Beegee

Right been wondering...

For all you lucky lot already out there.

In your circle of friends that you have made since landing in Oz are your mates mainly Aussies or Expats?

Don't want numbers as I know from my big sis who has been out there for years, in the first couple of years the phone never stops ringing!

Badge

I don't have any friends. I am too busy with my wife. you know me, shun the limelight and all that..

cresta57

Ours are predominantly Aussies. There are very few poms around here, it's a long way from the beach

Pollyana

...and from everywhere else!

cresta57

Okay just because nearly all our neighbours are married to their sister's nothing odd about that is there :scared:
What their relationship be if they got divorced

Debs

Siren & Brian

I know more aussies but my circle of friends is predominantly expats. I've been very lucky here.

Siren

ezzie

Ours are probably about half n' half. But I must say that our Aussie friends are what I would call 'non-standard' Aussies. I find I can definately let my hair down and be myself far more with my Pommy friends though.

Simone

You might find this (recent) thread interesting:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248038

Pollyana

Good link Simone, & having gone back and read through it, I answered it originally just before quitting my old job and starting the new one. So I'll now update it - yes, most of my real friends here are Brits - from the forum. However, i'm now working with a much more approachable set of Aussies - the women want to chat about music and life in the UK, and how I am finding Oz, and books and - just normal stuff. they do seem to have a wider background though, Most of the women where I was before were very insular - Aussies straight out of school into a job where they stayed for 40 years in a very small company. the only life there was provided by 2 Kiwis, who had travelled. No interests except cooking and sewing, just not me.
Where I am now, there is more encouragement to improve yourself, take courses, get promotion, and to generally be interested in something outside of the four walls. I have even found people asking me to talk about the UK, tell them what its like, they want to visit, and they are genuinely interested.
I feel I belong.
So I think a lot of the Aussie v Expat friends thing is not really down to us at all - its down to our situation/job/school, and the mix of people that are there. I was starting to think I must be odd (!!!) because I couldn't make Aussie friends. Now I am realising that it was the Aussies who didn't want to mix, not me at all. When I was told today, by an Aussie, that I was fitting in well, and people liked to work with me, I was stunned - so different from the last place.
So if anyone out there is worried cos they are only friends with expats, don't worry - when you meet the right people it doesn't matter what nationality they are, friendship overcomes it.

Simone

Oh Poll, I'm so happy for you, you nearly made me cry!!!
And I agree, it depends totally on you situation etc etc

Pollyana

Oh Simone, you sweetie!
I think it shows - and hopefully will help new people - that even though things aren't always great at first they can get better. If your first "new life" isn't working, change your job - move to another area - whatever - Aussies are all different, like Brits, or Dutch people, or French or whatever. No nationality is unfriendly, its just a question of finding the right mates. And lets face it - it took us all 20 years or more (depending on age) to find mates in our home countries. We can't expect it to happen overnight here.

Bordy

Same here.


I'm to busy with his wife to.

Pollyana

So while he is putting out fires with his hose, you are - er - keeping his wife company with ............

Bordy

Only kiddin. He knows where I live so better be careful or I might get the front door put in by his chopper.

Simone

You'd do well in the 'cut the crap' thread in the Lounge!

Me, sweet? No!
And usually not very sentimental etc either. Must be time of month

Yes, agree again.
I have my friends back who I was friends with when I was 11-14. Never made very good friends after that.
Amazing I kept contact with these, and that we're still so a like(well, Emily anyway)
Till now I've always made friends via school. That's gone now, I guess job takes that place. (I don't see this job producing any friends).
A good thing now is the forum