Originally Posted by 232Bar

We came without a recce trip. Came to validate the visas, but wouldn't have made any difference to us coming. Besides, that was just an excuse for a 4 week holiday lol. Most people (IMHO) who go back quickly have never given it a chance. At the first hurdle, or first hint of homesickness it "oh god this is crap - let's go back to the UK" we came with the intention of giving it a minimum of 3 years, no matter how 'bad' it seemed initially. You can't possibly make a decision on whether you want to spend the rest of your life somewhere in 3 days. (Yes, some people have turned around and gone back that quickly) Fortunately, for us at least, it has turned out to be everything we hoped for and more. We had family and friends in the UK and quite a good social life, both had good jobs etc etc but we gave it all up for a huge leap of faith that we could and would make a go of it here. Neither of us has looked back at what we left and felt homesick for it, life is what you make it, where you make it. We're making some good friends here, both have good jobs, our son is settled into school and basically, we have a good life. I believe we have all this because we came with the right attitude, we aren't afraid to work and we set ourselves objectives. Yes, there has been some luck involved, particularly with us getting the jobs we have, but we were prepared to take on anything to ensure we were self sufficient. We've bought our own house 6 months after getting here and I guess you could say we're 'living the dream' although unlike a dream, it's not going to fade when we wake. Positive attitude, a willingness to accept that you're in a 'foreign' Country and it won't all be like the UK (the amount of people who keep saying 'you can't get this or that here' does my head in - of course you can't - you're not in England any more!!). A lot of people also seem so wrapped up in the 'leaving my family in the UK' thing. Personally, I think if you're feeling that bad about it before you come, you're going to feel just as bad, if not worse, when you're here - sort it out and get over it before you leave.

If you come with a "let's make this work" attitude, it most likely will. If you come with uncertainty, a preconception that you'll miss friends and family really badly and you'll be homesick - you most probably won't settle here (or anywhere for that matter) Be prepared for rough patches - it's not all plain sailing. I might have made our situation sound plain sailing, but there were a few frustrations (mainly around the job hunting area) before we settled. If you're someone who constantly needs the reassurance and support of friends and family, again, you'll most likely suffer.

Come here with the intent of enjoying your new life - look at it like a great adventure, have fun, take risks, grab the opportunity and appreciate that you have it - most never will!

Phew - I need a lie down now!!! :beer:

Originally Posted by phoenixinoz

I understand. You sound like you've had a hard time of it:(

But don't tar everyone with the same brush;) ......

Hope life starts looking up for you m8:)

Originally Posted by Exile

Cheers. We have a lot to be grateful for and I do feel like a spoilt, selfish brat sometimes, but it doesn't make some of the things that have happened to us acceptable. Most of them are not life-threatening, just bloody annoying and persistently so.

Part of my problem is that I lived in Japan for five years before I came here. Things tend to work over there (but it has other problems). Perth is the anti-Tokyo, which I thought I needed at the time.

I do try not to tar. However, in my view many of the problems we've had are related to the way society and culture has evolved here. There are many things I really love here, which are also a product of the same culture. Can't have it all, I guess.

Originally Posted by phoenixinoz

I'm all for freedom of speech, but some comments are unwittingly sounding xenophobic towards Aussies. Sad given we have been invited into their country:o

I wonder if people would be upset if immigrants were invited to live in UK and had no respect for British people in this way :(

C'mon....play fair:(

Originally Posted by Toolin around

Well actually alot of immigrants in England are like that... have you ever been to racist-deleted (Bradford) or some parts of Sheffield.

Originally Posted by shellyoz

Hi All

We have only just sent our application off to Oz.
Never been to OZ, we have four children 16,15,12 and 4, my eldest doesn't want to come, he will be starting college in September, and wants to stay and finish that so he'll be staying with his nan, and the fact that he has a girlfriend didn't help. He has agreed to have meds etc and when !! we get the visa he'll also come out to validate it. Hoping that he will love it so much he will not want to return to England.
Luckily my other 3 can't wait to go, it is a lot easier when both my parents and OH's mum say go it's a once in a lifetime oppurtunity and it will only be in later years "what if", so I think that helps when you get positve feedback like that. We just can't wait to go.

Shelly

Originally Posted by Exile

Not always true. I have the house, you can see the ocean from my desk, the area is fine, I'm paid from overseas so have no financial worries. But it all means nothing when you have to spend a large part of your life battling incompetent, lazy people.

Not saying that all Perth residents are such people, but based on two plus years of personal experience, there is a very high rate of incompetent idiots per square kilometer. If you're lucky, you can avoid them. It depends on what you do here.

Originally Posted by debbie35

Hi Shelly,
We are going to melbourne in January to see if we think we will settle but we are leaving three teenagers and my 14 yr old is giving us a hard time about going saying there is no way he will go.By the time we go he will probably nearly 16 and we are hoping that when he sees it in January he will change his mind.I was wondering how you feel about leaving your son as right now thats not an option for mer,but i have a feeling when the time comes i am going to have to leave him.
DEBS

Originally Posted by debbie35

Hi Shelly,
We are going to melbourne in January to see if we think we will settle but we are leaving three teenagers and my 14 yr old is giving us a hard time about going saying there is no way he will go.By the time we go he will probably nearly 16 and we are hoping that when he sees it in January he will change his mind.I was wondering how you feel about leaving your son as right now thats not an option for mer,but i have a feeling when the time comes i am going to have to leave him.
DEBS

Originally Posted by cresta57

Positive mental attitude.

Originally Posted by thatsnotquiteright

am I allowed to have a crawl at mods?! ;)

I cite Cresta as being in the list of posters who seems to have the ability to 'cope' - to have dealt with his situation well. I've never met him but I can see that he's a fairly switched on cookie. There are others too.

Approach and attitude.

Originally Posted by Exile

Yes, you have to have the correct attitude to being burgled a lot and being ripped off.

Sorry, having a bad couple of years (we haven't been burgled ourselves, but it goes on a fair bit around us and we know immigrants who were and this set the whole tone of their experience here).

I do agree to a point about being positive, but I just want to say that there are some things that no amount of PMA can change. Everyone's circumstances are different.