Tag: living overseas

The ultimate value of your experience abroad will depend on your willingness to take risks and embrace the newness and uncertainty that comes with living overseas. Ultimately, living overseas can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort.

LONDON'S 10 TOP GREEN SPACES: The concept of ‘going to the park’ in Australia conjures up images of children’s birthday parties and unruly teenagers looking for a place to drink after dark. In London, the park stands for something completely different.

With Brexit upon us, people of Polish descent are now looking into getting a European passport, as it can offer them all a wealth of possibilities in terms of living, working and studying in Europe.

Ready to make your big move abroad? Before you go, here’s a list of the biggest expat mistakes made by first-timers and how to avoid making them.

Most Aussies coming to London aren’t making a permanent move, so finding affordable options to fit out their new home is a must. There's markets, and then there's Argos...

But don't just think the expat affliction of acquiring an English accent is necessarily about contracting posh, clipped tones and a habit of saying yo-gurt, instead of yogurt.

Why not see the world at an age when you can better appreciate the history and the culture, not just the cheap hostel beds and student drinking prices? Why not move to London, jobless and homeless in your first year of marriage?

To any Aussie expat experiencing any kind of culture shock or longing for home, remember that you’re not alone. But don’t lose your patriotism, and don’t lose heart.

To complain of homesickness isn’t to wave the white flag and pull up stumps. It’s just to feel a little sick for your home. A little world-worn and weary. A little like you want to crawl under the covers of your old bed and have your Mum bring you a ...

Is it inevitable that you live with fellow so-called 'Antipodeans'? Is this really such a bad thing?

My relationship with fellow Aussie travellers soured, somewhat, throughout my travels.

EXPATS NEED TO KNOW THIS: Dossing. Everyone does it. Whether it’s when you first arrive in London, on a stopover in between trips or in the week before you head back to Australia. Every Aussie who spends time in London will spend time dossing! But there is an etiquette...

Missing home just isn’t what it used to be. On my previous visit to the UK, to call my mother I had to put £23 in a phone box and dial 48 numbers while trying to ignore all the flyers of scantily clad women dying for me to call them ...

When you live in a London houseshare packed with a motley crew of expats, you’re bound to end up with at least one oddball in the mix.

OK, yes we do tend to hang out together in London, a lot. But there's a good reason for it and the fact of the matter is most Australian expats are open-minded professionals who give back to their adopted society as much as they take out.

Don’t get me wrong; there’s been evenings in the park with a bottle of rose, outdoor music concerts and games of Twenty20. But overall, London is putting on a terrible summer show this year.

I am a huge fan of utter debauchery. But, come on… People in glass houses, and all that.

I will be standing behind that yellow line, minding that gap and hoping that one day I have my very own perfect Paltrow fantasy.

Sadly, I fall into the category of typical Aussie who speaks no other languages. So my first tour of Europe was certainly an eye (and ear) opener...

London expat lives expire. The friendships that grow along the way don’t have to fade, but sometimes they do.

I walked onto the Tube as a mere squire. I walked off the train as a man fulfilled.

"Not only am I enjoying my teaching but I also have the chance to travel Europe on the long weekends and in school breaks. I often have to pinch myself about how incredibly lucky I am to be undergoing this stage in my career and life.”

Sharing your London house with the flotsam and jetsam of expat humanity, you never quite know what you’re going to come home to. It can be quite a show...

I strategically forgot the bit about hubby leaving his shoes in the middle of the doorway, and that he is an Aussie Arsenal supporter who can scull a beer in less than 30 seconds.

I’d managed to negotiate the fruit and vegetable aisle - where capsicums are peppers, eggplants are aubergines, mandarins are clementines or satsumas, snow peas are mange tout and zucchini are courgettes - but earned ‘The Look’ at the checkout when I asked for ‘cash out’.

You had a whopping big typo on the front page of your CV, you illiterate peasant. Go back to convict country!

There are three questions that new South African expats who arrive in Australia inevitably ask. Back in SA the answers to these questions accurately suss out a person's social standing, but in Australia they're a no-go.

When I moved to London, a city where one does not need to sit at home in a onesie, Bridget Jones style, swilling red wine from a schooner glass and instead celebrating the state of singledom with half-price drinks and speed-dating, I didn’t expect to continue to be surrounded by ...

Australian business coach Gail Gibson found inspiration and success further afield than London.

Some tips on how to continue to indulge your traveller's liquid courage cravings, whilst also preventing the inevitable bar fight caused by the button on your jeans bursting off under the pressure of your growing gut.

We all had visions of an exciting, new and vibrant life ahead of us in London; an awesome social life and tonnes of travel. But then reality bites...

In a competitive working environment it is important to continue your professional education and keep your skills up to date. Here are three ways to fulfil your development needs.

I am not saying the Brits do not drink beer. There are still some true believers left.

Travelling abroad is an opportunity to reflect on the country we’ve left behind, and appreciate how lucky we really are to be Australian.

Australians living in London fully embrace all this city has to offer, including its people. But sometimes it seems like the locals don't share our same enthusiasm for making new friends.

Expat Aussies are labelled with stereotypes all the time. But we aren't all the same. What does it really mean to be an Australian?

Many Aussie blokes were Englishmen just a couple of centuries ago, yet I had never heard even the most arty Aussie male talk about crying at the ballet, let alone proudly and in public.

If staying in Europe long-term is on your wish list for the year ahead, looking into your Polish ancestry might just be all that you need to do.

Wife and mother ALEX BLACKIE shares a play-by-play report of a typical British Christmas Day.

Australians living overseas will be obliged to repay their HECS/HELP and TSL debts from 2016-17 financial year, after government closes loophole.

Moving to the other side of the world can be overwhelming, but the cost of literal ‘extra baggage’ and backaches from poor planning is worse. Keep things simple with a guide to packing for London.

HONEYMOONING NOMAD: People often ask me “how can you afford to travel so much?” or “how do you get the time to travel so much?”. Well, let me tell you…

Does it make sense to invest in a property that is located thousands of miles away from home or is it just a shrewd way for people to lose money?

There's some tasty carrots, but this Budget is not good news if you live and work overseas. HECS and HELP is about to catch up with you.

The most sought after goods (according to Google) all around the world speak volumes. You may be surprised at what people are Googling for in Australia...

HONEYMOONING NOMAD: London garden, quite contrary; is my garden how I grow up?

EXPAT FACTOR: The story of a young entrepreneur leaving his home continent to find his love & passion in the heart of Europe. He now shares his story and invites Australians to Europe.

Aimed towards expats from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Scatzy has found its niche in providing videos for globetrotters from their home country.

Finally. It’s here. Spring! And London is coming to life.

A petition advocating free movement between Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Canada is quickly collecting thousands of signatures. Find out more about what the Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organisation is advocating.