ali Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Arrived in Perth 11 years ago, we didn't know a soul here and had to be very resilient and self sufficient. Our children who were 11 and 7 at the time have now both officially spent half their lives here, my eldest says she's happy to have spent her childhood years here. She visited family in the UK briefly last year on her way home from a European holiday and says whilst it was nice catching up, she didn't have any anchoring to return. Our son was 18 in September and his pressie is a trip back with hubby to watch some football - he remember little of living in the UK so it will be interesting to see what he makes of it. We were fortunate to arrive before the rule change for Citizenship and were able to become citizens after 2 years here. We've developed a close friendship group who are like family to us now, this did take time and in the early days, the lack of friendships was what I missed - but they do happen if you put yourself out there and there are a few that don't quite happen for whatever reason. We both still work in the same places that we got our jobs before we arrived. Education for the kids has been good, I think like anything with the move you have to not compare, certainly, primary was more relaxed this a reduced amount of home work (I remember my son in year 2 in the UK having so much at weekends), here the teacher said that her students would be working hard throughout the week and like mums and dads deserved some time off at the weekends. For those who've read my posts in the past, my children are chalk and cheese, my daughter is academic and my son, whilst not unintelligent is more sporty. We were lucky that our local high school was able to meet both their needs, my daughter was in the academic extension programme and studied her degree at UWA and has just completed her masters in Education there, my son, left at the end of the year, unsure of what he wants to do (he's enrolled in a sports development course at TAFE), but whilst at school as part of his lessons, did his keys for life driving assessment (to get learners permit) and obtained his skippers licence (for a boat). We've never really been homesick - in part probably because we had family visit us a few times, but also I think that we didn't fall into speaking with people in the UK every week. My dad did fall ill in 2016 and sadly passed away which necessitated a return to the UK. The circumstances weren't the best and it wasn't a holiday but nothing about the trip made me miss anything and just reinforced that Australia and our support networks were here in Aus. Whilst the children were older and able to care for themselves for the week we were away - our friends were contactable and dropped off food. You often here that Perth is isolated and boring .. we've never felt isolated or bored here at all, we've been to great concerts and have been able to travel interstate and internationally as well as seeing some of the places that WA has to offer. We're not beach goers and a relaxing day for me is being able to sit reading at the back of the garden next to our pool (I used to have to go to Spain to do that lol). We eat out and we also entertain at home - some would criticise the backyard get togethers and see it as an indicator of being 'boring' .. but we entertained at home in the UK - we just have an opportunity to do it all year round here as we have covered out door areas. WA/Perth/Australia isn't perfect by any means, it's not Utopia nor is it the UK with sunshine, politicians and red tape are the same the world over and I don't get stressed about things that I have little or no control over. Our move has been a good one - we've gone with the flow, not compared Aus to the UK and not fallen into the trap of saying "In the UK they did this, that, the other better than here" ... and Aussie colleague once told me that when she heard this she used to think "well if it was so bloody good - why did you leave"? My advice - come with an open mind, expect it to be different and expect it to be difficult, it's not easy re-establishing yourself with work and friendships in the early days, but it is worth persevering with it. We came with the idea that if we didn't like Perth, Australia was a big place and we'd try somewhere else. We've been lucky that we haven't bee wracked with homesickness that's made us question leaving, our families were supportive of the move and seen the life we've carved out for ourselves. Would we return to the UK? - you can never say never, at 40 years old I never imagined moving to Aus - yet here we are. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Congratulations on 11 years in this wonderful country Ali and family. I actually could have written that, as your journey has been very much my families experience too. With the exception that I was a newly divorced Mum of two, and was coming to my only relatives, my parents and brother. We have been here 26 years now and whilst it can be a challenge who to support when England and Oz play sports, we feel very much Australian. Australia is what it is, and it most certainly is not UK in the sun. I love the way so many nationalities live side by side and have created this very different place to live. Here's to your next 11 years Ali!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Thanks Rossy, I too enjoy the cosmopolitan feel of our state. In November we were having drinks at the Revelry before a concert and it coincided with Malaysia's independence - loved seeing the celebrations and fireworks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen78 Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Hi Ali, It’s Very reassuring to read this, we’ve been here pretty much a year and have made some friends but still feel like it’s just the four of us most of the time. That’s fine while the girls are at school, but they are getting very bored and lonely with not many friends to play with in the holidays. I’m happy to give it time for the close friendships to form but it’s still a bit hard some days, especially with me not working yet. We’re excited for what the future holds and more than willing to work at it. I’m not afraid to put myself out there so hopefully our ‘fuller’ more social life will emerge gradually. We’re not homesick either and are lucky that both sets of parents have managed to come out to see us already. Although I will be missing the birth of my nephew in February and my cousins baby and wedding towards the end of this year which will be hard. The early signs are good and we are loving it here so far, we just need to build on our foundations. Hope your next 11 yrs are as good as your first 11. Jen x 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 I can't believe you guys have been here a year already - it's flown by 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Wow I came back at the right time. Congrats on 11 Year’s Ali!!! We’ve just ticked over 4 and have to say I’m with you on so much of what you said. DH has been back once, unfortunately a funeral, and I am due to go back for the first time in a few weeks for my Dads 90th. If it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be going back! We’ve also been lucky in that both our families and some very good friends have come to visit. We’ve been extremely lucky in that we have a lot of family here (his side) but we’ve made some amazing friends some of which I met on this very site!! Perth offers some awesome opportunities but you are so right, it’s not the UK with sunshine. If I were to offer one piece of advice it would be to not assume that we are culturally alike. We may speak the same language but culturally there are still massive differences to adjust to. For example Aussies are blunt, seriously blunt (still lovely though,they just say it how it is and tough if you don’t like it ?) and that can take some getting used to for the unsuspecting Pom! I wouldn’t change what we’ve done for the world. It can be hard at times but I love this place!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 On 15/01/2018 at 19:48, Nikkis2000 said: Wow I came back at the right time. Congrats on 11 Year’s Ali!!! We’ve just ticked over 4 and have to say I’m with you on so much of what you said. DH has been back once, unfortunately a funeral, and I am due to go back for the first time in a few weeks for my Dads 90th. If it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be going back! We’ve also been lucky in that both our families and some very good friends have come to visit. We’ve been extremely lucky in that we have a lot of family here (his side) but we’ve made some amazing friends some of which I met on this very site!! Perth offers some awesome opportunities but you are so right, it’s not the UK with sunshine. If I were to offer one piece of advice it would be to not assume that we are culturally alike. We may speak the same language but culturally there are still massive differences to adjust to. For example Aussies are blunt, seriously blunt (still lovely though,they just say it how it is and tough if you don’t like it ?) and that can take some getting used to for the unsuspecting Pom! I wouldn’t change what we’ve done for the world. It can be hard at times but I love this place!!! Thank you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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