kbryant

Just thought I would throw my 5 cents in, can't comment on the education as I don't have kids. However, the comments you have made about the anti British feeling, having to be an Aussie to fit in, taking the piss out of your accent etc etc is reminiscent of what I had to put up with in Toronto, Canada. I am currently in Sydney, have been for 2 yrs and haven't been subject to any of this kind of behaviour, out of curiosity maybe it is the kind of organisation one works for perhaps ?? Or are people receiving this kind of behaviour outside the workpace ?? I cannot imagine staying here for much more than another 5yrs but for the time being it is OK.

meljor

Hit the nail on the head, couldn't have put it better myself.

manc1

Interesting. I've never met anyone from the UK who thought Australia was going to be the same as where they come from. There's obviously a massive difference for people coming here from Asia. What do South Africans expect?Canadians expect? or Americans?

As for it being easier for Asian people to adapt if they want too. I'm afraid you've lost me there. Can you explain that further.

ABCDiamond

I actually said "similar", not "the same".
I hear so many British on here complaining that things are so different over here, and I remember doing it myself in my early years. So I gather that some people find it much more different to what they expected.

Is it because, as others have said "Australia descends from a European background so the history, politics, culture etc is all inter-related", and expectations are that Australia will be similar to the UK in many ways.

Those that expect it to be different, are probably living their lives happily in Australia, without needing support from forums etc.

Also as St.Georges Girl say "That just isn't correct for the whole of Australia. We pay a lot more here in WA for our fruit, veg. and bread, so no doubt pay more for other things too"

People so quickly complain about AUSTRALIA, yet do not seem to realise, as St.Georges Girl does, that things vary in different parts of the country. However, I must add that there are almost certainly things in WA that are cheaper than they are where I am.

It would be like someone from my part of Australia going to live in London, it would be so Expensive, and would give the opinion that England is much more expensive than Australia . Or someone going from my school, which has the highest numeracy results rating for the whole country, to a school in the UK, that is only about average. That would give the impression that education in the UK is not good.

The whole point is that it varies, but we are so quick to judge on isolated bad things, and to reject the possible good things, that so many others are actually enjoying.

Another person commented "the comments you have made about the anti British feeling, having to be an Aussie to fit in". That was so much like when we moved back to the UK, and my wife felt very uncomfortable with some of the British attitudes towards her.

It does make me wonder about why us British are the way we are.


They do not seem to compare what they had, to what they now have, in the same way that the British compare. They seem to be happy with most of the things that Australia has to offer.

The funnny thing about all this, is that I have gone through most of what some people here are going through, and I know what it is like to be shown the brighter picture, and reject it, as it did not fit with my thoughts at the time.

ABCDiamond

Maybe they run down the UK because they actually didn't like the UK ? Not that they do it because they need to feel good ?

Or is that not a feasible possibility to someone who would prefer to be in the UK ?

Do the British who want to return home, only try to find bad things about Australia to "justify" their own return home ?

It is good to see both sides, and if you decide that you prefer one over the other, and then say "it just isn't for me and never will be" then OK.

But, some people can't help explaining that they don't like one or the other country.

It isn't just those that like it here who complain about the UK, it is also those who don't like it here who complain about Australia.

rabsody

IMO I don't think it's got anything to do with being British per se ... I think it's human nature. Do you honestly think Australians go to UK (for instance), instantly love everything about it and don't compare?

When I lived in UK I was married to an Aussie and had lots of Aussie friends .. I can tell you they are exactly the same in this regard as the Brits are here!

How incredibly patronising. You make it sound like everyone who comes on here is some sort of naive colonial ingrate who expects a version of the UK everywhere they go. By virtue of your statement, does this mean you need some support?

St.Georges Girl

Funnily enough, I was going to reply in much the same way as you have F. Don't you find 'born agains' to be the worst kind? The 'I've been there done that and now I've seen the light' type are so boring.

Nice Guy

I assimilated with a lady named Diane, nice girl.

St.Georges Girl

All bone and no skin now I would imagine.



Hello Mr Nice Guy.

bcworld

How many born and bred Aussies can?

As someone who's doing 'the test' tomorrow and has been giving em the old pop quiz treatment recently, I can tell you......not many!

St.Georges Girl

That reminds me of when my son had been at his first school here just 3 weeks and the class were asked to draw the outline of Australia the best they could then fill in the states. From memory, only a handful got it anywhere near correct and my sons was help up as the best of all of them. Shame, because he was really bullied for that.

Good luck for tomorrow bc.

manc1

[QUOTE=ABCDiamond;6804697]

They do not seem to compare what they had, to what they now have, in the same way that the British compare. They seem to be happy with most of the things that Australia has to offer.


I happen to have met and got to know a lot of Asian people in my time in Australia and I can assure you some of them find it very tough to settle and most I've met do compare their previous lives to their present. In my experience expats from around the globe experience very similar experiences. Your assumptions that people from the Uk are any different are way of the mark. I do think we are lucky in that the language is the same and we are able to drive on the same side of the road etc is very helpful indeed.

quoll

And patronising too

northernbird

Reformed expats are no differen to reformed smokers, dieters, drinkers etc

St.Georges Girl

Bloody Evangelists.