What should I know about Australia that I might not

[overthesea]

Hi

I was just wondering if any Aussie based MN could give me tips on what has surprised you about living in Oz.

We are coming over in a few weeks to visit with a view to moving over in six months. I keep thinking it'll be just like the UK (well except wildlife/accents) but are there things that weren't as you expected? Do I need to investigate anything that I might not obviously think about?

Thanks

It's VERY hot in the summer. Limits activities outside more than you think.

They stand on the left on escalators!

Internal flights are expensive, no sleazy jet prices to be had
Thai food is great
Pubs are also called hotels
Internet shopping is not great in the country
Ummm

Talking of internet and TV - is internet supermarket shopping common and are there SKy type TV subscription packages that let you see Uk/HBO channels?

do you have or qualify for a visa?

Yep we all have our visas in place.

No supermarket internet shopping here (in Brisbane). Also the shops are much smaller than generally in the UK and (gulp) much more expensive than I was expecting, for example a loaf of bread is commonly $3.50, bananas following the cyclone are $12 a kilo.

According to the children, the yoghurts and cheese taste different!

There is Foxtel satellite, but honestly the freeview channels show so much BBC stuff it is ridiculous. Peak time the other night was Jonathan Creek followed by the Mrs Bradley mysteries. I know The Wire was on the other evening but DH had doofer control at the time.

Schools here have 'morning tea' and 'afternoon tea' but no specific lunch break. There are no school dinners but the P&C (aka PTA) run a tuck shop for some sessions. Our school (not private) has a strict uniform policy. You are expected to buy text books etc - for my two dc (prep and yr2) the uniform and book packs came to $700.

Clothes are quite expensive. Well, pretty much everything is quite expensive. I think because there were 3 dollars to the pound for so long, now it is only 1.5 it all feels dear.

Here in QLD when it rains it really rains.

On the good side people are very friendly and welcoming.

We are over for a couple of years on a 457 and enjoying it. But we will be going home.

I love Australia and would happily live there if life was less complicated.

But, food is unbelievably expensive. The exchange rate is part of the issue (so fine if you are earning there) but even at previous rates it's still v expensive.

It's a big country. Sounds obvious but getting around means driving (in towns) or flying.

They make the best milkshakes and burgers I've ever had.

QLD rain is crazy. It seems so much wetter than rain anywhere else.

And yes, TV is the same. My brother's kids watch Octonauts and ITNG and he loves Grand Designs and his wife watches Spooks.

Some schools have a lunch break. They have little lunch and big lunch!

Food and clothing has become expensive.

Tv and radio is shite. But then so again is foxtel (like sky).

You need a car. Public transport is nothing like in the UK.

You can be outside all year round.

I'll write more later. Have the feed the cats as they are apparantly starving.

That the cheese is not like cheese.

That cream is bewildering.

That there are men and 18 year old school boys in shorts and knee socks. EG our postman.

That everything you buy costs a lot.

That you can't go to the park in the summer when it it too hot.

That the fruits and vegetables are seasonal so you can't always buy things.

That you are an immigrant. I did expect this but sometimes it catches me by surprise.

That if you don't pay for your school trips you don't go, or your school books you don't have any.

There is internet food shopping where I live but it's $12 and the time slot is three hours so I have never used it. I go to the Vic Market for my food shopping.

The mayonnaise tastes funny, as does the chocolate even though it's cadbury's.
They have a kind of cheese called coon.
You wear thongs on your feet.
You have to file a tax return even if you're employed.
There is virtually no NHS dentistry.
There is medicare for some medical expenses, but often you have to pay upfront then claim it back.
OMG the cockroaches and spiders!
you're a very long way from home, the time difference makes even phone calls a pain.
They love their paperwork and bureaucracy, a million forms for everything.
Southern parts are not too different to the UK for weather.
Northern parts are truly tropical with monsoons and extreme dry.
Uggs are for trailer trash.
At some intersections you can turn left on a red light.
They put beetroot in burgers.
Always swim between the flags.
Australians won't admit it, but they take themselves very seriously.
You'll always be a whinging pom.
A stubbie is a small bottle of beer and also a short boot with elastic sides.
Their crows have white bits on them.
Possums look cute but very noisy when they are in your roof, and have very sharp teeth.

Yes, it's weird when you go to the Doctor and the receptionist says 'that will be $120'.

When we lived there I heard a lot of very racist comments....and I mean a lot!.....and I now live in South Africa so I know a racist comment when I hear it and its a long way from Europe (which is abit of a hassle family wise, but also has its upside).....BUT I REALLY RECOMMEND LIVING OVERSEAS for loads of reasons......broadens the mind, loads of new experiences, learning loads, sunshine, different view point, blah blah....go for it!

Australians gamble a lot. This can be a good thing.

The tv and radio are awful.

Australian men can be very chauvenistic.

