American thinking of moving to Australia. some questions.

Discussion in 'Australia, NZ, Pacific' started by bobwilson1977, Oct 29, 2008.

  1. bobwilson1977

    bobwilson1977 Banned

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    Due to the remote possibility that Mccain might win next week's election, me and my Wife have seriously discussed moving to another country, Australia being one of them because she has some family members there who live about 100 miles outside Perth.

    So I have some generic questions. First, are Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland all expensive cities? We live in San Francisco ,California right now which is also really expensive, thus we can't afford a home here. Are there alternative cities that are more reasonable? I work as a graphic designer, so unfortunately, I sort of have to live near a major city for work.

    Second, how difficult is it to get Australian citizenship? In the US, they make it pretty (*)(*)(*)(*)ed hard. I read some of the requirements for Australia and they seem more lax and easy. You have to live there a minimum of two years and take a test.

    Thirdly, I- like most Americans- am ignorant about Australian politics. Are they as extreme as they are in the US? Over here, we have liberal democrats and conservative republicans. The problem is that Republicans have taken to the liking of being religious, social conservatives with trigger-happy world policies ( hence my reasons for not wanting to be here if they get elected again) What's the basic lo-down in Australia?

    Lastly- since I also happen to have a thick, Southern Tennessean accent ( born and raised there) it'll make me stand out even more in Australia. Do Australians think we're all idiots? Will they be ok if I'm an American person? I hope the realize that we're not all crazy.

    Thanks for reading!
     
  2. JW Frogen

    JW Frogen Banned

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    We just elected a Liberal government (which is conversative in Australia, go figure! I think the confusion has something to do with the water going counter clockwise down the drain?) so you may be choosing the wrong state.

    Victoria seems more you kind of place. It is the place to be.
     
  3. bobwilson1977

    bobwilson1977 Banned

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    Thanks for the reply. So let me get this straight... liberals in Australia are conservative? Crazy. As you can see, I am totally ignorant of politics there.

    Anyhow, I looked on some sites at house prices. Man- its just as bad or worse than it is here. Looks like anything remotely near the city is very expensive. This is a huge issue for me because we've been saving for years to buy. My plan was to move to a cheaper place in the US... but again, if Mccain wins... I have other plans.

    I looked at NZ . Its expensive there too. Canada is out of the question because they protect their workers and give low priority to US immigrants. PLus it COLD... and expensive in the cities.

    One idea might me Hawaii. Its far enough away from the mainland that its practically its own country. The more I look, the more I realize that most of the Western world is extremely expensive. Sort of sucks. Oh well. Am I wrong that Australia is expensive around all the cities?
     
  4. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    ^ The Liberals aren't conservative, though, they are more liberal than the Howard era. Now HE was conservative. Too much so.

    Sydney is expensive to live, house prices are sky high. Queensland I imagine might be the same. Victoria is the place to be, as JF says. Melbourne is a good city. The houses cost a fair bit but I think the prices have actually dropped due to this economy thing, so now might be the best time to buy.

    Accents don't bother us, just make sure you know a few things about Australia before you come over here - we do NOT ride on the backs of kangaroos, no you can NOT pat a koala bear, YES we have electricity, and YES we think America is funny to poke fun at - with good reason.

    Do not ask where the bathrooms are in a shopping mall, they are toliets.

    A snag is a sausage.

    Board shorts, baggy tank tops, thongs and a can of VB are a MUST for any man cooking on a barbeque during the summer. The bigger the barbie, the better.

    Flannel is a no no unless you want to look like a hillbilly.

    Pizza and icecream are one word, not two.

    We do not eat peanut butter and jelly here because we cannot handle that combination of spreads.

    Jelly is a dessert here, there is no such thing as Jello. Jam here is your jelly and it comes with seeds.

    We do not have paper bags at the supermarket, just cheap and nasty plastic ones.

    We look down on Ford Falcons, especially those late 80's ones. We hate Ford station wagons even more. Both are outdated and fat too boxy.

    Not everyone is as obsessed with Kath and Kim as you might think. Many Aussies think the show sucks.

    Jennifer Hawkins is NOT that good looking, thank you very much.

    Beward of elderly green and yellow tracksuit clad men. It may very well be Howard on his morning powerwalk.

    Every Aussie must know who ACDC are even if you don't like their music.

    Everyone must have watched Muriels Wedding and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert at least a dozen times.

    Most Aussies watch either Neighbours or Home and Away, so take your pick at those.

    The first Aussie celebrity you will come to recognise is Eddie McGuire. You'll see him on every news channel, papers and magazines. He is everywhere, hence the nickname Eddie Everywhere.

    Bert Newtons hair is fake.

    If Bert Newton even asks to interview you, be very wary as he will likely try to flog you a copy of the Bert and Patty album which no one buys.

    Packed to the Rafters is the top rating Aussie show right now.

    We have a lot of backyard makeover shows on right now because people like to watch other people plant trees and flowers in their gardens because they can't because of water restrictions.

    Andrew Bolt from the Herald Sun will be someone you love to hate.

    Robyn Riley will be someone you mostly love but sometimes hate.

    You must know what an Anzac biscuit is and they must be cooked ONLY on Anzac day.

    Watching the Grand Prix and the AFL Grand Final are mandatory.

    We like Americans who are not full of themselves and who recognise that there are other countries outside of America.



    Anything else I need to add about our wonderful little country? ;)
     
  5. Diuretic

    Diuretic Well-Known Member

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    http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/

    Be warned that our culture is very different from America's. We value fairness above everything and the American individualistic ethos doesn't play well here.

    If you don't like Canada because it protects it workers you would absolutely hate it here.

