Will Oz be the place for you?
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 629
Will Oz be the place for you?
As a psychologist I am always pondering on the human condition, and as a British person living as a PR in Sydney I am interested in the migrant's experience. So here are some personal thoughts on factors that make people more or less likely to settle long term (e.g. 5 years or more) in Australia. These factors have no basis in research, and you are free to disagree or add others:
YOU MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO SETTLE IN OZ IF:
1. You have a preference for many campanions and mates to share activities and like socialising (BBQs, etc).
2. You have weak ties to family and friends in the UK. You may tend to have a life-focus on activities rather than relationships.
3. You regularly engage in an outdoor pursuit, like surfing, diving, snorkelling (as opposed to just trying it occasionally).
4. You can tolerate or enjoy extended periods of heat above 30 Deg C.
5. You have family or an existing support network in the same city in Australia (other major cities are too far away to be relevant).
6. You do not have history of feeling homesick when away from home for extended periods.
7. You have no real reason to go back to the UK regularly.
OR If you need to go back to the UK every 1 or 2 years, you have the money and time to afford it and can tolerate possibly having no holiday that year.
OR You accept that trips back to the UK will not be holidays.
8. You have lived abroad successfully before and not returned due to a need to get back to the UK for people, places or things.
9. You do not feel any need to live in an environment that is rich in history, heritage and culture.
10. You have a job already that pays very well (in order to afford housing - which is similar in price to the UK in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane at least).
If you feel the opposite to lots of these statements, I believe you are not likely to settle here long term.
It takes a brave decision to come out here, a brave deision to stay for a while to give it a fair go, and a brave decision to move back. Life is an experiment in a very unpredictable environment. Potential migrants should consider that the grass is not greener (in fact it's browner), just a different texture. Australia has it's own set of possibilities and problems, just like the UK. A couple of years or so here is just one strand in the rich tapestry of life.
Steve
YOU MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO SETTLE IN OZ IF:
1. You have a preference for many campanions and mates to share activities and like socialising (BBQs, etc).
2. You have weak ties to family and friends in the UK. You may tend to have a life-focus on activities rather than relationships.
3. You regularly engage in an outdoor pursuit, like surfing, diving, snorkelling (as opposed to just trying it occasionally).
4. You can tolerate or enjoy extended periods of heat above 30 Deg C.
5. You have family or an existing support network in the same city in Australia (other major cities are too far away to be relevant).
6. You do not have history of feeling homesick when away from home for extended periods.
7. You have no real reason to go back to the UK regularly.
OR If you need to go back to the UK every 1 or 2 years, you have the money and time to afford it and can tolerate possibly having no holiday that year.
OR You accept that trips back to the UK will not be holidays.
8. You have lived abroad successfully before and not returned due to a need to get back to the UK for people, places or things.
9. You do not feel any need to live in an environment that is rich in history, heritage and culture.
10. You have a job already that pays very well (in order to afford housing - which is similar in price to the UK in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane at least).
If you feel the opposite to lots of these statements, I believe you are not likely to settle here long term.
It takes a brave decision to come out here, a brave deision to stay for a while to give it a fair go, and a brave decision to move back. Life is an experiment in a very unpredictable environment. Potential migrants should consider that the grass is not greener (in fact it's browner), just a different texture. Australia has it's own set of possibilities and problems, just like the UK. A couple of years or so here is just one strand in the rich tapestry of life.
Steve
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 223
Re: Will Oz be the place for you?
Steve,
You should add *romatic* as well as a trick cyclist to the CV.
Agree with most of your list.
I would add -
1. Emigrating will not "fix" a marraige, if anything it will make things worse.
2. Emigrating will not fix "personal shortcomings" i.e. laziness, alcoholism , if anything it will make things worse.
3. Aussies live in suburbs - city life / pressures are the norm.
4. Croc. Dundee is not a regular Oz type !
Plenty more, I am sure others will add
I suggest you put the list on the Migrating to Oz thread as most on this thread have been there, walked the grass and returned to UK - hence the "moving back to UK" thread
odaat
You should add *romatic* as well as a trick cyclist to the CV.
Agree with most of your list.
I would add -
1. Emigrating will not "fix" a marraige, if anything it will make things worse.
2. Emigrating will not fix "personal shortcomings" i.e. laziness, alcoholism , if anything it will make things worse.
3. Aussies live in suburbs - city life / pressures are the norm.
4. Croc. Dundee is not a regular Oz type !
Plenty more, I am sure others will add
I suggest you put the list on the Migrating to Oz thread as most on this thread have been there, walked the grass and returned to UK - hence the "moving back to UK" thread
odaat
#3
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 629
Re: Will Oz be the place for you?
You mean romantic? Or Romaic? Or Romanic? Romany Gypsy probably.
Your point about not being in a dysfunctional relationship, or not having severe personal problems or issues is a very valid one. Moving to Australia will not 'fix' anything that broken.
Your point about not being in a dysfunctional relationship, or not having severe personal problems or issues is a very valid one. Moving to Australia will not 'fix' anything that broken.
#4
Re: Will Oz be the place for you?
I think those factors apply to most locations really, if you look past the culture/surfing bit etc.
-Becs
-Becs