SA vs Aus: The Truth Please

[Sassyninja]

I am terrified at the thought of my children being 'overly' exposed to drugs - my father was an addict so I am probably a tad more paranoid than the norm.

[HansaPlease]

Having lived in the UK, SA and Aus, I don't think drugs are any more prevalent here than in the UK or SA. It's a worry (ice,meth) but I don't think Aus specifically has a problem when compared to others.

[Shellfish]

I am sure I am jinxing myself but I have not been touched by drugs during my time in Aus. I don't doubt it's out there but I haven't seen it. Admittedly, I live in a very good suburb, I don't work in the city, I don't take public transport very often and I don't go out at night very often - how boring does my life sound . I think Alcohol is a far bigger issue - worldwide.

[leeferg1]

Before we moved across, all we heard from people (mainly family) was how bad the drugs and schooling are.....It did make me stop and think what the hell we were getting our boys into.

Yes, drugs are a problem, but I don't think any worse than other countries. People here seem to be more aware - with TV "adverts" showing the effects of ice etc.

Our family hasn't witnessed anything drug related, although we know it's definitely out there.

We educate our boys about drugs and keep them busy with sport (not difficult in Oz!) and although they have way more freedom here than they did in SA (riding to the parks, deli, friends' houses etc), I still know where they are going, who they are going with/to and for how long.

Parenting will teach them, but peer pressure may tempt them, so make sure the school is a good one and their friends are the right ones.

[elleneo]

No I don't think we have a bigger drug problem than SA.

[Riekie]

• I still CANNOT fathom how its cheapers to fly to Bali than to Brisbane, does my bloody head in!

Ditto for that!

And that goes for most holiday expenses & experiences in Australia! 2 Hour sail boat trip in Sydney Harbour no drinks, no snacks, no meals and sharing the boat with 150+ other people - you have to run for a spot and if you leave it you lose it = $49 per person (on special). Full day sail boat trip in Fiji with a handful of people, including all drinks, morning tea, BBQ steak & seafood lunch and afternoon tea, two snorkeling opportunities, a chance to steer the boat and a guided visit to a Fijian village = $117 per person.

[Kanniewagnie]

Werner,

Ek gaan nou net vir jou suiwer van my ervaring vertel. Ons het 'n baie ingeligte besluit geneem en ons het geweet dat dit swaar gaan wees. Die dingetjies wat my pla is nie goed wat my in Suid-Afrika sou hou nie, MAAR dit is goed wat my soms wil laat terug gaan. Vreemd, maar dit is wat immigrasie aan mens doen. Vreemde emosies, vreemde reaksies, vreemde innerlike konflik. Dit ontwortel mens. Onthou ons almal verskil. Die vars outjie hier bo integreer maklik. Goed so ou maat. Ek sukkel bietjie met integrasie - jy sien, ek is 'n introvert en ek is konserwatief en al daai verkeerde goeters wat maak dat mens alleen staan.

1. Inkopies - mens, dis moeilik. Alles lyk anders - die name die verpakking, die pryse. Dis intensiewe konsentrasie en 3 ure later kom jy uit die winkel met 'n paar pakkies en jy voel MOEG man. Dan moet jy nog mooi kyk dat jy op die 3 of 4 ure parkering gestop het, want die parkering naaste aan die ingang het bordjies wat wys jy kan nie so lank daar stop nie, so al gaan jy net om brood en melk te koop, stop op die 3 ure parkering, want jy gaan regtig so lank vat.

2. Engels. Ai, ek sukkel hoor. My kinders se maatjies se ouers is Britte, Australiërs en Sjinees. Hulle dink my Engels is goed en hulle vertel vir my hulle kan nie glo dat ons wat 'n ander Eerste taal het, so goed kan praat nie. Hulle is 'n oulike klomp mense, maar ek vang myself eerder stilbly, want ek kry myself nie so mooi uitgedruk nie.

