Thoughts on living overseas

Recently, I've come across a couple of posts that talk about why some fellow Aussies have come to the UK (you can find the posts here and here). A lot of what is said in those posts mirrors why I came to the UK, but I thought I would add my own two pence worth:

When I meet people for the first time (and I meet a lot of people in my job) and we've established, that yes, I really AM from Australia, the next (inevitable) question is some variation on:

"Why on earth would you want to come here for?"

often closely followed by:

"But don't you miss home/your family/your friends?"

After two years living here, I'm starting to become more consistent in how I answer. And, in all honesty, it boils down to one simple sentence: 

"I've always wanted to."

For as long as I can remember, and certainly from the start of my university degree, I knew I wanted to have the experience of living in another country. While I might be doing the same things as I would be at home, it somehow feels different at the same time. And the chance to travel relatively cheaply is a big drawcard as well. Travel in Australia is expensive. For example, to travel between the town where I used to live and where I grew up, it was a 90 minute (one way) flight that never cost me less than A$400 (return). For that amount of money here in the UK, I can take a few short flights and explore some of the great cities of Europe. 

So that answers the 'why' - the chance to experience a different way of living, and the chance to travel to so many amazing places.

As for the 'missing home,' the honest answer to that is yes, I do. I miss my family, my friends, beautiful beaches, and proper sunny/hot weather. But, in this digital age, staying in touch is easy. Being able to email/text message/Skype family and friends keeps me in touch, and makes me admire my Mum, and how difficult it must have been for her being so far away from her family when she moved to Scotland with Dad after they got married. When I complain about the weather, my sister will always remind me about the incredible experience that I'm living right now, being able to travel and see the world. And it takes me about 30 seconds to remember that she's right. I've living a life that many other people only dream of. 

Australia will always be there, and will always be home. Two years away has made me more appreciative of what I've got back home, and that I will be back there one day. For me though, at this point of time in my life, living overseas is the right place for me - and I can't imagine doing anything else. 

A few of my favourite (technological) things

(by the way, typing that title totally made me sing the Sound of Music song in my head...)

Technology. It is something you can't really escape from these days. These are a few of my favourite technological things that I have: (in no particular order)

• My computer: before leaving Australia, I sold my laptop to my sister. I didn't really think I was going to need it over here, and I didn't want to have to worry about it when I was travelling. When I got to my first job after my tour was over, where I was living didn't have a TV (I still don't have one, but that's another story). At the end of the first week, I was down at Curry's (an electrical goods store) picking out my netbook.....which has turned into a bit of a lifeline for me: a place to store music, photos, and to use the internet to connect with the world.
• The World Wide Web: can something that you can't really see be included on a list of things? Well I'm going to regardless......the internet allows me to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as plan my future travels
• Skype: as independent as I like to think I am, I'm close to my family and miss them a lot. My mum and sister came over to visit for a month last year, and one of the best parts of that time was getting to see them 'in the flesh' every day. In the absence of any planned long distance trips (me going home or family coming here) or someone inventing instant teleportation, Skype is a pretty good substitute
• Camera: this one's easy - it allows me to record what I'm seeing and experiencing, to then be able to share with others. With the amount of photos I've taken since arriving in England, I'm glad I've got a digital camera, not a film one....*shudders at the imaginary cost of the film* I'd love to get an SLR camera, but for now I think my point-and-shoot will do the job
• Mobile phone: where I currently live, I don't have a landline phone. Hence, my mobile is the only way for people to contact me by phone. Plus, text messages between my sister and I are a lot cheaper (and easier) than trying to make phone calls.
• E-book reader: people who know me, know I love to read. (the 5 or so boxes of books I left packed up back in Australia just reinforces that). I have absolutely none limited space for storing books where I live, plus they've become a bit awkward to pack and carry when I travel. Therefore, I ended up buying an e-reader just before Christmas. I haven't had it very long, but already really really really like it.
• iPod: I honestly can't imagine not having one (or some form of MP3 player). Long bus/train trips would be a different experience without it, I think.
• Adapter plugs: lets me use my gadgets from home without having to get totally new plugs.

So that's my list. As much as I whine and complain when something stops working (two weeks without a computer, and no TV springs to mind......) I can't imagine my life without these technological things in it.

What about everyone else? What are some of your favourite technological things?

Things I miss about home

With the positive there has to be the negative as well, right? So here are some of the things that I miss about home:

1. Family
I'm close to my parents and sister, so being half way around the world from them is tough at times. Especially the time difference....working out the best time to call can be tricky sometimes! If I'm totally truthful, modern technology (mobile phones, email, Facebook, Skype etc) is a great help.....but doesn't completely substitute for seeing people you love in person...or for my mum's home cooking!

