Three months in the land of Oz......

[TammyP]

Well almost... a week to go:)

While going through the visa process with all its trials and tribulations, I loved reading everyone's arrival stories... so had to add mine to the list, my personal ramblings....

Can't believe we have been here that long already... I am sure I will say that in years to come.

What an amazing journey so far. We landed in Sydney on the 26th of November and stayed with my aunt for two weeks. We got to experience the hustle and bustle of the city, we explored and caught the numerous types of public transport available to us. My cousin loved showing us around, because she said it was like seeing Sydney for the first time all over again... and to say we were blown away is an understatement.

Everything works... we caught trains, buses, ferries and taxis and never once did we have an issue... except of course we had not idea how to get anywhere, and again all the public servants were helpful and courteous and very patient!

We got to see old friends from the forum who had arrived in April last year and they got to show us their home.. was great to catch up and spend some time together. All in all, Sydney was an amazing experience.

As our 489 visa stipulates we have to settle in Regional Queensland, and as my hubby has some interested work opportunities we decided on the Sunshine Coast as our final destination.

After arriving here, you actually realise what a momentous task it is to set up your 'new life'. We applied for our drivers licences - on that note, open a bank account while you are still is RSA, you need the 100 point of identification in order to get the drivers licence and this just makes it easier.

I went on Comm Bank's website while still in RSA and as long as you will be on Australian soil within the three months of opening the account then you can apply (you pick up the card once you arrive). The licencing department also accepted my South African Credit card as a point of ID, as it had my name embossed on the card, so keep this for the first few weeks as a back up. Once they had identified me, I applied, it took 10 minutes, I paid the teller and had my photo taken and within a week my card arrived in the post - voila:)

We then needed to find a car. My hubby is in the motor trade so it was a bit easier for us. But be careful when buying a car, the second hand selling market is not huge here there are a lot of cars available but people seem to prefer to buy new ones, and you can pick up a bargain, but have someone who knows about cars look at it before you buy it... and second hand cars are relatively cheap. We paid around $2500 for a Kia Rio sedan and it has been a great little car for us. I think if you are looking for a little run around, just to get you started you can expect to pay around that... just remember that it becomes a problem when you are trying to move big furniture or a washing machine ha ha ha

On that note, a very special thanks goes out to HEOJJ and OYBR for all their time and effort in helping us to settle in our new country.

Hubby went for a couple of interviews, we are very blessed that the motor trade needs workers. He is working for a big panel beater (his boss is an ex Zimbabwean) and is really enjoying it, don't get me wrong, he works very very hard.... and its physical work, but he works from 7am to 3 pm and we can spend the weekends at the beach. He is working with a diverse group of guys, some Australians, a guy from Holland on a 457 and a couple of British guys... everyone has different accents and I don't think they understand each other very well, ha ha, but Its good for experience and has been a great place for him to start.

Now it was time to find a school and a home to live in. I felt completely overwhelmed with the prospect of doing this... its so hard when you don't have a frame of reference, we do this for the kids, but who knows which school is good? And understand that yes we are in a great country and things work... but there are dodgy schools everywhere. All you have to do is ask around. We had befriended a pastor who gave us some advice on the four schools I had narrowed it down to, and then a friend of mine from RSA who arrived at the same time as I had recommended the same school the pastor recommended and so we decided on Meridian State College.

Now to find a house........ in the catchment area of the school..... before school enrolments started.....

To say the inspection process is soul destroying is an understatement... as you guys have heard before, you arrive at a house with a whole lot of other people, you have five minutes to inspect the property and then you hand in your application and wait to hear. The hard part is that they ask for previous rental history and references and of course newly landed we don't have these. Its not easy. Have as much as possible to plead your case. A reference letter for the estate agent in South Africa, pictures of your house so they can see what a great tenant / home owner you are, character references.. anything you can think of that will make you look good:) And offer to pay two or three months rent up front.. its a lot of money but it is a good way to give yourself the extra points to get the house.

And although it is daunting and horrible and very stressful... just know that we all do find somewhere to live, it may take two applications or it may take five, but you will find somewhere, just come prepared and put on that thick skin:)

So we moved into our home on the 30th of January. Its a lovely house, only a few years old as the area is new. We are 800 meters from the school and 4 km from hubbies work. We have signed a years lease. Expect to pay between $400 and $500 per week for an average home in a good area... its the norm and I know it sounds a lot but once you are earning a dollar salary it is doable.

