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Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
The thing that bugged me when I first arrived in the country (from Bali Via Gove) into Carins was the huge amount of space!
And lack of people walking around on the streets in the smaller towns. Esp north queensland. And the fact that it was 10 hours drive to the next large city again. Its hard to get used to this coming from UK with cities next to each other. The large cities are not like that. Also the heat is something that sounds great talking about in UK when its mild or cold but many people would do anything for a mild winters day for a while in Australia, it gets seriously hot there during their summer time. Sometimes Id wake up & dread going out as Id have to put on sun cream, run from cover to cover to miss the searing heat. Alien was also going to the beach for me at weekends & also having drinks at the harbour (after all seeing it soo much in pictures). Also dunno if it was me but I started seeing people I knew in UK in Australia - well kind of, people who looked similar & I had to take a second look. Mostly was when I was falling out of bars at 3am though! Good question though, Australia is a huge island & can make you feel very small once you set about travelling around it. |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
The family I have married into tell each other everything; its all public property and your life is discussed constantly. However they find it hard to deal with the fact that I have a family on the other side of the world - there is almost an attitude that I should forget them, and just be part of this new family. I don't include The Bloke in this, btw, he is very proud if his new British family.
I also agree with the comment about the nanny state. Some people are terrified to do anything unless its been approved/licenced/registered. Recent examples included - putting 20cents TOO MUCH in stamps on a letter, the woman in Aus Post nearly had a fit and told me its illegal to have too much in stamps on something! and my MIL's look of horror when I threw out an old marg tub without scrubbing it first; having to go in person to my bank in order to produce my passport/ ID before they would allow me to change the address on my internet bank account. People here get very paranoid about things that in the UK wouldn't even cause a blink of an eye - back to the old chestnuts of changing plugs etc. And have a read of Timber's post(I think twas he ) about the number of electricians needed to lay a cable :rolleyes: PS _ edited cos it was ADL, not Timber, sorry guys :o blame the wine! http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=327965 |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by arkon
I hate with a passion the RTA and dread every time I have to go there. I now go armed with every document I can think of to take just in case and also now a few mogadons to make me not care what happens there. Talk about having a small willy with a big potato on their shoulders attitude.
Going in there is terrifying-and I cant understand how people take it. The DVLA is so much easier. Thats another thing about Oz-in the UK certain things are rights and will be given to you as a matter of course(mortgage if you have a job) in Oz you gotta deal with some pimply little public-servant or clerk who loves jarring people. |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by arkon
I hate with a passion the RTA and dread every time I have to go there. I now go armed with every document I can think of to take just in case and also now a few mogadons to make me not care what happens there. Talk about having a small willy with a big potato on their shoulders attitude.
Going in there is terrifying-and I cant understand how people take it. The DVLA is so much easier. Thats another thing about Oz-in the UK certain things are rights and will be given to you as a matter of course(mortgage if you have a job) in Oz you gotta deal with some pimply little public-servant or clerk who loves jarring people. |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by Breezey
The thing about the RTA that is so EVIL-is how much you NEED that license in Oz-and how they blackmail you with that fact.
Going in there is terrifying-and I cant understand how people take it. The DVLA is so much easier. Thats another thing about Oz-in the UK certain things are rights and will be given to you as a matter of course(mortgage if you have a job) in Oz you gotta deal with some pimply little public-servant or clerk who loves jarring people. |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by Breezey
Do you think that the RTA is beurocracy gone mad?
What about the process of getting a mortgage? they say that they desperately need sparks and then put every obstacle possible in your path to prevent you getting a licence to work frustrated!!!!!!!!! |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
Originally Posted by NKSK
It's very third world in terms of systems generally - especially compared to the UK. Banking, retail, skills recognition (but you all know that one!), price fixing (tell me why prawns are $29.95 a kilo whichever shop you go to...?)
If there's a way to do anything which will take a million more forms and a million more minutes to do something which the UK could do instantly, the Australian's will find it. I find this alienating - especially when I ask "Why can't you just do this....?" and I'm faced with blank looks. A million more forms? Well, that would be my utterly pointless and hopelessly impractical duplicate license - on paper, no less! (Um, hello DVLA? You've issued me with a perfectly sensible pastic card; why on earth do I need a thumping great piece of paper to go with it?) Don't even get me started on the Victorian plumbing system; 40% of UK homes were built before the war - and it shows! :scared: I've been here nearly two years and can't find anything that you can do "instantly." I've also found a number of things which take longer here than they do back home. I tried applying for a bank account; went through the same amount of forms as back home, but was refused because I wasn't a UK citizen. Tried several times at various different banks, with the same result every time. Eventually ended up with an account at West Bromich Building society, which issues passbooks - but no debit or credit cards - and doesn't have Internet banking. By contrast, my local building society back home offered all three services. Yes, Australia has a lot of checks and balances - particularly those which relate to the regulation of certain industries. But hey, what's wrong with that? Since when was regulation a problem? Would you prefer a regulation-free market, with no consumer protection whatsoever? Even the UK has CORGI, etc. The bottom line is that both countries have their respective pros and cons. There are some systems in the UK that I wish we had back home (like the MOT check) and there are some systems back home that I wish they had in the UK (like the integrated 3rd party insurance for car registration.) The UK has TV licenses (over-priced and increasingly irrelevant) while Australia does not (far more sensible IMHO.) It's all swings and roundabouts, wherever you are. :) BTW what was the holiday for today? Somebody mentioned the queen.... I personally prefer our constitutional monarchy; there's no valid reason for becoming a republic as far as I can see, our country has many historical and cultural links to the UK which IMHO should receive more recognition than they currently do, and I have a soft spot for the royals. :) |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
Originally Posted by Pollyana
Very different - do a search on here for things like maternity benefits, for example. Attitudes are different where permanency of jobs is concerned - far more people work casual or temporary contracts - people I work with find it hard to imagine being in a job for more than a couple of years, whereas back home I worked in an office of similar standing - and all 25 people ahd been there 5 years or more. Leave, salary, the whole package is different to the UK.
