asher

did you really expect a fairy tale?

Australia is different to Britain not better or worse but different however global problems are just that and exist in every country to expect them not to is naive

there are many many threads saying basically same shit shinier or just different bucket.
why then does it come as such a surprise for some people?

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience there are rednecks all over the world
I have lived in a fair amount of different countries basically people are the same the world over and so is daily living to a certain extent
the things that make places different are the culture and scenery

I enjoy it but then I live in Sydney, you didn't enjoy it which is a shame but I hope you are happier in the UK good luck xx

j and k

Well how long do you think it takes, given the stresses and expenses involved to re-build your lives after such a big move?

Dont want to put anyone off, just saying go on a recky first.

We arrived back in the uk 02/02/2009 so it's just a year.

77hil

So had you never been to Australia before you moved?

j and k

No, i believed the wanted down under series!!! and friends holiday opinions!!!
More the fool me!

I MUST BE CRAZY!

77hil

I'm always amazed by people that make a move this big without ever going there before. Must take a lot of guts.

The wife and I are moving after 5 long holidays there which we loved. The wife's sister moved without ever going before and she didn't really like it either.

I think if you haven't loved the place beforehand then you're going to be far more unforgiving about the negatives when they hit you, as I'm sure they will when we get there.

A holiday in Australia beforehand is definitely a good idea.

asher

We didn't have a reccie we had never been to Aus before, but we did loads of research, had jobs lined up, a realistic time scale to try it out ie 2 years and had back up plans in place in case we hated it.
but then we are used to living abroad

Anne down under

you need to get a bit of a tougher skin if you're going to survive over here mate.

paulry

I've been there once about ten years ago. I wasn't overly bowled over by the place but I can see the potential for my family and I to build a good life there. The validation trip is in April and the move is pencilled in for December(-ish). Hopefully with the new "this will be our home soon" specs on we'll all be happy to proceed to the final step .

j and k

Yeh you're right...
but i don't want to just survive, if possible i want to enjoy my life.

Not happnin there coz it aint home!

j and k

I must say the weather here is miserable!!!!

And if i can convince my family i'll be back (oz) !!!

Goodbye, until the next thread!

Pomster

I had never visited Aus before we came here. OK I had the safety net of thinking we were only here for 2 years, but you don't need a visit necessarily to settle.

And people do say not very nice things but some of this is humour- although sometimes misplaced.
A colleague mentioned the "poms don't wash" to me and I hate this comment. Now I know him much better I realise it was just his humour and he was not trying to be offensive- he is one of the nicest most easy going blokes around. I know I sometimes say things which are poorly judged- all in the name of humour.

Sometimes you just have to take a while to settle in properly.

ABCDiamond

I am not sure a reckie or holiday is a good idea, unless you can avoid thinking of it as a holiday.
When we look around with our holiday eyes on, we don't always see the real country.
I had two holidays here before I migrated, but found living in this country very different to my holidays.
Unfortunately though, these TV shows these days do give a glossy opinion, which may be backed up by a holiday viewpoint.

The weather, unlike most other things, is very different

paulry

"Relocation: Phil Down Under" is a prime example of that. It looked like heaven on earth in this weeks show.

ABCDiamond

They did a show on MY local area ?

paulry

You lucky sod!