3. Kinders. Ons het my kinders se maatjies geken van Graad RR af. Hulle ouers was aan ons bekend en ons het dieselfde opinies en morele waardes gehad. Die wat volksvreemde opinies gehad het, het ons geweet om sekere onderwerpe maar te systap en so het ons geweet wie is wie en wie se Pa is die Biker en wie se Ma hou bietjie teveel van haar rooiwyn en dan het ons daai kinders maar genooi om by ons te kom speel, want ons het geweet waar ons nie ons kinders wil laat speel nie.

Hier weet jy niks. Jy weet nie of die maatjie se ouers aan hierdie of daai geloof behoort nie. Jy laai jou kind af om te gaan speel, want jy kan nie in sy/haar pad staan om maats te maak nie, maar jou hart is stukkend en jy BID heeltyd tot jy hom/haar gaan oplaai, want jy ken nie die ouers nie.

4. Politiek. Die dinge wat jou bloed laat kook het is nou bietjie op die agtergrond. Jy skrik jou asvaal vir die punks op die trein. Die Afrikaanse mense wat jy hier ontmoet is nie noodwendig mense wat jou opinie deel nie. Jy bly maar weer stil, want jy wil mos nou nie iemand aanstoot gee nie. Jy skrik vir die gesin-samestellings - dis kwaai gemeng en dis nie vreemd hier nie. Raak gewoond. (moet nou nie hier lang debatte voer nie - sommige mense aanvaar, ander verdra - ek verdra)

5. Skool. Julle het gedink ons skole se standaard het geval in Suid-Afrika. Dink weer. Jy moet maar hierdie skole so kyk en erg betrokke raak by jou kind se laerskool Wiskunde en Engels (ek kan nie praat van Hoërskool nie, myne is nog in die Laerskool). Die tye van 09 - 15:00 gooi mens se dag nogal in 'n ander roetine. Dan is daar ook maar min tyd vir die ekstra aandag wat ek gewoond was om te gee, want hul kry nie huiswerk nie, so jy moet vir hulle aktiwiteite gee om te doen en jy moet dit saam met hul sit en doen, want die motivering (huiswerk) is weg.

6. Skool. - Taalgebruik. OMG is 'n term wat nie noodwendig die erkenning of aanbidding van jou God beaam nie. Die kinders gooi sommer handgebare vir die onderwyser wanneer hulle dink sy kyk nie. Jou kind se maats deel nie jou afsku in die F-woord nie.

7. Werk - party mense gaan goed aan van die eerste dag af. As jy 18 jaar by dieselfde plek gewerk het, sal selfs 'n ander werk in Suid-Afrika 'n groot aanpassing gewees het. Dis nog 'n grootter aanpassing hier.

8. Vervoer. Maak jou reg vir baie stap en ry in stampvol treine waar mense om jou hoes en nies en in jou persoonlike spasie is. Maak jou reg vir loop met seer voete in die winter-wind en reën en somer-hitte. Publieke vervoer is nie 'n alternatiewe opsie nie. Dis die enigste manier om by die werk te kom, want parkering in die stad is daar nie. So as jy nie hou van elke dag loop en van sweet nie, gaan jy sukkel.

9. Eiendom. Alles werk anders - huur, inspeksies, koop, bou, rekenings, dit vat 'n ruk om jou kop om alles te kry.

10. Die jong mense gebruik nie net drugs omdat hulle sosio- watsenaam is nie, maar omdat hulle baie geld het en verveeld is.

10. Die jong mense se hare en oorbelle en ander belle en stywe klere (terwyl hul nou nie eintlik daarvoor gebou is nie) en baie tattoos is iets om te leer verdra. Alhoewel dit maar 'n ding in Suid-Afrika ook geword het, so dis net hier meer in jou gesig, omdat jy nie in jou kar klim en ry nie, maar in die bus/trein en die publieke skool het nie reëls om hare kort te hou nie.

11. Jou kinders sal na 'n paar jaar nie meer mooi Afrikaans praat of skryf nie. My seuntjie het nou-die dag gehuil toe hy 'n woord nie meer onthou nie en net in Engels vir my kan sê, hy was sooo hartseer, dit het my onkant gevang. Ek het toe maar vir hom vertel my oor-oupagrootjie aan die een kant was Frans en aan die ander kant was Duits met Hollandse en Ouma's en nie een van hul kleinkinders kon meer hul taal praat nie, so dis nie die einde van die wêreld nie.

