Re: Making friends
 

Very true, but initially, and especially for most people when they are feeling a little 'lost', having someone who knows where they are coming from does help a great deal.

I would say that the majority of my friends now are Australian and most of these close friendships have been forged through sport.

Re: Making friends
 

I have to say the aussies may seem a friendly bunch but dont expect to be invited around for tea. I have been here two years and dont socialise with them outside work..dont get me wrong i am a very outgoing, approachable being but, but, but....yes!! all my friends are migrants, we are on the same page :D

Re: Making friends
 

Hey, I'll come and watch you if you're playing in whatever area we move to. I love the sport.

Re: Making friends
 

I don't think it matters what or who your friends are - they are just that - friends.
Don't actively set out to only make friends with other expats, but tbh it is easier to because we are all in the same boat.
Most aussie women have their own group of friends (like we did in the UK) and it can take a while to be 'let in'.

tracey

Re: Making friends
 

We'll be living by the rink in Newcastle, New South Wales. But there are also rinks in Sydeny, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth (I think that's all of them).

It's a great game though. My husband and I have already found a league that we can play in when we go. The guys that play there tell me they love to get Canadians so it shouldn't be too hard to get on a team.

Re: Making friends
 

Oh goody, well it's been said by LOADS of people the school my kids go to half the parents are up their own a**e and when you say hello they look at you like you just smeared poo up their trousers or something, which is quite odd when the kids are friends.
Then you get to the stage we've reached which is oh sod it I hate talking to myself, mind you i'd like to point out it took 2 years saying hello to everyone and getting the same reaction from over half to form that opinion, oh well nevermind should be moving to Melbourne soon and saw a few people round the school and they all seemed nice, but time will tell

Jen

Re: Making friends
 

I hope you find a team. We may move to Brisbane, I see there is a team there so that's our Saturday nights sorted :D

Re: Making friends
 

We've been here since Feb & the friends I have here are all ex-pats. My hubby has a handful of aussies that hes met various ways, through work, out mountain biking & neighbours, who he's in touch with & they go out on their bikes, but none of them have ever invited him/us round - which may just be a bloke thing. Having said that, I'm sure he's never invited them here - so it works both ways. The aussies I've met at playgroup and work are the same, they don't seem to want to make arrangements to do stuff away from work/playgroup, although we all get on well.
I'm happy with the circle of friends I've made and I don't feel like I'm missing my old friends in the UK as much, as I still speak with them loads, they don't seem so far away.

Re: Making friends
 

Aye, it was a bit different for me cos my wife is an Aussie so I had to talk to her ... 2 years on and we talk a bit less, but that's marriage I guess :D

Re: Making friends
 

Wait a few more years then you won't have to talk to her at all ;) :D

Re: Making friends
 

5pm and bring both ;)

Re: Making friends
 

The only social 'setback' we had was renting in a quiet street with lots of retired couples. (it was near the station and shops).

Upside: Our neighbours have now become surrogate grandparents.

Re: Making friends
 

We've found we've started to 'snowball' with social circles. It gets easier and easier - and in our village, it all started with an invite from a CFA colleague.

Year 1 : a few here and there
Year 3: meeting that person in the street who tells you to drop in next time you're passing; who knows another mate of yours, next time they have a meet, you all get invited..
Chief joins the local creche committee and meets the chief of another bloke in the CFA. They compare notes and establish common ground. Invite. Chief lends some clothes to the child care nurse. Box of chocolates and a mate for life. etc etc Chief walks down the lane, meets another woman. Family are all first aiders, we are CFA, invite. I have blokes ring me up and ask to borrow my vehicle for towing a horse for a weekend which in some circles is quite an ask.

Also, we don't have school-age kids so am at a disadvantage in some ways. Just as well as we might have to 'close our books' and beat them off with the proverbial stick. :p

We hardly know any expats apart from a few we knew when we first arrived.
Since then, its been locals all the way.

Re: Making friends
 

May 1st to be precise ... then I get PR :D

Disclaimer to Immigration Dudes - Don't be silly, of course I'm joking ... and what are you doing reading this trash in the first place?