Tumbleweed

Mandy Skeggs is alive and well

Lord Pom Percy

Perth! Center of the civilised world, famous for its art, history and culture.

BadgeIsBack

I'd love to agree there, but I feel its all perception and unfamiliarity. Some of us are resourceful and have spent much of our professional lives dealing with change, turmoil and flexibility, believe me

a) I think there are sectors which can be improved - there are known sectors which are poor in both countries.
b) It's not all bad- (I've received great service - recently from my bank. Very pleased with that)
c) There's no doubt that some people seem to get in to the wrong mindset from the start and it colours everything from that point onwards. I can't otherwise explain why half of us do OK and cope and the other half fall to pieces - and its nothing to do with education or intelligence or standards - I know Phd professionals who love it here etc.

In fits of empathy, I sometimes try to think back to my first few weeks doing the admin, and 'setting up' in various sectors - and remember thinking - 'wow' - 'won't have any problems with that then - I like doing business in this country' over just about everything.

Often the first I hear of bad service is when I read it on this forum - I then warn all friends and sundry and they laugh at me when 'I' am proved wrong. Don't shoot the messenger and all that.

Johnsyweb

Wow, that is a sweeping piece of advice! I would offer the exact opposite, however!


My life in the UK was very comfortable, but I would have regretted it if I hadn't moved to Australia. I wouldn't want that regret.


I'm really sorry to hear that, Dizzykaren. Have you just been in the one town / state? I hope that the next four months are less painful for you and more enjoyable.


I have found that most staff are helpful and competent. I have struggled a couple of times, particularly with banks, with red-tape, but I hated banks in the UK, so there's no change there!


That is unfortunate. But these are just teething problems. I don't think that they're a true indication of life in Australia.


I imagine that there's an Australian writing a similar post on migrating to Britain on a parallel forum. Immigration is never going to be as easy as moving house within the same country (and what a pain that can be!). But once you have got over the move, then you can make yourself at home. One of the things that I found really frustrating when I got to Melbourne was how laid-back mechanics, banks, plumbers, (real) estate agents, etc. were about things that were very urgent as far as I was concerned. Now that I'm settled and blending in with the locals, one thing I really love about Melbourne is how laid-back everyone is.

Stoke up the barbie, open a cold tinny, relax and enjoy the open air!

Mental note to self: Must get a .au driving license!

BadgeIsBack

Just had a thought. I used to jump out of aircraft at 800ft with half my body weight strapped to me - and trying to concentrate on the .5 second delay between the exiters on both side of the aircraft....used to make me nervous I admit. And no its not like in the movies where you pull a cord and float nicely down. Or sitting on a skid of a helicopter flying low level at 100 feet above the deck with a machine gun tripod - it wouldn't fit in the helicopter - but we had to get out. I was not thinking of customer service then or worrying about getting a TFN no then, or standing in a post office queue. Or maybe appraching a car on fire and thinking hmmm..wonder if it will explode? Or going into a house on fire - and feeling a tad apprehensive - and that's just in training...

My wife tells me that since she's met me, shes really learnt to keep things in perspective and stresses alot less now. She's a bit stressed, I tell her a couple of things, I get a big hug and a "Wow! Why didn't I think of that!".

Look at what is going on in the Middle East and in Africa or South America. We have piss easy lives. Come on!

Amazulu

Never said it was. It's infinitely more civilised that SE Deliveranceland though.

brisnick

One of the things that get me is that people slate the whole of Australia based upon a single experience in one part of Australia. You have to get over the fact that Australia isn't really one country, but a number of states. Each state does things differently, and each does things better than others, and worse than others. I'm lucky having lived in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, so I have seen the differences, and that's why I settled for Queensland.

But more importantly, I think, is that rural/regional Australia is very different from the capital cities. I think the cities are much more like living in the UK, but the rural areas are completely different. I think Aussies moving froma city to a rural area would suffer just as much culture shock as a Pom. OK, maybe slightly less, but a culture shock all the same.

If you really cannot get used to Kiama (is that the place south of Wollongong in NSW) then maybe try somewhere else. Maybe it is the remoteness of a little town that is the problem, and you need to get closer to a major city. Or change state.

NKSK version 2

It really must be horses for courses.

I had no problems getting everything set up (other than my experience with real estate agents) when I arrived - and my UK licence seemed to suffice for most things along with passport etc etc.

Difficulties only really began when we set up a business.

BadgeIsBack

Indeed! Now we're talking....

Incidentally, I get barriers and problems alot in all walks of life, inexperienced people, people who don't care, don't share, don't know.

I find a bit of negotiating, and a bit of politeness goes along way. Even a joke cracked can lighten a task someone doesn't fancy or can be arsed to do. It even goes by the name of charm. I remember being taught by my mother to basically get something out of nothing.

I am frequently bewildered by some people.

The Crow

Of course don't forget how things are magnified due to the sheer volume of tasks involved with setting up a new life in a new country. Bank accounts, credit cards, rental agreements, utilities, furniture, job applications, job contracts, medicare, centrelink, doctors, dentists, schools, kinders.... the list goes on. Imagine if you had to sort all that out in the UK (or probably most other countries) all in the first few months of walking off a plane!! These tasks you probably carry out every month or so, or even less often, in the UK - so it's bound to seem hard work and inefficiencies will come to the fore.

I have to say that I don't think I find it any worse than the UK with regard to service. However, generally the staff are more pleasant. I have had to do many things twice and we had a little trouble with Telstra -which was sorted. The worst was trying to organise a mortgage with Westpac - now that's too long a story - but shockingly inefficient and pretty useless (now changing lender!!).

R

Keep with it OP - I just expect to have to do things twice now and I don't really mind.....

Craig822

Hear, hear!

Personally I can't wait to have your problems Karen. I'm still looking for the good things about this place - will let you know if I find any :scared:

keep smiling

Believe me - you haven´t had problems with paperwork etc. until you have lived in Tenerife........ As everyone knows it´s the "Mañana Syndrome" which doesn´t mean tomorrow, just not today (in fact in most cases the next week/month if you´re lucky). The language barrier is the worst thing, and no matter how much Spanish you learn it´s never enough. We can´t wait to get to Oz, just to speak English all the time will be heaven !! I think living here has prepared us for any other country really. Oh yes,and we will have to get back into driving on the "right" side of the road again

steandleigh

Exactly...perspective people, perspective.

kevinbloomfield

I think ElshaUK wants her cake and eat it (lots and lots of cakes)

Centurion

Theres a few posters on this thread that are clearly disillusioned with Australia or our (and I say that since its my country now) way of life. Please remember though for those people who come here and moan there are equally those of us that have found Australia a great place to live and wouldnt return to the UK if you paid us.