Hier is darem baie goeie goed ook:

1. Meeste mense is vriendelik.

2. Meeste plekke is veilig.

3. Meeste polisie en ander diensleweringsbeamptes doen hul werk.

4. Die poskantoor is effektief.

5. Jy kan meeste dinge op die internet doen.

6. Die strand ruik nie soos piepie nie.

7. Die honde is nie kwaai nie.

8. Hier is baie parke.

9. As jy 'n paar maande gewerk het, sal jou idee van wat duur is ook verander en sal jy die duur goed kan bekostig, alhoewel ons nog steeds probeer spaarsamig wees.

10. Jy moet nou self vir jou kinders vertel van Adam en Simson en Dawid en Jesus - die skool gaan dit nie doen nie.

Live and let life. Jy kan dit hier doen, maar as jy nie die moed het om te kom nie en jy het al PR gekry, sal baie mense jou kwalik neem, maar ek sal nie - want dis spanning tot die uiterste graad en ons sal nog leer of dit die moeite en trane werd was.

Sterkte met die besluit - dis 'n groot een.

[RedPanda]

Sjoe, Kanniewagnie,

Dis nou heeltemal die ander kant van die spektrum. Ek word so nou-en-dan herhinder(veral deur my man, wie se geduld en verdraagsaamheid ek eintlik bewonder), dat mense verskillend is, en nie almal dink en is soos ek nie. Ek het sommer net aanvaar dat as iemand bereid is om na 'n ander land toe te trek dan sal hulle ook meer oop-kop wees en maklik aanpas by ander mense se gewoontes(aanvaar eerder as verdra). Maar dit maak sin dat enige persoon wat net rondkyk en oplettend is dalk uit Suid Afrika wil uitkom. Ons is jonk, het skool begin in 1995, en het nooit juis baie gebind met Afrikaanse kultuur of 'n konserwatiewe uitkyk op die lewe nie. So dis vir my moeilik om my te probeer indink hoe intimiderend dit moet wees vir iemand wat wel geheg is aan hulle kultuur, en geloof, en milheue om skielik in 'n ander land te wees. Want ons sê dikwels:"Ja, man, Australië is net soos Suid Afrika!" Wanneer dit eintlik net meer soos Suid Afrika is as enige ander land. Dis hoekom ek vir mense sê wat vra, dat dit afhang waarmee hulle Australië gaan vergelyk.

Maar ek dink: Kudos vir julle! Baie sterkte vir die aanpassing, ek hoop julle kry 'n goeie gemeenskap wat julle kan help met die proses, want ek is seker as julle net vasbyt sal dit beter word, soos wat die inkopies meer bekend word en korter tyd vat om te doen, en soos wat julle die mense leer ken.

Toe ons rond gery het en na buurte gekyk het op 'n kort trippie nou onlangs het ek vir my man gesê:"Dis vreemd, in Suid Afrika as jy by 'n huis verby ry, dan dink jy sommer jy weet hoe hy binne sal lyk, en die huise voel vir mens deurskynend. Maar in Australië(of seker enige ander land) ry mens rond en al die huise is toe boksies." Ons het later uitgevind met gebruik van 'n eiendom app dat die buitekant van die huise vir ons heeltemal die verkeerde indruk gee. Die buitekant lyk sommer slordig en dan lyk die binnekant modern en nuut en skoon.

In elkgeval, net vasbyt! Julle kinders sal seker teen hulle vroë 20s dink Australië is die beste plek op aarde.

[WernerS]

Kanniewagnie

Baie dankie vir jou mooi en reguit bydrae. Dit is wat waarna ek op soek was. Eerlike terugvoering van mense wat daar bly en dinge daagliks beleef.

Die bedoeling was nie om 'n vergelyking te maak en my besluit daarop te baseer nie; ek het klaar besluit. Indien dit moontlik is dan is ek daar!

