My opinion after a year down under...
Jan 25th 2009, 7:18 am
#16
Master of verbal pish©
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22,198
Re: My opinion after a year down under...
is that a year already? wow
good luck with the rest of your australian life
and a great post too
good luck with the rest of your australian life
and a great post too
Jan 26th 2009, 9:07 am
#17
egghead4+becky
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: was newport now sunny Bundy
Posts: 797
Re: My opinion after a year down under...
hiya sarah
great post
i love the "prostitute yourself" bit and fully agree with you about the true friends business. I can say that I dont miss Newport one little bit, we have only been here since september though so we'll see. I'll put my update on here soon, but its great to hear you and your family are thriving down under
bec
great post
i love the "prostitute yourself" bit and fully agree with you about the true friends business. I can say that I dont miss Newport one little bit, we have only been here since september though so we'll see. I'll put my update on here soon, but its great to hear you and your family are thriving down under
bec
Jan 28th 2009, 3:25 am
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,672
Re: My opinion after a year down under...
Well I never thought this would happen!!!
The first year has passed so fast its unbelievable!! I wont bore you with the history of me & mine getting here ( you can archive search it if you are THAT interested but I wouldnt reccomend it!!) I just thought I would give you a quick couple of points lowdown on my opinions, observations & views of my virgin year..
1. Its takes months to get real friends!! Go to expats meet ups, school coffee mornings and prostitute yourself out as much as you can stand cos you only get out what you put in!! I am not into that sort of thing normally, but it works.Dont feel flat if the school mums dont rush at you when you first arrive.. It takes a few weeks and then the kids will make friends and BANG!! youre in with the parents!! Also when you meet someone who seems to like you but you arent fussed on then dont feel guilty of moving on... Dont tolerate what you wouldnt in your previous life!! I did that initially with a few people I met in the early days and it was tiring and depressing!! Thank God they are now out of my life!! Remember you probably only had a couple of real pals in blighty so dont try too hard to get dozens here..
2. Go to farmers markets and wholesalers for meat & veg!! You will save a fortune!!
3. Learn to be much more chilled and less angry on the roads!! the Driving here is laughingly bad, but if you start honking your horn you will be doing it all day!! Just shake your head and sigh when they throw their vehicle in front of you and across the 3 other lanes to turn off without so much as an indicator in sight!! However they dont speed anywhere near as much as home and are MUCH stricter on speeding here so get used to lifting the pedal off the metal!!
4. Dont think you are a failure when you want to cry all day one day!! You will get off days and they sneak up on you anytime and anywhere so just go with it, have a little cry and let it go on its way!! You will smile the next day.. Honestly!!
5. Realise that even though this place is full of things that can kill you by just looking at you , actually you are more likely to survive here!! So chill out, relax and get on that surf board!! I havent even seen a snake or a redback yet let alone a shark!! However the OH has and wants me to let you know that taipans are VERY VERY fast!!( He saw one up north though... not here!!)
In short... I have settled in Australia, I love it ( but its not paradise) my family have much more freedom and spend more time outdoors than they EVER did and see less crime, drugs, drunks & gangs etc here than in our sleepy valley town. It was a hard journey ( mentally & physically) but weve made it and are still here and I think the first 6 months are the hardest...
END OF!!!
The first year has passed so fast its unbelievable!! I wont bore you with the history of me & mine getting here ( you can archive search it if you are THAT interested but I wouldnt reccomend it!!) I just thought I would give you a quick couple of points lowdown on my opinions, observations & views of my virgin year..
1. Its takes months to get real friends!! Go to expats meet ups, school coffee mornings and prostitute yourself out as much as you can stand cos you only get out what you put in!! I am not into that sort of thing normally, but it works.Dont feel flat if the school mums dont rush at you when you first arrive.. It takes a few weeks and then the kids will make friends and BANG!! youre in with the parents!! Also when you meet someone who seems to like you but you arent fussed on then dont feel guilty of moving on... Dont tolerate what you wouldnt in your previous life!! I did that initially with a few people I met in the early days and it was tiring and depressing!! Thank God they are now out of my life!! Remember you probably only had a couple of real pals in blighty so dont try too hard to get dozens here..
2. Go to farmers markets and wholesalers for meat & veg!! You will save a fortune!!
3. Learn to be much more chilled and less angry on the roads!! the Driving here is laughingly bad, but if you start honking your horn you will be doing it all day!! Just shake your head and sigh when they throw their vehicle in front of you and across the 3 other lanes to turn off without so much as an indicator in sight!! However they dont speed anywhere near as much as home and are MUCH stricter on speeding here so get used to lifting the pedal off the metal!!
4. Dont think you are a failure when you want to cry all day one day!! You will get off days and they sneak up on you anytime and anywhere so just go with it, have a little cry and let it go on its way!! You will smile the next day.. Honestly!!
5. Realise that even though this place is full of things that can kill you by just looking at you , actually you are more likely to survive here!! So chill out, relax and get on that surf board!! I havent even seen a snake or a redback yet let alone a shark!! However the OH has and wants me to let you know that taipans are VERY VERY fast!!
( He saw one up north though... not here!!)In short... I have settled in Australia, I love it ( but its not paradise) my family have much more freedom and spend more time outdoors than they EVER did and see less crime, drugs, drunks & gangs etc here than in our sleepy valley town. It was a hard journey ( mentally & physically) but weve made it and are still here and I think the first 6 months are the hardest...
END OF!!!
Jacqui