The Northern Beaches of Sydney are very racist

Chocolate tastes weird because they put something in it to stop it melting

Supermarkets are like the ones in the UK back in the early 80s

I don't find food much more expensive but the fresh fruit and veg is far superior to at home, mainly as most of it is grown in Australia

The internet generally doesn't seem to have caught on as well as in the UK. At home you can find anything online, here you can't. And there is no Australian equivalent of Mumsnet, just a few netmums style "hun" websites!

They are obsessed with coffee here and you will always get an espresso coffee, even in the crappiest greasy spoon - no instant here!

I absolutely love it here, we have been here since July and I don't think we'll ever go home!

Oh yes, just remembered - no Amazon. That was a substantial shock to me .

New paperbacks cost $25. I have since found stores that sell excess stock- but even then something like a classic Wordsworth paperback that would be 99p at home costs $5.

McDonalds is referred to as Maccas even on radio adverts. They seem to have an obsession with seasoned avocado.

Oh and the radio! God the radio. Now don't get me wrong. I like Alanis Morissette. Jagged Little Pill was undoubtedly a genius album. But it was released 15 years ago. Why play it at least once a day?

Plus the trailers for upcoming news programmes on TV 'on the 7 at 6' wtf?

I do like it here. The kids are playing in the pool (ignoring the rain) and are really enjoying school. The school is a lot more organised and yet relaxed.

The fact that you are on daylight saving in the UK has stolen an hour that i used to use to skype though - it's now much too late .

Oh and the size thing. Australia is about the size of the US. It is huge. Our local paper had a pullout on great beaches to visit for Easter. It talked of one that sounded idyllic so i googled it. It is 1300 km away and would take 15 hours to drive apparently.

Fabulous place. It is very different to the UK and it took me by surprise. They share a language and many things are derived from the UK - education system etc, but it is still different.
I think the biggest shock to my system was just how positive and "can do" Aussies are about everything. I hadn't realised how negative a culture the UK is until we came here. No wonder they call us whinging poms.

We're in WA and the only reason kids don't go outside to play is when it's too hot ( 11am - 4pm Dec through Feb). Mind you, if it's too hot to play, we chuck them in the pool to cool off and get some exercise.

Everything is much further apart than you would be used to. Some cities have great public transport (Melbourne trams, metropolitan Perth has good rail and bus networks) but more outlying suburbs can have very patchy transport links. A car is essential, most likely you will have two. Cars from Asian manufacturers are much cheaper than European / American. If you're coming from the UK, you can import your car if it is for your own use and you've had it for over a year (DH did this but there is a lengthy paperwork trail involved.)
Amazon now delivers books and DVDs to Oz with free supersaver delivery, btw...

Southern parts are not too different to the UK for weather

Very different, tbh! We get temps of 40+ in the summer! But it is alike as in, we get proper defined seasons. Although, this autumn is looking better than summer was!

We pay schools fees, don't have to buy a book list yet. Dd1 only in Primary 2. She gets recess, fruit break & lunch.

For those who want books Free Delivery to Australia

Has anyone mentioned getting shouted at in the malls? There must be 2 or 3 jewellery shops who have people outside with microphones suggesting what you can purchase there...VERY in your face & I hate it. Refuse to shop in shops that do that!

Soft play (indoor) is popular here, because of the heat. And the rain. Most Aussies want it to rain, then bitch to high heaven when it does!

Each state has it's own road rules & learning to drive system. Also each has it's own school system. There is no nation curriculum yet (it's coming, so I am told)

*national

I know they do delivery from Amazon US but I am impatient - when I had a look they quoted 18-23 business days.

There aren't spiders and snakes lying in wait to bite you at every corner (I was so worried about that before we moved here!)
The number of words for things that are different to the UK
That I would be spending time indoors to avoid the heat rather than staying warm from the cold
THat you can get a green light to turn left, but there might well be pedestrians crossing on the bit of road you are about to turn onto.
That it takes at least 9 months to even begin to feel settled (I reckon), and that 3/4 months in is about the worst it gets in terms of homesickness
That they have sausage sizzles at the polling stations on election day (that might just be round here!)
That DS would live in a sunhat year round, and that they are compulsary at preschool/school
The crazy competition for rentals (in Sydney) - I was warned about it before we arrived, but it has to be seen to be believed
That i would like it as much as I do :)

People who work in the service industry (shop assistants, waiters etc) are more important than their customers in Australia.

Shop assistants are cocky and when you go in to their shop they'll treat you like you are the their best friend (false false false)

When you leave certain shops a security person at the door will ask to look into your handbag! (you don't have to let them do this but Aussies just seem to accept it)

Australians think bigger is better and that they have the best country in the world.

What's the definiation of a well balanced Aussie - someone with a chip on both shoulders.

I know this sounds a bit negative, I think I've been here (Brisbane) too long. I'm going stir crazy. Miss Europe more than I'd ever imagined.

Sprinkles77 - Crows don't have white bits - those are magpies! The crows are the all black ones!

OP - I think that many immigrants are surprised at how cold it gets and how poorly Australian homes are designed to cope with the cold.

• What jobs do you/DH do? We might be able to give you some industry specific examples!