Aussie influence on life when you move back home

[Guest famousfive]

When people return home after living in Oz do they see any Aussie influences in their lives?

 

Has your taste in beer changed? Are you more aware of using sunscreen? Do you find yourself calling people mate? Have you more interest in living an outdoor lifestyle etc...

 

Or have you a different attitude to life in general after you adventures overseas?

 

Are there things that you miss about oz[apart from sunshine]that you cannot really replace at home?

 

We are returning next year and it has made me wonder which parts of the aussie life we will transfer with us.

[Quoll]

Not gone home to live, obviously but I do find myself saying G'day which does sometimes confuse the locals. The other thing which I would need to fix if we ever were to move would be a real shower. I dont know what it is with UK showers but they are p*ss weak and dont give nearly enough power.

[Guest Julz]

We won't be moving back for a year or two but my whole outlook on sunbathing/getting a tan has completely changed since moving here. After looking at various old people around here and the state of their "hanging old leather boot" effect skin dotted with hundreds of moles I have realised there's more to life than a suntan.....I prefer to stay in the shade these days and am definately more aware of using sunscreen on the whole family.

[arlene]

We returned to the uk in 2006 after living in Perth for a year, our house still has a lot of Oz in it! We use stubby holders, we have little memories of Oz all over the house. the other day my son needed a cap for sports at school, he insisted on wearing his Australia hat. Before Australia I used to be a bit obsessed with the sun but now I'm so much more careful, always use sunscreen and realise that there are so much more important things in life than the amount of sunshine every day. I like living here and really appreciate having family near but will always have a big soft spot for Australia.

[Conniebygaslight]

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Has your taste in beer changed? Are you more aware of using sunscreen? Do you find yourself calling people mate? Have you more interest in living an outdoor lifestyle etc...

 

I love this thread- for me the above epitomises what Aus is all about lol!

 

I do wonder too and will really be interested in the answers by people who have made the move.

 

Before we came here I was always really proud of my Children's 'half aussiness' now I fnd it grating to be honest, our middle child has picked up the accent and we can't stand it- My Aussie husband is really starting to despise his homeland- this is obviously our state of mind and which is why we need to get back home to UK quick. When you are unhappy somewhere it's so easy to not see any good at all and that's not good.:spinny:

[Guest famousfive]

Sounds like our husbands are reading from the same page,mine is an aussie too and he can't believe how americanised his country has become.He was the one to suggest returning home to Ireland.I'm happy enough to live in either country,as are the kids,so we plan on heading back next year sometime.

 

Having lived here before I noticed a subtle aussie influence on returning home each time and am wondering which parts of oz we will bring back with us this time.

 

Certain words have become the norm now for the kids....g'day,heaps,mates,thongs etc and i'm sure will raise a few eyebrows with their irish friends especially when combined with the accent.

 

My OH will no doubt spend a small fortune testing out different lagers to find one he likes[he still thinks I believe that old chesnut lol]

 

We are returning to open a cafe again and will be bringing some good ideas back with us.I have also taken a liking to some local music and will be making sure to pack a few cd's.

Some of the educational websites they use at school seem very good and I will be encouraging the kids to keep with those too.

Other than that we will just have to wait and see i suppose.

[Petals]

I have lived back in the UK years ago when then we went to Aus. Been back for holidays and am now over here on an extended holiday and I could never live here. So many things annoy me here. the tele for example the news so parochial (seem to have heard that said about Aus tele), no cycling news for oh all sorts of stuff that we take for granted in Aus just not available here. Miss my things in the supemarket, hate the narrow streets, sick of grey stone buildings, we are in Scotland at the minute, want to paint them all different colours. We are both definitely Australian now and even though our family history goes back hundreds of years here we are now the Aus extension.

 

Lovely to see the relatives, lovely to visit, not to live though.

[Verulam]

mine's another aussie husband who prefers the UK! he is now a dual citizen. We are going back to Australia next week (only for a holiday) to see his family, but I can guarantee that after a week he will have had enough and want to be back in England. In our home we use stubby holders, we dont sit out in the sun unless we have some shade, and we have aussie memorabilia all over the house. One thing hubby found hard to get used to was having the dog live INSIDE all year round LOL.

[Conniebygaslight]

mine's another aussie husband who prefers the UK! he is now a dual citizen. We are going back to Australia next week (only for a holiday) to see his family, but I can guarantee that after a week he will have had enough and want to be back in England. In our home we use stubby holders, we dont sit out in the sun unless we have some shade, and we have aussie memorabilia all over the house. One thing hubby found hard to get used to was having the dog live INSIDE all year round LOL.

 

It's funny isn't it we always had stubby coolers etc at home in England and the kids had aussie hats lots of aussie memorabilia but now we can't stand it after only 5 months. I realy hope that when we get back to England (end august) we can adopt our little aussie things aain and not let our negative feelings towards Oz change that.

