Has anyone moved to Australia from the US?

[Toy Story]

Hi Chesire,

Another Canberra resident here.

The locations of each of the Universities you have chosen would each have their pluses and minuses.

Canberra is definitely not a major urban city - it is often classified as regional, and really is a 'bush-capital'. Yes, we do see kangaroos on our way to work in the morning, but that is because Canberra retains a lot of natural bush land. It is really expensive to live here in terms of accommodation (look at www.allhomes.com.au to view rental prices). Eating out is a lot more expensive, as there is not a lot of competition in the market. Canberra has four true seasons, a very dry heat hot heat in summer and freezing wind in the winter. Autumn (fall) and spring are spectacular.

Murdoch University is located in Perth - a long long way from the east coast. You may want to consider this if you were planning on travelling to other cities.

Townsville is a regional centre of North Queensland - the climate in Orlando reminded us of Townsville - humid days, rain at night. Townsville has a large defence base.

I am sure others would be able to help with questions you might have about Perth and Townsville.

 

[AussieCaribou]

Hey Chesire,

First let me say that the two main universities in Canberra are top rated. ANU (the Australian National University) is number two standing in the world right now. Uni of Canberra is listed in the top 100 universities in the world. I am very impressed with the quality of upper education here. I have a DD who is graduating from year 6 in December. I have found her school experience very odd (248 students in the school...total!). But she is set well to continue towards her hopes of being a vet (she wants to go to Davis in California...pray for my bank account!). I am sure that you have researched your university choices and I wish you the best in getting in!

Canberra is, as many have said, small. Actually very small. But it is getting bigger. I moved here because I love small towns. But, unlike my home town, I don't have to drive two hours to get to a movie. :0) Well, unless it's to drive to Sydney to see the new Tron trailer in Imax 3D before most people got to...then I have to drive 3 1/2 hours one way...oh well... :0) I live in the suburbs and we do have kangaroos hop down our streets. It's very interesting even now... But I am a zoologist..so...

So how did I come over? I came over because my then best friend ask me to come visit and see the joys of Australia. He's my DH now. So I came over on a tourist visa then transfered to a bridging visa and then so on until I got perm residency. Once I could, I gained my Australian Citizenship. So now I get to carry two passports.

~ Aussie Caribou

 

[Chesire]

Oh my goodness ... Please let me say thank you so much! I had not hoped for all the wonderful replies!

We currently live in a small town and when my husband and I first talked about moving to Australia, the first thing he said was "I don't want to go to Sydney." I think we are rather spoiled by the smaller towns and the idea of living in Sydney scares him!

Canberra really sounds wonderful. I really hope that I am accepted there.
The masters of Pharmacy program would allow me to practice as a Pharmacist in Australia and New Zealand (and the UK and Canada too I think). Because (coming from the US) I don't have a bachelor in Pharmacy (not offered) but I do have a bachelors in a medical field (so I was allowed to apply). I hope that makes sense! It is morning here and I have not yet had a cup of coffee!

I admit, I have not looked a lot at the cost of living in Canberra. That is something I need to check into, thank you! To finance my education, we are selling our home here (which has a nice bit of equity). I did think it was odd that one of the questions on the application was how we were going to pay for the college (something I have not seen on an application before). It's rather nice that they make you think about those things.

Also, my husband wants to know if you have a lot of snakes and spiders in Canberra! Seeing kangaroos sounds wonderful, but he is wondering what else might be out there!

 

[Chesire]

But she is set well to continue towards her hopes of being a vet (she wants to go to Davis in California...pray for my bank account!).

Davis is a wonderful school, but I am horribly biased, that is where my bachelors degree is from! I wish her great luck in her education!

I am sure that you have researched your university choices and I wish you the best in getting in!

Thank you! They are out of my hands now, so I can only hope

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

There are lots of spiders, but more outside than in. We stumble across redbacks outside if we lift up pots, chairs, other things they generally live outside. On occasion we see a white tail spider or a huntsman inside but it's rarely, thank goodness because I'm petrified of spiders.

