To all who have settled here!

[Guest Guest75]

I know it's a big shout - but a telephone call prompted me to post this ( yes you Paul - you had some really good insights:notworthy:)

 

 

To all of those who have now found themselves settled here - or well on the way.

 

PLEASE post about how you are doing now.I know you are getting on with your lives and don't need the forum as much.After many calls and chats with people who have arrived over the last few years I know there are many happy settlers here. Come on - pop a post in and tell us about it!!

A nice "pay it forward" :)

 

To those who I know - and often meet in Dan Murphy's - NUDGE,NUDGE!

 

It would redress the balance a little.

When people are unsure if they have made the right move they will come back into or join the forum.It is only natural and not a criticism by me - just an observation.

Those who have settled happily in general kind of "fade away" and get on with it.

 

Bad news and gossip do always seem to make the headlines in any media - C'mon let's hear some good stories for once - it would be helpful to others!

 

NB - please ,no arguments/sniping/ negative posts - seems to be enough of that already.

 

To the cynics - no ulterior motive,we just need to see a balanced view for the benefit of those making a huge decision!

[ShaunWilson]

3 years in, 3 kids who love the place, nice new built big house in a great area. Great friends from all different nationalities. Real culturtal diversity. Lots for kids to do. Work is good at the moment. Sunshine and lollipops!! What more could we ask for.

[Guest Nick11]

Nearly 3 years in and we luv it. No plans to return to the u.k at all.

We luv Adelaide.

[Moosh]

8 years in Adelaide. I left everyone in Luton, Bedfordshire to be with the one I loved. I've lived in 3 suburbs - Underdale, Seaford and now McLaren Flat. I've been through hell and back with health issues. I've had lots of different jobs either being unfairly sacked, made redundant or been too sick to work! Have made lots of really good friends with both aussies and poms. Also had bad experiences with friendships but it doesn't take long to ween out those not worthy of knowing you. Still, with all that has gone on in our lives, all is good. This is where we call home and we love it!

[Guest STINKY FEET]

I'm replying as I a guilty of reading and not posting except when I'm selling/ buying something !

 

We've been here since June 07. Husband started work one month in and still in same job. He has made some genuine mates at work who have included us as a family in all manner of social occasions.

I've had 2 jobs , my colleagues have been sooo wonderful. They have been such a source of advice and support and have a great sense of humour.

My daughter settled in a matter of weeks. She was 10 when we arrived and did 2 and a half years in primary. She started high school in January and is thriving. She has a great social circle and is involved in sport and dance.

 

We actually have a smaller circle of "friends" than when we first arrived here. We did the "don't turn down any invite" thing for a while, and keep in touch with some of the people we met early on, but as time passes you make connections with people more naturally.

Our circle is now a mixture of people we have met from work, sports clubs and parents of children's friends. I would class these people as friends not simply accquaintances.

 

We have had lots of visitors from the UK. Both sets of parents have stayed for 3 months at a time and both loved it and can see why we are here. We won't be going back for visits, I prefer them to come here- we could only manage a couple of weeks due to school and work committments- they can come for the whole summer !

Of course we miss people- we keep in touch on the phone and internet. It's not the same as being with them but we have got used to it. The airport goodbyes don't get any easier either....

 

Apart from this , I really don't see any negatives to living here. We are not rich or mortgage free. Our quality of life has improved 100%. We spend more family time and time outdoors. The scenery is amazing, the beaches beautiful, the space makes you feel like you can really BREATHE. This is home.

[Guest Tina]

we arrived just over two years ago, never been before, no jobs lined up, sold up in the uk with a container on the way, packed up the cats for their flight. arrived on a temporary visa. o/h got job after one phone call (painter), he started work after having a month off, i applied for jobs and got one pretty quickly (qa).. both our jobs here are paid more than we had in the uk so this has pleased us and helped. had no problem with getting a rental (even with two cats) and this was a brand new house, didn't stay long and broke the lease to buy a house, found this process pretty simple and straight forward (even on a temp visa). found everyone really nice and helpful wherever we have been.

 

 

• some things i find cheap some i don't,i just shop around if i need to
  
• live by there rules, accept there way of doing things that's our motto (well with a little winge anyway)...
  

we have met some fantastic friends mainly on here but who cares where they come from as long as they are nice people (which they are), we have a very good social life now and do things we wouldnt have had the chance or bothered to do in the uk.. the weather does help with this...

