I immigrated to Australia.. Ask me anything!

[Pomgirl]

8 months in... ask me anything! Just watched wanted down under and it made me think alot of people misconceptions before they come!

Is it everything you thought it would be?

How often do you return to UK?
And do you go on holiday to Fiji?

Have you met any massive spiders in your house?
Did you freak out?

@crosser62 yes, I think I had quite realistic expectations though. The lifestyle really is amazing though. It’s winter now but during summer we were at the beach every weekend. Our work life balance is so much better, lot’s of flexibility.

@Greyworm we have a planned trip Christmas 2020. That will be 2 years. We have family coming to us this year . I don’t miss the UK, miss the people!

@Iwantacookie I have seen one huntsmen at toilet in the night, thank god I turned the light on and it was white tiles, it ran away from me though haha! We live near the city though so they are rare thank god!

What jobs do you do & are you fixed to a certain state for the foreseeable?

Is it expensive compared to the uk? Do they have Aldi or Lidle there????? (Game changer...)

@YahBasic my partner was sponsored permanently, he is an engineer. This visa has no restriction where we live. There are so many different one’s though! I work in internal recruitment.

@crosser62 somethings are more expensive like food at the supermarket and beer, others arn’t like e.g petrol is half price. Restaurants, cocktails , days out etc the same. But we earn alot more .

Yes aldi!!!! It is a life saver . It is alot cheaper in comparison to the other stores. No lidl yet , miss the bakery!

Yes, there's Aldi :)

I've been here nearly 10 years and I love it, but it is getting harder being so far away from elderly parents.

@maitlandgirl 10 years wow! Has it flew by? I am an only child and hoping my parents will sell up and move in future..... fingers crossed!

@Greyworm sorry I forgot the second question!

Not been to fiji would love to! Planning Bali next.

You are very lucky to only have seen one huntsman so far!
Glad you are enjoying it so far op. Can I ask which city you live in?
I lived in oz for a year in my yoof and would love to have stayed out there. Really liked Melbourne and some of the subs around Perth. Isn't it bloody expensive now though?
Jeal! although not of the spiders! I saw so many whoppers!

@idblowjonsnow haha yes I think it’s being close to the city. It’s red backs i’m worried about, I’ve heard you can get so ill!!

I’m perth! North of River I don’t think it’s too expensive and higher wages balance it out..electricity bill is a shocker haha !

It's been an absolute rollercoaster but definitely more ups than downs.

We have a much better way of life than we did in the UK, with more opportunities for the children (all over 18 now) but the summers are getting awful with near constant 42C+ days and I miss sick of going shopping at 7am so that the milk/chicken doesnt go off on the drive home because of the heat.

I still find myself trying to work out what shop to buy things in, whereas in England I knew. Can't find decent clotted cream though :(

My parents won't move over here, it's too expensive and very complicated and it takes ages for visas to come through. Plus, mums found it harder to deal with the heat with each visit and it's not fair to expect them to try and get used to it at their ages.

SOR is better op😂😂
The beaches are just amazing here aren’t they. A road trip to Albany and Esperance is a must. The sand squeaks as you walk on it there.
Keep the huntsman. They eat the red backs . Also keep your daddy long legs as they like red backs.
I don’t miss the uk. Been back for a 3 week visit, once in the 10 years we’ve been here

@MaitlandGirl yes our relationship has definetely been tested alot already with stress and really having to rely on each other so much!

Much better life for sure. I’m happy with heat 30-36 . Above is a little to hot

Yes!!! Earlier I was thinking where to get a present bag for a birthday gift and i’m still unsure! No one stop shops really....

Yes I looked and would be 100k for parents in dollars plus move fee but I can live in hope

@Aebj oh no we love north lol . Don’t think we would ever move SOR! Happy for more trips to Margaret river though

Yes I really don’t want to get bitten i’m going to keep the others!

I do miss somethings or more habbits haha and marks spencers!

@Pomgirl try somewhere like Dollar King, Hot Dollar or the Reject Shop (hopefully you have those in WA). They're all a cross between Poundland and Wilkinsons. The quality is great though, we buy all our girftbags, wrapping paper and cards from the cheap shops.

Does Christmas feel as Christmassy due to the weather?

What are House prices like in comparison to the U.K.?

Had you been to Australia before? Have you made friends?

@MaitlandGirl yes we have reject shop, red dot etc . I’ll pop in for the bag! I couldn’t find one in coles today like I would asda

@SweetAsSpice no doesn’t feel christmassy.... only had one so far!

@AllTheWhoresOfMalta we havn’t bought yet we rent... in an apartment now but moving to a house october. Nice area, 3 bed , two bath and pool which will be £250 a week.

@nodramanollama no I had never been before, partner had. Too expensive for us to holiday first . Hm no real ‘friends’ yet . Partner has from work and joined a team sport. I think it will be a while to have a real ‘crowd’ of friends. Aussie sense of humour also very very different.

I get such a big smile when I see people on MN near me. I am also in WA SOR (Australias born and bred). You don't want to know what was in our chicken coop last year if you are scared of a huntsman 😂😂 a 6ft tiger snake.... I literally nearly had a heart attack

@whinetime89 it’s a big but a small world hahaha a huntsmen is huge to me , I might get on a plane back if I seen that!!

DH is an engineer from Perth & I work in recruitment

Are you me in a different life?

All this talk of spiders reminds me why we moved to Canada instead of Oz

The air might hurt your face here in Jan....but no spiders.