Thread: American thinking of moving to Australia. some questions.

Originally Posted by Makedde

AFL is a football game, Spanky.

I know. Is the "Australian Football League" located in Victoria?

Originally Posted by OneThunder

you fail because you stereotype.

I call then like I see them.

Melbourne is a delightful, elegant city, very European with its boulevards and parklands. In all seriousness, it is very enjoyable. If a visitor came to Australia and eschewed Melbourne for Sydney they would be missing out on a very different city which affords a very different view of Australia. Sydney reminds me of a cross between New York and LA but Melbourne is London and Paris in attitude.

Originally Posted by Diuretic

Melbourne is a delightful, elegant city, very European with its boulevards and parklands. In all seriousness, it is very enjoyable. If a visitor came to Australia and eschewed Melbourne for Sydney they would be missing out on a very different city which affords a very different view of Australia. Sydney reminds me of a cross between New York and LA but Melbourne is London and Paris in attitude.

I had the pleasure of living in Melbourne for two years.

I have lived in London for six years and been to Paris over a dozen times.

All true.

Thought I would add my two cents.

Despite Makkede's attempts to make us all look like redneck, racist losers, there are many sophisticated and admirable things about Australians.

First of all, and most importantly, the majority of us recognise the role that society and government has played in the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Australia, and how they are in the desperate and dreadful position they are in because we put them there. Many Aboriginal Australians live in worse than third world conditions, and this is unacceptable. To state that they pop up in suburbia when they want a government hand-out is ignorant at best, and incredibly racist and bigoted at worst.

Educated Australians do not watch either Home and Away or Neighbours. And I suggest you adopt neither if you move here. They are enough to melt your brain. I agree about Kath & Kim, though.

We do love a barbeque and it's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, playing backyard cricket and getting some sun. The majority of Australians actually do live near a beach - the greater part of our population are coastal suburban dwellers - and not everybody surfs. There is more to the beach than this.

Property in Perth is rated at some of the most expensive in the world - topping New York at last assessment. Because of the mining boom in Western Australia, hardly anyone can afford to live here. The cost of living in Perth is higher than any other state in Australia - food, property, you name it. It's ridiculous. The city itself is magic though - clean, fresh, beautiful. Western Australia sadly is the most conservative, provincial and racist state in Australia. It's one of the things that makes me sad because we have a lovely, beautiful state (physically) that at the moment seems to be full of dickheads.

Most Australians are disgusted by the culture of racism, self-interest and all of the other ugly conservative traits encouraged and endorsed by the Howard government and proved it by voting him out in such an overwhelming landslide at our last federal election that he lost his own seat, which has only happened once before in the history of our nation.

We have a rich music scene (especially in Victoria) and our film industry isn't doing too badly either.

We are a fair-minded, friendly, laid-back and outgoing people, who welcome tourists and strangers and soon will be treating immigrants with more fairness, respect and kindness than was endorsed by the Howard regime. We have a multicultural society and most of us are proud of that, and wish for it to stay that way.

We do like a beer, I have to admit, and we make some good beer here, that's for sure. We also make some of the finest wine in the world, too, which perhaps not many of you know.

As OneThunder has rightly pointed out, we have more dangerous native animals than any other country in the world. We are home to six out of the top ten most dangerous snakes, the most deadly spider in the world and the most deadly sea creature.

The best beaches in Australia are in Western Australia. Endless white, soft sand, stunning horizons and clean, safe oceans.

We do have rivalries - and yeah we all just hate Victoria. LOL. Not really - Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia, I'd live there in a second and plan to when Poppy is older. Sydney is magnificent to look at, Perth is peaceful and big and open and clean, Brisbane is full of weirdos but there is some great country in Queensland, Tassie similarly has amazing country, as does South Australia although Adelaide is reported to be the most boring place on earth. I've not been to the Northern Territory although I'd really love to. Canberra has some of the best restaurants in Australia (it'd want to - there's nothing else there).

Diuretic's assessment of Melbourne vs Sydney is spot on. I still love visiting Sydney though - great place to visit. Melbourne and Perth, great places to live.

Spanky, the AFL started out as the VFL and started in Victoria before it became a national sport. The Grand Final every year is still held in Melbourne, even if two interstate teams are playing. This will change eventually, but for now I suppose you could say that the AFL has its heart in Melbourne, and eight of the sixteen clubs in the league are Victorian.

I am very proud of this country and of being Australian. It's been a long time since I could say that, but our new Prime Minister has done a lot already to bring back the qualities I have always admired in Australians, and to help us forget the legacy of our former Prime Monster.

Originally Posted by Chesby05

Thought I would add my two cents.

Despite Makkede's attempts to make us all look like redneck, racist losers, there are many sophisticated and admirable things about Australians.

First of all, and most importantly, the majority of us recognise the role that society and government has played in the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Australia, and how they are in the desperate and dreadful position they are in because we put them there. Many Aboriginal Australians live in worse than third world conditions, and this is unacceptable. To state that they pop up in suburbia when they want a government hand-out is ignorant at best, and incredibly racist and bigoted at worst.

Educated Australians do not watch either Home and Away or Neighbours. And I suggest you adopt neither if you move here. They are enough to melt your brain. I agree about Kath & Kim, though.

