Hey everyone I currently live near Seattle, WA, and my college has a study abroad program where we live in Australia/New Zealand for 10 weeks, and I thought 'well, why not do it?' so, I'm leaving in 9 days. I'm pretty excited, the classes we're taking are pretty hands-on and we're always going to be at the beach, going on hikes, etc. which is something that I love to do! We're also going to be going to a bunch of museums and landmarks and stuff like that, and we have a travel week at the end of the 4 weeks we are in classes, so I'm definitely going to be doing some exploring. I'm kind of nervous because I've never left the country before. Hell, I didn't even have my passport until about 3 weeks ago. Does anyone have any tips on living abroad or Australia/NZ in general? It would be nice to hear from someone who has already been there or currently lives there!!
Three years ago I left England on a whim, with a one-way ticket to Australia. I fell in love with it so hard, I never left. Not up until a month ago, anyway -- I've recently decided to travel again. It's going to change your life, mate. I promise you that. Australia is an easy country to make your way in, though it sounds like you'll be pretty guided by your course leaders. The culture here is laid back at it's finest and you'll dig it. You're headed into summer, so be prepared for the heat. Up north especially is brutally hot and humid, but try to embrace it if you find yourself up there. Top money saving tip: drink goon. That's pretty much a backpacker's right of passage in Oz. It's boxed wine, but it'll get you fucked on the cheap, and I assume that as a student you don't have big money to drop. As far as bud goes, just follow the surfers. It's as expensive and as no-frills as everything else in Australia, but it'll get the job done. If you do find the urge to stay or return after your course is over, there's the Work and Holiday Visa that'll let you work and travel throughout the country for up to a year. They have a similar offering in NZ.
We call our mates cunts and people we don't like mates. Everyone drinks beer and smokes weed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu9jtGJlVpw This should explain everything.
Yo dude I'm from Sydney my advice is to try your best to adopt an Aussie accent, there are some here (the majority) who don't take too kindly to people from the states (especially if you're visiting rural areas inland) Sent from Neptune
Right on! Where are you moving to? Your experience of Aus will vary heaps depending on where you're staying. But yeah, a lot of people (especially rural + outer suburbs) aren't crazy about Americans but if you just go about things in a really laid back fashion you'll be okay. It's not like hate-crime level, they might just be a bit wary of you and think you're a bit of a tool if you're being loud.
a few years ago i quit my job and bought a 1 way ticket to europe...left for 1.5 years b4 coming home. i lived in Melbourne for about 4 months, in St. Kilda beach...so awesome...then I went to NZ and got my skydiving license in methven and then travelled all over NZ and back to OZ. NZ IS AMAZING. One of my favorite places on earth. South isl is great. best part is that its small so you can see a lot without too much to-do unlike Aus where you have to go long distance. Aus vs. NZ very different places. NZ hands down way more aweosme in terms of nature and mountains and just cool stuff to see and do. if your a beach person, then Aus is better suited. Either way, live it up and live unbound!
cost of living (basic shit like food and booze etc) will most likely be more expensive than what you're used to. but yeh like ManBearKitten said your experience of Aus will vary greatly depending on where you are; Tasmania is generally alot colder than Queensland, and the lifestyles of many people in those areas reflect that, for example. Eastern states are where most shit is located and has the biggest cities, the further west you go the more isolated it gets until you reach kalgoorlie and then the western coast (Perth) in the middle is pretty much fuck all except mining towns and desert land. Alice Springs is in there, but... meh. Stay away from andamooka if you can \t
Australia is horrible DON'T come here and tell all you're friends Australia is racist, tell them Australians are bigots and are completely untrustworthy ! you saw what happened to the aborigines ! can you really trust us !? I live in Australia ! doesn't that scare you !? I got the best grades in N.S,W !!!!!! me !? I was the smartest kid in this state at one point in time, look up the ''Cronulla riots '' that's what Australia's like all day everyday, it's race against race, gang wars in the street and shit On the other hand new Zealand is para- para- para- paradise !!!!!! you are greeted with a hug and a hot chocolate ! puppies are on currency ! everyone loves each other ! You should go to new Zealand but never Australia, did you know the aboriginals put a curse on Australia and anybody who invades will have their souls tortured for 10000, years after their death !? Why do you think California is fucked !? because the Native Americas used a simular curse over there ! Why do you think im fucked because im suffering from the curse right now !!!!! EDIT This the TLDR: version of what I just said I was joking in my post obviously but theirs some truth to this It's not that i'm racist or whatever, it's just that I don't want Australia to become over populated,
We also drink this in the hood, true story This is more of a personal drink of choice but when the devil was in my head back in 2010, I was drinking cheap sherry by the bottle, it costs $10 and you get 3 litres and it fucks you up ! I broke my hand drunk on that shit and I didn't even feel it, true story, '' you aint gotta like it because the hood gonna love it''