunuts bits all over it.

and when Aussies go to buy "MANCHESTER" it doesn't mean they're off trying to cash in on the UK property boom -

it means BED LINEN would you believe....

badgers

SteveBannister

I've just laughed out loud. I can imagine everybody's faces as she's showing off her best plate, looking for some food to put on it.

terryg

Thanks Jolyn

Good post