Re: Trouble making friends
 

Maybe I'm a bit bitter as I'm an open friendly person to anyone who doesn't come across like a twat. If I find someone to fit with my personality then I'll glad become friends but if they don't fit I will still consider them an acqaintence of merit. But alas I have tried putting myself out there and being helpful and not being superior in my line of work and still no go apart from befriending another immigrant in the same position.

UK people, even when there Sept 2010, where far more welcoming than those in Brissy. The city has little to offer for entertainment and so with no fun friends to play with it doesn't hold good steem with me :thumbdown:

Re: Trouble making friends
 

Yep, and I can only go on QLD'ers really due to location. Ok, quite a lot move up from the southern states for the weather, but yeah most ppl are QLD'ers as I say.

Apparently it's worse the more north you go! ... :eek:

I'm told the Melbournians are more accepting as there's ppl from all over the place down there. Dunno if true tho, never been!

1 Aussie friend I know has a passport ... ;)

Re: Trouble making friends
 

That's interesting, never really thought of it but you might be right. Could this be because of the rise of fora like this?

The "template" that I'm following is based my family's experience which worked for us a generation ago in South Africa. Initially we were in a similar situation to what I'm seeing here. In those days we mostly hung out with other migrants - mostly British and former Rhodesian. ...Boy, they were good times :lol::thumbup: <sigh>. But anyway, as time passed we assimulated and gradually more and more South Africans entered our social mix. It was about 60% South African, 40% Other 12 years later when I left. Today my sister who is the only original member of my family remaining there has about 85% local 15% migrant but I think that's as much to do with everyone leaving as anything else. I honestly believe that the pattern for my family and I in Australia will be roughly about the same. I certainly wouldn't want to be a part of a British Ghetto ...But I'd live on the outskirts of one perhaps :unsure::D

Re: Trouble making friends
 

:thumbup: That's pretty much what I meant in post no 43

Re: Trouble making friends
 

[QUOTE=the troubadour;9351755]:)

I find most of my Aussie friends have degrees but are also very hands on. It's very refreshing. Infact, some seriously impress, say, with their ability to take a car to bits and then rock up to work and be the middle IT mgr the next day. I like them.

My 2c. I am not a sociologist by training but working with people, and understanding and gelling with people from a wide range of backgrounds was part of my profession.

I would not say Australians are closed off. But

i. They gush less. Brits tend to spend alot of time finding details to dissect - Australians seem more focused and don't sweat the small stuff. OzzieEagle - a poster on this forum once said his Australian wife said that Brits tend to get 'stuck on little things'. I know what she means. This makes them seem less friendly to a fish and chip Pom who defines their personality and existence by for example, some subtle aspect of UK TV or life. To be honest I can see where she is coming from. Find an Australian who shares your interests and bang.

ii. A lot of Australians live in suburbs. Australian suburbs are generally clean, safe, conformist places reflecting a part of Australian society which is fairly safe and pacifist. For many of the postwar years Australian society had no need for push - the standard of living was high and the lifestyle good. Therefore this partly shapes the character of many. I can't find any other reason, to be honest.

Get out of the suburbs and be surprised.

It's not just travel, it's also demographics and level of education I find.
There are huge differences in mindset between different people you might meet. We've proven this over and over again.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

I'd just like some like minded friends to socialise with otherwise Australia, and Brisbane, is becoming tarnished to me and not somewhere I wish to live anymore:unsure:

I hear what people are saying but after 7 years and 5 in my profession I have only met a single like-ish minded guy and he's Isreali. Happiness cannot entirely come from the person you return home to every day when money, work and your social environment are lacking.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

Many years ago I moved from the North of England to London, on my own, and I knew no one in London. I was lucky to start a job in a very social company full of like minded, similar aged, people who were not from london.

That created a great base circle of friends. I began to join sporting teams where more friends were collected.

Recently moved to Sydney and had hoped to find a similar situation here. This has not been the case but I do not think for one second it's due to the location. It's a simple fact of age. I'm now in my mid 30's and those who are of similar age are all rushing off on a Friday evening to the suburbs to spend time with their families. The youngsters, all in their early 20's have a wonderful social life, finish their Friday night drinks at 4am, and have a great story to tell on a Monday morning - unfortunately those 4am'er and the "whatever" generation are just not for me anymore.

Many people I met in London live in Sydney now and whilst we may catch up for dinner once every six months they are doing other things with their families and the extension of their social life generated via school activities. I'm sure when we decide to have kids we will start to mix with circles of like minded individuals and a social circle will start from there. But until then, work, our primary avenue for mixing with new people, is not going to be a social outlet for us.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

We have lived in a fair few places around the world and have to say we find the Australians the hardest to make friends with.

We found the Chinese the easiest.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

There's more of them.The odds are better.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

I did the very same thing at 19, lived in the scummiest studio flat in Ealing with my boyfriend (now husband!) and it was sheer hell, the worst move I ever made. It worked out well in the long run but the first 6 months I wanted to scurry back up the M1 with my tail between my legs.

Re: Trouble making friends
 

Most orientals are warm friendly and welcoming people

Re: Trouble making friends
 

And ready to please:thumbup:

Re: Trouble making friends
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Yea, unfortunately my jobs have been outside of the larger city based firms and engineering is small unless you are in a consulting company. Anyway, we've tried a few different avenues but even the gym is all 'locals' that stick to those they already know. Funds have been unable to stretch to volleyball or other group sporting activities. Hey ho.................