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| What to expect in Oz; some differences I have found | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 14 2008, 01:47:41 PM (8,282 Views) | |
| Nanook | Jul 26 2009, 10:09:11 AM Post #81 |
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True Blue Mate
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Yes, it is normal to feel this way, and after awhile, you'll not notice the differences so much. But there are differences and it is more expensive to live the lifestyle you are used to here. If you; eat out all the time, run the a/c or heat while nobody is at home, drive an Expedition, buy the latest CD for one song, have $4 Starpukes every day...oh wait, every cup of coffee here costs $4...nevermind, expect $2/gal gas...you get the picture, things will go hard for you if you cannot adjust your lifestyle. If you can adjust, like most everyone here on the board has, then you'll be laughing a year from now when all has played out and you're enjoying another beauty day on the beach. |
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| natasha_alena | Jul 26 2009, 10:14:03 AM Post #82 |
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True Blue Mate
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Don't freak out... and take EVERYTHING you read on this board with a grain of salt. Most of us use it to whinge (and p.s., if you're already saying whinge instead of whine, you're gonna be just fine here), but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of good things here to counterbalance the bad. I never grew up in a house without a/c or heat... now I have neither and although yes, I get quite cold in the winter now, I survive. The heat doesn't faze me any more. It takes some adjusting, but you get used to it. Fans and open windows do more than you can imagine. Heaters and electric blankets work fine- and I'll bet anything your first winter here (maybe even your first two), you will look at all the Aussies and other expats around you b*tching about the cold and think to yourself, "this is NOTHING". Think 60s during the day, 40s at night. You will be fine. After a few years, it'll start to feel colder to you, but you'll learn to survive. I also never knew how to iron, the dryer was my iron! I still probably don't know HOW to do it properly, but I do it. I miss having a dryer, I do, but in the end I sacrificed it for other qualities in my apt. You learn to give up things and make it work. And yes, things are expensive- but you learn to accept it on some things and on the things you can't, you learn to live without! So, honestly, my best words of encouragement are don't waste your last two months at home stressing about surviving without the material things- make the most of your last two months with your friends and family, because they'll be what you'll miss the most in the end. |
| "You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather" | |
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| SanDiablo | Jul 26 2009, 10:30:01 AM Post #83 |
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True Blue Mate
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Ditto Natasha - complaining about the costs of things is a favorite hobby among expats, especially on this board! Really, for all the higher costs and lower wages, we STILL have a higher quality of life and are saving more money than we ever have - something I cannot quite figure out...and we live extravagantly! If worse comes to worst, you'll still have a fabulous adventure to taqlk about when you move home. How boring is the story of a guy who really wanted to do something, fantasized about it for 8 years but didn't have the guts to jump? That's not a story I want to hear (or tell). But a story about taking a chance - even if you fall on your face - no ESPECIALLY if you fall on your face - is a real worthwhile story about life! And in the end, your life is nothing but a story you write with every breath you take! |
| "I'll try anything twice." | |
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| TerritorianTori | Jul 26 2009, 12:02:49 PM Post #84 |
Dance to disco
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If you arrive in Australia with realistic expectations, you'll probably settle in fast and enjoy it. I think the purpose of this thread is to make people aware that yes, there are some downsides to living in Australia. It doesn't mean you can't make a happy life here. It just means that your life is not going to be "America with kangaroos" and you should be prepared for a few challenges.  You also have to keep in mind that everyone's experiences are perfectly valid for their own circumstances and situations, but they do not - repeat, DO NOT - represent even a majority of American expats, who are generally too busy living their new lives to post on Internet forums. Whether your experiences will be good, bad, or somewhere in-between, is up to you. By the way, YDU was not created solely for "whinging" - although, it's a safe place for people to do so if they feel the need. But at the core, it's like any other forum; intended to provide a platform for a range of views and experiences from which others can, independently, make their own decisions on what is likely to be a life-changing experience. The bad are as helpful as the good. edited for clarification Edited by TerritorianTori, Jul 26 2009, 01:15:09 PM.
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 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
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| elsja | Jul 26 2009, 12:04:15 PM Post #85 |
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aussie pilot lover
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Agreed with a few of the comments above and here are some more thoughts: 1. This IS a place to be free to whine about things, so you are definitely going to get a bit of a biased look on things in this particular thread. However, there are some other threads in here about the great things in Oz. Do a search, I’m sure you’ll find lots of stuff. 2. If you're cold, buy a little mini heater- we have one and it works great 3. If you're hot, buy a fan or one of those mobile AC units. THey are pricey but hey- if you want it badly enough it is an option. 4. If you want to dry your clothes- look for apt units that include internal or shared laundry. MANY places do have the option. Our place even came with a washer in the kitchen and we just bought a dryer off ebay for 50$ and have it sitting in our kitchen as well and use it as a desk for keys, pens/notepads, sunglasses, etc. (I still don't understand how you guys don't iron... even with a dryer- sometimes my clothes are still wrinkly). 5. For as much as I miss from the US, I still am happy that I'm here. I walk down to the ferry and look around and think "I just walked here... I live close enough to this awesome place to actually walk to it!" When I drive over the Harbour bridge and see the Opera house I think the same thing- "this place is amazing." When I go home to visit, I still enjoy the novelty of telling people in the US that I LIVE in australia. They are always so interested and perhaps even jealous at times. Of course there are going to be a lot of things you miss and can whine about, but there will also be tons of amazing new things that you'll find to love and you'll have awesome experiences that you would never have the opportunity of enjoying if you didn't take a big leap of faith and move over here. Edited by elsja, Jul 26 2009, 12:05:14 PM.
