Thinking about moving to Australia...

[brucethebear]

Too far from home, starting to get a bit of an Aussie accent when I say certain words, government is fukked, last electricity bill was $1200, a lot of violence popping up and the cops here don't do shit, costs a minimum of $600k to buy a decent house anywhere close to the CBD, etc... As I said, it's a great place to visit if you have the money to do it properly but living here is a whole other story. At least in the city I'm in.

C'mon Shari - apart from all the above, its not that bad
(Although I am over the rain......)

BtB

[brucethebear]

Don't move to Australia

I've only heard bad things about people living there. No offense to Shari of course, but its what I heard.

Oprah loves it. Can't be that bad.

[nli07]

Australia baby!!!! Go go go!!!

[GELATINOUS CUBE]

bet-on-Rodd-and-...Nolen-to-show...every-race.

[Jessica]

Move to New Zealand....right across from there and much nicer.

[brucethebear]

Move to New Zealand....right across from there and much nicer.

That is why they all move to Australia....

[RonPaul2008]

I am getting things in order where I will be receiving income from my business and my home when I leave. I am headed to Ashdod.

I could be mistaken..or maybe you don't care..or maybe both...but doesn't Israel totally ban internet gambling very restrictively?

[bogbat]

Don't listen to Shari. Australia is the best country in the world, and this is coming from someone who has lived in several different countries, including USA right now.

The crime rate in Australia is among the lowest in the world. It is true that somethings are more expensive there but Australia has a thriving economy so there is also potential to earn a lot too. For example, I worked as a parking attendant for the city council part time when I was in university earning $25 an hour. You'd be lucky to earn $8 an hour here in California for a job like that.


Also, the education system in Australia is top notch. It is funded by the government interest free for permanent residents and you don't have to pay anything back until you start working full time. In the USA many students rack up thousands in high interest student loans and even after you get your degree you'll be lucky to get a job.

[shari91]

Bogbat, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I too have lived in more countries than I'd ever wanted to and while Australia isn't the worst, it's by no means the best.

Yes people can get paid well for part-time work but why is that? Could it be because $1300 a month in rent hardly gets you a decent place to live let alone somewhere close to the city? Or could it be how the newspapers are filled every day, including today, with how buying a home is now impossible for most let alone paying the basic utilities that come along with any home, owned or rented. Melbourne has turned into a violent cesspool with daily reports of innocent people being bashed, glassed an having their homes intruded. And when a basic breakfast at a dodgy cafe costs you anywhere from $15 or more, I can see why casual wages need to be so high. Casual wages mind you as the hours you can work are limited. If you care the wages here for full-time employees with comparable countries, you'll see where Australia really stands. As for the education system, don't even get me started. That's great that you don't have to pay back loans until you get full-time work - Canada was the same way when I left home. But you actually need to GET to uni first. Check out where Australia rates on the number of school leavers and the actual quality of the education here. Unless I want to spend a shitload on private school for my son from primary level, he's almost certain to get a lesser quality of education than he can get in Canada. Even the parents I know who are spending a fortune on private school for their children are dismayed by the quality of education their children are receiving. As for higher education, just from several others about the coursework and degree of complexity of the subjects we needed to take in order for us to achieve our MBAs is enough for me to know which system I'd place my confidence in.

So yes, this country is great on many levels, with the actual generosity and attitudes of Aussies themselves probably being the biggest asset this country has as I don't believe anyone else comes close. But if you want to work full-time and buy a house in order to raise a family in order and hope they receive a decent education, then this isn't the best place to do it anymore. Working temp jobs and living with 4 flatmates in a $300 per week shithole? No problem.

[shari91]

Shari, are you gonna go back to work when he turns 18

I was hoping to find some sort of welfare payment to go on and just go all in every week on Brock's Rubberband plays.

Nah seriously if my son could consistenly remain well I'd already be working again full-time from home. Am ditching the country to country bullshit until my employer ditches me. Just too hard to do it right now consistently when every couple of weeks or so we're back in the hospital and I basically go AWOL. It's hard enough with the time difference as it is. Trying to work from hospital rooms requires a level of ninja like stealth mode maneuvers that I haven't quite mastered yet.

[madrabbit]

Im from Oz. It depends where you live I suppose like any place. I love America and have been there twice this year, was going to be 3rd but Im delaying the vacation for a few months. America is the greatest country in the world and without America the world would be boring as ****. The great sport, women, movies, food, athlete's, America has it all.

Where you located Shari? And for the guy that started this thread where abouts you thinking of living?