"Why Australia"

[Southend boy]

Hi all PIA,
This may be a silly question, but can you guys tell me why you have come to Australia, (top 3 reasons) and for those that have been here a few years (like me) has it meet your expectations? and would you go back?

thanks for a great read.
Stuart.

[Libby1971]

1. Because my husband thought it would offer our family a better way of life.
2. because I thought there would be opportunities for my children and that I could provide for them better.
3. Because having lived abroad as a child, I thought it would be good for my children to have a life abroad

Once we started everything I also thought it would be a good lesson for my children that sometimes you have to really work at something to get it. And hat even if it doesn't work out, you gave it your best and had a really good try.

Has it met my expactations? Well I haven't been here a few years yet, only 18 months but so far my family have a better way of life. So yes, target 1 was acheived. Target 2 is a work in progress but initial indications are good. I will know about target 3 in a few more years but they seem to like it here.

Would I go back? No. We have nothing to go back for except family and friends. And to be honest, brutally honest, some of the older ones have their own children to worry about, I am working on a way to get my sister out here, and friends will come and see us form the UK. I have some really amazing friends here, ones I am truly fortunate to have.

If I was going to go anywhere, it would be France. My ideal spot on Earth...

[SA Great]

Good Question!!!

1. More Space
2. Better Weather
3. Less snobbery

They are the 3 main reasons why I came here and has it met my expectations?? Well on all 3 of the main reasons why I came here...yes to all 3!! We have a house that you just couldn't afford in the UK, the weather is heaps better (although the winters are a lot colder than I imagined!!) and the aussies are so unsnobbish that you sometimes wished they were more stuck up!!!!

If my other half ever wanted to live back in the UK then I would give it a go BUT I would try and talk her out of it first! Speedway and Music are the main things I miss (apart from family). But there are a lot of things you can do here that you can't where I came from. Snorkelling, water skiing, beach, a massive variety of restaurants, concerts where you just park around the corner and stroll in, the list goes on!

I have been disappointed with the lack of opportunity here. You have to have a degree or know someone to get on in a lot of circumstances. There are certainly things that are better in the UK but overall for me I would live here for the rest of my life and be very happy. It is definitely a summer place and when the sun is shining and it's hot there would be very few other places I would rather be.

How about yourself Southend Boy??

[marty]

Hi all PIA,
This may be a silly question, but can you guys tell me why you have come to Australia, (top 3 reasons) and for those that have been here a few years (like me) has it meet your expectations? and would you go back?

thanks for a great read.
Stuart.

Hi,

#1 Married an Aussie
#2 Was sick and tired of the UK and the cold
#3 Wanted to try something new

Well that was 30 years ago, Adelaide is home, I have been back a few times in fact off there again at the end of the month, the last time I went back in 2006 I met so many peeps who either were trying to come to Aus or who were on they way I dont think there can be many poms left there.
No I would not go back to live under any circumstances and I dont regret one day of living in Aus.

[Southend boy]

Good Question!!!

1. More Space
2. Better Weather
3. Less snobbery

They are the 3 main reasons why I came here and has it met my expectations?? Well on all 3 of the main reasons why I came here...yes to all 3!! We have a house that you just couldn't afford in the UK, the weather is heaps better (although the winters are a lot colder than I imagined!!) and the aussies are so unsnobbish that you sometimes wished they were more stuck up!!!!

If my other half ever wanted to live back in the UK then I would give it a go BUT I would try and talk her out of it first! Speedway and Music are the main things I miss (apart from family). But there are a lot of things you can do here that you can't where I came from. Snorkelling, water skiing, beach, a massive variety of restaurants, concerts where you just park around the corner and stroll in, the list goes on!

I have been disappointed with the lack of opportunity here. You have to have a degree or know someone to get on in a lot of circumstances. There are certainly things that are better in the UK but overall for me I would live here for the rest of my life and be very happy. It is definitely a summer place and when the sun is shining and it's hot there would be very few other places I would rather be.

How about yourself Southend Boy??

For me,
1) I came out to see an old girl freind (who is now my wife)
2) better life style
3) sunshine

We got back together, so I went home and started the paper work off and 3 months later I was back.

I have a better life style than I had in the U.K, and I love the sunshine, but if I had 2 wishes it would be to have more English style pubs & Indian restaurants that stay open to midnight.

But as I said in another thread, we go back every 2 years at Christmas time and its great, there is still a draw to go back, family, friends or is it just the old home land
Iam not sure?

[Rachiegarlo]

1) Deported as a juvenile for bad collar crime in the 70s

2) More opportunities for the kids and me in the 90s

3) Already had a perm res visa and didn't want to lose it cos too valuable and too hard to get again as an adult

Yep Australia has been good to me and mine both times. We have all had opportunities to do different things and the kids have grown up with a confident view of their place in the world and what is available. The kids have had a much more relaxed childhood than if we had stayed in London.

[minkyme29]

Great question and very thought provoking...

1. Wanted to fulfill the dream of living abroad in an English speaking country.
2. Wanted us all to live in a place where we could sample a bit of hope and wonder.
3. Wanted to enjoy a more 'outdoors' lifestyle.

Did we make the right choice? Well for me, in life there are no mistakes, it is your path whatever happens and life is what you make it. We knew it would be tough sometimes and it has been. But I would not change a thing...and yes we made the right choice.

Will we stay? Yes, despite missing so many English things...family (so much it hurts), friends, culture, history, familiar stuff. The only thing that would make us go back I reckon is a family disaster where we would have to take on the responsibility of caring for others.

Still early days for us I know but after 8 months I reckon we're doing pretty well and life is good.

Dette :)

[Southend boy]

Great question and very thought provoking...

1. Wanted to fulfill the dream of living abroad in an English speaking country.
2. Wanted us all to live in a place where we could sample a bit of hope and wonder.
3. Wanted to enjoy a more 'outdoors' lifestyle.

Did we make the right choice? Well for me, in life there are no mistakes, it is your path whatever happens and life is what you make it. We knew it would be tough sometimes and it has been. But I would not change a thing...and yes we made the right choice.

Will we stay? Yes, despite missing so many English things...family (so much it hurts), friends, culture, history, familiar stuff. The only thing that would make us go back I reckon is a family disaster where we would have to take on the responsibility of caring for others.

Still early days for us I know but after 8 months I reckon we're doing pretty well and life is good.

Dette :)

Thanks for your top 3 reasons, all seem to have a lot in common, I would think most Brits waiting to come over have the same reasons?

Again thanks for being honest.

Stuart.

[SA Great]

Hi Guys. This is a great post by Southend Boy. I am really surprised more people haven't commented on it, I think it would make really interesting reading especially people who are about to emigrate. What is it they are expecting in Australia? Come on guys lets get this one going!!!!!

[Ellie]

Our reasons are endless so really hard to pick 3.
1. Husband is sick of working in the rain and then health and safety sending them home (this doesn't pay the bills). We are sick of spending our well earned holidays in the rain too!
2.Hopefully better work prospects for OH. But who knows for sure?
3.Better quality of life for our daughter and the chance to spend more valuable time with her before she is all grown up! It's near impossible here, work 24/7 just to make ends meet then someone moves the ends

We want to at least try as we don't want to say in a few years time that we wished we had done it or what if. We will miss family and friends but they are all really supportive. I'm nervous but also excited. It will be an adventure and if it doesn't work out we will have at least lived a little. At the moment here I can't see a way forward.