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Hi everyone. I'm a 32-year-old single male, am about to finish my PhD in business, and am considering looking for university jobs in Australia, a place I've never been but have heard so many good things about.
I'd be curious if anyone has any observations on what the Australian expat experience might be like regarding:
1) Finding friends (and a significant other). I think this would be easy if I were 22 and really outgoing, but I'm a little older and meeting new people hasn't come easily to me....though I hope starting fresh in a new place with supposedly "extremely friendly" people might help me break out of my shell. From what you've seen, can a 30-something "outsider" become an insider in this country?
2) Lifestyle. A big part of why I might want to flee the U.S. is fear of settling down and getting stuck in the typical American suburban rut. Does the same rut exist in Australia? Is it easier for 30-somethings (even when they have kids) to live in cities or walkable areas? Or are the suburbs at least a little more lively in terms of public gatherings and civic events than their American counterparts?
[Disclaimer: don't worry, I'm not going to make a decision based on your posts, and of course I'll visit before making a move, but it would be great to get some general thoughts!]
On point one, I don't think it's any easier to meet people than it is in the USA.
One thing I would be aware of in Australian culture if you are looking for a significant other is that the dating scene is rather different. It took me several years to change over and grasp how australian women go about their business in regards to relationships.
What helped me meet people was that I always had an interest in Australian culture. I'm big into V8 Supercars and I also follow some of the other sports and culture as well. So being up to speed and interested in all that I think helps be a part of conversations and to have something to talk about.
On point 2, something most people don't realize is that Australia is one of the most urban countries in the world behind Hong Kong and the Netherlands for instance. The suburban life is ever present and not really that much different than in the USA. I reckon from my experience I find a lot more community involvement on the local level in the USA by a significant margin.
My recommendation if you don't want the suburban big city living is to aim for one of the country towns that have universities like Bathurst NSW or Armidale, NSW for instance. Both are nice country towns and in my experience you'll have an easier time assimilating and meeting people in a smaller town. When traveling as a rule I tend to gravitate towards the country as people are so much easier to meet and talk to.
I'd check to make sure you can qualify for a visa as often it seems they like practical experience beyond your education.
And as you said yourself, before you really bother to commit any further, after you do your research, I'd certainly go for a long visit. Even smaller cities in Australia rent short term apartments so I'd go down for a month or two and bum around and see what you think.
Last edited by minibrings; 07-14-2009 at 05:30 PM..
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