Popular Post CyberJoe Posted September 7, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 Yesterday it was one year since we landed in Sydney. My wife and I went out to celebrate we survived the year and reflected on how much different our life is here than what it was back home. Truth be told, even though it has been a year, we still carry so much of South Africa with us that it feels a bit surreal to think this is where we are now. I still read the SA news, we both get excited when we meet other South Africans in our daily lives between our jobs. Even just the little odd product from SA still sparks a good memory (My wife bought me a packet of Zoo cookies and it was the best! Don't get me wrong, were not looking for SA in Aus, we love it here (TimTams are brilliant) but I came to realize that you don't just leave a country and never think about it again. Especially since we still have family (and investments) back in SA that we care for very much. My highlights I experienced this year: Getting my Australian drivers license - It was literally the best government related application I have ever had in my life. Took 10 minutes from walk in to walk out and the people were absolutely fabulous! We walked in, took a number, sat down for a few minutes on comfortable chairs, were called to a service desk and helped. No standing in the sun for hours and hours. No musical chairs. No filling in of long complicated forms. No walking outside and getting ripped off for a stupid little photograph since it was "not the correct size". Sigh, yeah. Its crazy but I was HAPPY to pay the application fee. Being able to walk around outside with no fear - When we landed we were too afraid to blow money on Uber and taxis so we walked... a lot and it was amazing to discover that I can actually walk outside. It might sound ridiculous but I never actually knew that I liked to walk outside or even run outside. Jogging was always something I begrudgingly did to lose weight on a treadmill or at a fun-run event. Even though I still don't run as much as I really should. Just knowing that the option is there and I will enjoy it is a fantastic feeling. Public transport - Heck, this surprised me probably most of all. It's a year later and I still have not bought a car. We saved and both agreed that the moment one of us feel that we need a car we would purchase one. Yet, it oddly does not feel necessary. We chose an apartment close to a railway station. For the odd trip away on weekends we rent a GoGet and while it is not exactly dirt cheap, it sure is a LOT cheaper than owning a car and the associated costs that accompany it. We went to the Blue Mountains from Sydney on a Sunday and it cost us $2.50 each. You can travel ALL day on a Sunday and not exceed that. Well, it might have gone up by a few cents but it's still great. Trains get full and we have been skipped by a bus or two but so far it has been great. Aircon in the bus and speed on the train. It's brilliant. Living a simpler live - We decided to radically downscale our expenses, household items, living space and items we keep. I cannot believe the difference it has made to our lives in terms of terms of freedom both time-wise and financially. I think the old saying that goes something like 'you don't really own something, it owns you' is now really starting to make sense to me. We're not going to become nomads and still buy what we need / want but somehow it just feels great if the house is not full of clutter that we hardly ever use. Finding a job - I know this varies from person to person but I was super lucky to get hired two weeks after I started the application process at a great company. Even though I have not been with the company quite for a year my experience is that the Aussies value hard work just much as any other country. You don't have to kill yourself, just show up and do your work. I am currently acting as a consultant and it's awesome to go to different companies and realize how many South Africans in high positions there are in Sydney. And every since one of the people I've met has made a real effort to welcome us to the country. Invitations to their homes, a quick beer after work or a shared lunch made me appreciate them all even more. The Australian financial system - Opening an account was really simple over the internet and we only had to appear in the branch when we arrived. We're not rich but brought over a bit of savings & since we cannot afford to purchase a home, I decided to explore my options on how to invest in the stock market. The freedom that Australia offers is just crazy. You can invest anywhere in the world with hardly any penalties. Want to buy Apple stock. No problem, go right ahead right from your banking platform if you wish for quite low trading fees. But the best part? No account fee for anything except a credit card. No fees to transfer money between accounts. No fees to transfer money between banks. And you can negotiate with your bank. Feel like you want a better return on your saving account? Speak to the branch manager. It was surreal. The person helping me upped our savings interest rate by 1% with NO complaints. Yeah, 1% is a lot in Aus. The bargains - Ahh, how I love the bargains. As a signing bonus my work gave me a set of Bose QC35 headphones. I never thought noise cancelling / powered headphones are worth it but after a day all I wanted to do was buy my wife a pair as well. She politely declined but I started exploring where the best bargain sites are. It is brilliant how many times a shop will have sales on items and offer 60-70% off. And if something is not on special, just ask. J&B Hi-Fi offered us discounts on items without us even asking for it when we landed. Not