Maar wat my gat totaal en al lam maak is die EXPATS op hierdie tuiste wat oorsensitief is (net soos die klomp ANC boeties hier by ons) soos Matt en Sunnyskies wat dink omdat hulle nou al 'n tydjie daar is dat hulle die kat se snorbaarde is! As jy my vra het hulle te veel tyd op hul hande en het professionele bloggers geraak wat kan kyk waar hulle iemand kan prober intimideer.

Wel, al wat hulle gewys het is dat Australie maar ook 'n paar %^&* het en dat hulle nie hul stront in Suid Afrika agter gelaat het nie.

In my opinie het Australiers NIE VEEL OM OOR TE KLA NIE en die dinge waaroor hulle wel kla, "pales in comparison to what we have here".

Maar jy het my presies vertel van die alledaagse lewe, maw die waarheid soos ek gevra het.

Ek het ook die ADMIN gevra om my eerder van die forum te deregistreer ( net nadat Matt met sy stront begin het om die waarheid te se) omdat ek nie die energie het om met hulle in simpel argumente betrokke te raak nie.

Groete

[FairGo]

Dankie vir die post Kanniewagnie. Dit is goed om uit 'n ander perspektief na immigrasie te kyk.

Soos RedPanda sê, hoe jonger mens is, hoe makliker is dit dalk om gemengde verhoudings ens te aanvaar. My man wat 9 jaar ouer is as ek sukkel weer daarmee. Ten op sigte van dwelms voel ek persoonlik dat Suid Afrikaners hul kop in die grond druk.

Op skool was dwelms algemeen onder leerders, terwyl hul eie ouers die meeste gepreek het... Dit was altyd vir my so ironies. Dit was op 'n klein dorpie, so ek kan my net in dink hoe gaan dit in die stad.

Selfs met my aanpasbare persoonlikheid is ek bang vir die gevoel van "vreemdheid". Party dae begin ek wonder of doen ons die regte ding.

Vir ons gaan dit oor ons kind se toekoms. Ten spyte van al die sleg in Oz wat ek van lees, voel ek my kind het 'n beter kans op 'n beter toekoms as in SA.

Sterkte Kanniewagnie en ek hoop dat Oz eendag soos jou tuiste sal voel.

Edited July 22, 2015 by TacticJourney

[BIGSHARK]

Kanniewagnie's points 5 and 6 worry me, to mention a few.

Is there substantial truth to Kanniewagnie's post saying that the standard of schooling in Australia is comparable to government SA schooling (even less), as implied?? Everything I have read on the net makes me believe that the school/education system in Australia is first class. Am I wrong to believe this?

I am taking my children out of private schools in SA to transfer them to public Australian school and I am shaking in my boots !

[HansaPlease]

Kanniewagnie's points 5 and 6 worry me, to mention a few.

Is there substantial truth to Kanniewagnie's post saying that the standard of schooling in Australia is comparable to government SA schooling (even less), as implied?? Everything I have read on the net makes me believe that the school/education system in Australia is first class. Am I wrong to believe this?

I am taking my children out of private schools in SA to transfer them to public Australian school and I am shaking in my boots !

Absolutely not. This is the thing about forums. One person's reality is based on their circumstances. Their views and their opinions. When I saw points 5 and 6, I have to say, I thought to myself: "here we go" - because to say that kids "here" don't get homework might be true for one school, or even some schools, but across the board? No.

My kids are in a government school which is easily comparable to the private school I went to in SA. That is my reality.

There are excellent, good, average and bad schools all over Aus, just like in SA - but I would bet my house on the fact that the general standard is higher in Aus.

[elleneo]

Yeah um, my child is in a Christian school ...she gets plenty of homework . Afrikaans? I have plenty of friends who's kids are fluent as they make an effort to speak it at home.

No offence but Perth has a reputation for being a bit more rough around the edges ( more tattoos etc) takes some getting use to.

In the end you will be able to make a good life for yourself in Australia, there are good and bad parts of any country and immigration is difficult, from her post it sounds like she is still struggle to adapt, it's hard to get honest advice from new immigrants as they still a bit bomb-skok if you get my meaning?

