Should I move to Australia?

[Cerpin Taxt]

This may be a little premature, but I thought I'd toss some ideas around.

I've learned that there's a very large purchasing agreement in the works in Australia for my company's products. I learned about this from another engineer co-worker in Brisbane. If it goes through, they will need to add a bunch of new field engineers to support the new installations. He told me that he could put in a recommendation for my consideration for a transfer to Australia. He himself is an international transfer from England. Given my training and level of experience, I think I'd be a pretty high probability selection.

Right now, I'm 32, and I own a townhouse in Seattle, but I'm not married, no kids, not even a girlfriend at the moment. I do have family here in Seattle and other areas of Washington, so separation from them is a bit of a concern for me. I do know some people in Australia -- primarily in Sydney. Also, for what it's worth, I play rugby so I'd have a means of socializing down there, I'd imagine.

I can't say with any certainty what areas in Australia they'll require field service support, but in general I'm sure it would center around major cities. I don't think I'd want to transfer to live in Perth, for example, but Melbourne, Sydney, or other South/East areas of Australia would be acceptable to me.

I guess I think opportunities like this don't come around often, and if I happen to see a door open, I should take it. Anyone else think so too? Disagree?

 

[JS80]

1) Why do you want to do it?
2) Where do you want to be in 5 years? (in terms of career, relationship)
3) In 10?

 

[shortylickens]

YES!
And bring back some titties!!

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

1) Why do you want to do it?

I hear Australian chicks dig cute guys with American accents.

More seriously, I have spent time abroad in England and enjoyed it greatly. That experience left me with a strong desire to work internationally for a period in my life. I speak Spanish pretty well, although I'm a bit out of practice now, but apart from that, only English-speaking countries would be feasible.

2) Where do you want to be in 5 years? (in terms of career, relationship)
3) In 10?

I would like to get married sometime, and a family is not out of the question, although I'm not sure if I want to get started too late in my life. A family of my own is not a "must-have" for me, but I would certainly like a long-term romantic partner, anyway. Career-wise, though I am a a field engineer, my degree is in International Business, so I may have some advancement pathways into management, sales, or possibly advanced engineering roles.

 

[SandEagle]

do it. better place to raise your kids

 

[PowerEngineer]

Your problem now is that you'll always wonder what your life would have been like if you had relocated to Australia. You might as well go and find out. If you don't like it, then you can always come back.

My impression is that most companies struggle to find employees willing to even consider such a big move. Perhaps you can garner some sort of salary increase and/or allowance for living expenses out of this deal. I certainly look for them to buy your townhouse ; no way I'd want to be worried about renters on another continent!

Good luck!

 

[Newbian]

Just make sure you purchase your drop bear armored hat otherwise you will be dead in a week.

 

[Newbian]

do it. better place to raise your kids

If you consider all the poisonous crap they have over there not to mention they have one of the highest crime rate in the world:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_vic-crime-total-victims

Also with Australia being the fattest country in the world it would be a bad place to go if you hate fatties.

 

[Svnla]

OP, I am in the same boat as you, still young and single and looking for adventures.

I have been looking around for more information and it is not that great in Oz, especially the cost of living. Look at the comments of people that had lived or are living in Oz = http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cost-of-living/cost-of-living-in-australia.html#idc-cover

 

[dmcowen674]

Should I move to Australia?

Absolutely

Why would you want to stay in a country of decline?

 

[DaWhim]

do it! just rent out the town house, great u got family that can take care of your house.

 

[busydude]

If you consider all the poisonous crap they have over there not to mention they have one of the highest crime rate in the world:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_vic-crime-total-victims

Also with Australia being the fattest country in the world it would be a bad place to go if you hate fatties.

I don't recall his name, but there is an Australian Nationalist in here. It would be interesting to see his response.

 

[Newbian]

I don't recall his name, but there is an Australian Nationalist in here. It would be interesting to see his response.

Not saying it would be a horrible place to vacation but with all the poisonous crap they have and drop bears it would be a scary place to raise kids one would think.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I hear Australian chicks dig cute guys with American accents.

I don't think this is true. Most of the world hears American accents every day on TV/movies. There's nothing interesting or novel about US accents.

 

[preslove]

Do it. Find a hot australian wife and bring her back to the states after a few years in the down under. Permanent exotic pussy is a status symbol that you can be proud of.

 

[Newbian]

Do it. Find a hot australian wife and bring her back to the states after a few years in the down under. Permanent exotic pussy is a status symbol that you can be proud of.

Just hope she doesn't make fun of your "Shrimp on the barbie".