being judged or put in a class system - I suppose this is a bit of a personal experience but I feel that in Australia no one cares that what the color of my skin is. No one cares what my academic title or achievements are. No one gives a hoot if the suit that I wear was purchased from a fancy tailor or the bargain shop down the street. No one cares where I am from or what my parents did for a living. Instead, I get judged on my work ethic, the business that I bring in the company, my interactions with others and my efforts to foster good relations with colleagues. It is to put it lightly a weight off my shoulders. Is life here all sunshine and roses? No. At times it is hard thinking and hearing about friends & family you left behind. About four months after we landed my dog that stayed behind with family passed away. I bawled like a little kid on the train on my way home and felt terribly lonely. It took me a week to feel 'normal' again and I realized how much distance makes a difference. Even though I try to stay in contact with friends and family in SA I can realistically see how the distance is affecting relationships. The friends who want to leave but cant don't quite talk as much. Promises of video calling remain promises and all in all life goes on. It was pretty hard to accept but I suppose that is the way life is. I also wish with all my heart my wife finds employment that makes her happy. She is busy deciding on a future career with a bit of a switch and it's pretty rough to transition from one field to another. There is plenty of work, but finding something you like can be hard since you have to first start at a lower tier as where you were. The cost of fruit still gives me the heebie jeebies and I don't even want to talk about property prices. Add to that the concern that the Aus govt is busy re-looking citizenship requirements and the SA govt is looking for more ways to tax us and of course it gets a little overwhelming sometimes. But... Would we do it all over again if we could? In a heartbeat. Actually, the only thing we would do differently will be to come here earlier, much earlier. Once again thank you to all of you on the forum that contribute your knowledge, time and energy to answer questions & queries. It might not always feel like it but you really are helping people. Well, you helped me at least 21 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocean Posted September 7, 2017 Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 Wow! What an inspiring tale. I have started to question the wisdom of moving, especially now that Oz has dropped to 34th in the world rankings for immigrants. A glimmer of hope....from you... sigh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimpleSimon Posted September 7, 2017 Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 @CyberJoe where are you living in Sydney? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackoFam Posted September 7, 2017 Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 Thanks @CyberJoe - I can relate to much of what you are saying.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yuvi Posted September 7, 2017 Report Share Posted September 7, 2017 Great post @CyberJoe, we have been here just over a year and can definitely relate to and agree with what you said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneAndMel Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 We can also relate to what you described @CyberJoe . @ocean don't give up. I'm not sure how that study rated countries but I suspect it has more to do with things like the more restrictive immigration criteria that have come into effect, Such ratings also are inherently subjective as even when they are mathematical they incorporate subconscious cognitive bias into them of some sort, and thus are not solely worth basing your opinions on when you are not in the mind of the creator. For example one other rating of countries by beauty puts South Africa high on the list, so then are you going to base your decision by where to live by that? No. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. This definitely is. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganhouston Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Wow @CyberJoe this is such an amazing post - makes me really excited and happy to be moving to Sydney in the next 2 months!! Thanks for this and I can only hope to make a similar post in a years time! Megs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zamunda Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 Congratulations and all the very best going into the future. We've completed four years since moving to Oz and our sentiments are the same as yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlmonnink Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 I agree with your post, but one thing I would like to point out is just because you have come to Australia by no means makes you liable to lose your identity. The Indians stay Indian and the Chinese definitely don't give a toss so stay true to yourself. Embrace the customs, cultures and what Aus has to offer but be who you grew up to be. This is probably why most people stick to their own cultural groups; grew up the same way, have the same morals and values and therefore just easier to relate - hence the excitement of running into other South Africans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimpleSimon Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 We used to call the poms "sout piels". One foot on each continent and dangly bits in the ocean. I guess that's now us ....... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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