We do love a barbeque and it's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, playing backyard cricket and getting some sun. The majority of Australians actually do live near a beach - the greater part of our population are coastal suburban dwellers - and not everybody surfs. There is more to the beach than this.

Property in Perth is rated at some of the most expensive in the world - topping New York at last assessment. Because of the mining boom in Western Australia, hardly anyone can afford to live here. The cost of living in Perth is higher than any other state in Australia - food, property, you name it. It's ridiculous. The city itself is magic though - clean, fresh, beautiful. Western Australia sadly is the most conservative, provincial and racist state in Australia. It's one of the things that makes me sad because we have a lovely, beautiful state (physically) that at the moment seems to be full of dickheads.

Most Australians are disgusted by the culture of racism, self-interest and all of the other ugly conservative traits encouraged and endorsed by the Howard government and proved it by voting him out in such an overwhelming landslide at our last federal election that he lost his own seat, which has only happened once before in the history of our nation.

We have a rich music scene (especially in Victoria) and our film industry isn't doing too badly either.

We are a fair-minded, friendly, laid-back and outgoing people, who welcome tourists and strangers and soon will be treating immigrants with more fairness, respect and kindness than was endorsed by the Howard regime. We have a multicultural society and most of us are proud of that, and wish for it to stay that way.

We do like a beer, I have to admit, and we make some good beer here, that's for sure. We also make some of the finest wine in the world, too, which perhaps not many of you know.

As OneThunder has rightly pointed out, we have more dangerous native animals than any other country in the world. We are home to six out of the top ten most dangerous snakes, the most deadly spider in the world and the most deadly sea creature.

The best beaches in Australia are in Western Australia. Endless white, soft sand, stunning horizons and clean, safe oceans.

We do have rivalries - and yeah we all just hate Victoria. LOL. Not really - Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia, I'd live there in a second and plan to when Poppy is older. Sydney is magnificent to look at, Perth is peaceful and big and open and clean, Brisbane is full of weirdos but there is some great country in Queensland, Tassie similarly has amazing country, as does South Australia although Adelaide is reported to be the most boring place on earth. I've not been to the Northern Territory although I'd really love to. Canberra has some of the best restaurants in Australia (it'd want to - there's nothing else there).

Diuretic's assessment of Melbourne vs Sydney is spot on. I still love visiting Sydney though - great place to visit. Melbourne and Perth, great places to live.

Spanky, the AFL started out as the VFL and started in Victoria before it became a national sport. The Grand Final every year is still held in Melbourne, even if two interstate teams are playing. This will change eventually, but for now I suppose you could say that the AFL has its heart in Melbourne, and eight of the sixteen clubs in the league are Victorian.

I am very proud of this country and of being Australian. It's been a long time since I could say that, but our new Prime Minister has done a lot already to bring back the qualities I have always admired in Australians, and to help us forget the legacy of our former Prime Monster.

Nice post.

You have a lot to be proud about.

And there is not one day when I do not thank this country for letting me come here. (Even if I need to poke fun of Australia Fair, that too is an Australian tradition.)

WA does have the best beaches I have ever seen in the world, and I have seen a good part of the world.

But more importantly most Australians, when the chips are down, have the biggest hearts in the world, most WILL stand by a mate in a time of trouble.

I will post more insults about Australia, but in reality I have nothing but deep respect and gratitide for this country that I feel lucky to live in.

Originally Posted by Chesby05

Most Australians are disgusted by the culture of racism,.

How many people of color have been your Prime Minister?

Originally Posted by submarinepainter

How many people of color have been your Prime Minister?

Good point.

America is far ahead of the race curve than most of the world, let alone Australia.

The largest black middle class in the world, in the world, is in America.

There are more black millionares in the world in America than anywhere else, including Africa.

There is a larger percent of black people in the US Congress than in any European democracy.

Truth is a (*)(*)(*)(*)(*).

Originally Posted by submarinepainter

How many people of color have been your Prime Minister?

You might want to educate yourself about the Eureka stockade one of the major defining moments in Australian mulitcultural history.

Originally Posted by Chesby05

Despite Makkede's attempts to make us all look like redneck, racist losers, there are many sophisticated and admirable things about Australians.

Hey girl, I think I did a rather good job!

Originally Posted by Chesby05

Many Aboriginal Australians live in worse than third world conditions, and this is unacceptable.

Yes, but why are they living like this? They could intergrate and get jobs and be like the rest of us. There is no reason why they should be living in third world conditions in this day and age.

Originally Posted by Chesby05

To state that they pop up in suburbia when they want a government hand-out is ignorant at best, and incredibly racist and bigoted at worst.

Oh well. We agree, we disagree. Can't have em all, right?

Originally Posted by Chesby05

Educated Australians do not watch either Home and Away or Neighbours. And I suggest you adopt neither if you move here. They are enough to melt your brain.

I can't believe you don't watch a good Aussie soapie. That is just criminal.

Originally Posted by Chesby05

I agree about Kath & Kim, though.

Well thank God for that. At least I am not the only one who dislikes that pathetic excuse for a show...and OMG the American version? As much as I hate the Aussie version, it's a lot better than the Yanks attempt at it.