[mrsindecision]

Sounds like our husbands are reading from the same page,mine is an aussie too and he can't believe how americanised his country has become.He was the one to suggest returning home to Ireland.I'm happy enough to live in either country,as are the kids,so we plan on heading back next year sometime.

 

Having lived here before I noticed a subtle aussie influence on returning home each time and am wondering which parts of oz we will bring back with us this time.

 

Certain words have become the norm now for the kids....g'day,heaps,mates,thongs etc and i'm sure will raise a few eyebrows with their irish friends especially when combined with the accent.

 

My OH will no doubt spend a small fortune testing out different lagers to find one he likes[he still thinks I believe that old chesnut lol]

 

We are returning to open a cafe again and will be bringing some good ideas back with us.I have also taken a liking to some local music and will be making sure to pack a few cd's.

Some of the educational websites they use at school seem very good and I will be encouraging the kids to keep with those too.

Other than that we will just have to wait and see i suppose.

 

We move back in the next month - things i want to replicate in UK are to have a kitchen family room and a laundry (no washing machine in kitchen please!). I always find people say hello in uk as well as here, but will continue that with more emphasis I think. I would like to take life more in my stride - with the stress of moving here and now moving home it's true that everything works out in the end (she'll be right). Aussies I think cover their own assess better than we do and I have learned a little bit of that here - think I might take that back too. Also hope to convert friends to the bring a dish mentality and clean up before you go approach that makes socialising so easy.

[Conniebygaslight]

I have lived back in the UK years ago when then we went to Aus. Been back for holidays and am now over here on an extended holiday and I could never live here. So many things annoy me here. the tele for example the news so parochial (seem to have heard that said about Aus tele), no cycling news for oh all sorts of stuff that we take for granted in Aus just not available here. Miss my things in the supemarket, hate the narrow streets, sick of grey stone buildings, we are in Scotland at the minute, want to paint them all different colours. We are both definitely Australian now and even though our family history goes back hundreds of years here we are now the Aus extension.

 

Lovely to see the relatives, lovely to visit, not to live though.

 

Do you think Petals that it's a case of feeling as though you've 'moved on' just as my husband does but the otherway around to you...isn't life a funny old game...x

[Verulam]

I agree Connie...my husbands family have been in Australia since the 1870s, but he feels "at home" here in the UK...maybe because his ancestors came from Scotland he feels abit like he has come full circle, and classes the UK as home, with no wish to return to Aus except for holidays. Strange isnt it?

[Guest jackie cornish]

So agree, bring a dish to a party, saves a lot of time and hassle, will miss that. Straight speaking, am going to try to keep that up so hope I don't upset anyone when I move back next month. Hate the slang they use here so will be glad to see the back of that (you'se!!! what is that all about), it's all good mate

 

Jackie

[Guest guest37336]

Hi Famousfive.

 

I have been backwards and forwards many times and to this day there is still loads I miss about Australia. In actual fact too many to mention I would guess, but I will list my main points.

 

I miss the laid backness, where 'most' people take you at face value and don't presume to judge you on your job, car, house , etc. Yes, it exists in Australia, but not to the same degree as here in the UK. For the most part the Aussies except you for what you are and not until they know you fairly well will they 'assume' certain things about you.

 

I miss the 'atmosphere' to a degree. We do in this country at times seem to rush a bout and there are never enough minutes in the day, whereas the Aussies seem to take their time a little bit more. Some have called this lazy, and I admit on first glance that can 'seem' the case. But in truth I think it is more of a case of working to live rather than living to work.

 

I still miss the sun, even though at times I could scream that the bloody sun has once again reared its ugly head and made my life bloody uncomfortable. But in all honesty I would rather have this than our long winters. I love the seasons in the UK, but at times it can get me down, especially this last winter which seemed to go on forever.

 

I also miss the smiles on peoples faces. Not all the time, but more often than not when in a shop etc, or just walking down the road you will get a smile from someone, even when they hear that you are a POM.:shocked:

 

This is a strange one, but I do miss the wildlife. I know at times this wildlife can seem intent on seeking you out and wanting to kill you:biglaugh: but the wildlife in Australia truly astounds me, spiders, snakes, sharks, lizards, birds, maybe it is because it is so different to the UK that I appreciate it more, but in reality I do miss it.

 

And my biggest miss of all, the outback. For some it is a desolate and forbidding place, but for me it truly sums up Australia. Stark beauty, silence and a complete mystery. There is/was nothing like camping out in the middle of nowhere many hundreds of miles from anyone and anything and listening to your own thoughts in complete silence. A bit deep I know, but the outback is unique and I would give my right arm to be there once again.