The kids love their school... the teachers have been great and the Australian kids have welcomed them, so sweet. My daughter turned 8 this month so she skipped a grade (she was in Grade 1 in RSA and is now is Grade / Year 3 in Australia) My son turns 13 in August so he went into the correct grade which is Year 7, the start of high school. Both have adjusted well and my kiddies are happy so I am happy.....

In fact one of the hardest things for me is to allow them the freedom that Australia has to offer. My son wants to ride his bike to school with his lap top in a back pack, my daughter and her friend go and have little girl picnics in the park... I am finding it very stressful but I have to get used to it, it is normal for them to do it, I need to adjust my South African security mindset:)

Have enjoyed the shopping experience, after the first few times we learnt where to get the specials. I have also found that generally the food is not that expensive. Ok, $3.98 (R40 YIKES!!) for a lettuce is over the top, but you do find that one week it will be that price and then the next week it will be $1.90... so you need to shop around. We are a family of four and probably don't spend more that $200 a week on food, and we are eating well. Of course everyone is different but this is just my personal ramblings.

You must factor in the set up costs, like having to buy a washing machine and a fridge... but then again, the appliance stores have good specials on too and we paid $490 for a machine that was originally $800, its not easy but with patience you will be fine.

Just remember that so many have gone before us and have been perfectly fine, although it is daunting and you feel overwhelmed on more than one occasion, you will be fine, just ask and someone will help.

And I can honestly say that we LOVE Australia... we had never been here, we took the leap of faith and every day we say it was the best thing we could have ever done!! What a great place to live, of course it hasn't all been a bed of roses, and we have met some 'interesting' characters... but wow.... the beaches are pristine, the parks are amazing, we have forgotten to lock our car a few times at the shopping centre (not recommended but not a crises if it happens). Public servants are a pleasure to deal with and the other day they couldn't find a product for me in Coles (like Spar) and were so apologetic they eventually gave me a discount on my shopping...

It takes some time to get used to driving in Australia, especially the roundabouts... but now its easy and I havn't had someone hoot at me in three months!!

The friends that were on the same plane as us have settled only a few blocks from us in the same area (such a wonderful coincidence) and I was cycling to her house the other night at 9pm... and I felt joy in my heart, so happy to be here... we are truly blessed:)

I can say with conviction that this was the right thing for my family, and we are very happy:) Tammy

[Jordy]

What a joy to read your story. Wish everyone's was the same as yours. But with the right attitude and a bit of luck, landings can be good ones. Well done!

[SML]

Thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like you are very happy.

[Mel-B]

Thanks for sharing!! You made me smile

[Tazzn]

Thanks so much for sharing. So happy that you guys have settled in and that Aus is treating you well

[Katrol]

This was such a lovely post to read. Thank you for sharing. We leaving next week Friday for Brisbane and getting super excited. So glad your family has settled so well.

All the best.

[neburr]

Hi TammyP

Thank you so much for sharing.

I found so many little nuggets in your email, that are relevant to me, or questions I wished to ask. Thank you.

I hope it continues to be a wonderful experience and you guys grow from strength to strength.

[Batsie]

Thanks for sharing Tammy, quite inspiring

[LisaActually]

Amazing Thanks so much for sharing!

[4viljoens]

Thanks for sharing. Taking the leap of faith and moving to Australia without jobs is really scary, but reading your story gives us hope

[Fish]

What a great post Tammy !!!

[JevonLeRoux]

Really is an excellent read. I'll be honest. A few times I got a lump in my throat - how you wrote about your happiness to be in Australia.

Edited August 23, 2015 by JevonLeRoux

[ottg]

...............just ask and someone will help.

Such a brilliant statement and I believe that is the key. But from my own experience unfortunately something that doesn't sit well with me as expat South African, as we have some pride! But as my dad was used to say don't spoil it when someone wants to do good for you....they also get enjoyment from it!!!

Australians are a volunteering nation and strong on community involvement/building with lots of willingness to help. I remember it was such a surprise when I heard the first time about a group of people that are going to do olive picking/cherry picking (cant remember which commodity) for a friend as they couldn't get enough labour for the peak season and this is common!