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mutikonka · 28-09-2007, 12:18 PM

I agree with a lot of what you say Gags - it's important to come to Australia with your eyes open and without any illusions that this is some kind of sunny paradise. On my last trip back to Leeds I met a lot of people who got kind of starry eyed and wistful when I mentioned I was living down under. They complained about everything being terrible in Britain (when I saw so much that I admired) - I'm sure they'd complain just as much in Australia.

You're also right about life here being potentially just as mundane as in the UK. But I certainly prefer my daily 40 minute commute on a Cityrail train to the same journey on an overcrowded, expensive and unreliable Leeds bus!
I don't agree with what you said about the standard of living. I can do a lot more here than I could ever do in Leeds. I can afford to go out and eat in decent restaurants, I can take my kids out to Luna Park or the movies without getting a second mortgage etc etc. How much does a [bad] coffee cost in Cafe Nero or the Corn Exchange? About the same in pounds as it does in dollars for the wonderful coffee at Bar Italia here in Leichardt.

You are right about there being more happening in British cities - the one thing I did notice being back in Leeds was that everyone seemed to be in a hurry and had no time to sit back and enjoy life. And a lot of older people seemed to have a slightly nervous look in their eyes, as if some chavs were about to grab their bag. The other two main things I noticed about Leeds were the litter and the parochial attitudes. When I got back to Australia and they asked me what the UK was like I told my workmates that I never realised that Little Britain was a documentary as well as a comedy programme.

It all boils down to what you want out of life and what kind of lifestyle you want. Australia can be a bit isolated for some people - that's why so many young Aussies head overseas for extended periods. But you notice that so many Australians, even the mega rich like Rupert Murdoch's kids, come back here when they want to raise a family. I may well be rubbing shoulders with them this long weekend when I take my kids down to Bronte beach - that's the other good thing about Australia - it's still a relatively egalitarian society and "Jack is as good as his master".

My advice to anyone else would be to come out here and try working here for a year - if the pluses outweigh the minuses then you'll know if you want to stay or not.

28-09-2007, 12:18 PM	#173 (permalink)
mutikonka Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 208 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Good points I agree with a lot of what you say Gags - it's important to come to Australia with your eyes open and without any illusions that this is some kind of sunny paradise. On my last trip back to Leeds I met a lot of people who got kind of starry eyed and wistful when I mentioned I was living down under. They complained about everything being terrible in Britain (when I saw so much that I admired) - I'm sure they'd complain just as much in Australia. You're also right about life here being potentially just as mundane as in the UK. But I certainly prefer my daily 40 minute commute on a Cityrail train to the same journey on an overcrowded, expensive and unreliable Leeds bus! I don't agree with what you said about the standard of living. I can do a lot more here than I could ever do in Leeds. I can afford to go out and eat in decent restaurants, I can take my kids out to Luna Park or the movies without getting a second mortgage etc etc. How much does a [bad] coffee cost in Cafe Nero or the Corn Exchange? About the same in pounds as it does in dollars for the wonderful coffee at Bar Italia here in Leichardt. You are right about there being more happening in British cities - the one thing I did notice being back in Leeds was that everyone seemed to be in a hurry and had no time to sit back and enjoy life. And a lot of older people seemed to have a slightly nervous look in their eyes, as if some chavs were about to grab their bag. The other two main things I noticed about Leeds were the litter and the parochial attitudes. When I got back to Australia and they asked me what the UK was like I told my workmates that I never realised that Little Britain was a documentary as well as a comedy programme. It all boils down to what you want out of life and what kind of lifestyle you want. Australia can be a bit isolated for some people - that's why so many young Aussies head overseas for extended periods. But you notice that so many Australians, even the mega rich like Rupert Murdoch's kids, come back here when they want to raise a family. I may well be rubbing shoulders with them this long weekend when I take my kids down to Bronte beach - that's the other good thing about Australia - it's still a relatively egalitarian society and "Jack is as good as his master". My advice to anyone else would be to come out here and try working here for a year - if the pluses outweigh the minuses then you'll know if you want to stay or not.