[leeferg1]

I personally find the Aussie lack of "judging a book by its cover" quite refreshing.

One of our closest friends is full of tattoos and has one of those scraggly long beard things that some Aussie men seem to like (??) and never a kinder more gentler person would you meet.

I do agree that the outward appearances of some people would raise a few Saffer eyebrows - but I would suggest holding off judgement until you actually get to know the person.

My boys go to a private school, so I can't comment on my own experiences, but I know a lot of (Saffer) kids who do go to government schools - they do get homework (though not as much as in SA - which I think is a good thing) and their parents are happy with the schools. So, like mentioned above, it depends on the school and neighbourhood.

I can understand someone coming from a conversative background battling to get their head (eyes) around certain things, but if you are willing to open your mind and get over outward appearances, you'll be surprised at what you may find - in others and yourself.

[Rhyss]

I personally find the Aussie lack of "judging a book by its cover" quite refreshing.

One of our closest friends is full of tattoos and has one of those scraggly long beard things that some Aussie men seem to like (??) and never a kinder more gentler person would you meet.

I do agree that the outward appearances of some people would raise a few Saffer eyebrows - but I would suggest holding off judgement until you actually get to know the person.

My boys go to a private school, so I can't comment on my own experiences, but I know a lot of (Saffer) kids who do go to government schools - they do get homework (though not as much as in SA - which I think is a good thing) and their parents are happy with the schools. So, like mentioned above, it depends on the school and neighbourhood.

I can understand someone coming from a conversative background battling to get their head (eyes) around certain things, but if you are willing to open your mind and get over outward appearances, you'll be surprised at what you may find - in others and yourself.

it's sad that people have to wait to live in another country to realise that one should not judge a book by its cover. If only people had such open minds and attitudes in SA they would have probably viewed things very differently.

[Mara]

I agree about the schools, a lot depends on where you are schooled, but I have never heard from any of my South African friends that they are disappointed with the schools that their children attend.

[rozellem]

My son is in a great state school at the end of my street. He takes scripture. I could choose between Jewish, Catholic, ethics and Christian scripture. The school was built when the suburb was, in 1960, a darn ugly year in architecture. The school reminds me very much of the excellent government primary school I went to in Somerset West. Minus the team of coloured school cleaners that scrubbed the place to within a inch of its life and the draconian "Our way or the highway" fashion things were run in the early 80's in RSA. In our school the kids are tidy, polite and just regular kids. The teachers are very good, hardworking, caring and with a strong sense of discipline that wont entertain any funny business.

[SurferMan]

Oi EllenO,

Im now a "Perf" booitjie! LOLOL. Im rough and tough and from the Bluff.

[AFreshStart]

Again, I can only speak from our experience.

Our son is at the fastest growing public school in NSW, we picked the school based on reputation/merit and built our lives around it, renting in the school zone etc.

He is in Kindergarten, has only just turned 5. Within the first week of school he could write the alphabet and his name.

Like Rozelle, he had the pick of religious instruction, failing that he could chose an ethics class.

He has to read 3 readers a week, as his parent I have to sign off on which books we read, he also has sight words, learning new words weekly with over 100 words he has to learn over the next 2 terms. Each word gets a tick, after he can identify the word within 2 seconds it's ticked, when all the words are ticketed 3 times, he gets a new set of words.

Aside from that he also has a separate weekly library book and has to prepare a presentation every Thursday morning for weekly news.

They have computer lessons once a week and does Reading & Math Eggs.

Again, he is 5... Since he is our eldest, I have no idea where he'd be back in South Africa at this age, but we are suitably impressed where he is right now.

He has an excellent teacher, small class, under 20 and the school only has 300+ students. The headmaster is exceptional and staff as well.

This is our reality, again, others will differ.

