Originally Posted by Syedney

What's the problem here??

Are we already whingeing again?? No wonder the Ozzies (or m-ozzies!) call us WPs!

Cheer up guys and gals and please lighten up!!!

You can't meet everyone that will endear to you or vice versa!!!

If the oz get along better is only NATURAL: they understand fully their culture whereas you don't. You may get some of the culture but not everything!!

Watch your kids though!!! They'll blend in better than you!!

For a start, they won't be whingeing but will take things in their stride!!

Man, tell me something: have you not noticed in UK how many emigrants you REALLY got on with?? in every level???

Not many, huh?

Just cheer up. Know that there will be some differences between us and them.

Respect it and be proud of it.

Don't let something so....Ruin your life!

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Be 100% honest when you answer...How many immigrant FRIENDS did you have in UK? Not acquaintences, but real friends. Then ask yourself why you would expect the Australians to be any different.

Originally Posted by scottie

Interesting reading guys. Have friends who have moved over all ready and they say much the same things. However, we are Scottish, so are defo crap at sport and will love adopting aussie rugby team (just wish they were a bit better looking). Resigned 2 fact gonna spend months falling off a surf board b4 can even lie on it 2 paddle out and sure everyone gonna think we have a funny (defo not posh accent). Gonna give it a big go anyway and hope for the best. Lucky 2 in a way cos loads of uk paramedics going out at same time so we all be in the same boat which will hopefully make things a little easier.

Originally Posted by dave99

If its not nasty comments it could be done in the form of jokes at social events, or even simply saying 'oh you wouldnt understand not being from australia' comment

Originally Posted by Kalenge

Well said Dorothy - that says it all.

There seems to be an expectation for Australians to go out of their way to integrate and accept newly arrived immigrants, but nothing in their life has actually changed, it's really up to the immigrants to forge the relationships.

I think there's also a proportion of immigrants who tend to stick to their own and frequent places which have more (recent) immigrants than local Australians. I'm not sure how they can expect to ever feel integrated.
If we act like British Expats we will always be seen as British Expats.

Originally Posted by Mikeyc

Whenever I hear that I just reply with, “oh I miss Culture, High Wages, Modern technology, cheap flights, commercial free TV and better food....Oh sorry, you wouldn’t understand not being from the EU”

It usually shuts them up.

Mikey

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

Exactly.

The key to it all is integration. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". It's something I hear often in the UK, but usually in reference to people entering the country (not leaving it).

I've had to integrate into UK society just to get along with the people and get ahead in employment. I expect the same of anyone who moves to my country.

Poms complain a lot about immigrants who refuse to integrate when they come to the UK - and rightly so! But are they remembering to do the same when they become immigrants themselves?

Originally Posted by DunRoaminTheUK

Here's a hypothetical.

On Monday I am a British immigrant and I have certain gripes that relate to Australia. I tell people about my concerns and I get called a winging pom. I am told "when in Rome do as the Roman's do!".

On Tuesday I attend my citizenship ceremony and formally become an Australian. I am now a fully fledged member of Australian society. I still have the same concerns and issues about Australia and I announce them to the world once more. What does that make me? What should I do as a consequence? What are the implications of the transition in status between Monday and Tuesday? Are my suggestions for change the inappropriate ramblings of a discontent immigrant or the progressive and appropriate words of a new Australian?

Originally Posted by Hutch

Being 'Australian' is not about attending a ceremony and receiving a small flag and a pot plant. I've held Australian citizenship since birth and yet I'm not really Australian. I'm all for adopting the ways and modes of an adopted country, but I think you can go too far too quickly.

Originally Posted by PC Pom

Start with Boogie boarding mate - you can't fall off!

The thought of so many Scottish paramedics asking dazed accident victims what symptoms they have 'doesn'y paint a pretty picture' Scottie, you'll need to a least practice some posh stuff every now and then. And then there's the Geordie paramedics...

Paul

PS Some of my best mates are/were Scots and Geordies!

Originally Posted by cypry

!

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

I find some of the more selfish Australians I meet (at work but not in my division as our division attracts self-confessed intellectuals! now there's a thing) remind me of some of the people you find living on the edges of London. Lots of money, sort of successful but not very enlightened. Areas like Essex and some tiny parts of SW London spring to mind.

I see it as a work and get ahead thing and can't in some ways knock it. At the end of the day we're not all enlightened and when you move overseas to a place many will end up in anywhere suburb and then the problems can really set in.

I find Pom migrants a funny breed too. Most I have met fall into sort of vague categories which I can sort of identify here:

The ones I identify with the most are very self-reliant, switched on - have often worked overseas before. They would never dream of comparing or knocking Australians - they are too busy getting on with life. Often have a knack or a fair bit of savvy. Good diplomats, capable, can relate to a variety of people. Nothing is too hard for them. I give you old Buzzy Bee himself.

The others are what I call Little Englanders. Want a big house and accessories (never mind the politics) and that might and will do for many. The more individual ones tire of it and wish they were back in their centrally-heated, 3 bed semis with floating floors and DVD pine cabinets in Greater Manchester. Yes I have a pine DVD cabinet but I made it myself.

The final category are unfortunately what I call the ''social hand grenades''. There is one woman starting in the office now. The ones who really DO moan, and frankly do nothing for the old joke and stereotype Australians occasionally like to rib us about. Often a bit negative (they don't even realise it) who get people's backs up. Might be in a half-decent job, but you wonder how, or could still be productive and capable. Often you can't work out what is missing - they seem to lack tact, sagacity etc.These are the people who probably criticise Australians the most but themselves are bashed or tolerated as much by everyone else. Best avoided!