I posted here last month as we're looking into a move to either Sydney or one of the big Asian cities and are about to go on our "look see" trip.
One thing which occurred to me was that, if we ended up in Sydney, as lovely a place as it is (I've visited friends who lived there previously and enjoyed my time there) , would it be hard to integrate into local life there? As everyone speaks English already and the culture is not too different from the Uk and presumably kids (primary age) land up in local primary schools would it be harder there than, say, an Asian city where there is an "expat" life where people are presumably more open to making friends/including you in things because everyone is in the same transient sort of boat ?
I'm not trying to say that the Aussies/locals would be unfriendly but hopefully you get my drift. I would imagine, for example, that if someone new turned up in our community in the UK and the kids were put into the local school that people would definitely make an effort and if kids are at school they would make friends but it wouldn't be as easy as if we were all coming and going and therefore if it's an established rather than a transient community then it might be harder ?
What's your view if you've done that - particularly if you went there temporarily rather than to emigrate ?
Many thanks