 

medical... i know where i would rather be regardless if i have had to pay for things sometimes, an answer on any query we have had within a week is priceless and puts our minds at rest. cannot fault any doctor/medicare/dentist we have been to over the two years (again even though we were on a temp visa)... only one thing was refused to me because of our visa and that was a recent eye test they said i had to pay because of our visa $60 but we were only weeks away from perm so i said i could wait and will return with our new full medicare card and this then apparently is free (i had to pay in the uk).

 

for us this is the place we want to be and are happy, however we would be happy anywhere really,

this country because of its weather has given us more things to do outside of the house instead of sitting in front of the telly and this is what we used to do in the uk, because when we were there it was too cold/wet/dull and dreary to do things on such a regular basis, plus we sat in traffic for most of this time.

 

i must admit i don't like the winter here and could easily move to Queensland for the 3 months but hey there is a light at the end of the tunnel not like our experience in the uk.

 

but overall for us best thing we have done for our lives, whether we stay for the rest of our lives, who knows what is around the corner, but for now we are good.....

[nikkinoodlesuk]

deleted ..........

[foxychick]

Been here 2½ years, took a VERY long time to settle and found a lot of things harder going than expected, but it does happen eventually. Didn't leave the UK becuase we hated it, but wanted to try here, and did not want to live with regrets.

 

A visit back to the UK at Christmas made me a lot more settled, realised friends I have there will always be friends if you both put a bit of effort in, and missed the friends I have made here. A llot of it was also me realising and accepting that I will now forever feel unsettled and to just accept that and go with that. Live each day at a time. Leaving family never gets easier, again something you have to learn to live with.

 

Having visited a few other places around Oz - have to say, I really like Adelaide.

[maria]

Our move to Aus was initiated by OH, he had a father, sister and her family in Melbourne and we'd visited there many times over the years, and so we decided to move to Melbourne. Father in law died the day we left the UK, not a great start to our new life.

After 6 months in Melbourne OH was so homesick and depressed he just wanted to go 'home' We came very close to splitting up as a family at that point, i was really bitter, he'd 'dragged' me away from a relativly good life in the UK , i was also determind that i wasn't going back to the UK without a fight.

We made a decision to move to Adelaide, based on a weekend we'd spent here. Both my girls weren't too happy about it, they'd made friends and settled in Melbourne, but they certainly didn't want to go back to the UK. OH spent 3 weekends here in SA before the move trying to secure a rental, it was almost impossible. Just as we were about to give up hope i discovered another ex pat website and someone was breaking their lease, we got it and moved to Adelaide in April 2007. I had no problems finding a job, OH decided to retrain and do something he'd wanted to do for a long time, he became a support worker for people with learning disabilities. Oldest daughter has had no problems in finding work either and although she didn't stay in the UK to finish her A levels has landed herself in a good job, and has some great friends. My youngest settled here really quickly, she was 13 when we arrived, made friends at school and at the local soccer club.

This is now 'home', its different from the UK in so many ways, some good, some bad, financially, we're better off here, i certainly earn more, OH earns a similar wage with much less hours than he did in the UK. The weathers fantastic (most of the time) we live 5 mins from the beach, 20 mins to the city or the hills.

OH went back to the UK in Sept last year, though he enjoyed seeing his family and old friends he couldn't wait to come 'home'. For us it was definantly the right decision and yes even though it wasn't easy i'd do it again, my kids have a future here that i really dont think they'd have had in the UK.

[Guest stufi1997]

What a good idea for a thread Tyke...I come back on periodically but seldom read very many posts as I feel a bit out of touch nowadays, Visa changes and new modl lists and things make you feel like you can't really offer advice to the newbies anymore.

 

We are Stuart, Fiona and Aaron(11) we arrived on April 12th 2008 knowing nobody and nothing...we had been active on the forum since we started the visa process though so had it as a back up when we arrived. My daughter Louise(21) arrived 1 month after us on a backpackers visa, she wasn't on our SIR495 one...she was supposed to be coming with us but backed out at the last minute and didn't show up at the airport, that's why she came out later!

 

We've had various ups and downs and my daughter has gone back home again, but left last May with every intention of getting back here someday...never thought we'd see that day!! She struggled initially to make friends and contacts and trying to get her off her behind and get a job was a struggle, but she loved it in the end.

