Aussies beware! This list of 'cons' about living in Australia is going viral - are the claims true?
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Is it that bad living in Australia? One expat from East Yorkshire, United Kingdom decided to list out the pros and cons of living Down Under.
From the wrong time of year for winter to having to deal with almost everything that could kill you, here are all the gripes this woman has with Australia!
1. The wrong timing of the winter season
Winter in Australia can be a ‘bleak and dreary time’, with few social activities to take part in. This can be contrasted with the English winter, which, despite being colder, is enlivened by Christmas festivities. For Australians, winter is a time to hunker down and hope for better weather.
We all know that feeling: you wake up on a cold, dark morning, and you just can't face getting out of bed. The thought of leaving your warm, cosy blankets is just too much. That's winter for you.
And while we Aussies are so used to staying at home during this season, (hence, the reason why the English woman labelled our winter as a 'bleak and dreary time’) outsiders think that there's something wrong with how we spend the season Down Under.
For starters, everything about our winter appears to be 'out of sync' from the rest of the world given that we experience it from June to August instead of December to February like in most European countries.
This also means that we celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer when most people are more interested in barbecues and beach days than turkey and tinsel. And while in the Northern Hemisphere winter is a time for cosy nights in front of the fire, in Australia it can be a social black hole. With the weather being so bad, no one wants to make plans. And if you do, there's a good chance everyone will bail in favour of staying home.
An expat shared her list of pros and cons of living in Australia. Credit: Katie Stow/Mamamia Daily.
2. Australia: Where everything is trying to kill you
There's no secret that Australia is a land of extremes. After all, our country used to be a territory where British convicts were sent as punishment for their crimes.
And by punishment, we mean almost all wildlife here can kill you! From the deadly crocodiles to the sharks and spiders, there are plenty of ways to meet your demise Down Under. And don't even get us started on the snakes!
3. Our chocolate ‘tastes awful’ (err, the expat's words not ours)
Is the chocolate in our country bad? According to one British expat, it is. In a recent blog post, she lamented the sub-par chocolate available in her 'adopted home' Down Under, and blamed the sun for its poor quality.
Apparently, the warm climate means that chocolate needs stabilising chemicals to stop it from melting into a puddle of despair. And these chemicals, unfortunately, take away all the creamy goodness from the chocolate.
The writer has clearly become accustomed to the ‘less than stellar’ chocolate in Australia, as evidenced by her reaction to eating Cadbury Dairy Milk while back home in England – she was shocked at how 'milky' and delicious it was. We’re not sure about this one, members…
There are a number of cons of living in Australia, including the amount of travel you need to transfer from one city to another. Credit: Go Study Australia.
4. It takes a lot of time and money to leave Australia
The country is so vast that it can take a whole day of travelling just to reach the border. And even then, you're not guaranteed to leave the country. This is because Australia is so big that it spans multiple time zones. So, even if you're 10 hours into a road trip, you could still be in the same state. This can be frustrating for travellers, but it's just a fact of life in Australia.
5. Brits are everywhere
There's no shortage of Brits in Australia. From Bondi to Manly, you'll find people from all over the UK enjoying the sunny beaches and laid-back lifestyle.
The writer also noted that while it's great to have a little piece of home away from home, some Aussies are finding that the British invasion is a bit too much of a good thing. With so many Brits around, the woman said that it can be hard to stand out from the crowd – and that's not always a good thing, at least for her. We mean, that's her issue, not Australia's if you ask us.
6. All sorts of mullets
Mullets are a national epidemic in Australia. No matter where you go, you're bound to spot one (or two, or three). They come in all shapes and sizes - curly, straight, dyed pink, shaved sides - you name it. And just when you think you've seen every variation of a mullet, another one comes along to assault your eyeballs. We’re kidding! (Mostly.)
The writer wrote that while Billy Ray Cyrus would be proud with the mullets, the rest of the expat community are not. Mullets are widely considered to be the world's most unattractive haircut, and yet they continue to have a hold on this nation like no other.
So why do Australians love mullets so much? Is it the practicality of the style? Is it the rebellious nature of it? Or is it simply because they're just so damn strange that we can't help but be fascinated by them?
Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure - mullets are here to stay.
Australia has a lot to offer and living here is definitely worth it, despite what this Brit says.
For starters, Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Whether you're looking to surf, sunbake or just take a relaxing swim, there's a beach here for you.
There's also an incredible array of wildlife to be found. From the iconic koala and kangaroo to the more unusual platypus and echidna, there's so much to see and learn about. And yes, some of them might be dangerous, but it is important to note that we should always keep our distance from wild animals no matter where we are.
And of course, let's not forget about the food and wine! Australian produce is world-renowned for being fresh and delicious, and there are some amazing wineries located all around the country.
