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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Please can I have your HONEST opinions on Australia

235 replies

gem1981 · 12/08/2008 18:46

Hi

Hubbie and I are looking quite seriously into moving abroad

DH lived overseas (mainly the middle east) when he was growing up as his dad travelled alot with his job.

He has alsways had ambitions to move away from the UK and we have looked at the options and decided that Australia is probably our best option.

we want to move for the following reasons:

1)Better quality fo life for our DCs
2)more relaxed way of life
f3)ed up of being fleeced for every penny we earn in taxes by the UK

I suppose what I want to know is how realistic are we being in thinking that moving to Australia is going to give us this type of lifestyle or is it just a pipedream?

I would love to hear all experiences good and bad.

If you have emigrated there do you have any regrets?
Thanks

OP posts:
anniemac · 15/08/2008 10:01

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anniemac · 15/08/2008 10:11

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mersmam · 15/08/2008 10:13

I spent my teenage years in Oz and have dual nationality so could take my family back there without too many problems if I wanted - I never would! I found the homesickness horrible. Personally I prefer the English weather and the changing seasons - Australia is too hot in summer and still cold in the winter (and many houses do not have central heating!)
I imagine the school system has changed a bit in the last 10 years or so but when I was there friendship groups were horribly cliquey - more so than my school in England.
Also has anyone mentioned the insects? I certainly do not miss listening to cockroaches scuttling around at night and checking my bed for big hairy spiders...
Australia has some beautiful areas, but in reality most of it is just bush and desert, which does not have any attraction for me personally.

However, I know some people have a great time there!! I think if you're really outdoorsy and sporty (unlike me) you might love it. Just don't look at it through rose tinted glasses - I spent some of the unhappiest years of my life there!

Niceychops · 15/08/2008 10:48

Nailpolish who says NZ is sexist and racist??

Pluses and minuses. Probably biggest drawback being miles away from family.

May I say in completely unbiased fashion NZ soooo much better than Oz: no creepy crawlies! No snakes in the house! NZers less brash! Same outdoor lifestyle! (albeit not as sunny)

Cons: no weekend trips to Barcelona. Less kulcha.

eidsvold · 15/08/2008 10:58

has never had a snake in her house - good pest control gets rid of nasties like cockroaches - see ghosty's invention. As to hairy spiders in bed - never had one of those eithers. Get a few daddy long legs - but they are good to have. Have seen the odd redbacked spider but that is in spots where they lurk - so you juct check.

Nothing like looking across the road and seeing a flock of galahs picking the grass seed or watching a sulphur crested cockatoo cracking and eating macadamia nuts from your tree, seeing wonderful rainbow lorikeets hanging upside down in a tree in your front garden taking the wonderful nectar from the native trees and shrubs, seeing a koala crossing the road or seeing one in a tree in your school grounds, seeing a tawny frogmouth watching you hang clothes out on the line at night. Seeing a possum peeking out from the mango tree again whilst putting clothes on the line.

eidsvold · 15/08/2008 10:58

I live in suburbia - also forgot - dd2 and I watched a baby plover chick running around across the road from our house yesterday.

Niceychops · 15/08/2008 11:00

have you seen the spiders as big as your hand yet?

ghosty · 15/08/2008 11:01

LOL - anniemac ... I had a very similar experience, ranting "this bloody country I should never have come back here you are all so rude" on a trip back to England when DS was 5 and DD was 18 months and I was struggling up a set of subway stairs at a train station with about 7000 people pushing past me
This debate can go round and round and round and round can't it?

What creepy crawlies, NiceyChops?