 

We both work. Stu is a painter and has worked basically since we got our house in Victor Harbor, sub contracting for a local guy. I work as a home support worker with the elderly. Our wages are better here and although I'm starting to get very itchy feet and want to go travelling I want to stay in Australia...that's more a reflection on my character though, not the place...reckon there's gypsy in me somewhere.

 

Aaron has settled well in the public school, he still has an accent but has very long and unkempt hair now, other than that he's happy and making "progress" at school.

 

Stu works from 7:30 til 4, 5 days a week, unless it's too hot! which doesn't happen often....we live and work in Victor mind you.

We have various friends, all from different walks of life and of all different ages...we have been quite lonely at times in the last 2 years but that's partly yearning for our close families we left in Scotland and being in Victor I think, but all in all we all feel we have made the right choices and the future certainly looks brighter for Aaron than what he was headed for if we'd stayed in Scotland....

 

It is different and sometimes I have to stop and remind myself about the difference in cultures and upbringings, just because aussies speak roughly the same language....doesn't necessarily mean they are going to get it.

We are planning a trip back in May 2011 for my daughters wedding and although I go through phases of being excited about seeing everyone again, I have no doubt that this is where we stay now........ Cheers Fiona xx

[Guest k8bug79]

Ah you guys have made me want to get there even more now. It seems an impossible task at the moment :-(

[Guest Guest75]

What a good idea for a thread Tyke...I come back on periodically but seldom read very many posts as I feel a bit out of touch nowadays, Visa changes and new modl lists and things make you feel like you can't really offer advice to the newbies anymore.

 

Thank you - but you just have made a very useful post indeed!!!

I think in general terms the newer arrivals face just the same problems as we did.Well apart from us really oldies - we had no forum like this for info for a start 10 years ago!

Interesting to read that your wages are higher here!

 

Lots of places in Oz and around to sooth those itchy feet;)

 

The Flinders Ranges and beyond are just on your doorstep. We can't wait to get back up there!

[Guest Guest75]

Ah you guys have made me want to get there even more now. It seems an impossible task at the moment :-(

 

Keep hanging in there:)

[Guest mayjess]

Even though I am back in the UK (until nxt Wed) we moved to Adelaide in 2006 and although we did only one year until I made them all come back the UK, I can still remember the really nice things about Adelaide,, the space,cleanliness,beautiful beaches etc,, coming back on Wed should be like coming home for us (hopefully) I am now looking forward to the move again, I am a glutten for punishment,,I think I am addicted to the stress of moving!!! I am also looking forward to being out & about more,,as much as I love the UK you do spend too much time indoors cooped up,,no matter how hot it got in Adelaide, we were out & about.

Wish us luck 2 nd time round

 

Mayjess

[The Flinns]

A newby here. Only been here since August last year but we all absolutely love it and talk about feeling guilty about not missing anything in the UK. To all those who worry about bringing teenage kids across, we brought 2 out here and they have both settled in really well, got great jobs and made some fantastic friends. We too have made great friends over here and can't believe how easy it was to settle into life over here, despite having never set foot in the country before and knowing absolutely no one in South Australia. Our only regret is that we didn't do it years ago.

[Lol63]

Wev'e been in Aus almost 3 yrs, we migrated to a place called Wagga Wagga NSW (hubby took a wrong turn on a reccie) and loved it, after 2 n half yrs we decided to give South Aus a go, we arrived in Nov 09, spent all our savings getting here! I have now been workin for 2 mths and hubby has an interview tomoz. The kids settled really quickly and are doin well, but the best news is my eldest son is movin over in August from Orange also NSW. We really like it here as we are near the beach but also the hills, wineries etc. I have been back to the uk once and couldn't wait to get back "home". Although we loved Wagga and made some really good friends we have also made the right decision to relocate here.

[Guest Cope]

Good luck with the job interview!

Very nice series of posts, very useful for us, we're moving in august. Thanks everyone for sharing!

[DAVID.CHRISTINE]

good point tyke

being in adelaide nearly 3 years taking each day as it comes ,oh has got a great job

and kids doing well at school ,just hosted a japanise student for a week ,daughter going over there

soon, something that we wouldnt be doing if still in the uk .

our son is competing in the b m x nationals in victoria next month if we were still in the uk we

would be up to our knees cheering him on at rugby

so lots have changed but very proud to be british

[Guest Carolandcraig]

Hi everyone. Been here for just over 9 weeks and loving it, will do a more detailed post at around the 3 month point.

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

We have been here 2 years come the 17th April, and basically we love it here.

 

Our 2 Year update will be along soon....