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Elsja's Bloggity Blog | |
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| CheekyOne | Jul 26 2009, 03:47:50 PM Post #86 |
True Blue Mate
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The only thing I havn't been able to get used to is no a/c or heat.It's just to hot and humid in the summer for me here in QLD.I did buy a portable a/c last summer but found it wasn't enough to cool the lounge so I ended up just keeping it in my bedroom. Hopefully we will be renting a place that has a split system or ducted a/c in a couple of months. I have gotten used to the prices and i'm someone who used to complain about them ALL the time.I've just learned to shop using the sales ads and the longer I am here the more I forget what things used to cost me back there which has made life much easier. I bought a dryer as well.It was only 200.00 and not that great but I thought I had to have one and it made me feel better! |
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| (gordon38555) | Jul 26 2009, 04:17:53 PM Post #87 |
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Piker
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I have to disagree with part of that. For sure automobiles are more expensive. But I've found my car insurance to be heaps cheaper. But then again I came from the NE of the states, car insurance rip off area. |
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| AmericanAddict | Jul 26 2009, 06:37:05 PM Post #88 |
Piker
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Hi to everyone, I'm actually an Aussie wanting to transfer to the US via the company I work for (I think it would be such a terrific experience/challenge/adventure). Have been over twice now and going back again at the end of this year. It has been interesting reading all the posts here and I wish all of you the very best on your adjustments to Australia. If I can help anyone just sing out. Anyway all that aside I wanted to let you know of a trick many of us Aussies do to get around ironing our clothes, or a least getting away with the need to only give them a quick running over versus a heavy duty ironing session. Use the drip dry cycle on your washing machine for items that require ironing. Pull them out whilst still soaking wet and transfer them to a bucket of water (or buckets if you have many - do not overfill with clothes or they will dry crushed.) You can add fabric softener to the water if you want. Proceed to hang on the line dripping wet, if you want you can use clothes hangers to hang them on the line to avoid peg marks and keep them in shape. With the exception of heavy winter knits most items really don't take that long to dry in our climate, they will be softer and pretty much wrinkle free. Avoiding 100% cotton/linen fabrics helps too. Look for poly-cotton blends that won't crush so much. I have a dryer but due to the expense of electricity these days save it for those rare periods when we get several days of rain and I need my clothes to dry. |
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| (gordon38555) | Jul 26 2009, 06:53:26 PM Post #89 |
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Piker
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I don't worry about any of the washing or ironing. My partner does it all 
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| JasonP27 | Jul 26 2009, 08:38:16 PM Post #90 |
Yacker
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yeah, or "America with koalas"... or even worse, "America with kangaroos and koalas" I'm glad I adjust quickly cause otherwise being so ignorant (or in love) could really get me into big trouble! edited to fix my Engrish Edited by JasonP27, Jul 26 2009, 08:39:45 PM.
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| Nanook | Jul 27 2009, 11:43:36 PM Post #91 |
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True Blue Mate
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Ours doubled and then some, plus the rego is about 10X more expensive...but we live in NSW, so that's prolly the real reason for all our expensiveness. |
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| canaussie | Jul 28 2009, 12:10:58 AM Post #92 |
True Blue Mate
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This is the reason hubby doesn't want to live in NSW....more expensive. |
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Paula (dual Canadian/Australian) married to an Aussie since 1999 and mummy to an Aussie since 2000 | |
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| off2oz | May 1 2010, 12:28:17 PM Post #93 |
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Piker
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I have to say that I miss a decent weather report. |
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| shylady | May 1 2010, 01:14:22 PM Post #94 |
oldYank
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 You're in Madison? I know what you mean... 
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| steve@b112 | Jun 20 2010, 10:29:04 AM Post #95 |
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Anklebiter
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I'm actually excited to go to Australia. I have a few friends that live in Australia already. I'm not a stereotypical American. I'm very open minded, and like to meet new people. I'm not like what other people think Americans are. I'm just nervous [not scared] about moving to a new place but I will be so happy to! Can't wait to meet Australian people and have an Aussie experience. Even though I know that there will be things that I would be disappointed about. My mom will be moving with me LOL. She said she'll like to move to Australia as well. So I'm excited to move to Australia after university
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| chocopaws | Jun 21 2010, 09:56:30 AM Post #96 |
True Blue Mate
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This thread really isn't meant to be a thread about things that suck in Oz. It's meant to inform you of the kinds of things you'll find different upon arriving here. Some differences are fascinating, some are merely mildly interesting, and some are a bit irritating - but they are all worth mentioning. It gives newcomers a small idea of what they are getting themselves into.
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| HoosierNurse | Jul 17 2010, 01:27:29 AM Post #97 |
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Anklebiter
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Hey, that's neat! Did you buy that in OZ or buy it in the US and take it over with you? I'll have to think about one of those!! Cara |
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| staylor8383 | Jul 17 2010, 01:37:34 AM Post #98 |
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True Blue Mate
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I have seen them here in australia |
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| RachaelK | Jul 17 2010, 05:34:37 PM Post #99 |
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True Blue Mate
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It was actually something I had in Ireland but they do have them here. They're more expensive than the regular washers but you can find them a lot cheaper on gumtree and other pre-loved sites. |
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| kissy | Sep 18 2010, 11:00:16 AM Post #100 |
Chinwagger
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Yah but remember you also make a higher wage over there then the U.S. so it evens out.....It does look sooooo expensive tho lol thats what is hard to get use too! |
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