I fully live in Australia now. I am constantly plagued by the internal battle of 'Will I stay or will I go'.
A wise woman down my gym in Lane Cove spoke to me about it one day. I loved talking to this lady - she was a total amateaur dramatic enthusiast, had wild hair like Leo Sayer, always wore shiny spandex in the gym and 2 different coloured socks. Very well spoken, always reading a classic script on the treadmill at a high walking pace.
She is an Aussue and told me she had lived in London many moons ago. Just a few weeks before we spoke, her daughters had moved over to find their fortune in the big smoke.
Her advice is there is no right answer of where to stay. She is still torn by her decision to move back to Australia, but at the same time loves it and loves being near her family. If she didn't have her son and mother to look after, she would have moved over with her daughters and stayed again.
So I am still battling with trying to make Australia home. There are so many people I love on the other side of the world but there are benefits of being here.
So for the moment, I am just going to type the amusing differences/facts I find between both places.
1: Tea. Aussies cannot do tea like the Irish and Brits. They do some great flavoured tea, but not black tea like Barrys, Yorkshire, Lyons, PG tips... One of the things that I crave is a big mug of tea in my parents kitchen, listening to Radio 2.
2. Coffee. Brits CANNOT do coffee like the Aussies. I am a coffee snob now. I love a flat white - if you put me in front of a coffee machine and told me to make one, I would make a total pigs ear of it, but then I'm not a barista. I love the experience of going for a good take away coffee, sitting on a grassy verge and over looking the ocean.
3. Sausages. Beef sausage? Chicken sausage? Are you on crack Australia?
4. Morning Tea. In most work places in Australia, there is a set time to stop for a break for 'morning tea'. Apparently it's from a British tradition..?!
5. Only in Australia (a country less effected by the GLC) would you find a water bottle for yoga that costs $50.
6. Risoles in Australia - like meatballs, but put on a BBQ - yum!
7. Indian food in England is the best (apart from India obvisouly)
8. Thai and Vietnamese food in Australia is amazing
9. In Manchester is is common to greet one another with, 'Hiya, 'alright?' and in Australia people in shops ask you 'Hello, how are you?' - am I actually supposed to answer either or is it just a greeting??
10. Horse Racing is a big thing in Australia. Like, BIG. While I was home last month I was discussing this with a friend who thought most Aussies just live at the beach wearing loungy cut off beach wear. Not so much.. she was quite surprised by the glamourous description of the big hair, high heels, facinators and apparel that is very common when the race season begins. It's big business here.
11. Vegimite and avocado (together) is a thing.
12. Europeans do clothes better. Sorry, but it's true.
13. Yoga is everywhere you go here. That's a good thing.
14. There are some great Australian TV series that don't make it to UK: The Slap, The Glitch, The Moodies Do Christmas, Would Like to Date, Offspring..
15. Australians are in total denial of winter. Homes are not built with insulation or double glazing. If I'm cold, my boyfriend frequently tells me to put more layers on. I end up looking like the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. OK, it's not -2, but 5 degrees in the rain with no heating and vents that go straight to the outdoors is COLD!
That's all for the moment. I think I don't write this much any more because I write so much in one go. So I will try and start again with small tips and comments about me being an 'expat'/ economic migrant in Aus. x
5. Only in Australia (a country less effected by the GLC) would you find a water bottle for yoga that costs $50.
6. Risoles in Australia - like meatballs, but put on a BBQ - yum!
7. Indian food in England is the best (apart from India obvisouly)
8. Thai and Vietnamese food in Australia is amazing
9. In Manchester is is common to greet one another with, 'Hiya, 'alright?' and in Australia people in shops ask you 'Hello, how are you?' - am I actually supposed to answer either or is it just a greeting??
10. Horse Racing is a big thing in Australia. Like, BIG. While I was home last month I was discussing this with a friend who thought most Aussies just live at the beach wearing loungy cut off beach wear. Not so much.. she was quite surprised by the glamourous description of the big hair, high heels, facinators and apparel that is very common when the race season begins. It's big business here.
11. Vegimite and avocado (together) is a thing.
12. Europeans do clothes better. Sorry, but it's true.
13. Yoga is everywhere you go here. That's a good thing.
14. There are some great Australian TV series that don't make it to UK: The Slap, The Glitch, The Moodies Do Christmas, Would Like to Date, Offspring..
15. Australians are in total denial of winter. Homes are not built with insulation or double glazing. If I'm cold, my boyfriend frequently tells me to put more layers on. I end up looking like the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. OK, it's not -2, but 5 degrees in the rain with no heating and vents that go straight to the outdoors is COLD!
That's all for the moment. I think I don't write this much any more because I write so much in one go. So I will try and start again with small tips and comments about me being an 'expat'/ economic migrant in Aus. x