 

HG

[Carole Jolly]

Hi Tyke, you are right, I was never off this site back in the UK, planning to get to Adelaide, now I only guest now and again, whilst the rules have changed with visa's etc, I guess we do have alot of advice we could share with new members.

We have been here 18 months now, we have both found jobs fairly easily. Andrews earnings are about the same, although he says he has never worked as hard. My earnings are less, but I know I have Auzzies quirks to learn.

Andrew settled really quickly, for me it has took time and some days, still feel, is this where I am going to spend the rest of my life?? not sure??

The best things are, the friends we have met and how great the social life is here, I put that down to the better weather, I think people are generally happier because of the sunshine and that makes them want to get out and about. No point staying in TV stinks!!! lol

I agree with other posts, it is so clean here, seriously, no litter, bins emptied, even on a Public holiday.

You cant beat the sunshine and beaches.

Australians in the main are wonderful friendly people, willing to help.

Down sides are, its not cheap, most things are more expensive than Uk, except, fuel and junk food (IMO), as we came from the north of England, which is cheaper than other areas of UK.

Overall, I would not have liked to miss the opportunity to live in another country and who knows, I might spend the rest of my life here. England have made some huge mistakes and lost many great skills and people to oz, so Englands loss in Aussies Gain.!!

Life is not a rehearsal

Good luck to all of those planning to move and good luck to those that have done, but it wasnt for them, they tried and some can only dream!

Over and Out

[Guest Trakki]

We have been here 19 months and have never looked back, we love it and like someone else said I personally sometime feel guilty coz I don't miss the UK, we call here home and not the UK. We have had many ups and downs since being here, the main one being a VERY unplanned pregnancy 2 months after arriving which meant no mat pay and being the main wage earner a great worry but Pete who until then was a house husband got the first job he applied for just to bring money in and as it turns out he loves it, he is a postie. We then had our gorgeous little man Kian and despite hard times wouldn't change all the worry for the world. I decided that shift work was not for me, I am a nurse and was lucky enough to walk into a job working 1030-630 3 days a week. so we have been very lucky on the job front. My mum visited for 3 months over christmas which was great.

The children have settled into life here with no problem, the big ones love school here and the little ones have a great kindy and child care. Would I do it all again now knowing what I know, YES I would, we know for our family we have made 110% the right move and do we thinkwe will ever go back to the UK? NO way.

 

We love it here and are a much happier family here than in the UK

[Guest clare]

:)Thankyou for starting that post Tyke! What an inspiration you are to us all back in blighty! We will be joining you all in June and i really cant wait!

I am starting to be selfish here just thinking of my daughters and my hubby and our future

each one of you tells an intresting insight in to your lives and your families thankyou all very much off to work now lol only 9 weeks of work left in blighty! wooowhhh;)

[Riponian]

Thank you so much Tyke for suggesting a positive post!

 

I am quite a positive person and needed the lift of these post to give me a kick up the backside!

 

We have been here nearly six months and have found things a little hard but generally having a great time. Finding hard meeting ozzies but those I have met have been friendly and helpful.

 

I am really starting to settle, my OH is very settled and is enjoying work and his social life. Kids are loving the outdoors life and have settled into their childcare well.

I am starting a photography course which i am really looking forward to and slowly building up a network of friends, thanks to this site.

 

The only hard part has been family, my dad is terminally ill with cancer and I feel gulity that I will not be there for him and his wife when the inevitable happens and that I often have days were he is at the back of my mind. He is whole heartedly behind the move for us and has been from the start, I miss him terribily but have to think of my immediate family and what is best for us all. Going back just to be there for the next few months would be a foolish move. I have been back recently and it recomfirmed my feelings that the UK is not for us.

 

I can say I like Adelaide a lot, the beaches, the hills the quirks some good some bad. We are worse off in the short term financially but the we are init for the long haul. Have just got just got 2 little kittens and we are definatley putting down roots.

 

I wish I had done a little more research before we came about salary and life but it would not have changed my mind just made the first few weeks months easier. This site has been a god send and I would not know what to do without it! for the little things to the big querries we are all here for each other!

THANK YOU

 

Bets of luck to all waiting to come out here, it will be your turn soon.

 

Michelle

[JoRed4]

Brilliant post. OH has just sent off initial application form for his AQF III in Landscape Gardening. Hopefully we'll go all the way & I too will be posting on here in a couple of years, when we're settled & living the good life