My first month

[Johan du Toit]

Hi everyone!

Wow.... let me breathe! It has been a wild ride. The list of things to organize seems never ending. I'l jot down some notes. I am way too lazy\busy to even attempt a well written essay, so bare with me.

I arrived in Perth on 12 May and was picked up by a friend. He stays in the very upmarket suburb called Hillarys. I mention this, because he does not even really earn a lot of money and his wife is simply a travel agent. In my mind this quality of life here is way better than in South Africa. Take note that I used to call Somerset West\ Stellenbosch home. Here you can live in relative luxury on even the most basic salary.

I purchased 2 cars. One cost $2200 and the other $1700. Holden Barina and Ford Festiva. Both are 93 models with les than 150000km on the clock.

We live in our dream home and it is on the cheaper side. It is really smart and in a clean new area in Hocking. Pity we have to move closer to work soon.

Service levels here is just fantastic.

The weather is perfect 80% of the time.

Passing your drivers is extremely difficult. We have both failed our first try. I passed the second time, but only just. Take note that I did not take lessons or study or anything. If you want to pass the first time, then go for one lesson.

My wife is a hair dresser and found work at Perth's best salon. It was very easy. www.aokihair.com.au

I found work with a lot of hard work and patience. I got many interviews from early on, but only after I changed my resume layout. The biggest tip I can give is not to waist your time with cover letters. Concentrate on resume style and layout. It made a huge difference without even changing the content. Just work on Seek. I applied for about 15-20 jobs every day. I went to about 6 interviews. Many of them was with the agents. I found a job that seems a little below the level I had in SA, with about double the money in Rands. You can really afford to rent a nice house and buy a nice car on minimum wage here. It is absolutely astonishing and definitely the biggest advantage of Aus.

Safety... haven't thought of it for a second. We are free now.

Schools... fantastic.

Daycare... beyond fantastic. Cheap, if you consider that the government is paying more than half. Just like that.

They are even going to help with our rent in some way that I don't care to understand yet. All because we have a kid. Almost funny how we suffered in SA. For nothing!

Everyone is so friendly it almost feels strange. I have become used to the stressed life and I need to improve my own personality I think. I am not used to always being friendly. I was always ready to attack someone for causing me discomfort in SA. Here you just have to say thank you all the time.

Gadgets and TV and internet... and I am a total geek.... cheap, the best ever, amazing. People give stuff away here. I am in heaven. We can actually watch HDTV for free here. Wow!

For kids... as good as it gets. We have not even started living yet. We have just been planning and organizing day in and day out.

[Oryx]

Lekke Man!!

Hopefully we will join you soon in Perth.

Just waiting for those "Routine Checks" to be completed.

Still planning a validation visit in September..............

[Eva]

Thanks for your post! Rent-assist is amazing, who ever thought the government would help pay your rent? We couldn't believe our luck. Bummer when you buy you got to pay your mortgage yourself!

[rozellem]

Hey Johan,

so glad things are going well with you all. See you had nothing to worry about. I think if you go back to some of your first posts in about a months time you will laugh out loud with relief and happiness. The "old Johan" had nothing to worry about in the end.

[Jordy]

Johan I love your post!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the bit about gadgets and stuff....so cheap. and also the part about having to say thank you

[Alida]

Johan -

I do appreciate your post sooooo much ! Just show you - it depends on what you regard happiness.

[Settled]

JOHAN, SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Have been wondering when you'd pop up again (Since I have a personal interest in your journey, knowing you and all.)

Will definitely be passing this info on to my hubby who still has a lot of reservations and doubts about his future work-wise in Oz.

Please keep us updated, would love to hear more....

AAAhhh, here's a question: Copied cds and dvds - friends said we should NOT bring any with us. (mostly kids movies and music) and even that we should clear our MVIX harddrive (that thingie everyone else in the house knows how to operate)

However, if this is the case, what about music on an IPOD which I'm sure my daughter will have on the flight?

Any comments from you guys that have arrived?

J

[JacquesV]

.........and even that we should clear our MVIX harddrive (that thingie everyone else in the house knows how to operate)

NOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAA Don't say that???????