I will concur that the big downside for me in Australia is the livestock (the more than 4 legs variety) ... and so, until they eradicate spiders from this country, my heart will truly belong to NZ ...
That does not stop me defending the Aussies though ... they are a great bunch and I feel lucky to be here...

eidsvold · 15/08/2008 11:05

yeh see them in the shed all the time - leave them alone - they leave you alone. We sometimes get them down in the play /rumpus room - not totally sealed from outside.

ghosty - have you still got that pic of your belt??

ghosty · 15/08/2008 11:07

Oooh yes Nicey ... have had a couple of hair raising moments with Huntsmen Spiders. But I have hardened up a bit because Suzywong said I was a wimp ...
The other week DH decided to be manly and appproach a redback with a jam jar and a piece of card. You have never seen a woman on crutches and in plaster move so fast (I had a broken foot at the time) ... shouting "You're a twat" at the top of my voice

We have amazing fruit bats in our garden in the summer - the size of large cats with wings ... and cockatoos flying around in the evening yelling at eachother.

Oh, and have I mentioned the Medal Table yet? That Stephanie Rice, she's fab she is

ghosty · 15/08/2008 11:09

Arfishy had the photo Eidsvold ... maybe it's on her profile?

eidsvold · 15/08/2008 11:09

she grew up not far from where I now live ghosty

my other olympic claims to fame - taught at the high school that Jessicah Schipper attended - did not teach her though.

Taught hockey player Liam de YOung though - and his older brother - lovely family, lovely lads.

ghosty · 15/08/2008 11:13

Oooooh, that sounds so lovely Eids, nice when kids you teach turn out to do really well isn't it?

anniemac · 15/08/2008 11:14

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Niceychops · 15/08/2008 11:20

Yup agree Anniemac Aussies very self-assured. Downside of the NZ psyche is we can be very defensive. Perhaps even yours truly!

As a genral rule we need to get over ourselves a bit...overall I think we are a fairly easy-going race. I like the Brits though, I'm marrying one!

ghosty · 15/08/2008 11:30

But I love the kiwis too, they take you into their hearts and fill you with homebaking. They do actually still love the English ... much more of a feeling of coming from the 'motherland' when you go there .... The Aussies are really not much related to the British culture anymore ... The Aussies have a better sense of humour IMHO because they are able to take the piss out of themselves whereas the kiwis tend to take themselves a bit more seriously (due to a lifetime of the piss being taken out of the them by the Aussies I expect they are a bit sensitive )

anniemac · 15/08/2008 11:52

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laweaselmys · 15/08/2008 12:09

I'm from New Zealand, I don't know about sexist but it's definitely racist. (Have to point out I'm not saying the UK isn't either. Think UK is v bad for racism too.)

I think you have to expect that if you go anywhere that's ex-colony as there are land rights issues all over the place, and constructive prejudice programmes which are working but very unpopular. I don't think it will be a problem for ever, but it is definitely still a problem now. It would depend with OZ and NZ as well as anywhere else on where you went in the country as to how bad it would be. So if you wanted to avoid that you would have to do a lot of research to find out where the levels are acceptable for you.

Just about emigrating generally, do you have any pre-existing family or friends even in Oz? When we came to the UK from NZ I found it very lonely (as a child) because I missed out on all of the family things others were doing around me. Also find that in NZ (not sure about Oz) more people stay close to home as they grow up so it's quite noticeable if you don't have any, and groups can be very clique. Just from personal experience I would say NZ more friendly that Oz, but I know more people there, so I would, wouldn't I??

As far as the fit in or fuck off attitude goes I have definitely had a hellofa lot of that here in the UK. As a kid it was horribly confusing. It is not a sign of lovely welcoming multiculturalism, but frankly of narrow minded arseholes. If you're going to move to another country IMO you have to be committed enough to that new country to want to defend it should war break out, that doesn't mean you should also automatically cut all ties with your past or stop supporting your original countries sports teams. Many people will expect you to do this, wherever you move. This can be very tough, especially if you are homesick. As those signs of your past are very comforting, but you will get the piss taken out of you for wanting/needing them.

Would also add... you should really spend more than one trip there first! My Grandpa moved his family to NZ from the UK 40 years ago without ever having been there before, and it wasn't exactly what he expected. I'm going to assume you're probably not that daft(!)

