USA or AUS?

[Rach77]

Just wondering what everyone else prefers.

As much as I love Australia I really miss being back home and I dont think I could make a permanant move.

We are off back to America for 3 months in June and I can't wait!

We will be moving back in about 2 yrs.

[~rambox~]

I am a true Aussie Girl OI OI OI :laughing: So i would have to say Australia all though i would love to visit america one day and see graceland :thumbsup:

[BW Mom]

i think i prefer Oz (and we are here permanently now), but if we have an opportunity to live in the states we will take it in the future so our kids can live there too (and UK i have promised Dh).

it is really hard to know for sure though b/c both countries are so huge and diverse. while i don't want to bring my kids up back in NYC and think Oz is better for them... who knows how i woudl feel about living somewhere else in the states IYKWIM.

we love Oz though and have been here 8 years+

[Nanay]

DH and I have actually talked about moving back to Canada...but we weighed it all out and we believe Australia is better for us and our bub... That's just us anyways...

[Ashleigh<3]

Oh here goes my rant.... *ahemmmmmm!*

I've lived in Aus for quite a while, as have I lived in the states. As a kid, I loved living there, because I had no idea about America's Politcal government system (also just to busy playing with my barbies really). No idea what working was like for minimum wage which is what most teenagers do inorder to make their way through college.

I prefer their educational system over Australia's. I must say, coming from someone who's had a taste of both parties. I've never been more screwed around in the public schooling system with teachers in Australia. I had a lot of great teachers, but a lot of very bad ones too. Some who purposely gave me a hard time due to personal reasons. Hence my reason for not finishing year 12.
It was Partially my fault too for not giving 100%, but hey, I blame it on my needy social life as well as pop culture. Atleast I'm honest and also I don't think i'm 100% un-educated either.

Most common cities, suburbs in Aus, are 10 minutes away from a beach. More then HOW MANY STATES DON'T HAVE THAT? hehe.

If I wanted to give birth to a baby in America, I'd be looking at paying around $20 000. And thats barely top notch payments, I could be paying more... This is clearly the minimum.

I'm actually feeling very sorry for my parents as they both had to go through the ordeal of having three children both costing that very price, all within a four age year gap.
What a nice way to pay mortgage huh?
Luckily, student loans are available so they could both go to college inorder to get a good job where they could afford to pay for both.

The foooooood is so good here (as it is in the states too) But about twice as less the amount of fat. I actually gained 20 pounds in a few months of visiting a while back. And that was mostly home cooking!

Customer service in America is a little more friendly as well as trained.
But I think if it was common to tip our employee's we'd do it.

The weather is fantastic.

Even though Australia has some of the worst case of accidents in the world. Atleast 15 year olds aren't allowed to be licenced in any of our sealed roads or states.
Not to mention 16 year olds.
I think it's smart that one must study to pass their learner drivers test, as well as complete 50 hours and wait a year if under 17. It's smart that if you're over 18 you only have to wait 6 months with 50 hours.

If I wanted to, I could get my learners drivers licence in the states in one day.
You sit down, take a hand written test, along with the booklet that reveals the answers. Therefore if you fail, you can look up the correct answers and try again, all within the same hour if you will.

Oh there's just soo sooo sooo much I could go on about, but I think i've made my point.

As much as I miss the states. I would never go back, I think being robbed the past three times visiting is an incentive to never move back. Australia is my home. (robbed once lol).

[popchex]

I struggle daily with this. I miss my family. SO BAD, I cry a lot. :crying: For that reason alone, we'll be moving back to the US in about 4 years for our son to go to school there, and get to know my family. We intend to have our kids here for the reasons the previous comment touched on. We also intend to move back here once our kids are older, either in Uni, or moving into high school age so they get to live in both cultures.

And I could keep going but I hear the bubba...

Okay so I thought I posted this last night, but must have gotten up right away!:rolleyes:

[Rach77]

Yeh so I posted a thread about not wanting to permanantly move out here but we decided on Sundaywe are here for good!

I'm loving Aus now and it is really starting to feel like home and I think it will even more once bubs is born.

[plumptobump]

I reckon if my family would move here, I would be in heaven! I so prefer the Australian way of life to the American way of life....for the most part, and I agree that I believe its better to raise our children here than in CA, where my family is. BUT, not having parents around is REALLY hard...Dhs family is in New Zealand...and although I thought it wouldnt be a big deal, now that Carter is entering the 2's, I want more than anything to have family to drop him off with! :) To be honest, Im pretty much 50/50 with where the best place is to live, but the lack of family support really kills us.