As for the Aussie work place, maybe I work in a certain professional environment, but I have never come across all the complaints that some people report about it - no lists of rules or regs. Politics sure - its everywhere. The only time I worked in a jobsworth environment with small minded people was in the Uk - at the job centre for 6 weeks. I was reprimanded for using my iniative. Badge |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by arkon
I hate with a passion the RTA and dread every time I have to go there. I now go armed with every document I can think of to take just in case and also now a few mogadons to make me not care what happens there. Talk about having a small willy with a big potato on their shoulders attitude.
The RTA etc was actually one of the first 'admin' things that impressed me about Australia!!! :) :eek: I can get a truck learners permit in 20 minutes after answering 10 questions, I can convert my WA truck license to VIC on the spot and get a photo card, I can get a new number plate even on a state transfer on the spot, the people that sit behind the desk even get out and inspect the VIN on the vehicle, when was the last time the bloke beind the post office counter did that? I think Medicare, Centerlink all work quite well. Can't understand these constant niggles. The DVLA is a nightmare!! Paper counterfoils for licences, only 1 central office, and having to go to a post office to post a form!! Not knocking you personally arkon. I can understand the issues with holes and digging though. :rolleyes: Badge |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by Breezey
for those that struggle to adapt to Oz-I am fascinated to know what is most alienating about the place. What feels the most foreign. Not the the things you miss back home but specifically the things in Oz?
How polite just about everyone is who works in banks, supermarkets etc etc is, BIG change from UK. The roads far too many junctions on some turnings, need a PHD to work out where you're supposed to go :D The spine chilling experience of seeing something small and black dashing across the carpet on a night time, not daring to venture under the sofa to find out what it was lol, was it just a beetle or a nasty poisonous spider :scared: Lots of other things too I'm sure but hardly worth the mention. It's very different in Australia and on the whole I try not to compare. |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
Whilst Vash made some valid points. I have to say, the over-regulation here has led to some really stupid delineation and demarcation of peoples jobs.
And boy do they let you know when its outside their scope. :rolleyes: "Mate I only dig holes, I'm not qualified to put the lining in" etc... ADL |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
We must have been lucky - because I'm pretty positive about the RTA. They've been efficient the times we've been there for licenses and rego. In and out in a flash. Mortgage was painless to arrange also.
I suppose I'm less happy with bank service....just generally... |
Re: What is most foreign-different about Oz?
Originally Posted by arkon
I hate with a passion the RTA and dread every time I have to go there.
And if scrubbing a margarine tub means recycled waste is not contaminated, isn't that preferable? I agree many folk queue to do things manually where they can do them on line thus cluttering offices for those who HAVE to be there. Check out how many people pay bills at the Post Office. But that is probably the same in other countries. Australia may appear nanny but many measures have been adopted internationally later. Compulsory seat belts and random breath testing, "nanny" rules about smoking etc. Think back to revolting smoking areas in the UK in public transport, banned decades ago in Oz. |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
Originally Posted by arkon
Its not just price fixing that gets my goat, Where I am they split the areas up too! So for example a termite company wont come to you house and quote you if its in some other companies area so you can't even get more than one price for some things. Even shops wont sell some items just to keep another shop probaly a mate in business.
This is strange. Our local Spar won't sell newspapers until the newsagents is closed. This happens everywhere. |
Re: What is most Alienating about Oz?
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Funny you should say this, as it's exactly how I felt when I came to the UK; most systems feel antiquated and inefficient by comparison to home, there's a fuse in every plug and every power point (um, what's all that about? haven't you heard of circuit breakers?) and the government seems quite happy to throw money at teenage mums without blinking an eyelid. Nanny state? You betcha! :rolleyes:
A million more forms? Well, that would be my utterly pointless and hopelessly impractical duplicate license - on paper, no less! (Um, hello DVLA? You've issued me with a perfectly sensible pastic card; why on earth do I need a thumping great piece of paper to go with it?) Don't even get me started on the Victorian plumbing system; 40% of UK homes were built before the war - and it shows! :scared: I've been here nearly two years and can't find anything that you can do "instantly." I've also found a number of things which take longer here than they do back home. I tried applying for a bank account; went through the same amount of forms as back home, but was refused because I wasn't a UK citizen. Tried several times at various different banks, with the same result every time. Eventually ended up with an account at West Bromich Building society, which issues passbooks - but no debit or credit cards - and doesn't have Internet banking. By contrast, my local building society back home offered all three services. Yes, Australia has a lot of checks and balances - particularly those which relate to the regulation of certain industries. But hey, what's wrong with that? Since when was regulation a problem? Would you prefer a regulation-free market, with no consumer protection whatsoever? Even the UK has CORGI, etc. The bottom line is that both countries have their respective pros and cons. There are some systems in the UK that I wish we had back home (like the MOT check) and there are some systems back home that I wish they had in the UK (like the integrated 3rd party insurance for car registration.) The UK has TV licenses (over-priced and increasingly irrelevant) while Australia does not (far more sensible IMHO.) It's all swings and roundabouts, wherever you are. :) Nowt wrong with that, is there? :D I personally prefer our constitutional monarchy; there's no valid reason for becoming a republic as far as I can see, our country has many historical and cultural links to the UK which IMHO should receive more recognition than they currently do, and I have a soft spot for the royals. :) |
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