Weather - The biggest difference when you come overseas from the UK to Australia is the weather, it is amazing having lots of sunshine and heat when England always seems so cold, miserable and wet. During the summer months the temperature can regularly reach 40 degrees and higher, very different from the UK! Queensland doesn't have a winter and it's bikini weather all year round so it's a huge change being able to enjoy the outdoors, swim in the pool, or walk along the beach - if you go south they have more notable seasons, but even still the usual winter temperature sits at around a mild 15 degrees.
The accent – an obvious difference, but i thought i’d meet lots of Brits abroad like us, and that Oz would be full of people with our familiar accent but this was definitely not the case. We’ve not come across many people from the UK, and the Aussie accent is very different to ours so it took a little getting used to!
Americanisms – It’s very ‘American’ out here, as Australia is quite a new country the architecture, buildings, signage and everything in between looks very American - with giant signs above restaurants and shops, visually it looks very different, especially in areas like Queensland where there are virtually no buildings over 50 years old…. They’ve also incorporated American phrases and words into daily life which was odd at first!
TV – The TV shows and formats aren’t the greatest, but then again I’m not sure what the Aussies make of our British humour...
Food and eating out – There aren’t many Australian delicacies, and much of the food is pretty similar, but eating out there is a huge variety, but the main food joints here are Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese. The food in the supermarkets is priced pretty much the same as the UK but the freshness isn’t as good as most of the fruit and veg has to be transported from further away due to the enormity of the country.
Everything is far away – Living in Melbourne is awesome as there’s so much variety and it’s ever changing, but if you fancy escaping the city for a weekend or popping over to Sydney or Adelaide for a few days, prepare to fly for 2-3 hours to get there. The states are absolutely gigantic, though it does mean that there is so much to see, do and explore in Australia which is awesome. If you live interstate then expect to drive for at least 2-3 hours just to get to a decent sized supermarket!
Money – Wages here are much higher than the UK, the minimum wage in the UK at the moment is £7.05, whereas in Australia it’s $18.29, which converts to around £10.17 – a huge difference! Most jobs like café/bar work however pay a minimum of $21.00 (£11.86) – if you’re working an admin or office job expect to earn around $25.00 (£14.12) plus an hour, then the rate gets much higher if you're in a skilled or experienced position. This is awesome if you want to save a bit of money to travel the country as well as live a pretty comfortable life!
Way of life – This is the biggest difference, Australia is a very relaxed country – whether you’re late to work or dressed super casual for a job interview, chances are no one will even notice. There’s no real sense of urgency and everyone lives life at their own leisure, there’s no rat race or hectic commute, people are just generally much more chilled out and easy going! It’s awesome!
Cost of living – Depending on where you live, the cost of living is not that different to the UK. If you live in Melbourne or Sydney, and you live in a share house with friends, expect to pay anything between $150-300 per person per week for rent, if you’re a couple and you want your own apartment the prices are around $375-600 per week. Places like The Gold Coast, Brisbane and Adelaide are cheaper - in the Gold Coast we rented our own modern, large one bedroom apartment with a balcony, pool and sea view for only $350 a week for the two of us! Depending on your lifestyle and what type of apartment/house you choose it’s easy to find cheap accommodation that is similar to prices in the UK. Bills are sometimes included, especially if you share an apartment, but otherwise electricity and gas come in at around $100 or less per month. Also eating out is much cheaper than the UK, you can grab a tasty hot lunch in a restaurant for $10 or less and dinner for around $14 or more which is mega reasonable. Other things like phone bills, travel and everyday spending are the same as the UK.
Standard of living - As most people have a decent incoming, the standard of living is much better - people have more money to travel, go out, eat out and save, which in turn makes people happier! There's not so much of a focus on work here like there is in the UK, again this probably comes alongside the relaxed Aussie mentality, but the work environment is healthy, fun, and much more relaxed making lots of happy employees.
People - It's definitely true that the Australians aren't afraid of having a good time, from my time here i've met some of the most awesome, fun people, who are always up for a laugh and enjoy making the most of life. Aussie's seem like such free spirits and are super friendly and helpful - don't be surprised if they stop you in the street just to say hello or for a chat!
Culture - This is a big one for me, i had a huge culture shock when i arrived in Australia, nothing really prepares you for how different the culture is. There is vast, interesting Aboriginal history all across Australia that is truly fascinating, however unfortunately there is only a small piece of this history that we know about today. In terms of places of interest, historical monuments and buildings, and history dramas, there is very little in comparison to Europe as the country is in comparison very 'new' - the buildings are new and the cities are small, but it's great to embrace the modernity and changing shape of this exciting country.
Have you ever visited Australia?
X
Yep. That's my take too. But I would add theyntendbto be more cheerful than we Brits. I think that's because sunshine makes people feel happier.
ReplyDelete