Cheers

Matt

[Kanniewagnie]

Dankie julle, kyk - ek weet ek is uit die oude doos. So het ek groot geword en om jou oortuigings waarmee jy groot geword het op die agtergrond te skuif is moeilik. Ek weet ook dat 'n geïntegreerde samelewing hier is om te bly. Daarom sê ek 'verdra'. My kinders, wat daarmee groot word en dit op TV sien en maatjies het van ander kulture sal nie my 'issues' hê nie. Dit is goed, want hier is nie haatdraendheid tussen groepe nie, so dit is makliker om langs mekaar te leef.

Wat die skool betref, ek is baie betrokke in die Year 2 klas. Die juffrou het nie 'n assistent nie en ek help 4 uit die 5 dae vrywilliglik. Die hele manier van skool gee in dié spesifieke klas is hemelsbreed anders as waaraan ek gewoond is. Die kinders sal waarskynlik volgens ander met wie ek al gepraat het teen die tyd dat hul hoërskool toe gaan mooi op standaard wees. Ek werk met 'n groepie van so 5 kinders wat sukkel met lees. Daar is so 7 kinders wat uitstaan en uitstekend vaar. Die res is gemiddeld. (21 kinders in klas). Soos ek verstaan is hierdie een van die beter skole in die omgewing. Omdat hulle nie huiswerk kry nie, is dit moeilik om te bepaal wat hulle presies behandel het in die klas - die juffrou sê /laat weet nie vir die ouers dat hulle bv hierdie week gaan tyd doen / meting / dat jy hierdie week jou kind moet help met die 4 x tafel nie. Daar is niks behalwe 'n weeklikse spelling list.

Daarom maak ek 'n punt om sover moontlik elke dag 'n wiskunde en taal aktiwiteit met my seun te doen, omdat ek weet hy is ADHD en ek weet hy luister en onthou nie altyd mooi nie. Die tyd in die middae is baie beperk, want hulle is moeg ook.

Ek dink nie jy hoef bekommerd te wees oor substandaard onderrig nie. Ek dink net jy moet weet dat die klaskamer onderrig hier 'anders' is. Iemand het nou-die dag vir my gesê dat die onderwysers nie stress oor die outjies wat sukkel nie, omdat akademie nie die alfa en omega is nie. Dit maak sin. Jou kind hoef nie 'n Universiteitsgraad te hê om vir sy gesin te sorg eendag nie. Hy kan pos aflewer, of gras sny... Vir ons is dit mos nou nog onverstaanbaar, maar as jy mooi daaroor dink is dit regtig só: konsentreer liewer op 'n gelukkiger kind as een wat top tien is en hoof prefek en oe-la-la soos ons gewoond was!

Dis net 'n kopskuif. En ek is mos nou eerlik daaroor - dat dit nie 'n maklike ding is nie en daarom is die forum hier. Ons besef dat ander ouens anders is en dink. En as jy in 'n bubble groot geword het en in 'n bubble gebly het vir 40 jaar en daai bubble bars, dan het jy regtig bomskok.

Ek dink nie ons het die verkeerde ding gedoen om te kom nie, maar ek weet nie of ons as individue genoeg 'resilience' het om die skok te verwerk nie. Een ding is seker: ons doen ons bes en ons gaan nie sommer moed opgee nie.

Danksy die forum kan ons goeie perspektief behou.

Enigste fout wat ons gemaak het is om so lank te wag - Ons moes 10 jaar terug gekom het.

[RedPanda]

I notice that two members from Sydney mentioned that their children can opt for an ethics class rather than scripture, do you know if that is also true in Melbourne? If so, I find that fantastic!!! I can remember about 4.5 years of high school (after about the first 6 months I decided enough is enough) of spending Wednesday mornings in my 'home room' teacher's class reading whatever fiction I was busy with at the time, because as an atheist I refused to attend the Christian church sessions. I think properly presented ethics would have been a good alternative.

I also noticed early on that in Australia you could pretty much do any 'good day's honest work' and earn at least a liveable salary, especially if it's a two income household. I could never understand why South Africans didn't value tradespeople and would almost always just go for the cheapest option. (that's been my observation so far)

The more I hear and learn about the Aussies, the more I'm looking forward to finally breathing in that society. (Now I just hope they don't have a thing against red haired people, hmmm.....)

