Hello from Alice Springs

[neil&sarah-in-NT]

Hello, We have been living in Alice Springs for 3 weeks now, against everybodys advice and quite a few on this site too (mostly from people who have never visited Australia, let alone Alice Springs) we are loving it. The people here are always friendly, have the time of day to talk to you, the weathers always good (who wants to live down south when the weathers like the UK?) Its been in the late 30's all week, but the humidity is so low it's no big deal.
Within our first week of being here we were invited out to 2 BBQ's and a 70's disco night!
The 'Alice' has everything any modern city has to offer and everything is within a 10 min drive. The Mac ranges have the most amazing water holes and gorges with BBQ and camping sites all the way along.
There are plenty of Aboriginal folk around town. We were told they are drunk on every street corner and give you abuse (again i believe by people who had maybe been here for a day or two) we have had no bother what so ever and feel very safe walking around town with our 2 young boys, they just do their own thing and keep themselves to themselves.
So bring on the NT and Alice Springs, if more people came here to find out for themselves rather than clambering for the 'glamour' spots then maybe the word would get around. Plus if your struggling to get into Oz then try a regional visa, it will speed up the process to 3 months from start to finish and you will experience an area of Australia that most people have't got the guts to try, including most Australians!

Neil

[samozsoon]

hi neil & sarah

my parents emigrated to oz 10 yrs ago and within 2 wks had bought a caravan & four wheel drive and set of around the country. during that time they have stayed in alice twice both working (mom at airport scanning hand luggage, step dad doing maintenance at the hospital) they both really liked it especially step dad but eventually they moved on.
we visited oz in 2005 and had 5 days in alice & ayres rock which we really enjoyed & mom caught up with old friends who picked us up from airport & booked accomodation for us etc which was very nice of them.

have you been to The school of the air & The flying doctors yet? they are amazing.

good luck in alice it really is REAL australia :lol:

sam x

[coachgirl]

hi neill,
we like everyone else are in the process of waiting for a visa. we had thought of brisbane or perth (like everyone else), i must say i'm intrigued. it never occured to us consider anywhere like alice springs, my husband is a brick layer and i work in staff training e.c.t. what made you consider that area? is the work plentiful and how do the house prices compare, regarding the native australians, people were horrified when we moved to east london from ireland, last august (especially the english). i have to say i work on the premise that you get what you put out and we find people warm, friendly and receptive here. do miss the greenery but the convenience's make up for it,
congratulations on the move, we'd love to hear more,

regards from essex,
judith,brendan and our three adventuers. :o

[neil&sarah-in-NT]

Hi judith,brendan and your three adventuers.

Good to hear back from you. Well we have just come back home from the 70's night party with the bunch of friends we met 2 weeks ago at a lawn sale (like a car boot but at a house) the time is 0100 am the temp is 27c the sky is clear with a million stars like you will never see in the UK.
There is something very special about 'the alice' we went to a bbq on friday 'Australia Day' evening and there were about 50'60 people out in the local park having a game of cricket, bbqing and drinking beer. We were welcomed in and made to feel at home. This would not happen in a suberb of perth, melbourne or sidney. We have got friends who have moved to perth who are in suberbia and not 'fitting in'. People go to work and come home.
The good thing with the Alice is that most people have moved here for 6 months and have stayed for 6 years so everybody know whats its like to move to somewhere and know nobody, that why they are so welcoming.
There is so much work here and not enough trades people. Iam a sparky and the guy i work for has loads of work on. It is the same for all trades so you would have no probs here.
Check out a regional sponsered visa you won't regret it. The people in UK and even Aussies don't know what they are missing, its a bit of a local secret really so keep it to yourselves!

You need to know anything, i know what its like let me know

Cheers Neil

[Claroo]

Hi there Neil and Sarah,

Welcome to the Alice!

We have been here for just over 5 months now and have been pleasantly surprised by what we have found. Like you, we had many negative comments made about coming here, some of them from distant relatives living in Perth who had not actually been here themselves. We take every opportunity of putting them in the true picture!


My husband, Andrew, is a senior nurse on the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. It was through his job that we came here.

Up to breaking up for the Christmas holidays, I was working at Ross Park School as an Indigenous Tutor. but as of next Thursday I will be working at the hospital as a ward clerk on the paediatric ward.

Living with us we have two of our 7 children, Bryony who is 13 in March and at Alice Springs High School, and Bethany who is 8 and in year 4 at Ross Park.

I, personally, have had great difficulty settling here (family related) but Andrew and the girls absolutely love it and have really gotten into the Aussie way of life. Things are getting easier for me as time passes and I do think Alice is a lovely place!

Linda, my hairdresser (who has been in contact with you through 'pomsinoz') told me that your children will be going to Ross Park so I thought I would offer you our friendship should you require another friendly English contact. Maybe one of your sons will be in Miss Lamont's class with Bethany. She isn't really into boys but it might be nice for him to know of her if nothing else.

Anyway, please get in touch if you need to know anything etc. we will be only too pleased to help.

Regards, Claire and Andrew

[neil&sarah-in-NT]

Hi Clare & Andrew

Thanks for your reply. Our 2 boys Freddie & Max started school on Wednesday, Fred is in the same class as Bethany. He is making friends as well as Max who is in Mrs Meates class. We were really suprised as to how open the school was to parents not being shut out by the 'caretaker' once the bell had gone in the morning! Sarah is starting work at the school on Tuesday as a ISA class room assistant in year 3/4 (not Fred's class).
I expect we will bump into you soon at School.

Neil & Sarah