 

I guess the one thing my travels have taught me (particulary) Australia is that I should remain steadfastly proud of the UK. The Aussies do seem to ooze a sense of patrotism and pride, some might say arrogance etc. But I view it as an overwhelming sense of pride and passion in their country, and I hate to say this, something that is lacking in this country at the moment. I have also become far more tolerant of other people and view others with respect and politness if at all possible.

 

Australia is a country that is 'different' to the UK, and we could learn a great deal from them, as they could us.

 

Having said all this, I still love the UK, and I would if I could transfer several things from here to Australia and vice versa. But for all intents and purposes I am happy with my lot in the UK, but there is no denying that I will always miss certain things about Australia.

 

Cheers Tony:wink:

[Guest ragdoll annie]

Hi Famousfive.

 

I have been backwards and forwards many times and to this day there is still loads I miss about Australia. In actual fact too many to mention I would guess, but I will list my main points.

 

I miss the laid backness, where 'most' people take you at face value and don't presume to judge you on your job, car, house , etc. Yes, it exists in Australia, but not to the same degree as here in the UK. For the most part the Aussies except you for what you are and not until they know you fairly well will they 'assume' certain things about you.

 

I miss the 'atmosphere' to a degree. We do in this country at times seem to rush a bout and there are never enough minutes in the day, whereas the Aussies seem to take their time a little bit more. Some have called this lazy, and I admit on first glance that can 'seem' the case. But in truth I think it is more of a case of working to live rather than living to work.

 

I still miss the sun, even though at times I could scream that the bloody sun has once again reared its ugly head and made my life bloody uncomfortable. But in all honesty I would rather have this than our long winters. I love the seasons in the UK, but at times it can get me down, especially this last winter which seemed to go on forever.

 

I also miss the smiles on peoples faces. Not all the time, but more often than not when in a shop etc, or just walking down the road you will get a smile from someone, even when they hear that you are a POM.:shocked:

 

This is a strange one, but I do miss the wildlife. I know at times this wildlife can seem intent on seeking you out and wanting to kill you:biglaugh: but the wildlife in Australia truly astounds me, spiders, snakes, sharks, lizards, birds, maybe it is because it is so different to the UK that I appreciate it more, but in reality I do miss it.

 

And my biggest miss of all, the outback. For some it is a desolate and forbidding place, but for me it truly sums up Australia. Stark beauty, silence and a complete mystery. There is/was nothing like camping out in the middle of nowhere many hundreds of miles from anyone and anything and listening to your own thoughts in complete silence. A bit deep I know, but the outback is unique and I would give my right arm to be there once again.

 

I guess the one thing my travels have taught me (particulary) Australia is that I should remain steadfastly proud of the UK. The Aussies do seem to ooze a sense of patrotism and pride, some might say arrogance etc. But I view it as an overwhelming sense of pride and passion in their country, and I hate to say this, something that is lacking in this country at the moment. I have also become far more tolerant of other people and view others with respect and politness if at all possible.

 

Australia is a country that is 'different' to the UK, and we could learn a great deal from them, as they could us.

 

Having said all this, I still love the UK, and I would if I could transfer several things from here to Australia and vice versa. But for all intents and purposes I am happy with my lot in the UK, but there is no denying that I will always miss certain things about Australia.

 

Cheers Tony:wink:

 

Tony...from start to finish this was lovely to read,

Annie x

[Guest famousfive]

I agree,it was so nice to read such a balanced view of things.I have also been back and forth many times and even though we return home next year I will always hold a place in my heart for this beautiful country.We are not leaving because we dislike it here but more because being in Europe suits us better at the moment[this of course may change].

Australia is many things to many people.When I first lived in Oz 15yrs ago it was an adventure that helped me spread my wings and become more confidant in my own abilities.Each time I returned I gained something without even realising it.Leaving family and friend support with 3 kids under 3yrs certainly made me stronger.And on this trip it has given us the opportunity to step back,recharge out batteries and make big changes to the way we live our lives.Sometimes this is hard to do when you are stuck in a routine,so much easier when you are starting all over and it's all different anyway.

 

These are all the positives we bring with us when we pack up for our next move.

 

Some things we are glad to leave behind eg..the constant clearing of leaves in the garden,uninteresting TV,infomercials,cockroaches,maggots in the bin[yuck], food scraps wrapped up in the fridge and the pubs.

Some things we will miss eg..the birds,the oh so comfortable winter weather in our area,friends of course and our wonderful neighbours.

And some things we cannot wait to see again at home eg..family and friends,irish bacon and sausages,pub unplanned music sessions,going for a walk by the sea on a crisp morning and and being able to speak in my native tongue again[irish gaelic is my first language].

 

How lucky we are to have been able to experience the best of both worlds,and as we all have citizenship there is nothing to stop us coming back again as we please.