Slean Wolfhead Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 1 hour ago, Toots said: After 36 year in Australia I have not lost my Scottish accent. As soon as I meet people they say 'which part of Scotland are your from' or some think I'm Irish. Some accents are hard to lose and the Scottish one especially I think. I've lived in London (only for a year), the Lake District for 3 years, Belgium, France and Switzerland and the USA. Still kept my Scottish accent. I met an old lady and asked her when she emigrated here from Scotland. She looked staggered because she didn't think she had any trace left of a Scottish accent. 1955 she said :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainR Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Within the first year I felt like we belonged more here than anywhere else we've lived. I've worked with some fantastic guys and don't seem to have any issues making friends. I do feel that life in Australia suits us much more than I our life in the UK, but there are a multitude of reasons for that. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 All I can say is so far so good after arriving here in August 2015. I must admit that I have put myself out there with a number of personal interests. I am a shy person in a group setting particularly and so mainly listen and observe but gradually find myself taking part in discussions. People here have been overwhelmingly accepting and friendly towards us. Some I have got to know quite well had almost forgotten I was a pom until the cricket started. I am getting a fair amount of good natured stick on behalf of our woeful Ashes performances. My sad reality was that in England I had few friends and knew very few people outside of work...and I hated socialising with people I worked with. So I haven’t left that much behind in terms of personal relationships. I do sympathise with the general criticism of many Queenslanders that they are somewhat stuck in the past in many ways particularly my generation and older (55+) however I am heartened that the people here voted strongly for gay marriage and have re-elected a labour government - and I have a labour representative in government where I live for the first time in my life (having only ever lived in SE England). 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home and Happy Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 On 15/12/2017 at 08:31, bristolman said: I dislike the parochial insular nature of the country, the constant need to pat itself on the back, the need to belittle other countries, the nationalism. It used to get on my goat too. Its is not a patch on UK and it is stuck in the late 1980's or 1990's. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home and Happy Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 On 15/12/2017 at 08:11, NickyNook said: Nonsense. Never in the 38 years that I've lived here in Sydney, have I felt that I didn't belong. In fact, it's the complete opposite - the place fitted me like a glove from the day I arrived. There may well be people who are unhappy here who feel they don't belong but it most certainly doesn't apply to everyone. Attaboy....you love it so much that your on the Moving Back To UK forum. Sydney is like a very run down cramped version of Perth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 3 hours ago, Home and Happy said: Attaboy....you love it so much that your on the Moving Back To UK forum. It’s been called ‘UK Chat’ for a long while now. Many people browse and post in lots of different sections, nothing strange about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 3 hours ago, Home and Happy said: It used to get on my goat too. Its is not a patch on UK and it is stuck in the late 1980's or 1990's. I don't understand then why people in Australia seem to be so much more relaxed and happier? Maybe your character just didn't suit that way of life ? 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 What I've come to accept over the years of being on the forum is that peoples reasons for returning to their place of origin are personal and subjective and for some that see black others see white. I don't find WA boring or isolated but read that so many people do. We've never felt that we've been outsiders, I haven't met any less professionalism than I did working in the NHS for 25 years - there will always be people who are ok and people who aren't no matter where in the world we live. For me, I accept that peoples perceptions are different and if they are as unhappy living in a place then you have to do something about it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 The funny thing is that when we have returned to the UK I felt like a fish out of water and totally alien- guess it is the same in reverse. Whatever suits, we are all different. Mind you, I have lived 2/3 of my life here so guess that would make a big difference. