American moving to Australia

[Meowfoundland]

My only advice.

Move to Sydney.

Far better.

Ohohohohoho no.

[Mr Bananagrabber]

They call scones 'biscuits'?! Those monsters.

Also the sport in Australia is shit compared to the US. I prefer cricket to baseball, but our football sucks and it's too hot to have ice for hockey.

under water hockey ? be great for summer

Sure, but it'd be boring as fuck to watch. Worse than Thunderball.

[Cirona]

America is still racist as ever, it's just more institutional.

While the government of Australia does not support racism in whatever form or matter, this is not true socially. Cronulla and Redfern are examples. It's also rather evident in schools, where you can see that lunch groups are often separated by colour, with very few interracial groups. While Australian people are quite tolerant, the social effects from the IRA and Aboriginal exclusion that only ended in the 1970s are still quite evident, especially among the older generations.

[Cirona]

My only advice.

Move to Sydney.

Far better.

Ohohohohoho no.

Whatever you do, just don't move to Perth. Actually, just don't move to Western Australia. WA is Perth, and that's it. Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Broome, whatnot, their population all added up together isn't even half the population of Perth. And Perth's population is only 1.7 million.

[The Murry]

Point of language
Cookie= Biscuit
Flip Flop= Thong
Ice Box= Esky
Biscuit= Scone
Candy= lolly

They call scones 'biscuits'?! Those monsters.

Also the sport in Australia is shit compared to the US. I prefer cricket to baseball, but our football sucks and it's too hot to have ice for hockey.

Excuse me haven't you heard of the Darwin Ice Hokey Club
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Iffu6JrN4

[Mr Bananagrabber]

They call scones 'biscuits'?! Those monsters.

Also the sport in Australia is shit compared to the US. I prefer cricket to baseball, but our football sucks and it's too hot to have ice for hockey.

Excuse me haven't you heard of the Darwin Ice Hokey Club
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Iffu6JrN4

My mistake.

[Tergnitz]

Well, by American standards, yeah I'm a leftist, but you've already assumed too much...

I'm ANTI-gun, pro-abortion, single-payer health, pro-transportation (besides the environment, I hate driving!), anti-religion, pro 60's and 70's music, pro-Kubrick, pro Bill Hicks, pro-union (remember I'm from Flint, Michael Moore's hometown), etc etc.

Sounds like you'd fit right in, in Tasmania at least...

Not that we need more extreme leftists to support the Greens.

[Rationallia]

I'm politically and economically left as you can see, but I was wondering if there are Americans who have moved to Australia (or vice- versa) and to tell me what you see politically in respect to government, and with political/social respect to the public..

Any ex-pats? I'm from Flint, MI going to Melbourne, Australia...

I'll think of more questions later.. Thanks Nations.

Australia is more right winged then the GOP. Expect mandatory gun laws, bans of interracial marraige, and mandatory church attendance.

Where the hell are you from?

[The Burgundy Plains]

Well, by American standards, yeah I'm a leftist, but you've already assumed too much...

I'm ANTI-gun, pro-abortion, single-payer health, pro-transportation (besides the environment, I hate driving!), anti-religion, pro 60's and 70's music, pro-Kubrick, pro Bill Hicks, pro-union (remember I'm from Flint, Michael Moore's hometown), etc etc.

I'll pay to have your passport expedited.

[The Archregimancy]

I've heard my cousins mention two sections (they live apart), Victoria (province?) and Queensland.. I've been wanting to get more info, but with the huge time zone gap, its hard to get them at a good time.

Where is the "counterculture" section of Melbourne?

I lived as a (whinging Pom) expat in Melbourne for six years, leaving in 2007.

Victoria and Queensland are both states; Australia uses the same terminology as the US here. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Victoria and Queensland are nowhere near each other; driving from Melbourne to Brisbane, Queensland is roughly equivalent to driving from Detroit to Houston.

The counterculture section of Melbourne as you understand the term is traditionally Brunswick Street, in the inner north suburb of Fitzroy. However, Brunswick Street has gussied itself up over the years, and Smith Street - a couple of blocks over - is arguably more diverse now. Who knows what'll happen when Smith Street is inevitably gentrified.

