Re: Why the difference...
 

You and me are clearly in group 4 mate which has not yet been defined.

The ones who just like it here, without how or why we like it having to be qualified.

Buzzy

Re: Why the difference...
 

Group 4!

Aren't they the company that kept losing prisoners when transporting them from court to gaol in the UK? At one point they were losing so many that it was causing a housing crisis. :lol:

Re: Why the difference...
 

Yes I was thinking that at the time I posted it.

Buzzy

Re: Why the difference...
 

I am happy where I am, I like my life, I have a nice home, a good job and a good standard of living. We don't have loads of debt, we don't have loads of problems. Our lives are not about amassing more and more 'stuff'

The world is a big place and, as I see it, there are lots of places in the world to see and places where we can live differently.
I want to experience living in another country, not because we expect it to give us something that we are lacking here in the UK, but because we can. We are aware that it IS different to living in the UK. There will inevitably be opportunities for comparison with our old life. I fully expect some things to be better and others to be worse. One thing I don't expect is for it to be the same.
Which means that we will have Change, and change is difficult for everyone. I guess whether someone manages to be happy in Australia is down to how well the individual handles the changes, because if the changes are uncomfortable, many will simply go back to what was comfortable and familiar.
Those who do well in a new life are those who manage to adjust to the changes that challenge their new lives.
In essence it's not about how much money you do, or do not, have compared to your old life, but whether you're able to live with the changes in your life and circumstance.
I'm not there yet, but I hope that I am able to handle the changes and make a new life down under.

Ali x

Re: Why the difference...
 

.....and so did the people who now find they can't settle.

G

Re: Why the difference...
 

They are free to choose to come home!
Nobody is keeping them there against their will.... it's not a prison, it's another country!

Accept that you may not like it... act on what you think is best for you, but KNOW that it WILL be Different!

Re: Why the difference...
 

This post sums it up for me really and gives me great hope.
Buzzy - you have a positive outlook on life. You accept there is good and bad everywhere and just get on with what's right for you and your family.
I think that's why you've had such a positive experience.


Having said that - I think there are people who have very bad luck. Finding out you can't get employment in your field must really hurt and also there are people who suffer terrible home sickness.

Re: Why the difference...
 

No they are not all free to chose to come home. As addressed on the belonging thread, I cannot leave legally with my children (as ex husband is Australian) so unless I want to go back without my kids I am stuck here for another 8-9 years. Not much choice in that :confused: What would you suggest oh wise one? :mad:

I think you are being extremely simplistic. If you actually read others posts on here who find themselves in the position you appear to deride you may have more understanding of the breadth of situations which stop people returning. It's not always black and white so enough of the amateur philosophy already.

Re: Why the difference...
 

As already stated, its not always that easy to "go home".
I know that I am not the only person on BE who is living in Australia purely because I am married to an Australian. One of us will always be living in a foreign country. Try and remember this before you make such sweeping statements in the future.....

Re: Why the difference...
 

So true! Life isnt black and white!

Re: Why the difference...
 

I sat last night and wrote a really long post for this thread ... then deleted it.
Then i went to bed and instead of sleeping thought about it some more.
I came online today wondering if any of those who are not happy in oz had actually had the courage to reply ... the usual suspects (:wub:) have but most have not.

But then can you blame them? They have already been labelled as having the wrong/negative attitude, having come here with some sort of warped vision of oz, they have been called whingers and accused of lacking balls ...

... and not only this but if you actually ask them you will probably find that most CANT even form a reply for your thread because quite frankly they cant find the words to explain how they feel to those close to them never mind people they have never met and on top of this they probably cant even define a particular reason why they are unhappy ...

Those of you who have made the move and love it are imo very very lucky. I didnt come here with a warped perception of a 'perfect' place or a 'uk with sun'. i didnt come here with a negative attitude (surely no migrant does?) and if you ask most who know me they will tell you that i am a positive, glass half full person who makes the best of everything and everyone around me.

But here i am and i have struggled. I cant define why. I dont even miss the uk (my home is where my oh and my kids are - always has been and always will be) not even in my worst moments have i actually considered moving back - after all me being happy or not is not going to be decided by WHERE i live.
i dont come on the boards and whinge about oz. in fact i really like it here. the people are great, the scenery is breathtaking we have a lovely house in a lovely area, my oh and kids all love it here .... but i have struggled to feel happy. Why? i have no idea ... and to be perfectly frank all of you who have posted why others are not happy have no real idea either. You havent been there and you dont know.

I dont think i will come back and read the replies to this. I dont think that i need or want to. I just hope that writing this has helped those who are struggling to realise that they are not alone (even though at times on here it feels as if you are)
I am more upset after writing this than i have been in weeks ... sometimes it doesnt help to think things through. So i am going to go back to thinking positive now and put the rest out of my mind ...

Adele x

Re: Why the difference...
 

that mate is one of the best posts I've ever read on this forum, well said. :thumbup:

Re: Why the difference...
 

This just goes to show there is no easy answer as to why some people like Aus and some don't. People are complex creatures and have their own views and opinions based on their own individual experiences.

Adele, I'm wondering if your coping mechanism is to not think about it? Again, different people cope in different ways.

In a nutshell people can still be relatively happy or even love it here whilst at the same time see the downside. Some chose to ignore the downsides as "it is what it is".

Good post. I suspect that was hard Adele. You've got balls :)

Re: Why the difference...
 

I think you possibly inhabit the same parallel world I do. We have been blessed (for lack of a better word) since we arrived. Yes shit has happened but life's like that so it's kind of irrelevant to us. We came with the attitude of 'what the hell, let's go for it'. We didn't have to struggle for TRA nonsense, or long drawn out visa applications so we had less stress on us, it was just a change of home and it's worked. I have no idea why, it's not something we try to rationalise - if it any broke..... comes to mind.

However I know others who have come with the same attitude and it's gone pearshaped. There's no specific reason why but once it starts going wrong there appears to be no way out except to go back to the UK and continue life there. Nothing wrong with that either - it's how it's meant to be.

That is your opinion and you are totally entitled to it. I am also entitled to completely disagree - especially with Group 2 which is total balderdash in my opinion. We have high standards and don't settle for second best. Since living here we've had first class service from every walk of life and business. Is it the Aussie Dream? I have no idea, I had no Aussie Dream except one where I was never cold again - that one didn't work ;) but we have a woodburning stove.:lol:

I loved living in the UK and I love living here - first class both of them.

Re: Why the difference...
 

I can't help feeling that there's an undercurrent of superiority running through some of these posts.

i.e. those that love Australia unconditionally imply that if everyone has a positive attitude or perhaps have seen more of the world than the UK then they will love the place just as much.

For me, I've travelled extensively and in the places that I've lived have always seen the good and bad. This forum can often provide an outlet to talk about those aspects of Australia which are frustrating. I'm not so sure that you can infer from this that people who complain about Australia on here have a different (poor?) attitude to those who only post positive things.