Are you planning to move to Australia? Moving to Australia is a major move that will make a big impact on your life and there will be a lot of adjustments to be made when it comes to getting used to your new life. There are a few things that you should know before you make the move to Australia, such as:
Coffee is a Very Important Part of Life
Australians take coffee very seriously and it is an important part of the day. Many Aussies will spend the weekend’s café hopping and visiting the many quirky independent cafes in their cities. They seek out locally owned individual boutique cafes with high quality coffees, so make sure to savour the local java culture.
Drop Bears Are Not Real
When Aussies with a silly sense of humour find out that you are new to their country, they will regale you with tales of the Drop Bear – a terrifying marsupial that is unusually large and lurks in the tops of the trees in order to drop down on its prey. The sharp-toothed carnivorous drop bear is not real of course, it is simply a story that is made up to scare tourists.
The Sun’s Rays are Very Strong
The UV Rays in Australia are very strong, so make sure that you stay out of the midday sun and cover up with sunscreen. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and even just half an hour of direct exposure to the sun will lead to a very painful burn. If you’re moving into any part of Australia, ensure that your house has automatic outdoor blinds, if not, manual ones to shield yourself when you sit on your porch or verandah. You can still get burnt even on a cloudy day, so make sure that you cover up when you are outside. This could even apply to parts of your house where there would be direct sunlight. Therefore, taking appropriate measures could save you from painful sunburns and possibly skin cancer.
The same is true for emigrating to New Zealand, although the sun isn’t quite so hot there.
Don’t Be Afraid to Have a Chat
Australians are extremely social and friendly people and they are always happy to chat and make a new friend. Never be shy about striking up a conversation with a new Australian friend. You might find yourself engaged in many conversations because you have an obvious accent – as Australians are curious creatures and will want to know about you and where you come from.
Aussies and Kiwis are Really Friends
Australians and New Zealanders will often tease each other. Aussies will accuse Kiwis of being too close with their sheep and Kiwis will insult the intelligence of the Aussies. However, when it comes down to it these two nations are really quite close. They have a bond that dates back to WWI when they were sent off to battle in a joint contingent as the ANAZAC.
Spiders are not as Scary as You Think
When you are considering moving to Australia, one of the factors that might be making you nervous is the stories of terrifying enormous spiders. However, the good news is that there haven’t been any fatal spider bites in Australia since 1979. This means that you are extremely unlikely to die of a spider bite and spiders are not the most dangerous creature you will meet there.
Sports are Well Loved
Australians are incredibly passionate about sports, including football, cricket and much more. The games will draw thousands of people and Australians will stay up late to watch fixtures of their favourite sports taking place on the other side of the world. Sports players are treated like gods here, so if you are sports fan you will feel right at home.
However, it is important to understand what all of the different sports are called. To many parts of the world “football” is also known as soccer. However, in Australia there are several types of football – including rugby league football, rugby union football and Australian Rules football. Make sure that you understand which is which, as mixing up your footballs is a serious cultural faux pas! As a way of breaking the ice, you could even gift your mate his favourite team t-shirt from some places like afl merchandise, so that you get to know more about it.
These are just a few facts to know about Australia before you make the move there. Of course, there is a lot more you can discover about Australia – but that’s part of the fun! Getting to know your new home will be all part of the adventure and before you know it you will be immersed in Australian culture.
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