Public transport in Melbourne is traditionally very easy to use to get around in. The food culture in Melbourne is vastly superior to anything you'd ever find anywhere in Michigan (my brother currently lives in Ann Arbor, so this is based on direct personal observation).

In Australia, the Liberal Party is actually a conservative party; the left of centre part is traditionally the Labor [spelled the US way] Party, but the Green Party is far more obviously 'left' these days. But as you can't vote in Australia, the issue is largely academic. The current Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, leads a minority Labor government propped up by the Greens and some independents following a inconclusive result in the last national election.

Australia has weathered the global economic crisis better than many Western-oriented country as it's increasingly an economic satellite of China, even though it's politically oriented towards the USA; Chinese demand for Australian raw materials has allowed the Australian economy to maintain growth over the last few years.

While Australia is arguably the most sport-obsessed country on the planet, it is possible to spend six years living in Melbourne without ever particularly coming to care about Australian Rules Football, especially if - like me - you end up marrying one of those rare Melburnians who detests the sport.

I hope that helps.

[The Burgundy Plains]

I've heard my cousins mention two sections (they live apart), Victoria (province?) and Queensland.. I've been wanting to get more info, but with the huge time zone gap, its hard to get them at a good time.

Where is the "counterculture" section of Melbourne?

I lived as a (whinging Pom) expat in Melbourne for six years, leaving in 2007.

Victoria and Queensland are both states; Australia uses the same terminology as the US here. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Victoria and Queensland are nowhere near each other; driving from Melbourne to Brisbane, Queensland is roughly equivalent to driving from Detroit to Houston.

The counterculture section of Melbourne as you understand the term is traditionally Brunswick Street, in the inner north suburb of Fitzroy. However, Brunswick Street has gussied itself up over the years, and Smith Street - a couple of blocks over - is arguably more diverse now. Who knows what'll happen when Smith Street is inevitably gentrified.

Public transport in Melbourne is traditionally very easy to use to get around in. The food culture in Melbourne is vastly superior to anything you'd ever find anywhere in Michigan (my brother currently lives in Ann Arbor, so this is based on direct personal observation).

In Australia, the Liberal Party is actually a conservative party; the left of centre part is traditionally the Labor [spelled the US way] Party, but the Green Party is far more obviously 'left' these days. But as you can't vote in Australia, the issue is largely academic. The current Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, leads a minority Labor government propped up by the Greens and some independents following a inconclusive result in the last national election.

Australia has weathered the global economic crisis better than many Western-oriented country as it's increasingly an economic satellite of China, even though it's politically oriented towards the USA; Chinese demand for Australian raw materials has allowed the Australian economy to maintain growth over the last few years.

While Australia is arguably the most sport-obsessed country on the planet, it is possible to spend six years living in Melbourne without ever particularly coming to care about Australian Rules Football, especially if - like me - you end up marrying one of those rare Melburnians who detests the sport.

I hope that helps.

I can only testify to one part of this post: Michigan food is awful. I have always said that food in restaurants is going to be decent pretty much everywhere you go, but when I visited Michigan for several weeks, the food in restaurants was consistently sub-par wherever I went. I was baffled by it. It's like a tiny culinary haven of England right here in the United States, complete with the questionably healthy meat

While not known for its cuisine, I love the food in Philadelphia (my local city). Everything in Reading Terminal Market is delicious. the Italian market has some of the best seafood you'll ever taste, and I've been to Le Bec Fin on many occasions (about half of which I initiated and the other half I was invited to) and while it isn't cheap, it's not as expensive as you'd think. It's easily affordable for an anniversary or birthday or some such celebration. The portions are really small, but everything tastes delicious. And of course there is Le Gran Dessert Cart...

[Matt Selou]

Yeah, the only sport I watch is the NBA (lockout), but if the cost of tickets aren't too bad, I'd like to see the Australian Open. I'm very curious how the women are. They ALL seem to be crazy, but I loved the Western Europeans, not only for looks, but they seem nicer, smarter, etc...

