New to it all Sydney

tracey.b · 22-09-2007, 03:14 PM

Hi I'm a 37 year old mum with 3 girls aged 3,8 & 9. We moved to Sydney from Coventry, 4 months ago. We are currently living in the Castle Hill suburb but moving to Dural next month. Finding it difficult to meet and make friends and feeling very lonely. This loneliness and isolation is especially hard to deal with when you left so many good friends and family in UK. You have to wonder is it worth this heartache! Any tips, advice or anyone in a similar situation? Love to hear from you

jenny79 · 22-09-2007, 07:22 PM

try not to compare your life in Oz to the one you had in the UK... i know it's very hard, but that should reduce some of the stress. also try getting involved in voluntary work and other such things, even if just for a few hours weekly. it will help you make new contacts, eventually enlarging your circle of friends.

one very effective way is to put a smile (even if slightly forced) on your face when around doing shopping etc. smiles are infectuous and you'll soon notice people smiling back. eventually, people you meet often and who smile back often will break the ice.

that's all the advice i can offer... something i intend to do when i move to Oz... the comparison advice and the smile thingy helped a lot when i was studying in Tasmania.

CCMC · 22-09-2007, 07:47 PM

Hi there, sounds like your having a down moment! (it's good to remind us all that its not all fun in the sun!) I haven't made the move yet so I'm not speaking from experience just intention..I would advise that you just to think about all the reasons you made the move and concentrate on that rather than how much you miss your friends/family at home. This is one of the things I'm worried about when we go to Oz. I just hoped that I would meet other mothers at Playgroup/school (I have a 8 month old & 2 year old). I thought I would maybe join a night class or worse case senario get myself a little job just to meet people. You know there are lovely people on here you can always have a chat too! Maybe you'll find someone from your area to meet with! Keep your chin up and just think how envious everyone is back in the Uk, I'm sure it will get easier xx

Rachel83 · 25-09-2007, 02:47 AM

Hi Tracey
Just wanted to say that you're not alone in feeling like this, it took me a while to settle in and find some friends and there are a number of others here in Sydney that have felt the same way.
We actually started having regular get togethers in Sydney for people from PIO. It started as just the girlies who were missing girly company, but there's soon developed a group of us. We're having our 3rd get together this Saturday, about 2pm at Cargo Bar, Darling Harbour (time still to be confirmed!). You're very welcome to come along and join us, you certainly won't be the only person who hasn't met any of us yet as there are a couple of other 'newbies' coming along.
We have a thread 'Sydney Girly Friends 2!' in the Socialising and Get Togethers forum, and also we've set up a group on Facebook which makes things easier to organise get togethers.
PM me if you want to find out a bit more about it or have a chat about anything. I'd just like to reassure you that it will get easier and you will meet people. I understand how you feel and it is difficult at first but people on here are wonderful and are always willing to help.

Hope to hear from you soon, and maybe see you on Saturday if it's not too late notice!
Rachel

twinkle · 01-10-2007, 09:24 AM

I can only echo what everyone else has already said, it's tough going but you have to remember what we came out here for in the first place. Big changes like this we have just undertaken is bound to take it's toll. I am finding that I am putting lots of pressure on myself to replicate what I had in the UK ( frends and family nothng else) but it's never gonna be what you had there. Friendships won't be the same but that doesn't mean they won't be good, just different. Half the fun should be trying though! All very easy to say but much harder to do too!....

sarahsunshine · 05-11-2007, 12:08 PM

Hi Tracey,

Just wondering how you are settling in now? I am also 37 with 2 children aged 5 and nearly 3 and we have only been in Sydney for 1 month. I feel quite lonely too as I am a stay at home mum. We are living in the Northern Beaches area. Would be great to hear how you are getting on now . Have you made any friends yet?

Ian and Sharon · 13-11-2007, 12:05 AM

Hi Sarah,

We moved to Northern beaches last month, children are both at school, husband at work, I am lonely at home. It would be good to hear from you. Hope things are going well for you.
Sharon

sarahsunshine · 13-11-2007, 04:40 AM

Hi Sharon,
My son starts school in Jan and I have managed to get my daugher into preschool for 2 days a week starting then aswell. I am always looking to make new friends as it makes settling so much easier. Have you got a car? How old are your children?

Ellie 2 · 13-11-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracey.b

Hi I'm a 37 year old mum with 3 girls aged 3,8 & 9. We moved to Sydney from Coventry, 4 months ago. We are currently living in the Castle Hill suburb but moving to Dural next month. Finding it difficult to meet and make friends and feeling very lonely. This loneliness and isolation is especially hard to deal with when you left so many good friends and family in UK. You have to wonder is it worth this heartache! Any tips, advice or anyone in a similar situation? Love to hear from you

If you're still feeling lonely, there's a group of Mums and pre-schoolers meet at Castle Hill RSL every Tuesday from around 10.30am. You'll find details on British Expats meetups.:)

Ian and Sharon · 13-11-2007, 08:12 AM

Sarah,

I do have a car. My children are older than yours, 8 & 10 years.

Sharon