You probably don't know if they do or not. Many people moan about silly things and don't mention the really serious stuff simply because they don't want to talk about it so take their frustrations out on the trivial.

1. What made you first think about emigrating? Change of scenery, then a posting with work nailed it.
2. When did this happen? 3 years before the move
3. Did (do) you intend to stay permanently or go back after a few years? Maybe but probably not
4. Did (do) you know what you are coming to? Yes - I've lived in Oz before
5. Do you think you made the right decision? Yes

One thing I find very weird is that some folk (you know who you are) think if you post a single negative aspect (eg Coles seems really expensive/ M25 is a nightmare) you do nothing but whinge and have nothing good to say about 'the' country you are talking about.

Sometimes coming on here for a little moan is therapeutic. No country is perfect and few are truly awful (perhaps Benin or Afghanistan!). In reality most have some aspects that most people like- just some have a better balance for particular individuals.

aha...the M25....I used to drive along it to Dartford....and didn't even slow down..because if memory served, it depended on what time you did the journey.....I also recall variable speed limits at certain times....**** me.....

P, my view is that if everything is always bad, or good and the way in which the opinion is delivered is a bit lightweight then you have to occasionally question the person....

M25 = 25 mph max.

I can remember so many Friday nights en route to visit family for the weekend doing 5mph on the M5 as well so I think you're on to something! Arrrggghh that traffic!!!

I would like to know the real answer to this so I have created a poll here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=772233

I agree, what comes across loudest from some is the petty whingeing about things like traffic on the M25 and the weather. Its the infantile culture of affluenza. Its not like some poor refugee/economic migrant who's escaped wartorn desperation and the ravages of poverty in africa to get a job cleaning hotel rooms. Its the infantile I want, i want, I want, ooh will i be better off in Australia scenario. oh no they won't extend my visa poor me whatever will i do, i'll have to return to another wealthy western nation. i've moved to Australia and i don't know if i like it or not. I like the weather (when its not too hot and I can breath without the a/c units being on), but the 5 mile drive to kfc is a killer. i only used to walk 5 minutes up the road for my bucket of chicken.

I love the wide open spaces, but I'm gutted i can't go to France for the weekend anymore...poor me. I love the view from the verandha, but the range at the supermarket isn't as good etc, etc...

!

Another 2c: I have never had an issue with people complaining - and this builds on what Pomster and Wol have said - but sometimes complaining is not the best idea.

I'm a big believer in rationalising something. As soon as you say 'Australian speed limits suck as everyone is doing 100k and there is little incentive to find a gap in traffic to keep left ' rather than 'Aussies can't drive' you remove the anger and negativity and arrive at an explanation for different behaviour- then also realise that perhaps it's not so bad after all - and infact, might be the best action.

It's amusing to observe that people that complain the most about Australians(etc) are complaining about themselves as they often come across as the same - another example: the people who complain about work conditions haven't twigged that they have chosen to work in the very jobs that attract those conditions....

As I've said before: it's like a large and divided family.

You do come across as one who whinges about those who have legitimate issues with things.

It's a classic Straw Man argument: you appear to say that those who post whinges about, say, the number of drivers here who tailgate are saying that is as important as having one's legs blown off in Iraq and going on to show how ridiculous that is.

Yes, it *would* be ridiculous if anyone posited that sort of argument - but they don't.

This is in general a light-hearted forum in which we discuss all sorts of things from the trivial to the price of lettuce . Don't take it so seriously.

Wol - WWW was being light-hearted: (his examples!) but when people complain they're often very serious!!

if only we could discuss legitimate issues wisely and in an intelligent fashion - the problem is that there is always someone who brings down the argument by saying silly things like 'Aussies hate this' and 'All Aussies do this' - as soon as you introduce this - you either lose the argument or expose yourself as being no better than the people you level the complaint against.

[QUOTE=KJCherokee;10284400]There have been lots of posts on here recently talking about the "risk" of emigrating to Australia which set me wondering why people decide to come in the first place. So can we have some posts which answer the following questions.

1. What made you first think about emigrating?
2. When did this happen? (Obviously the drivers are different now to 50-60 years ago!)
3. Did (do) you intend to stay permanently or go back after a few years?
4. Did (do) you know what you are coming to?
5. Do you think you made the right decision?

QUOTE]

1. Hadn't had a pay rise for 2 years
2. July 2010 found out for 2nd year in a row no pay rise
3. 457 Visa, 4 years max, save cash to buy a bigger house when we got back to the UK
4. Pretty much, with the Internet it would be hard not to. Things I didn't know about/wish I had

ants
how cold it gets in winter (i'm in Brisbane, God knows people in sydney or Melbourne feel)

5. yes (have only queried the decision twice I think in 19 months). Probably planning to leave before end of 457 Visa due to school intake differences.

1. What made you first think about emigrating?

I was offered a job in Singapore in 1997. We fancied an adventure so took a punt. We visited Perth, liked it, decided to move here (but had a long term plan) and moved in December 2010.


2. When did this happen? (Obviously the drivers are different now to 50-60 years ago!)

1997/2010


3. Did (do) you intend to stay permanently or go back after a few years?


Intend to stay permanently, but something about "forever" scares me even though I really like it here. I think it's getting older, having a small child, and realising that, if anything happens to us, he's a long way from the rellies. But as we develop real life-long friends I think this will be less of an issue.


4. Did (do) you know what you are coming to?

Very much so. We'd built a house, had many holidays, had name down for schools in advance, can't think of any surprises.


5. Do you think you made the right decision?

We're very happy here. We live in a nice house in a nice area, son goes to good school and we're developing some good friendships. However, I imagine we'd be happy in that same situation in the UK, and who knows whether we'll stay forever.

The weather IS better though - although it can be too hot in summer and bloody freezing in the house in winter, we get more nice days here than I recall in the UK. With a 5 year old boy, being outside is important.

This is a strange one. It can get damn cold in winter, especially at night and the houses aren't built to cope. The upshot is the winters are short.

It's the beginning of spring and it's mid to low 20's in the day yet freezing at night. The beginning of spring is just cold in the UK, night and day.

I remember the last time my father came out here (July 1997): he got off the plane and said the weather was just like it was back in the UK - summer in Kent, winter in Queensland!