2. The weather
As I've said before, I grew up in Australia - warm to hot summers, cool weather in winter. After moving here last year, I experienced the coldest UK winter for 30 years (or so the media said). Lets just say, it was somewhat of a shock to the system....I miss the sun, warm weather, and summer days actually being *hot*

3. The beach


one of the beaches in a National Park near to where I used to live



I've always lived within close proximity to the beach (the last place I lived before moving here, I was 10 minutes walk from the beach). And, the Australian beaches are beautiful....crystal clear blue water and sparkling white sand......

The closest beach to me now is about 1.5 hours away by train.....and the sand is actually pebbles. When I visited, it was somewhat overcast, and the water was kind of a dull blue colour.....certainly a change from what I'm used to.

4. Friends

I've got a few friends that I went to highschool with that I'm particularly close to. We have the type of friendship where we don't see each other on a regular basis, but when we do.....it's like we last saw each other yesterday. Again, modern technology helps us stay in contact, but I still miss them (especially my friend who was also over here for a year before heading home a few months ago)

5. Food

I'm the first to admit, I have somewhat of a sweet tooth. And while I like British chocolate/sweet things, there's some food from home that I miss......some of which include - Arnott's Shapes, Tim Tams, Schweppes' soft drinks, Allen's lollies, and Cherry Ripes. There is an Australian store where you can get these things, but the prices are somewhat prohibitive. My family do send some stuff over though (mostly around celebrations - I make sure what I get lasts!) . Like I said, I like British chocolate, but definitely thinks it tastes different to Australian....

So there you have it. A few of the things that I miss from home. I'll probably think of things to add to this list too.

Things I love about living in a new country

Ever since moving to England, one of the most common questions I get asked is: why?

Why on earth would you want to leave Australia and move halfway across the world, away from family and friends?

Now, I'm the first to admit, the experience hasn't been all "Susie Sunshine" (so to speak)...there are things that I miss about home (but I might save that for another post...)

Some of the things that I love about living in a new country are:

1. New opportunities
Now this sounds quite broad I know, but its the overall experience that I do really love. Getting to live in a place that is both similar and different to what I have previously known is, I think, a memory that will always stay with me.

2. Travel
This is probably one of my favourite parts of the experience. The opportunities for travel (both within the United Kingdom and within Europe) are endless. I have the chance to see things I've only read about, and to 'soak up' as much atmosphere and culture as I can possibly manage. And the relatively cheap flights to get around Europe really help too.....(where I lived in Australia was a 1.5 hour flight from where my family lived. It cost A$400 return (approximately 200 pounds). When I visited Berlin last year, the return flights were about half that cost....

3. The history
As a country, Australia is relatively young on the world stage - only 200 years or so of history (I'm taking that from when the country was first settled by the English, Aboriginal Australian history stretches back much further than that). In both the UK and Europe, I've visited buildings that are several hundred years old - built well and truly before the advent of modern technology. Many of them are incredibly beautiful....and still standing! It is something we just don't have in Australia.

4. Weather
People who know me in real life, would probably be scratching their heads and trying to work out just why I've included this on the 'things I like' list. And in some respects I would agree......but at least I've had the chance to experience different weather to what I grew up with (the fact that last winter was the coldest in the UK for 30 years, and was somewhat of a shock to me, is a moot point, really!)

5. Accents
If asked what are my favourite accents to listen, the answer would be: Scottish and Irish. The fact that I'm living in a country where I get to hear them regularly is just an added bonus to all the other wonderful things I have the opportunity to experience.

That's the main things.......hmmm only five things on the list? I'm sure there's more in my head that I'm just not thinking of right now. If other things should come to mind, I will share them at a later time.

And So It Begins.....

I'm still surprised at myself for actually doing this, but anyway.......

I thought starting a blog might be a useful way to chronicle my current journey, as well as hopefully allow me to be just a bit more up-to-date with sorting and sharing photos.....

A little bit about me:

I'm a girl in my 20's who grew up in Australia, but have always had a yearning to live, travel and work in Europe. So, a little over a year ago, that's exactly what I did! I left my job and family at home and moved to the United Kingdom. The experience so far has been everything I could have hoped for, plus a little bit extra......and I hope it will continue.

I have no idea where this journey will take me, but as the saying goes, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step..." so let's see what happens....