Yeah, Michigan is not a place to go for food. Sometimes its the luck of the draw, but we are the Great Lakes state, lots of beautiful nature up north, and you mentioned Ann Arbor -- what a great city! But its impossible finding a job here, and if you find one, you work all day for peanuts, lots of times for under the minimum wage. And it's the most dangerous city now in the US, and they are cutting cash assistance for a lot of people, so I'm basically trying to leave this sinking ship while I can.

I really appreciate all the help... I wonder how the weed is in Australia, but even more important, are there magic mushrooms to be found anywhere? Are the police likely to throw you in the slammer for petty shit like that? It seems like every American smokes pot, regardless of the laws, but in my state, we at least have "medical" but you can be busted by the Feds.

[Neo Avon]

Michigan sucks. Unless you live in Birmingham or Royal Oak *or Troy, not too bad either*, then you should go where you desire. I also plan on leaving, but I'm basing it on economic and social liberty, along with whatever culture appeals the most to me. I'm stuck between Denmark, perhaps central Europe, or Singapore.

[Vetalia]

Michigan sucks. Unless you live in Birmingham or Royal Oak *or Troy, not too bad either*, then you should go where you desire. I also plan on leaving, but I'm basing it on economic and social liberty, along with whatever culture appeals the most to me. I'm stuck between Denmark, perhaps central Europe, or Singapore.

...good luck with that.

[Matt Selou]

I'd pick Ann Arbor as the best city in Michigan to live in.. But that's just me.

[Saint Jade IV]

I'm a New Zealander, lived in Australia for a while and in my opinion you'll be fine.

Australians are the Americans of the south... they won't admit it but they are REALLY similar to the US.

We are nothing like the US. We are not absurdly jingoistic, we tend to be quite pro-socialism (though the old fogies don't really understand that - they don't see Medicare/pensions/housing commission as welfare), anti-free speech, and generally anti-gun.

Australians on the whole also seem to be far less invested in the overall political system than Americans.

Our love of sports that noone else plays is probably one of the few areas in which we are similar to the US.

[Saint Jade IV]

America is still racist as ever, it's just more institutional.

While the government of Australia does not support racism in whatever form or matter, this is not true socially. Cronulla and Redfern are examples. It's also rather evident in schools, where you can see that lunch groups are often separated by colour, with very few interracial groups. While Australian people are quite tolerant, the social effects from the IRA and Aboriginal exclusion that only ended in the 1970s are still quite evident, especially among the older generations.

I would seriously doubt your claims regarding the government there.

NT Intervention is a shining example of institutionalised racism.

Furthermore, the disproportionate emphasis given in government to the issue of asylum seekers is another example.

Recent changes to the IELTS requirements for work visas, which basically exclude anyone who is not from an English-speaking country, are yet another example.

History education is an extremely politicised issue in our schools, with anything touching on Stolen Generations, the White Australia Policy, or colonisation/invasion are seen as constituting a "Black Armband" approach to history.

Also see Doomadgee Mulrunji as an example of police racism.

And the Wild Rivers legislation, which pretty much overturns Wik and Mabo legislation granting land rights to the indigenous.
We have a huge amount of institutionalised racism.

[New Chalcedon]

You don't need to exactly conform to local political views to live in a country. You have Stalinists, Nazis and anarchists of every stripe living in the country, and they're all entitled to.

No, but it is preferred. Besides, it was ridiculous how you thought i was being belligerent.

Had you said the bolded, in the context in which you have said it, while ANY of America's founding fathers were alive, you'd have been smacked down so fast your arse would have taken a week to catch up with you.

I suspect that many of them would have agreed with your overall views: however, your intolerance for pluralism would have been anathema to them.

[New Chalcedon]

Very true, and I've realized this for a long time, even during past travels. I just don't see how it can be any worse. If things don't work out, I can come back just in time for Michigan's winter

Why don't you move to a country that's more like your beliefs? Why australia?

I'm ANTI-gun, pro-abortion, single-payer health, pro-transportation (besides the environment, I hate driving!), anti-religion, pro 60's and 70's music, pro-Kubrick, pro Bill Hicks, pro-union (remember I'm from Flint, Michael Moore's hometown), etc etc.

