British expats divulge what they hate about Australia – from ‘BORING’ pubs to terrible road manners
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As much as we love and wholeheartedly believe that nothing can ever compare to being raised and living Down Under, there will be certain things that expats will find bewildering and inevitably compare to their own home country – but also, of course, several advantages that would have convinced them to make the move in the first place!
A group of British expats revealed what they hate and love the most about our beloved country. Members of the Facebook group called ‘Ping Pong Brits’ huddled together to curate a list of pros and cons after spending years in their second home.
In some aspects, the cons seemed to outweigh the pros as a chunk of homesick Brits admitted that they will always feel ‘foreign’ regardless of how long they’ve been living in the country.
One teased that no matter how much research was done about living Down Under, the country “is not like they say in the brochures”.
She criticised the ‘boring’ Aussie pubs, costly international flights, and ‘cold’ houses but adored Australian coffee, our scenic beaches, and the laidback lifestyle.
Bondi Beach and an Aussie pub. Image Credit: Travel Lens, Travel2Next
The British expat detailed that Australian homes are cold due to a lack of double glazing and proper insulation. She also slammed inferior retail stores, high taxes and 'rules'. Also among her list of cons is the warm temperature during the holidays.
“Christmas in the heat is weird,” she said.
But she admitted that she loved the 'laidback' lifestyle, affordable childcare, better work-life balance, higher salaries, bigger houses, and the beaches. And the list of pros didn’t end there – she also raved about Australia's world-renowned coffee, the pleasant summer weather, and being able to engage in 'free outdoor activities'.
Another expat shared his own pros and cons of living Down Under, vouching for Australia's beaches, heavenly coffee, and retirement value.
However, he disclosed that a major downside was always being referred to as a 'Pom' – along with the flies, high UV index, and the 'extreme weather'.
In addition, the expat claimed that despite Aussies greeting you with 'G'day' they 'don’t wanna be friends' and said living in a nanny state 'stifles you'.
Brits use the term nanny state to describe a country with a government that overly meddles with its citizens’ personal choices or freedoms.
Delicious Australian coffee. Image Credit: Perfect Daily Grind
Other fellow members of the group hopped on the trend to share their own pros and cons, with one Brit saying that they felt 'grateful' to return to Australia after a trip to the UK.
“I live on acreage in South East Queensland and it's heaven. There are four seasons here but our winter is the same temperature as summer in England,” they wrote.
“I waiver at times to 'go home' but lived here longer than 'there',”
“I miss the English sense of humour and directness but I'm happy enough. Went back four years ago to visit family and was glad to come back to my life in Oz.”
Another chimed that they were a fan of the “peace and quiet, wide-open spaces, and endless blue skies”. The expat added that they loved Australia's diversity, the smaller amount of students in classrooms, and how everybody was treated as equals.
“I find money can go a long way when buying food. I only buy what I need, make as much as I can and grow a lot too,” they wrote.
Pleasant summer weather in Australia. Image Credit: WhenisCalendars
“We're lucky, we live on an acre block with sheep over the fence for neighbours, 14 kilometres to my nearest shop (tiny supermarket), 60 kilometres to bigger cities or towns and we keep chickens for eggs,”
“You've just got to find your happy place in the world,”
“Family was a big pull when we first arrived in Oz, but both sets of parents are no longer alive. We now have seven grown-up kids and 16 grandkids. Our Australian family is really well and truly established now.”
Do you agree or disagree with some of these expats' pros and cons about living Down Under? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! We’d love to hear them.
Watch a British couple compare what it’s like living in Australia vs the UK with the video below:
Video Credit: The BAM Famalam in Australia
A group of British expats revealed what they hate and love the most about our beloved country. Members of the Facebook group called ‘Ping Pong Brits’ huddled together to curate a list of pros and cons after spending years in their second home.
In some aspects, the cons seemed to outweigh the pros as a chunk of homesick Brits admitted that they will always feel ‘foreign’ regardless of how long they’ve been living in the country.
One teased that no matter how much research was done about living Down Under, the country “is not like they say in the brochures”.
She criticised the ‘boring’ Aussie pubs, costly international flights, and ‘cold’ houses but adored Australian coffee, our scenic beaches, and the laidback lifestyle.
Bondi Beach and an Aussie pub. Image Credit: Travel Lens, Travel2Next
The British expat detailed that Australian homes are cold due to a lack of double glazing and proper insulation. She also slammed inferior retail stores, high taxes and 'rules'. Also among her list of cons is the warm temperature during the holidays.
“Christmas in the heat is weird,” she said.
But she admitted that she loved the 'laidback' lifestyle, affordable childcare, better work-life balance, higher salaries, bigger houses, and the beaches. And the list of pros didn’t end there – she also raved about Australia's world-renowned coffee, the pleasant summer weather, and being able to engage in 'free outdoor activities'.
Another expat shared his own pros and cons of living Down Under, vouching for Australia's beaches, heavenly coffee, and retirement value.
However, he disclosed that a major downside was always being referred to as a 'Pom' – along with the flies, high UV index, and the 'extreme weather'.
In addition, the expat claimed that despite Aussies greeting you with 'G'day' they 'don’t wanna be friends' and said living in a nanny state 'stifles you'.
Brits use the term nanny state to describe a country with a government that overly meddles with its citizens’ personal choices or freedoms.
Delicious Australian coffee. Image Credit: Perfect Daily Grind
Other fellow members of the group hopped on the trend to share their own pros and cons, with one Brit saying that they felt 'grateful' to return to Australia after a trip to the UK.
“I live on acreage in South East Queensland and it's heaven. There are four seasons here but our winter is the same temperature as summer in England,” they wrote.
“I waiver at times to 'go home' but lived here longer than 'there',”
“I miss the English sense of humour and directness but I'm happy enough. Went back four years ago to visit family and was glad to come back to my life in Oz.”
Another chimed that they were a fan of the “peace and quiet, wide-open spaces, and endless blue skies”. The expat added that they loved Australia's diversity, the smaller amount of students in classrooms, and how everybody was treated as equals.
“I find money can go a long way when buying food. I only buy what I need, make as much as I can and grow a lot too,” they wrote.
Pleasant summer weather in Australia. Image Credit: WhenisCalendars
“We're lucky, we live on an acre block with sheep over the fence for neighbours, 14 kilometres to my nearest shop (tiny supermarket), 60 kilometres to bigger cities or towns and we keep chickens for eggs,”
“You've just got to find your happy place in the world,”
“Family was a big pull when we first arrived in Oz, but both sets of parents are no longer alive. We now have seven grown-up kids and 16 grandkids. Our Australian family is really well and truly established now.”
Do you agree or disagree with some of these expats' pros and cons about living Down Under? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! We’d love to hear them.
Watch a British couple compare what it’s like living in Australia vs the UK with the video below:
Video Credit: The BAM Famalam in Australia
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