Hiya,
just really your opinion on Brisbane what you like what you dont like, the heat?? the houses? ive just read that the basic salary for a new nurse grade 1 is $46,600 is that about right? also as a newly qualified nurse (eventually) do you think i,ll get work? we honestly thought we had decided on melbourne but im thinking we will have to go where the work is! thanx
KellyJamie
Have PM`d ya!
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Joanne & Mark
Countdown to Christmas.......24 days
I accept that first impressions can be hugely important, but I question the validity of any comment that comes when one is emotionally exhausted.
I know how I felt when we migrated - it was a roller coaster just getting to the airport in one piece. I certainly wouldn't then consider there was any point in forming an opinion about the place I had found myself in the space of 24 hours.
It is my humble view that if people are not prepared to give their adopted country at least 6 months (and ideally a minimum of 2 years) they shouldn't embark on the process in the first place. I also accept that some are not emotionally equipped to handle the whole migration experience but go through with it because they feel they have to (maybe as an obligation to others, or because they don't want to lose face). It is only once the reality of being in a new place for the long term hits home that the need to return quickly manifests itself.
Am starting to waffle now, so I'll finish!
Best regards.
..gotta say i think this is spot on..i know it's hard to imagine how it's going to feel when it actually happens, and my heart goes out to buckbuchanan and his family..the reality is it's a huge culture shock..your in a place you are not familiar with and maybe where you know few people or even no one..i had lived in Aus for many years before i eventually went back with my OH and children..i remember how it felt when we arrived..it was very overwhelming and a mixture of lots of emotions, so your initial reaction understandably could be lets get back to where we feel comfortable and ok..i think you have to get over the jetlag and let those emotions settle down..give yourself time and then make your decisions..i'm hoping things look better today for buckbuchanan and send you all the best..in my opinion you've done one of the hardest parts of this move in leaving and saying goodbye to friends and family..give it time and don't throw away too soon what you've worked so hard for.. Pingpongor Tess
Last edited by Pingpongpom; 15-02-2008 at 01:58 PM.
Reason: spellcheck
Well... it's 24 hours on so i'll do a less jet lagged update!!
Thanks for all the posts (good and bad!!) - I probably agree with all of them!
To set the record straight.... I didn't intend to just slag off Melbourne for no reason. Everything I wrote was what I was feeling at the time - hopefully it will prepare someone else for it when they arrive. But, I stand by my words. We got a taxi from the airport - the first half of the journey was nice (the motorway), but when we got into town I was less than impressed. Then we arrived in Abbotsford (our accommodation, which is an apartment owned by my company). Although the apartment is new this does not make up for the surroundings. This is a slum - no 2 ways about it. We then got the train from Victoria Park into town - all I could see was graffiti (much worse than any I have seen in London, Glasgow or Edinburgh combined). It is true that an opinion formed in a few hours is dodgy, but graffiti and litter is for real and it is everywhere. We got off at Flinders St and walked to Colins st, Bourke St, China town, etc - did not see anything resembling a nice restaurant. So, we came back to the slum and went to bed!!
Probably I have been to the only 2 bad areas here (I hope this is the case). I will try the south bank as suggested (I happened to turn left instead of right when I got off the train). But that was all fact as I saw it (and I saw some more of it today after going for a drive). Possibly a culture shock, but graffiti and litter doesn't give me a good impression. The graffiti is unbelievable - it is everywhere I look.
To go over some points....
Going in to the city - my job is a city job so I need to work in the CBD area. Would love to live in Mt Martha but I don't relish a 1.5hr drive to work every day.
Going to Ramsey St - brilliant idea - will pm you once i've been!!
To end on a positive note... it has now stopped raining, the sun was out, the people are still unbelievably friendly (had 2 bbq invites for tomorrow!), we are going to find the beach at the weekend, and we found a really nice park complete with a petting farm just round the corner. But... fact is we can't get out of this area quick enough.
As some of you have said, I hope I will be making a positive posting in a couple of weeks when I have had some sleep and found where things are.
Hi, I am sure you will be innundated with suggestions...but if you need to work in the CBD why not investigate the Williamstown/Geelong areas? Williamstown is much nearer than Geelong, but more expensive. There's a great restaurant on the beach called Sirens - go for lunch, see what you think. I don't know it, but lots of people on this site have mentioned a small town called Lara that is commutable to the CBD. It is just North of Geelong, I believe.
And find time to visit the Torquay and Queenscliff areas to remind yourself of why you have done this enormous thing!
..good to see you posting again after 24 hrs..as you have let us know right from the off how it is going for you, it'll be interesting to read any further posts..keep us up to date and all the best to you in Aus as the days progress!.. Pingpongor Tess
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I totally agree with Alan - you can't make a decision that quick. We landed in Brisbane for a 3 week holiday last August and were so excited because we had been planning it for ages. The airport was clean and quiet and the staff were great. We collected the car from the hire company and off we went. We left the airport and it was freezing!! We loaded the car, got the satnav going and were on our way. We stayed in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast and our drive took us in the dark down roads which were almost deserted with nothing but industrial units and graffiti everywhere. My excitment died off that night and i wondered where all the people had gone. Our rental house was so cold the 4 of us got in the same bed just to keep warm!!
The next day it was glorious sunshine (in the middle of Ozz winter!) and we started exploring. What can i say? We did 2000 miles in 3 weeks in our rental car and discovered the cleanest, most beautiful beeches, friendly people, lovely homes, and the scenery in the Hinteraland was breathtaking. By the end of the 3 weeks, after whale watching, australia zoo, Q1, and all the touristy things you could think off we were in love with the place. If we could, none of us would have come home!
So the moral of my story is first impressions aren't always the right ones.
How long have you been in Melbourne? Maybe you should read up on culture shock :) Melbourne is not a place that grabs you immediately.....it grows on you over time :)
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Andrew Smith
Cert IV Workplace Assessor & Trainer, B. Bus., Cert. TEFLA, Grad. Dip. Ed. & Training, M. Ed. & "Aussie Specialist" http://www.aiec.biz
Yep! its culture shock alright. It makes you think and do some pretty stupid things.
Delhi was my first experience of it but have had several more since. I suppose it can cloud your impression for good but for me I usually see the place in a different light after a few days.
Buck,
Sorry to hear that your first impressions of Melbourne were somewhat dismal - hang in there - it is a first impression !
Although it is a year since we were were in Melbourne, it just does not seem like you are describing the city we were in !
We loved it there - the eateries were fabulous
I am sure that when you have gotten over your jet lag you will see just what a wonderful city it is.
Hoping that everything goes well for you and your family
or Tess
..as you have let us know right from the off how it is going for you, it'll be interesting to read any further posts..keep us up to date and all the best to you in Aus as the days progress!..