TBH, if you have kids, unless you really hugely have a problem with the UK I wouldn't consider moving abroad. Even somewhere that speaks the same language and is also Americanised will be a massive culture shock, and unless you are a very strong and close family unit you will find it really tough to start with, and you'll have to seriously have the balls to stick it out.

Now I have lived in the UK for nearly 20 years, I'm unlikely to leave as have settled in, have lots of ties here. But when I was a child I was absolutely desperate to leave as felt so unwelcome. I don't think this is exactly isolated to the UK. It is hard to move 13,000 miles away and you should make sure your kids have a realistic idea of what it will be like.

But... that's only my opinion.

Fatback · 15/08/2008 17:21

Am a European who has lived in the UK, Oz and NZ. In laws are Aussies and Kiwis.

Each have their good and bad points - in order of preference, it would be NZ, UK then OZ.

We decided against Oz, for the following reason. I did not want my children brought up with such a bad attitude to the rest of the world.

The belief that there is no class system in Oz, is false. Live in Melbourne and you will be asked what school you went to, parents job etc etc. It exists but is more covert.

The racism was phenomenal - my mother was called a dirty wog ( half Lebanese) by educated people.

The call it as it is and we are straight up attitude is I am afraid down right bloody rude. I have never lived in a country where people think it is OK, to insult you and say it is the " Aussie way" and expect you to be happy. However, point out something about Oz that is infact true but not what they want to hear -you will experience a volley of abuse.

Go to NZ, far more laid back, happy with themselves as a people and far more welcoming.

COI" MIL is Australian, FIL Kiwi

Niceychops · 15/08/2008 17:33

AGree Anniemac - miss the casual attitude in NZ but think I would go there and think they were all bloody rude now I have grown accustomed to the English reserve!

Fatback - why thank you!

I think Aussies are really either to your taste or theyre not. The marmite of races!

They are incredibly patriotic but some to the point that they cannot see that there are any problems in Australia and do not understand what the appeal is of any other country. I have had an Australian ask 'what do you want to go to ROME for?'

bloss · 15/08/2008 17:34

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blackrock · 15/08/2008 20:28

My father and mother planned to emigrate in 1970 before I was born. My father's brother went instead. He has had a lovely life out there in Perth. It is a long way from anywhere else.

My Father's family have a long history of moving between the UK and Western Aus. My sister, mum and Dad are the only ones left in the UK.

They all have come for a tour in the last few years... remembering the past (in early retirement), and as family members have become old and infirm there has been great sadness (not seeing people for long periods of time).My Grandfather retired out there, loved it, lived longer than he should of (respiratory probs), but said tomatoes are watery and just not the same!

As one of those left behind, I don't really have any close family on that side. The plus being there is always free accommodation when travelling and that side of the family get on well because they aren't in each others pockets!

Think of all the plus and minus points and look a long way ahead!

Fatback · 15/08/2008 21:08

bloss - Australia is a country of immigrants but they are not integrated.

Do you fancy being of Lebanese descent in Sydney?

I have lived in 6 countries and have never experienced racism like the Australians give out. All under the pretext of " we are upfront and say it how we think it is, it is the Aussie way"

Oz has some great things about it, that I love Patriotism is great but not when it descends into rudeness against other nationalities and a refusal to admit that there is good in other countries aswell.

Mothlene · 15/08/2008 22:13

Oh christ, this thread has opened up a real can of worms...

Married DH 6 years ago, very happy with 1 DS (2 1/4). Live in Barnet, beautiful house, great careers etc Good schools around here...

DH wants to emigrate in 2-3 years. I used to be sure. Not any more. Why jack in everything we have here for what...hot weather?

Have visited Australia 5 times...loved Sydney & Darwin, hated Melboune/ Brisbane. My job prospects are approx 1/50th of what they are here.

Very concerned about what people are describing on here - institutional racism/ sexism/ over-patriotic (funnily enough, DH has tendency to acknowledge every last problem in UK, but ignore every problem with Au- yet he hated the place at the time he moved to the UK 7-odd years ago)

Help!

arfishy · 15/08/2008 22:44

Ghosty's patented belt now on profile