As for snakes, I have never seen one but I know a few years back our neighbour 2 doors up had a brown snake in the back yard. Yikes. That's my husband's greatest fear so we hope never to see one.

I wouldn't worry too much, if you don't go poking around where they live, they will pretty much leave you alone, which is why we have a gardener .

 

[heidispidi]

Definitely don't let the snakes and spiders put you off moving to Australia! What you might see or hear over there is grossly exaggerated (and the only kangaroos you generally see are those that have chosen the wrong time to cross a busy road and have subsequently died). We have plenty of daddy-long-legs spiders, huntsman and redbacks, but if you stay away from them, they'll leave you alone.

Canberra is a great place, only a 2hr 15min drive from where I live in Sydney. If you like to ski, the skifields are not far away also. I"ve grown up in Sydney, and other than a 2-year stint living in Adelaide, I've never lived anywhere else - and I like it. As a country ona whole, it's great, and very welcoming

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Heidi, we seriously do have quite alot of roos around here in some areas of Canberra. I'm not sure what the other Canberran's on here experience but I would see a kangaroo somewhere near my home or on the way to or from school with the kids each day.

And can I say, I didn't realise there were other Canberrans on the Aussie Disboards. How exciting.

 

[heidispidi]

Ms Shuttergirl, I'm sure you're right - I haven't spent enough time in Canberra to know about the roos. But where I live, unfortunately, they're all road kill

I love that I live in Sydney but it only takes 2hr 15mins to get to Canberra. There have been a number of times where my daughter and I have packed an overnight bag and gone to Questacon etc, while my hubby's playing golf!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Ms Shuttergirl, I'm sure you're right - I haven't spent enough time in Canberra to know about the roos. But where I live, unfortunately, they're all road kill

I love that I live in Sydney but it only takes 2hr 15mins to get to Canberra. There have been a number of times where my daughter and I have packed an overnight bag and gone to Questacon etc, while my hubby's playing golf!

Oh yeah totally, they seem like such silly creatures. I'm not sure why they feel the need to jump out in front of cars. My husband actually hit one 2 months ago, very scary stuff.

Questacon is a fun place isn't. Have you been to the National Museum? It's free and it's lots of fun.

I'm glad you enjoy Canberra.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

While we are debatingabout places I live, I have to say that I think I live in the greatest place on earth. I'm on the Mornington Peninsula and sitting here looking out my window I feel so lucky. We are only just over an hour to the city. We have the beaches. I can see a kookaburra on the kids playground outside and hear the cockatoos making a racket outside. My kids go to school in a smaller town at a school with only 150 kids and everyone knows everyone. I could go on. Now, if only Disney was close by.

 

[PrincessInOz]

While we are debatingabout places I live, I have to say that I think I live in the greatest place on earth. I'm on the Mornington Peninsula and sitting here looking out my window I feel so lucky. We are only just over an hour to the city. We have the beaches. I can see a kookaburra on the kids playground outside and hear the cockatoos making a racket outside. My kids go to school in a smaller town at a school with only 150 kids and everyone knows everyone. I could go on. Now, if only Disney was close by.

Yup, I almost feel the same way. My only point of divergence from you is your last sentence......which would read as follows:

Now, if only Australia was positioned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, pretty much where the Azores is....
Now that would be my idea of perfection! Disney; and any where in Europe, within a 6 hour flight.

 

[Chesire]

I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone.
I will not hear about my University applications for several months (the waiting is awful!!) but I really hope I am accepted.
I think my family would love Australia ... although I do wish it was closer to Disney! That will be difficult as Disneyland is only an 8 hour drive away. I guess we will just have to plan longer vacations to Disney World!

 

[Chesire]

Hello again

I was hoping I might ask for some more information from everyone if you do not mind!

I found out a few days ago that come August I will be attending the University if Canberra as a Masters student! This is so exciting for my family!