Kanniewagnie, ek dink net die feit dat julle getrek het, en bereid is om te verdra terwyl julle leer ken, spreek alreeds boekdele. En ja, dit sou seker makliker gewees het as julle 10 jaar vroëer die skuif gemaak het, maar eerder nou as nooit. Ek is baie nuuskierig om te hoor hoe dit met julle gaan oor 'n jaar of twee jaar, as julle kans gekry het vir die bomskok om verby te gaan en om te ontspan. En om toegelaat te word om te dink oor dinge, in plaas daarvan om die verwagte reaksie te toon(want mense gaan vir jou kyk, jy weet! ). Soos byvoorbeeld met tattoos, party van hulle is vir my lelik, maar baie van hulle is vir my regtig mooi, en tattoos is lankal nie meer 'n teken dat iemand 'n skorriemorrie is nie. So ek voel mens moet kan kyk na die tattoo en self besluit of dit mooi is of nie. Maar moet dit tog net nie probeer in 'n plek soos Pretoria of Klersdorp nie, dan is dit sommer als van die duiwel... Ag, ek spot lekker, maar ek het ook familie vir wie sekere dinge vreemd is of onaanvaarbaar, en meeste van hulle is eintlik ook oulike mense. Sterkte met die aanpassing, en as dinge te erg word, soek soos my skoonsussie gesê het:" 'n Afrikaanse kombuistafel om by tee te drink."

[rozellem]

I am pretty sure ethics is available in most (if not all) states. I have had a look over the work and it is a brilliant alternative. I actually wish my son had time in the week to do that too, but you can only do one. A friend of mine has just done the course to teach it and now volunteer at a school to teach it one morning a week. I am very glad it is there, as not to let the rest of the kids drift away unguided. Thats a big mind shift for South Africans to make, the realization that you can have "ordentlike mense" who do not believe.

I am a redhead and have never had any issues in Aus. I see a lot of us about. I think the ancestry from the British Isles are well represented here. Then again, I dont think I am hyper sensitive about my packaging. If you are, you will find fault anywhere.

[Mara]

I do love the way the forum has grown over the years... I truly love the way we can debate, without bashing each other! (Okay, there are still some newcomers that have to learn to behave!) It gladdens my heart when people can voice their fears, get a pat on the back and encouraged, that things will get better, it often just takes time.

I know what it means living in a conservative bubble, I come from a very Afrikaans background...however... my saving grace (and I say that in the nicest possible way) was the fact that I was a child of 2 when we moved to Rhodesia.. I was therefore English schooled, which took my older sister and I, out of our parents comfort zone, hehe! The strange or confusing part is the fact that we are 5 children, the eldest three were Afrikaans schooled in RSA, the last two were English schooled in Rhodesia.. wow, talk about a line down the middle.. you would never have guessed that we came from the same family!!! We were as different in our thinking as A is to Z.

Perhaps that is where I learned my greatest lessons in life, tolerance and negotiation

[RedPanda]

Thats a big mind shift for South Africans to make, the realization that you can have "ordentlike mense" who do not believe.

I am a redhead and have never had any issues in Aus. I see a lot of us about. I think the ancestry from the British Isles are well represented here. Then again, I dont think I am hyper sensitive about my packaging. If you are, you will find fault anywhere.

Oh, wow, you made me laugh...."ordentlike mense"... But yes

And no, I'm not sensitive about my packaging, but I've also never really encountered any teasing about it, ever. I've heard the Americans are brutal about it. (enough to fill 9gag with memes)

[Craig01]

Can't agree with HansaPlease more. MY experience is that my 9 and 6 year old kids are receiving a fantastic education at a State school in Brisbane - My oldest was in a private school (coupla thou a month!) in Cape Town and 100%, she has thrived more here in a State School than she ever did in the Pvt School in CT.

My kids get LOADS of homework here every day so I cannot relate to the 'Kids in Oz don't get homework' bit

I had similar reservations about my kids education, about drugs etc etc before we came to Oz .... I am glad that, in MY case they were just red herrings