If your media players content is legit but you don't want people looking at your ummm, personal data, I would encrypt it with 256 bit encryption software But you didn't hear that from me

On a serious note though I highly doubt they'll be checking drive content as it's a violation of your privacy unless they have reason to believe you have some form of child porn on there!

I would however still encrypt sensitive information (personal documentation) on the drive.

[Jordy]

Aus customs have recently added a question to the incoming passenger cards- "Are you carrying any pornography?" If you say yes they want to see it to see if it is acceptable.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/travell...0-1225869495625

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/got...computer-925979

...if you head to Australia, customs officers can search electronics devices for porn upon entry.

http://gnews.com/aussie-rules-changed-to-l...04201024055020/

Customs and immigration officers in Australia have been granted new powers to search laptops and mobiles for pornography.

[LeeInOz]

JOHAN, SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

AAAhhh, here's a question: Copied cds and dvds - friends said we should NOT bring any with us. (mostly kids movies and music) and even that we should clear our MVIX harddrive (that thingie everyone else in the house knows how to operate)

However, if this is the case, what about music on an IPOD which I'm sure my daughter will have on the flight?

Any comments from you guys that have arrived?

J

To be honest about the copies stuff. They really are looking for resellers. Stuff on a computer device, dont think they care to waste time. We brought some copied stuff in our container and have replaced it all with orignal or just binned it after not playing.

There was a time when they talked about checking iPods and such, but with a flight of 400 people, say 50 or so with iPods or MP3 players would take hours if not days. Nobody seemed to ask on the flught I was on a week ago landing at Melbourne (even though they were filming Border Security)

[DereckDana]

Hey Johan, loved your post and very comforting and informative! We are also moving from Somerset West/Stellenbosch but to Melbourne!

Good luck and hope to read more of your posts!

D&D.

[Johan du Toit]

My license arrived. The card with my photo on. I only passed my driver's on Tuesday. That means you can get a license from nothing to card here in Perth in 5 working days. That is if you are a PR. You do you learners by just arriving at one of the many license centres and doing a multiple question computer test. You have to get 24 out of 30. You can practice the test online. I got 26 my first try without studying at all. I got 27 in the actual test. My wife got 28. You then just ask for the earliest date at any license centre. It can be the next day, but never more than 2 weeks or so.

Compare that to SA!

Note: It is very important that you apply for your TFN (Tax File Number) and bank account the moment you arrive. The TFN application is online, but you can only do it after arrival. Get something mailed to any address you are staying ASAP.

[Settled]

Thanks Jordy,

what if they decide to look for porno (assuming I or hubby look a bit dodgy) and find movies we've taped off TV. (All bike enduros and kid movies only, NO PORNO)

I mean would it delay the container clearing customs? would it warrant a fine? or worse?

Just that to replace Horton hears a Who, Bolt, Tinkerbell, and many more...... is just unnecessary spending.

Thanks, just worried to take risks.

I mean what is legally allowed in terms of copied movies? May I copy a movie off TV? May I only copy a DVD if I own the original? Same for music... may I only have cds original or copies if I own the original?

J

[Settled]

sorry, must have hit "post" twice

J

[mircri22]

Hi JOHAN,

Welcome to Perth and glad you are happy!Life its good here,but you are still in a honeymoon faze..You will start counting the pennys soon!

I think you also owe me a THANK YOU for guiding with your wife"s job...I gave you the link,but I suppose You were so busy when you arrived that you forgot to e-mail like you used to when you were back in SA.Never mind!!

Wishing you best of luck and enjoy your new country!

[Johan du Toit]

Hi JOHAN,

Welcome to Perth and glad you are happy!Life its good here,but you are still in a honeymoon faze..You will start counting the pennys soon!

I think you also owe me a THANK YOU for guiding with your wife"s job...I gave you the link,but I suppose You were so busy when you arrived that you forgot to e-mail like you used to when you were back in SA.Never mind!!

Wishing you best of luck and enjoy your new country!

Yes, thank you very much. At that stage I was going at about 100 mails a day for both our jobs. Glad its over.