We are starting to think about Christmas at our home and I was wondering, how big is Christmas in Australia please? Do people go all out like they do here?

And the question I am afraid to ask ... how far away is Disney going to be now? Is it better to go to Disneyland or Disneyworld?

Thank you so much!!

 

[heidispidi]

Congrats Cheshire, on your acceptance! What an exciting time for you and your family! I only live 2 hours from Canberra (in Sydney), so I can come visit you when you're here LOL.

Christmas is awesome in Australia - and our 6 week school holidays begin the week before. Of course Christmas is held in summer here, but many of us still persist with cooking the whole turkey/baked potatoes/vegies for lunch, as if we were living in the northern hemisphere - or you could embrace the increasingly popular cold lunch of seafood and salad - beer goes well with either option!

More and more families put up Christmas lights every year - this is something that wasn't so common when I was a child, but now it almost feels unChristmassy to NOT have lights up! We put up Christmas trees, and because there are so many cultures living here, the day (or lead up to the day) is celebrated many different ways.

Like in the US, it's a time for family and friends to get together, have some fun, reflect on the religious side if that's what is done in that family, and basically just enjoy some extended time together as a family. A lot of people go on holidays at that time too.

How far is DL and WDW? It is a 14 hour flight from Sydney to LAX, for DL. From what I've read from other posts, to get to WDW, you have to fly into LAX then fly from there to MCO (maybe 5 hours?). As for whether it's better to go to DL or WDW, it's a personal preference!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hey Cheshire. Congratulations on being accepted into the Master's program. I live in Melbourne, which is about an hour flying away from Canberra or 9 hours by car. If you ever come down south, let me know and I'll be happy to meet you for a coffee (DisMeet style).

The main difference in Christmas?
You won't be in the cold and show. You can go to the beach.

Having roast turkey and all the trimmings will seem too much effort in the summer. Seafood, BBQ and salads will be more in keeping with the weather. I admitted that I do make the effort for the roast and trimming; but I got panned for it by another Aussie on the Community Board.

Outdoor home lighting isn't as big here as in the US; but more and more people are getting in to the swing of things. Of course, with daylight saving, this means that it will be about 8 or 9 pm at night before the lights take full effect.

Christmas decorations and advertising has already started here in the shops. I believe the US waits till Black Friday before pressing the 'go' button.

Midnight mass is common; as is church service on the Day.

2 days public holiday - for Christmas and Boxing Day. Boxing Day is a major sale day for us; or a major sporting event day. The Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts; as does the Melbourne Test Match (for Christmas). Therefore, there is only sport on TV to watch.....

Have a great time planning and packing. And I would try and have a couple of days in DLR before coming over. It is 14 hours from Melbourne or Sydney to get to LAX.

 

[Chesire]

Heidispidi, thank you so much!! I adore Christmas and I was hoping I would not have to change those feelings. This is wonderful because it is our last Christmas here, but next year will be even better!

And thank you for the information about flight times. My poor husband thinks that moving will prevent us from visiting ... silly man! WDW is wonderful, but there is something so magical about walking down main street in Disneyland.

Thank you

 

[Chesire]

If you ever come down south, let me know and I'll be happy to meet you for a coffee (DisMeet style).
Have a great time planning and packing. And I would try and have a couple of days in DLR before coming over. It is 14 hours from Melbourne or Sydney to get to LAX.

I would love that

We are planning a DLR trip this January (planned before we found out). Rather a nice celebration trip now!

 

[Chesire]

PrincessInOz, thank you so much! We are so excited

 

[shushh]

Congratulation! How exciting! Christmas definitely has a different feel here, a lot more laid back but it is widely celebrated.

Don't forget you will be closer to Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney! (about 9 and 10 hour flights respectively...)

 

[ehsmum]

Wow, how exciting! I think you'll be very happy in Canberra. It has more of a country town feel then a big city.

Definitely get a Disneyland visit in before you come over though!