Thousands of people make the journey to Australia every year and never look back. And why would they? In Australia, the locals are friendly and laid back, you could earn as much as A$21 (£12.80) an hour doing something as basic as mopping floors, and the weather is also pleasant.
There are other reasons to consider moving to Australia, and yet, some people are still hesitant about doing it. One of the greatest influences that stops individuals from moving to Australia is that age-old excuse – the fear of the unknown. Being uncertain if you will be able to make it or blend into a new environment, especially one as exotic and unique as Australia.
Well, I have some good news – Australia isn’t as alien as you think!
If you are considering relocating to Australia from the UK, below are a few things that won’t change and may now and then remind you of things “across the pond”.
1. Faces you see
On the map, Australia might look like it’s in the middle of nowhere, but the people who live there are from all the races and ethnicities you have met before. You are bound to find several communities where people share an origin similar to yours. Australia receives thousands of immigrants from all over the world every year and the highest receivers of their 457 visa are Indians followed closely by Britons.
The Australian population consists of a rich mix of people from everywhere in the world, so you can rest easy knowing that you are going to see a lot of familiar faces and that you will fit right in.
2. You will still speak English
If you are moving to the country from the UK, you don’t have to worry about learning a new language. Australia and Australians have been speaking English since the country was established. While it might sound a bit different from what you are used to in the UK, Australian English is actually more similar to British English than US English. This means you can feel right at home speaking your native tongue when you land in Oz.
And don’t worry about having to learn the local slang. Within a few months of hanging around some Aussies you’ll be saying cheers, mate, arvo, and sounding more like a local every day.
3. Side of the road you drive on
If you were a driver in the UK, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your driver’s licence in Australia, especially considering you’ll still be driving on the left side of the road. Not all countries drive on the left side and have their car’s steering wheel on the right, but the UK and Australia have this in common, which means you won’t have to reorient how you drive.
Also, many of the traffic laws are practically the same, so there’s very little to learn in addition to what you have already learned driving in the UK.
4. Both enjoy a good meat pie
Meat pies are a favourite in the UK. If you are worried that moving to Australia will deny you this tasty pastry treat, you are wrong. Australians love meat pies just as much as the Brits do. Be sure to explore the culinary scene to find out about Australia’s own unique twist on the meat pie and try some new flavours.
5. Both love drinking alcohol
I can promise you there isn’t a scarcity of beer in Australia. Australians love a cold pint just as much as any red-blooded Brit. A Brit who walks into an Australian pub is bound to feel at home. Australians take things up a notch by ensuring their beer is always cold, which means you can enjoy your chilled lager exactly how it’s supposed to be enjoyed.
6. Both love and play cricket
6. Both love and play cricketAmericans love their American football and baseball. In fact, you could almost say they worship these sports. In Australia, like their British cousins, cricket and rugby are both highly revered. Finding a cricket match or a rugby match won’t be too hard once you relocate to Australia. And because the weather is great, you can enjoy a lovely game without the constant fear of rain.
7. Similarly named places
Because of Australia’s historical connection to Britain, many places in the country share the same name as UK locations. You can easily find Australian towns and suburbs with British namesakes. For instance, there’s Stanmore, Albury, Hyde Park, Liverpool, Balmoral, Brighton, Windsor, Kensington, Doncaster, Exmouth, Redcliffe, and so many others.
As you can see, by moving to Australia you aren’t completely moving to unknown territory. Sure the terrain may be different, but isn’t exploring something new and exciting all part of the fun of relocating?
If you are still sceptical about relocating, here’s one more thing that won’t change and that may ease your mind – the Queen’s head is on the back of all Australian coins and Australian lawyers are a lot like British lawyers (especially the way they dress).
