Two week update

[coastie]

Hi.. Just thought I would provide a little update since my arrival two weeks ago.

 

 

I flew from Birmingham to Adelaide via Dubai with Emirates. I was lucky to get an upgrade to business class for the first leg to Dubai. WOW! What an experience! Downside was that my second leg was in economy. Not so good! I would certainly recommend Singapore over Emirates. Singapore airlines staff were more friendly and provided more food and drink.

 

 

So I arrived on the 1st October. I remembered to go through the manual passport queue at customs and not through the e-gate system. If you go through the old fashioned way, you get a stamp in your passport. This is needed by the bank to prove that you are a new migrant and haven't been here for years.

 

 

I'm staying at my sister's house so she kindly picked me up from the airport.

 

 

I was determined to stay awake for my first day in Adelaide so I took a trip into the CBD to activate my NAB bank account. Arrived in plenty of time so had a lovely walk around the city. Early days but very impressed. There's a nice area by the museum and art gallery. Lots of coffee shops. I ordered an Americano but the lady politely pointed out that an Americano was a short drink and that I probably wanted a long black. She was right! I obviously looked like a tourist.

 

 

The meeting with NAB went well. I had everything explained to me about the two accounts and the difference between credit & savings when making card payment at the shops. My cards and pin arrived about 4 days later. I'm not sure why I have both an EFTPOS and Visa Debit though. TIP: Ask for a bank statement before you leave.

 

 

I had a look in a couple of mobile phone shops. I was looking for prepaid sim-only for my iPhone. I thought Telstra weren't very competitive as I was looking for high data usage for job hunting. I settled with a Optus 4G social something or other deal. $70 for 4gb, unlimited national calls and text and 600 mins for international calls. After two weeks I've got about 200mb left so I think I'm going to the $2 a day deal next time. This gives you 500mb every single day with unlimited calls and texts. My girlfriend and mum, who are in the UK, both have iPhones so I can use FaceTime more on the new tariff as it doesn't have international minutes included. iMessage has also been fantastic. I'm happy to be an Apple fanboy!

 

 

Next day, my brother-in-law took me to driving license place. I used my bank statement as proof of address and my UK bank card. I think I may have used my passport as well. I filled in a simple form (got two questions wrong probably caused by jet lag!). I got a temporary driving license there and then. My proper license arrived about a week later.

 

 

The Medicare office was just around the corner so I went in. Very well organised. You are greeted by a man with an iPad. He records you name and points you in the right direction. Very simple and efficient. I sat around for about five minutes before being called. Again the lady on the desk was very polite and professional and I got my Medicare number within about 10 minutes.

 

 

Television - poor, poor, poor! No need to say anymore really other than don't bother switching it on.

 

 

Food - local butchers offer best value for money for meat. Crazy cheap prices for meat. Most veg is fairly cheap as long as you get the in season stuff. Some eye watering prices for some products. I just need to be careful before putting something in my trolley.

 

 

Jobs - This is my only cause of concern. Ok it's only been two weeks and I've had one interview already. However, there are very few engineering jobs here and lots of people applying for the ones that are available. Hopefully I'll have a more positive update on jobs soon.

 

 

My car has arrived at the port at the weekend so I'm looking forward to get the car back within the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Apologies for rambling on. If anyone has any questions please ask.

 

 

Coastie.

[snifter]

Good to read Here is hoping things work out for you on the job front.

 

Re the TV, hubby and I sat down to watch some the other evening and after 5 minutes channel surfing he turned to me and commented that he had forgotten just how crap Aus TV is. I was much amused

[Anne B]

We reluctantly fork out the money for Foxtel, as if I had to rely on the normal TV I would go mad. Not that we are big TV watchers but I can't stand all the adverts. With Foxtel IQ it is constantly recording so you can pause and fast forward through the ads if necessary, or just record the programs you want to watch, plus you get UK TV, BBC Knowledge, Sky UK news (albeit in a small screen), Natioanl Geographic, the weather channel and a few other gems. I resent having to pay for a lot of crap as well on Foxtel but that's the way it is packaged. Also great to have the HD sports channels for the Premier League.

 

By the way the radio stations are rubbish too, they play the same songs over and over again and the morning presenters are incredbly childish and just laugh at things that aren't even funny. We have an internet radio so I can happily listen to radio 2 and radio 6.

[Diane]

By the way the radio stations are rubbish too, they play the same songs over and over again and the morning presenters are incredbly childish and just laugh at things that aren't even funny.

 

I sooo agree with you there - I was just saying to my son in the car this morning that the powers that be here seem to think you need an inane threesome on the radio at all times (with equally inance 'nicknames' ha ha ha ), but it's like they're having a chat amongst themselves so as the listener, unless you really like eavesdropping, you're always on the outside of the 'joke', whereas a good presenter should be able to present on their own, and make the listener feel they are included in the conversation, even if their replies can't be heard!.

