5 Reasons we live/want to live, in Australia :)

[Tiffani]

Originally Posted by Byo

Not nerdy at all. Thank you very much, being trying to find information about all this. I am suffering depression at the moment and have it put down to home sickness. Problem is I've been away from home for nine years and have been unsettled the whole time. Spent 4 years in the UK and have been here 4 years now, so thought by now I would get better at this. Guess I have to get used to the fact that I never wanted to leave home in the first place and just don't like change. I also feel guilty about letting the home country go. Strange I know!!!

By the way I see you are from the States, just had reletive come over from massachesetts (sp) and the couldn't believe how expensive it is here, how small the roads are and how close together the houses are. Is this something you can relate to?

Sometimes it takes more than four years to feel truly at home somewhere; most people find it takes at least five in the same place to really feel like "one of the gang", so moving from the UK after four years have done more harm than staying. But I've lived in the UK so I don't blame you (just kidding Brits!)

I think you really hit on something there with feeling guilty about letting go of your home country. Just keep this in mind: I don't know where you're from, but you will never NOT be who you are. If you are originally from Kenya, for instance, you will ALWAYS be Kenyan no matter how much you may love your adopted country. You can love where you live and be happy to be somewhere apart from where you grew up, without ever actually losing your love for home and country. I am American, and if I spend the rest of my life in Australia, I will die American. I spent my formative years in the US and that has sharply defined who I am. I will always be proud of what I am and where I came from, but for my own happiness, I know that I have to adjust to Aussie culture and accept the way Aussies operate. And acknowledging that sometimes Aussies even do things better than they do it back home is fine; it's not a derision of my home country or my culture, but an acceptance that the American way isn't the only way, and sometimes it isn't even the best way. It doesn't make me any less American to think that the Aussies totally have it right with regards to the work-life balance!

As for the price of things, YES!!! Unequivocally YES. Biggest culture shock problem I've had has simply been price. Even with the higher salaries.

[Tiffani]

oh, and yes the roads are smaller and generally suck more, and the houses are too close together LOL

[Byo]

Originally Posted by Tiffani

de nada. that's what I'm here for

maybe there should be a sticky somewhere about the stages of cultural adjustment so people have an idea that what they're going through is normal and that it's OK to not feel totally excited and happy 100% of the time that they are abroad. (perhaps worded more appropriately than my very short definitions though. "when it all starts to suck" isn't very professional haha)

I agree it should be a sticky. I googled "cultural adjustment" and some of it made me giggle as it so true I'm blaming my enviroment when its me thats having the feelings.

[Tiffani]

Byo it's funny you should mention that. A few months ago, about four months after we arrived, I was on the phone with my Mom and having a bad day (she's never left the US so she has no idea what it's like to feel culture shock) and I told her "when I have a bad day, it's because of Australia. So I know I'm still adjusting, because when I can have a sh***y day and NOT blame Australia for it, I'll know I'm feeling at home here"

[Byo]

Originally Posted by Tiffani

Byo it's funny you should mention that. A few months ago, about four months after we arrived, I was on the phone with my Mom and having a bad day (she's never left the US so she has no idea what it's like to feel culture shock) and I told her "when I have a bad day, it's because of Australia. So I know I'm still adjusting, because when I can have a sh***y day and NOT blame Australia for it, I'll know I'm feeling at home here"

Its a good thing we can giggle about it hey At the moment I can't even stand the word Australia and watching TV make me scream, as its Aussie this Aussie that. My husband thinks its a hoot. I soooo hope I get over this soon, it really helps taking about it as I have no one else to release to. I have been having counseling (sound like a real weirdo) but because the counselor is Aussie I've been keeping most things to myself as didn't want to moan about the country.

[anj1976]

:P No i dont want snow, i know how it is like to go home at 5 not to leave home before 9 next morning, and when you do leave you still see the greyness in everything around you. But I am from India, Delhi, here the summer is a killer.. its hot and sultry for 8 months and 4 months its winter, that too temperature ranging from 15 degree to 5 degree. Winter time is fun for us since we do not have to think of when to move out of the house, the sun is nice and crisp, but summer time, imagine, we have to think twice before stepping out, because the sun is so harsh that the car ac takes 15 mins to cool and by that time you are at your destination. stepping out of the cars mean perspiration and irritable person. I guess we all like what we dont have around us and we so much want it. there are people who want to move to australia because they are sick and tired of winters and snow and there are people like me who are sick and tired of summers and more summer.. At times it gets so humid that it starts to suffocate, the sun is so harsh that you feel you will burn if you go out..

[northern mover]

Trying to keep up here, girlies so forgive me ;

Byo, so sorry you're feeling sad, i can't imagine anything worse than being lonely; i hope things get better soon; your oh must be so grateful to have such a supportive spouse!!

Tiff, i am heading for Adelaide.....where 4 seasons is the norm,lol. The pool is for occassional use tho' i prefer a quick dip, then a read, then lunch, then soaking my toes! I have packed my cardigans tho' we brits love our cardi's
The (y)UK comment.... no apology needed; most of us feel the same, hence the move.......

Anj; a 2 season year? Very unpleasant, that extreme. I hope you find relief from it in Oz; but from Tiffs description, it seems the transition in seasons may not afford such luxury.........

Roads; i thought they were ok, really; being in the home country where the roads are pants, i for 1 am looking forward to the change!

Shops; well, it looks like i will have to organise my shopping better, i love the extended hours here, but i will adjust, i must!!

Have a great day yawl.
xx
J

[northern mover]

Also, the 4 stages;

I anticipate the hostility to come from within! To be initial and strong, and to cause me some heartache. Kids can be cruel, you know! The other stages will happen when they happen; can't be helped, and as girls, we are used to dealing with drama's, crises and just plain stoopidity from those nearest and dearest.

[anj1976]

Originally Posted by northern mover

Anj; a 2 season year? Very unpleasant, that extreme. I hope you find relief from it in Oz; but from Tiffs description, it seems the transition in seasons may not afford such luxury.........
J

Not exactly two seasons, but the monsoon isnt great always, this year it was just about alright, the summer was not all that bad, with temp touching 44 degree celcius max but then its humid as hell. cant wait for winter time. which is hardly for 3-4 months, anywhere that is better than where I am from is good news for us. A friend just got here for a vacation from Melbourne and she said while I was there I was not enjoying the winter of melbourne but now that she was in Delhi, this heat was making her miss that weather

[northern mover]

See how quickly people adapt?
I am sure you will too!
I love the heat, but humidity is a killer.... a colleague invited me to Bangalore last February; when he told me about the weather, i sadly declined.......i would have been a puddle on the street!!!
At least we are both heading to a more temperate climate, not the tropical, sticky north!!!!
How far along are you now? Are you nearly there? I am still chasing up the nursing boards, in both hemispheres; my fingers are burning with all the dialling and typing i am doing!
Have a good one
Jane