Because Australia has gun control, abortion rights, single-payer (dual) healthcare system, good public transportation relative to all but the biggest cities in America, minimal religious interference in government, lots of 60s and 70s music and strong unions.

IOW, Australia is like his beliefs.

[New Chalcedon]

While the government of Australia does not support racism in whatever form or matter, this is not true socially. Cronulla and Redfern are examples. It's also rather evident in schools, where you can see that lunch groups are often separated by colour, with very few interracial groups. While Australian people are quite tolerant, the social effects from the IRA and Aboriginal exclusion that only ended in the 1970s are still quite evident, especially among the older generations.

I would seriously doubt your claims regarding the government there.

NT Intervention is a shining example of institutionalised racism.

Furthermore, the disproportionate emphasis given in government to the issue of asylum seekers is another example.

Recent changes to the IELTS requirements for work visas, which basically exclude anyone who is not from an English-speaking country, are yet another example.

History education is an extremely politicised issue in our schools, with anything touching on Stolen Generations, the White Australia Policy, or colonisation/invasion are seen as constituting a "Black Armband" approach to history.

Also see Doomadgee Mulrunji as an example of police racism.

And the Wild Rivers legislation, which pretty much overturns Wik and Mabo legislation granting land rights to the indigenous.
We have a huge amount of institutionalised racism.

I grant many of your points, but I ask: what is the "Wild Rivers" legislation? Also, I think it's appalling the way the Government changed student visas: now, they do not count toward permanent residency.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I'd pick Ann Arbor as the best city in Michigan to live in.. But that's just me.

I lived in Lansing for 2 years and I absolutely hated it. Flint was a shit-hole, Detroit goes without saying. Port Huron wasn't too bad. Kingsford in the UP was another shit-hole, and frigidly cold. But I was expecting that since the UP is fucking freezing. Mackinaw was fine. Enjoyed Ovid and Elsie quite a lot too.

[Gaeus]

Australia is a lovely country where everything can kill you.
Everything.

Kangaroos are really just fuzzy raptors.

[Saint Jade IV]

Why don't you move to a country that's more like your beliefs? Why australia?

I'm ANTI-gun, pro-abortion, single-payer health, pro-transportation (besides the environment, I hate driving!), anti-religion, pro 60's and 70's music, pro-Kubrick, pro Bill Hicks, pro-union (remember I'm from Flint, Michael Moore's hometown), etc etc.

Because Australia has gun control, abortion rights, single-payer (dual) healthcare system, good public transportation relative to all but the biggest cities in America, minimal religious interference in government, lots of 60s and 70s music and strong unions.

IOW, Australia is like his beliefs.

Some states have abortion rights. But the federal government has repeatedly refused to grant them at that level. In QLD for instance, it's still technically illegal to have an abortion unless the life or ongoing health of the mother is in danger.

And Wild Rivers is a piece of environmental legislation which has hamstrung indigenous communities from using their own lands. Some believe it's necessary for the environment, others believe it's a cynical attempt to override land rights legislation. It's particularly contentious in my home state, QLD.

I'm for property rights, and of the belief that opportunities for jobs on their own communities is one of the best ways to lift the indigenous out of poverty, so you can guess what side I'm on.

[Intangelon]

Well, by American standards, yeah I'm a leftist, but you've already assumed too much...

I'm ANTI-gun, pro-abortion, single-payer health, pro-transportation (besides the environment, I hate driving!), anti-religion, pro 60's and 70's music, pro-Kubrick, pro Bill Hicks, pro-union (remember I'm from Flint, Michael Moore's hometown), etc etc.

Please move away from the US

Please aspirate your last meal.

[Intangelon]

Yeah, but I fit in with about 2% of the population... There are other factors, such as not getting shot just because I went to pick up the mail. I now live in the most dangerous city in America.

Also, I'm 29, no kids, so why not? I've been to Europe 4x, loved almost every minute, why not Australia?

It's going to be a long flight! I wonder if I need any special vaccines..

visiting a country and actually trying to live their are two different things, make sure you know what your doing.

You never know what you're doing, so why insist that he does?