 

I listen to lots of podcasts now - the best Australian podcast I've found is Richard Fidler who does a daily interview on Radio National, but also get the best of the Radio 4 quiz shows (Now Show, News Quiz) and some good stuff from the US (Stuff You Should Know and my new favourite dose of surrealism: Welcome to the Night Vale).

 

By the way Coastie - what sort of engineer are you?

[Guest MandiMR2]

Fab thread Coastie, thanku & from my perspective, feel free to continue rambling with your updates as its very informative & current. I'll be moving there in Jan, so its good to hear of recent experiences. Thanks for tip about having passport stamped, I've just returned from visa validation & research trip & sailed straight through the automated machines with no waiting & did plan on doing the same when I return. Best of luck with your new future, Mandi :-)

[thunee71]

Hi Coastie

 

Will be in Adelaide in early 2014..I am an DCS/Instrument technician.

Also i use to work for Pfizer ireland as engineering techncian.

Is there much jobs for this field??

You can PM me

[Scriv]

I thought that may be the case with TV! Hopefully we won't miss it as we will be so busy doing things outdoors?! Found your post so informmative, thanks... keep em coming. What line of engineering work are you applying for? My husband is with BAE in the Uk and will be looking for work in Adelaide in Quality Assurance.

 

Scriv

[coastie]

I thought that may be the case with TV! Hopefully we won't miss it as we will be so busy doing things outdoors?! Found your post so informmative, thanks... keep em coming. What line of engineering work are you applying for? My husband is with BAE in the Uk and will be looking for work in Adelaide in Quality Assurance.

 

Scriv

 

My background is defence as well. Not many defence jobs at the moment and many people looking. You need Aussie citizenship to be in for a chance. They only give dispensation in exceptional circumstances. I would advise that your hubby went for secondment and try and get a transfer before you come over.

[coastie]

I sooo agree with you there - I was just saying to my son in the car this morning that the powers that be here seem to think you need an inane threesome on the radio at all times (with equally inance 'nicknames' ha ha ha ), but it's like they're having a chat amongst themselves so as the listener, unless you really like eavesdropping, you're always on the outside of the 'joke', whereas a good presenter should be able to present on their own, and make the listener feel they are included in the conversation, even if their replies can't be heard!.

 

I listen to lots of podcasts now - the best Australian podcast I've found is Richard Fidler who does a daily interview on Radio National, but also get the best of the Radio 4 quiz shows (Now Show, News Quiz) and some good stuff from the US (Stuff You Should Know and my new favourite dose of surrealism: Welcome to the Night Vale).

 

By the way Coastie - what sort of engineer are you?

 

I'm an electrical engineer but my background isn't in construction so not many jobs about. Only two weeks in so I'll how things go.

[coastie]

When I went through customs, the lady asked me was this my first visit as a permanent resident. I said yes and she said "welcome" in the most uninterested way possible. I'm sure it was so deliberate!

[Scriv]

Oh no, that's grim. I'm trying to talk him into going January so our boys can start in school asap, they are 12 and 16 so not ideal. I teach and have some supply work lined up, maybe we can get by on that money at first. He is reluctant to give up a permanent job here, I had hoped his skills in Steel Industry / munitions / Quality Assurance would fare him well.

[Diane]

Got an email from Seek about this one http://www.seek.com.au/job/25395125?tracking=JMC-0000787 any good for anyone?

[coastie]

Oh no, that's grim. I'm trying to talk him into going January so our boys can start in school asap, they are 12 and 16 so not ideal. I teach and have some supply work lined up, maybe we can get by on that money at first. He is reluctant to give up a permanent job here, I had hoped his skills in Steel Industry / munitions / Quality Assurance would fare him well.

 

Having a mechanical background would be more favourable. I'm on the electrical (more IT) side. I'm lucky that I'm staying with my sister and I'm on my own so my outgoings are very low.

 

Coastie.

[coastie]

UPDATE!!

 

After a week short of 10 months looking for work, I've finally got a job!!!!

 

Hundreds of applications, 6 interviews. My specialised background proved to be my biggest issue but I finally cracked it! I start on Monday...

[Guest BurgessFamily]

good luck buddy

[snifter]

UPDATE!!

 

After a week short of 10 months looking for work, I've finally got a job!!!!

 

Hundreds of applications, 6 interviews. My specialised background proved to be my biggest issue but I finally cracked it! I start on Monday...

 

Thats great news Congrats. Roll on Monday, enjoyand all the best with it!

[Jessica Berry]

Great news. Thank you for coming back to your post and giving us an update.