 

[Printer Bandit]

Just hope she doesn't make fun of your "Shrimp on the barbie".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOFjCWEB52M&feature=related

 

[Hevy187]

Ok im from Sydney Australia, and some of the things ive read here are all BS lol.
Crime rate is absolutely nothing compared to the US, murders, kidnapping anything hardly EVER happens here.
No body carrys knives with them, we all leave our doors unlocked when we go out, neighbourhoods are tight and aggression is hardly ever witnessed here. As for poisonous shit like someone mentioned? You will not run into anything poisonous unless you jump on a plane and fly 4 hours into the northern territory.
Australia has one of the highest living and building standards in the world, and our dollar just passed on the US dollar.
Most popular sport here is not rugby but its cousin rugby league, which is significantly different.
We also have our own football which is quite big called Aussie Rules, all in all, Australia is big on sports but so is the US.
Yes australia is a greatttt place to raise your children, a very friendly country with some beautiful women

Oh another thing..... WE DONT SAY SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE.
Infact we never use the word shrimp ever, we say prawn.
SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE was meant to be laugh in dumb and dumber, since aussies dnt use the word shrimp!
And we dnt freekin ride kangaroos to schoooool and work!!!!


Sent from iPhone4s using Tapatalk

 

[TalonStrike]

Yes, most definitely. Better country.

 

[shortylickens]

Ok im from Sydney Australia, and some of the things ive read here are all BS lol.
Crime rate is absolutely nothing compared to the US, murders, kidnapping anything hardly EVER happens here.
No body carrys knives with them, we all leave our doors unlocked when we go out, neighbourhoods are tight and aggression is hardly ever witnessed here. As for poisonous shit like someone mentioned? You will not run into anything poisonous unless you jump on a plane and fly 4 hours into the northern territory.
Australia has one of the highest living and building standards in the world, and our dollar just passed on the US dollar.
Most popular sport here is not rugby but its cousin rugby league, which is significantly different.
We also have our own football which is quite big called Aussie Rules, all in all, Australia is big on sports but so is the US.
Yes australia is a greatttt place to raise your children, a very friendly country with some beautiful women

Oh another thing..... WE DONT SAY SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE.
Infact we never use the word shrimp ever, we say prawn.
SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE was meant to be laugh in dumb and dumber, since aussies dnt use the word shrimp!
And we dnt freekin ride kangaroos to schoooool and work!!!!


Sent from iPhone4s using Tapatalk

According to the Australian movie, Shrimp on the Barbie, which came out several years before Dumb and Dumber, Australians do say Shrimp on the Barbie.

So, you are not Australian, but I'd bet a dollar you ARE a returning banned member.

 

[lxskllr]

Isn't it hot there, like Texas hot? That would suck...

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Your problem now is that you'll always wonder what your life would have been like if you had relocated to Australia. You might as well go and find out. If you don't like it, then you can always come back.

My impression is that most companies struggle to find employees willing to even consider such a big move. Perhaps you can garner some sort of salary increase and/or allowance for living expenses out of this deal. I certainly look for them to buy your townhouse ; no way I'd want to be worried about renters on another continent!

Good luck!

It's true that if the opportunity actually presented itself and I declined it, I would probably live the rest of my life wondering "what if". I guess it really depends on the terms they'll offer me, but I think it could be the opportunity of a lifetime.

OP, I am in the same boat as you, still young and single and looking for adventures.

I have been looking around for more information and it is not that great in Oz, especially the cost of living. Look at the comments of people that had lived or are living in Oz = http://www.expatforum.com/articles/cost-of-living/cost-of-living-in-australia.html#idc-cover

Those comments are a bit disconcerting, but the advice I've been given first hand from the people I know that live there is a bit of a departure from those comments. I'm sure there are adjustments that I'd have to make, but all-in-all I am confident that I could be comfortable there.

I don't think this is true. Most of the world hears American accents every day on TV/movies. There's nothing interesting or novel about US accents.

I hope it was clear I was being facetious. Maybe I can assimilate an Aussie accent so that if/when I come back to the states I can chat up some US ladies.

 

[busydude]

And we dnt freekin ride kangaroos to schoooool and work!!!!

LOLOL.. haha this is the first time I am hearing this and it's damn funny.

Not saying it would be a horrible place to vacation but with all the poisonous crap they have and drop bears it would be a scary place to raise kids one would think.

IMO, the poisonous crap has been overblown. Yeah.. Australia may have a lot of poisonous and dangerous animals, but fatalities are pretty rare.. unless you are living in the middle of a desert.

Try central Africa, the Indian sub-continent during the monsoon and Indonesia.

 

[Ruptga]

Just watch out for the stingrays

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Do it. Find a hot australian wife and bring her back to the states after a few years in the down under. Permanent exotic pussy is a status symbol that you can be proud of.

One of my best friends did precisely that. His Aussie wife just gave birth to their first kid about a week ago.

Most popular sport here is not rugby but its cousin rugby league, which is significantly different.
We also have our own football which is quite big called Aussie Rules, all in all, Australia is big on sports but so is the US.

Rugby Union is the only real sport.

Yes australia is a greatttt place to raise your children, a very friendly country with some beautiful women

I do know that the women are pretty attractive, and from what I hear they are a bit more... I dunno... "fun loving" or something like that. I've traveled enough to know that there's always a "grass is greener" phenomena every place I go (except England... ugh), but still one can hope.

Isn't it hot there, like Texas hot? That would suck...

Depends where you live, but yeah in the major cities I mentioned it gets pretty hot in the summer. Having a Christmas in my swim trunks sounds like fun, tho. I used to live in Southern California so I'm ok with hot summers.