[candivw]

We found things cheaper in the beginning but once you have been here awhile things do start to add up ( like all your water, electric and gas bills, car rego etc all seem to arrive at once ) but Perth is awesome. Welcome.

[Heather]

JOHAN, SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Have been wondering when you'd pop up again (Since I have a personal interest in your journey, knowing you and all.)

Will definitely be passing this info on to my hubby who still has a lot of reservations and doubts about his future work-wise in Oz.

Please keep us updated, would love to hear more....

AAAhhh, here's a question: Copied cds and dvds - friends said we should NOT bring any with us. (mostly kids movies and music) and even that we should clear our MVIX harddrive (that thingie everyone else in the house knows how to operate)

However, if this is the case, what about music on an IPOD which I'm sure my daughter will have on the flight?

Any comments from you guys that have arrived?

J

Dont be too worried about copied cds and dvds - what they are looking for is people that bring them in in bulk to sell them on the black market, my kids pick those up in Bali and Malaysia when they go through and it never seems to be a problem, we also brought in the playstation 3 with copied games..

We brought in tons of tapes and dvds from old movies we had taped - no problem as it was for our use only..

H

[Johan du Toit]

We found things cheaper in the beginning but once you have been here awhile things do start to add up ( like all your water, electric and gas bills, car rego etc all seem to arrive at once ) but Perth is awesome. Welcome.

I think it is only because you start forgetting what you could afford with your "high" salary in SA. Just about nothing!

[candivw]

My husband and I were not well off in RSA at all, not here either but we have a better quality of life. CLothes and food are really expensive here and if you look into it WA is the most expensive state to live in. I know Sydney rent is probably more but rent here in WA is not cheap either. Also being on a 457 we get no benefits and have to have private medical etc.

[Johan du Toit]

My husband and I were not well off in RSA at all, not here either but we have a better quality of life. CLothes and food are really expensive here and if you look into it WA is the most expensive state to live in. I know Sydney rent is probably more but rent here in WA is not cheap either. Also being on a 457 we get no benefits and have to have private medical etc.

Lets zoom in on my case. In South Africa we stayed in top security state in average-small size, but modern house. It cost R8000 per month. My wife earned R7000 per month as hair stylist.

In Perth we stay in brand new modern upmarket home. The whole Perth is like a security estate. It costs $1690 per month (Rent assist must still come off that to strengthen my argument even further). Take note that we did notMy wife now earns minimum wage for hair stylist. She earns at the very least, before any commission, $3000 per month.

Now tell me again life is not cheap here.

[Feetjie]

Let me first say, welcome to Perth Johan and family! Glad you have settled in!

I am going to agree with candivw .... simply because she is right. We were all there where you are now - we call it the 'honeymoon phase' ;-) When you look back in a year or so you will prob agree with us, but we wish you well and hope and trust that you will enjoy AUS!

[Jordy]

The difference between being PR and the work permit 457 is huge in terms of the benefits that Medicare, family assist etc offers. For a minimum income family, family assist can add $500 a month per child. Also day care is subsidised. these just add up to make it look cheaper.

[candivw]

$3000 as a second salary is quite a lot, most partners do not work as they cannot afford to pay upfront for daycare especially if they have more than one child, gov only refunds you at tax time.

I still feel that food is really expensive here compared to RSA but then I have been here for 18 months, dont know what prices are like now and food is a necessity, eating well and healthy costs way more than eating junk food here, to me the junk food seems to be too cheap??

Vets are also really pricey here, I never walk out under $400 and in RSA when we went to the vet i never paid more then R500 for a consultation and some meds......

The one thing I do find cheap here is petrol... seems way more affordable, costs me $50 to fill my tank and if you look at $50 in relation to a fortnightly salary its really very affordable.

[Johan du Toit]

The government do not refund at tax time. If you choose that option yes. We simply pay reduced daycare fees and they pay a tax benefit and rent assist into my account every 2 weeks. I am getting my first payment on monday. $600. Heeeehaaaa. I have never got so much money for nothing in my entire life!