We want to hear your thoughts! Do you agree with the claims of the expat about Australia? Or do you think it's worth it to live Down Under? Share your opinions with us in the comments below!
From the wrong time of year for winter to having to deal with almost everything that could kill you, here are all the gripes this woman has with Australia!
1. The wrong timing of the winter season
Winter in Australia can be a ‘bleak and dreary time’, with few social activities to take part in. This can be contrasted with the English winter, which, despite being colder, is enlivened by Christmas festivities. For Australians, winter is a time to hunker down and hope for better weather.
We all know that feeling: you wake up on a cold, dark morning, and you just can't face getting out of bed. The thought of leaving your warm, cosy blankets is just too much. That's winter for you.
And while we Aussies are so used to staying at home during this season, (hence, the reason why the English woman labelled our winter as a 'bleak and dreary time’) outsiders think that there's something wrong with how we spend the season Down Under.
For starters, everything about our winter appears to be 'out of sync' from the rest of the world given that we experience it from June to August instead of December to February like in most European countries.
This also means that we celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer when most people are more interested in barbecues and beach days than turkey and tinsel. And while in the Northern Hemisphere winter is a time for cosy nights in front of the fire, in Australia it can be a social black hole. With the weather being so bad, no one wants to make plans. And if you do, there's a good chance everyone will bail in favour of staying home.
An expat shared her list of pros and cons of living in Australia. Credit: Katie Stow/Mamamia Daily.
2. Australia: Where everything is trying to kill you
There's no secret that Australia is a land of extremes. After all, our country used to be a territory where British convicts were sent as punishment for their crimes.
And by punishment, we mean almost all wildlife here can kill you! From the deadly crocodiles to the sharks and spiders, there are plenty of ways to meet your demise Down Under. And don't even get us started on the snakes!
3. Our chocolate ‘tastes awful’ (err, the expat's words not ours)
Is the chocolate in our country bad? According to one British expat, it is. In a recent blog post, she lamented the sub-par chocolate available in her 'adopted home' Down Under, and blamed the sun for its poor quality.
Apparently, the warm climate means that chocolate needs stabilising chemicals to stop it from melting into a puddle of despair. And these chemicals, unfortunately, take away all the creamy goodness from the chocolate.
The writer has clearly become accustomed to the ‘less than stellar’ chocolate in Australia, as evidenced by her reaction to eating Cadbury Dairy Milk while back home in England – she was shocked at how 'milky' and delicious it was. We’re not sure about this one, members…
There are a number of cons of living in Australia, including the amount of travel you need to transfer from one city to another. Credit: Go Study Australia.
4. It takes a lot of time and money to leave Australia
The country is so vast that it can take a whole day of travelling just to reach the border. And even then, you're not guaranteed to leave the country. This is because Australia is so big that it spans multiple time zones. So, even if you're 10 hours into a road trip, you could still be in the same state. This can be frustrating for travellers, but it's just a fact of life in Australia.
5. Brits are everywhere
There's no shortage of Brits in Australia. From Bondi to Manly, you'll find people from all over the UK enjoying the sunny beaches and laid-back lifestyle.
The writer also noted that while it's great to have a little piece of home away from home, some Aussies are finding that the British invasion is a bit too much of a good thing. With so many Brits around, the woman said that it can be hard to stand out from the crowd – and that's not always a good thing, at least for her. We mean, that's her issue, not Australia's if you ask us.
6. All sorts of mullets
Mullets are a national epidemic in Australia. No matter where you go, you're bound to spot one (or two, or three). They come in all shapes and sizes - curly, straight, dyed pink, shaved sides - you name it. And just when you think you've seen every variation of a mullet, another one comes along to assault your eyeballs. We’re kidding! (Mostly.)
The writer wrote that while Billy Ray Cyrus would be proud with the mullets, the rest of the expat community are not. Mullets are widely considered to be the world's most unattractive haircut, and yet they continue to have a hold on this nation like no other.
So why do Australians love mullets so much? Is it the practicality of the style? Is it the rebellious nature of it? Or is it simply because they're just so damn strange that we can't help but be fascinated by them?
Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure - mullets are here to stay.
Australia has a lot to offer and living here is definitely worth it, despite what this Brit says.
For starters, Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Whether you're looking to surf, sunbake or just take a relaxing swim, there's a beach here for you.
There's also an incredible array of wildlife to be found. From the iconic koala and kangaroo to the more unusual platypus and echidna, there's so much to see and learn about. And yes, some of them might be dangerous, but it is important to note that we should always keep our distance from wild animals no matter where we are.
And of course, let's not forget about the food and wine! Australian produce is world-renowned for being fresh and delicious, and there are some amazing wineries located all around the country.
We want to hear your thoughts! Do you agree with the claims of the expat about Australia? Or do you think it's worth it to live Down Under? Share your opinions with us in the comments below!