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home and Happy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 11 hours ago, Slean Wolfhead said: I don't understand then why people in Australia seem to be so much more relaxed and happier? Maybe your character just didn't suit that way of life ? Well I guess its a case of ignorance is bliss. If you like it slow and staying stuck in the past, then yes I totally get it. You have two choices there, you either slow right down with it all or you don't. That said, its lovely for small children and retirees. I could come back and do retirement there, but even then I think I would miss the pubs the countryside, summer music festivals, and going to see bands play live in town even when I am in my 60s. I could not imagine having to spend my retirement going to Kings Park, Fremantle, Swan Valley, Margaret River and Busselton for the rest of my days. That would drive me bonkers. Still if you like it slow, and don't mind your own patio barbies and staying at home on the suburb most of the time with the odd trip to the 'burb shopping centre for a bit of atmosphere and excitement, then good, enjoy it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 9 minutes ago, Home and Happy said: Well I guess its a case of ignorance is bliss. If you like it slow and staying stuck in the past, then yes I totally get it. You have two choices there, you either slow right down with it all or you don't. That said, its lovely for small children and retirees. I could come back and do retirement there, but even then I think I would miss the pubs the countryside, summer music festivals, and going to see bands play live in town even when I am in my 60s. I could not imagine having to spend my retirement going to Kings Park, Fremantle, Swan Valley, Margaret River and Busselton for the rest of my days. That would drive me bonkers. Still if you like it slow, and don't mind your own patio barbies and staying at home on the suburb most of the time with the odd trip to the 'burb shopping centre for a bit of atmosphere and excitement, then good, enjoy it. That may have been your experience (sounds like you were in WA from the places you listed), but please remember its not the same for everyone. We all have our own experiences and stories and not all of us choose to go to WA and for those that do, not all of them find it as you did. Others are not wrong if they don't agree or find their part of Aus as you found yours. Its their experience and not something I would look down on in such broad brush strokes (or even small ones). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home and Happy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 23 minutes ago, snifter said: That may have been your experience (sounds like you were in WA from the places you listed), but please remember its not the same for everyone. We all have our own experiences and stories and not all of us choose to go to WA and for those that do, not all of them find it as you did. Others are not wrong if they don't agree or find their part of Aus as you found yours. Its their experience and not something I would look down on in such broad brush strokes (or even small ones). Yes it was WA correct. It was a rather "quiet" sort of place you could say. But yes I do accept there will be others who love the isolation of Australia and love to live life slowly / quietly. Nothing wrong with that if that is what brings you happiness. In fact you can live in the surrounding suburbs of Perth city centre and it can be just as quiet as many English villages are. Sadly it was that quietness which drove us out the place. I suppose on reflection we were probably looking for it to buzz like the UK but with better weather, but learned pretty quickly that it was NOTHING like the UK. if you can enjoy the isolation and the slow life, then you will score. Like I always say, it is paradise for small children and retirees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 1 hour ago, Home and Happy said: Well I guess its a case of ignorance is bliss. If you like it slow and staying stuck in the past, then yes I totally get it. You have two choices there, you either slow right down with it all or you don't. That said, its lovely for small children and retirees. I could come back and do retirement there, but even then I think I would miss the pubs the countryside, summer music festivals, and going to see bands play live in town even when I am in my 60s. I could not imagine having to spend my retirement going to Kings Park, Fremantle, Swan Valley, Margaret River and Busselton for the rest of my days. That would drive me bonkers. Still if you like it slow, and don't mind your own patio barbies and staying at home on the suburb most of the time with the odd trip to the 'burb shopping centre for a bit of atmosphere and excitement, then good, enjoy it. It's not slow and laid back, I work in IT and defence technologies..easily on a par with the UK and we all work hard at the cutting edge and swap around easily between countries. I just think you went to the wrong place and didn't make the most of Australia, and you seem to only be aware of your own disappointing experience so only have knowledge of that....it's a pretty narrow horizon for a continent that you barely seem to have any in-depth knowledge of. The bitterness and stereotyping is quite irrational however, unless it's really affected your mental health to the extent that you have trouble letting go. As others have said, a lot of what we enjoy is subjective, not objective. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 2 hours ago, snifter said: That may have been your experience (sounds like you were in WA from the places you listed), but please remember its not the same for everyone. We all have our own experiences and stories and not all of us choose to go to WA and for those that do, not all of them find it as you did. Others are not wrong if they don't agree or find their part of Aus as you found yours. Its their experience and not something I would look down on in such broad brush strokes (or even small ones). Even some of us who do choose WA don't have those experiences. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perthbum Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Some Australians even though they are from British stock themselves see immigrants as foreigners which obviously includes poms even though some would never admit it, they think immigrant are stealing their jobs...this is exactly the same as Brits feel in the UK towards foreigners. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 11 hours ago, starlight7 said: The funny thing is that when we have returned to the UK I felt like a fish out of water and totally alien- guess it is the same in reverse. Whatever suits, we are all different. Mind you, I have lived 2/3 of my life here so guess that would make a big difference. iam lucky ...i can slot straight into either place within 5 minutes , no worries 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 On 12/24/2017 at 19:27, Home and Happy said: Yes it was WA correct. It was a rather "quiet" sort of place you could say. But yes I do accept there will be others who love the isolation of Australia and love to live life slowly / quietly. Nothing wrong with that if that is what brings you happiness. In fact you can live in the surrounding suburbs of Perth city centre and it can be just as quiet as many English villages are. Sadly it was that quietness which drove us out the place. I suppose on reflection we were probably looking for it to buzz like the UK but with better weather, but learned pretty quickly that it was NOTHING like the UK. if you can enjoy the isolation and the slow life, then you will score. Like I always say, it is paradise for small children and retirees. I think some do make the mistake of thinking its going to be like the UK but with sun. When it clearly is not. And it can be when they arrive and find out its not as they had imagined, its often they feel bitter and resentment about it all builds up. I don't see how people can blame a country or hate it because of their lack of understanding or research into migrating there though. That some are perhaps woefully unprepared or assume its the UK with sun may well be their undoing once they arrive. However, even those who do their homework can struggle to settle for many reasons. Often its not being able to find a job or being homesick. TBH I never came here thinking it would be as you had thought it would be. Not even close. I've not felt cheated about our move at all. There are culture differences everywhere you go in the world. If you move to a different country, you soon discover if you are someone who can adapt and adjust or if you are going to struggle and want things as you are used to. Migration is stepping outside of your comfort zone and into something totally different. Just because the country you move to shares a language doesn't mean its going to be even close or similar to where you are moving from. I've lived in a fair few countries now and tbh I felt most at home when living in the Netherlands (yes, this wins out over my own country of birth too). Yet I had to learn a new language, new traditions, try new foods, adapt to different ways of doing things and more. I haven't hated countries because they've not live up to unrealistic expectations as I didn't set any for the country I was moving to. I didn't go into the moves expecting it to be a certain way or assuming it would be. I expected it was going to be very different in fact. As it is, Australia at this point in my life suits me and my family well. Its been a great move for us and I have no regrets nor do I sit and hanker for things we left behind in the UK or its way of life. I've embraced things here and live my life as I always have pretty much. We've not stagnated or suffered living here. We were happy in the UK, we are happy in Australia. You clearly were not happy in Aus but are happy in the UK. Don't spend your time being bitter about your time in Aus though, its not worth it. It was a big experience, something you tried, a huge step in life to migrate and it wasn't for you so you did the best thing for you and returned and are happier for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celt Down Under Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 On 24/12/2017 at 15:57, starlight7 said: The funny thing is that when we have returned to the UK I felt like a fish out of water and totally alien- guess it is the same in reverse. Whatever suits, we are all different. Mind you, I have lived 2/3 of my life here so guess that would make a big difference. Spot on. To us, it seems that time has stood still there. They have not changed. We have. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckfield Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 On 12/15/2017 at 17:31, Home and Happy said: In all these threads I see one common theme.....that we never really "belong" there. Some folk lived there for years and years and still have that feeling. We had that feeling ALL the time there form the moment we arrived almost. The fact is we are foreigners down there and mostly always will be treated as such. Yes, Home and Happy, you are so right. I arrived "down here" as a child and knew I was an alien here. My parents never really fitted in here either, and we had a lot of tragedy in our family which wouldn't have occurred had we not come. having said that, Australia is a good country and most of the people are nice. It just isn't right for everyone, and as you rightly said, that feeling of belonging isn't there, well not for me anyway. I moved house loads of times trying to find somewhere I could settle and feel at home,(which never happened for me) but now, with parents both gone, and kids' education done, I'm heading home - and I can't wait. And I'm bringing my parents' ashes with me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 On 24/12/2017 at 19:57, Home and Happy said: Yes it was WA correct. It was a rather "quiet" sort of place you could say. But yes I do accept there will be others who love the isolation of Australia and love to live life slowly / quietly. Nothing wrong with that if that is what brings you happiness. In fact you can live in the surrounding suburbs of Perth city centre and it can be just as quiet as many English villages are. Sadly it was that quietness which drove us out the place. I suppose on reflection we were probably looking for it to buzz like the UK but with better weather, but learned pretty quickly that it was NOTHING like the UK. if you can enjoy the isolation and the slow life, then you will score. Like I always say, it is paradise for small children and retirees. Well of course it's nothing like the UK. It's 10,000 miles away on the other side of the world. I'm happy here but I could just as happily live in Italy, France or New Zealand and a few other places too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 On 25/12/2017 at 03:30, bunbury61 said: iam lucky ...i can slot straight into either place within 5 minutes , no worries I'm pretty much the same as you bunbury. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 (edited) On 24/12/2017 at 03:25, Home and Happy said: Attaboy....you love it so much that your on the Moving Back To UK forum. Sydney is like a very run down cramped version of Perth When I come onto the forum I press 'unread content' and join in (or not) with whatever pops up ............................ so the Aussie/UK/ Visa/Chewing The Fat threads are all the same to me. Yes Sydney has some run down cramped areas - same as cities with a population of 4 million anywhere else in the world. It also has some stunning areas but of course you don't want to hear that. Edited December 29, 2017 by Toots 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandgroper Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 On 12/24/2017 at 16:57, Home and Happy said: Yes it was WA correct. It was a rather "quiet" sort of place you could say. But yes I do accept there will be others who love the isolation of Australia and love to live life slowly / quietly. Nothing wrong with that if that is what brings you happiness. In fact you can live in the surrounding suburbs of Perth city centre and it can be just as quiet as many English villages are. Sadly it was that quietness which drove us out the place. I suppose on reflection we were probably looking for it to buzz like the UK but with better weather, but learned pretty quickly that it was NOTHING like the UK. if you can enjoy the isolation and the slow life, then you will score. Like I always say, it is paradise for small children and retirees. I guess that would be lack of research before moving then if that is what you were expecting? That lack of research is often the cause for failed migrants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 1 minute ago, Sandgroper said: I guess that would be lack of research before moving then if that is what you were expecting? That lack of research is often the cause for failed migrants. I wouldn't say failed migrants but more very disappointed migrants. As I said a couple of posts above, Australia is a country on the other side of the world - in a different hemisphere, why on earth would anyone expect it to be the UK with sunshine. Yep, doomed for disappointment in that case. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 30 minutes ago, Toots said: I wouldn't say failed migrants but more very disappointed migrants. As I said a couple of posts above, Australia is a country on the other side of the world - in a different hemisphere, why on earth would anyone expect it to be the UK with sunshine. Yep, doomed for disappointment in that case. I agree, if people are expecting it to be like the UK with sunshine they are going to be bitterly disappointed and then resentment at the country and how it actually is can set it. Also some people move to a part of Aus that clearly isn't what they wanted or suited to and then lump the rest of country as being the same. Its not, its a vast place and varies so much. I think people should come without those expectations as Australia is never going to be like that. Alas sometimes people do though and find its the wrong move for them. I can't say its the fault of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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