    We have a single payer health scheme run by the federal government and no-one, but no-one would want to see it dismantled, even a tiny bit.

    Maybe Hawaii is best.
     
  6. Sly

    Sly New Member Past Donor

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    Costa Rica is supposed to be a good place for American expatriates. I hope to retire there, but if McCain gets elected I may move sooner than later.
     
  7. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    Do you guys say "loo" instead of "bathroom"? If you do, do you realize that it is a funny word?

    Do you realize that your accent is fun and playful, because you are laid back enough to realize that even yourselves are kind of silly?

    What do you think of the small islands around you in Oceania?
     
  8. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    We say loo meaning toliet because that is what it is. We go to the bathroom to brush our hair and put on make up.

    Do you realise how often Aussie's on Yank TV shows have subtitles so you Yankies can understand us? Now THAT is funny.

    We think they are islands, and that we are superior because we are the biggest island.
     
  9. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    And notice that you never need subtitles to understand an American accent?


    What about Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in particular?
     
  10. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    Do you say "apartment" or "flat" for the place that you live?

    Do you ever think about the fact that you once were a penal colony? What do you think about it? What do you think about Britain?

    Do you have exclusively Australian fast food chains or regular restaurants?

    What should an Aussie's favorite food be?

    How much time to you spend just out on the beach?

    Do you have "schools" or "grammars"?
     
  11. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    That is the funniest part!

    One is a far off country we have nothing to do with, the other is a country full of people who screw sheep.
     
  12. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    Apartment/flat/unit either one is good. I tend to say apartment, though.

    We like that about us, we just don't like that every other country sent their crims to us. We think the Poms are funny because they talk weird.

    There are too many American owned ones so I have no idea.

    A barbeque, probably. I hate barbies but most Aussies love em so I'd say that's our fave food.

    Most of us live hours from the beach so we only get there once in a blue moon. For those who live near the beach, they surf everyday and don't even need to use the fake tan.

    Depends on the school. Many Private schools have grammer in the name somewhere. Private schools are snob schools and only snobby parents send their snobby kids there.
     
  13. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    Where do Aussies go on vacation?

    Did the financial crisis affect Australia like it did America?

    How do your provinces work?

    How free are you to deride your elected officials?

    Do Aboes live together with everybody else and it is no big deal, or do they have their own reservations, like American Natives?
     
  14. Kazikli Bey

    Kazikli Bey New Member

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    Uhh, that's not necassarily true Makkers, maybe for Victoria but not for South Australia. The private schools with 'Grammar' in their names generally have students who are utter snobs but we also have a lot of Catholic schools (no, not religiously nutty schools) which are actually pretty cheap.
     
  15. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    Many Aussies seem to like Queensland, as it's permanently summer over there.

    Not the same but we are affected. People are losing their retirement funds.

    No idea what that means.

    Not sure what this means either.

    Most of them live by themselves in the desert and only pop up in civilisation when they want a government handout.
     
  16. Kazikli Bey

    Kazikli Bey New Member

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    Wherever tickles our fancy. Bali, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the beach are great destinations.

    No, we have experienced economists with level heads who understand what regulations are needed to provide stability. We were affected of course, because every country was effected, but if you had our economists, it would never have happened in the first place.

    Provinces? We have states.

    We can say whatever we want about them, so long as it is truthful and there is an argument to back it up. Or we can just vote for a different official.

    First off, Aboriginal or Indigenous Australian, 'aboes' is derogatory. Second, some have integrated into society and it is no big deal, some live on the land of their cultural heritage.
     
  17. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    How do the provincial governments work? How do the provinces work together to create a greater country of Australia?

    How freely can you insult and mock your government officials?
     
  18. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    Hmm well I am sure we have some Grammer schools but I can't think of any public schools so I assume they'd be private...
     
  19. Kazikli Bey

    Kazikli Bey New Member

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    Wait, what? Translation please, i don't really understand your convict Victorian lingo. :D
     
  20. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    You mean state governments? I don't think they do work together to be honest. There seem to be different rules for every state.

    We are more free to mock them than you guys are. As Kaz says, we have to be able to back it up or we can vote for someone else.
     
  21. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    Interesting. I thought that America was the only one with states.


    You are responsible for making sure what you are saying is truthful? Is that a legal requirement of your freedom to say something bad about an official?

    Woops. Sorry about the slur.
     
  22. SpankyTheWhale

    SpankyTheWhale New Member

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    Are there federal laws and state laws, so that at least there is some foundation of the same laws throughout Australia? How different are the rules in each state?

    Prove it. We can call Bush, or any other official anything we want and say whatever we want about them as long as it doesn't sound like we are planning on doing them physical harm.
     
  23. Kazikli Bey

    Kazikli Bey New Member

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    That comes from the American tradition of being unable to know about anything outside of America.

    No, you can say what you want, it's no legal requirement, but you will be treated like an utter toss bag if you lie. We can say stuff like 'Rudd is a wanker', or 'Johnny Howard was a tool' if we want to express our opinion of them, but we don't run around saying stupid things like 'Penny Wong isn't Australian because she was born in Malaysia and is therefore not Australian' when it is clearly evident that she was born of an Australian mother.

    Forgiven.
     
  24. Makedde

    Makedde New Member Past Donor

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    There are federal laws and state laws, yes. The rules I guess are like the rules in states in the US. Half the states have a law, the others don't. Just the same as yours I would imagine. I think more power should be given to the states though.

    Well I guess we can say the same things and only have the cops knock on our doors if we make threats.
     
  25. Kazikli Bey

    Kazikli Bey New Member

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    There are Federal Laws and State Laws. The Federal Government maintains the economy and maintains certain uniform laws. There are minor differences between State laws but these are so minor as to not really make much of a difference.
     

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