[amyt878]

I love Australia, just miss friends/ family.
I prefer Australia. Been here 10 yrs.
Sucks not having family :( OR friends. :(

[Ashleigh<3]

I love Australia, just miss friends/ family.
I prefer Australia. Been here 10 yrs.
Sucks not having family :( OR friends. :(

It can get hard, I know. :hugs:
Only NOW after ten years have my Grandparents decided to move over. My Uncle and my cousins are moving too.
They finally realised that the lifestyle is much better/safer here.
They are spending 2k a month on medication and it will come down to $500 a month if they move to Australia. Plus they have us here. :)

[amyt878]

I can't see my family moving here.
I just try to take one day at a time.
Sometimes I get really depressed as I have GREAT friends over in CA as well as my entire family.
When Mom comes to visit it is like heaven, she spoils me rotten!

[amyt878]

The things that make me realise how good it is here is when I think of medical costs (daughter has special needs) and crime.
When my mom came to visit she laughed at our newspaper because the stories were so different. Although, I must admit, in the past few years it is a little more apparent in Sydney.
I love how laid back everyone is and I definitely notice it when I go back there.
I have a question, is it just me and my family or are Americans a little more family orientated and closer? Or, am I just seeing things differently? Especially Holidays. I miss American traditions. :(
But, as I said I do love Australia.
I think sometimes I just don't feel I fit in either place. Does that make sense to anyone else?:)

[XandersMummy]

I moved here with my husband and we brought our toddler, as well as my 3 older children from a previous marriage. We have never even visited OZ (my kids and I), but I knew it was the best thing for us to move here as all my husband's family are here. I didn't have any family in the US. Had it not been for his family though, I think I'd move back tomorrow. I am from the DC area of Northern VA, and I am used to diversity and open mindedness. Everything here seems to be behind, we can't even get broadband where we live now in Point Cook. (not available! We have to pay 150 a MONTH for wireless internet, and we have a 3 gig download limit)

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING seems to cost more, in some cases, A LOT more. I don't like the public school system here, People in general are friendly enough but seems as though 9 out of 10 people smoke. I also find the medical system frustrating, it's great for low income people so that they have some access, but we can never get an appointment with our local medical centre without waiting for weeks first; and even if our toddler is sick we have to come in and wait for HOURS. TYPO argh, I sound like I hate Australia, but really I don't. It's beautiful here, people are friendly and the lifestyle is more relaxed, but there are more differences than I anticipated and I am finding it hard to adjust. I miss so many places in the US...

If anyone from the US lives near Melbourne and wants to get together, I'd be happy to meet up. Just pm me!

[Cupcake]

I am from Australia but I have lived in the USA & I have to say I love them both the same :yes:
New York is hard for me to forget & I hope I get back there sometime very soon.
Australia has my heart though because all my family is here :)

[plumptobump]

Hi girls!

How is everyone??

I write this from CA, where I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Carters bday....leaving to go home to Sydney tomorrow. Did any of you get to go home for the holidays?? I admit it was really nice and having a winter Christmas is so amazing....

Xandersmummy, just wanted to say that I felt the same as you for a few years...irritated at how behind Australia was technologically speaking, and how expensive everything is...but when we compared it to the cost of living in CA, including medical expenses, insurance, etc...in the end it works out about the same...for us anyway. Not to mention the government PAYS us to have babies! :) Im sorry Im not in VIC or I could meet up with you and the kiddies....Im always looking for American friends living in Aus!

Which brings me to Amy...where in Sydney are you?? Would you like to meet up for coffee or something sometime??

Hope all is well...

xxx

[amyt878]

I've been here for 10 yrs, so I am used to it. WHen my mom comes to visit she comments on how expensive everything is.

I am in South Sydney Brittany, how about you?
Would love to have a coffee!

[plumptobump]

Amy, Im in western Sydney...in Moorebank, near Liverpool...

[amyt878]

That's not too far, maybe we could meet halfway?
PM me

[SurNuage9]

I know the feeling. Its strange because I haven't lived in America since Jan 2005 but I have started to miss it a bit. I moved to Australia from England about 2 months ago to get away from the "chav" culture taking over and to have a better quality of life, but have found Australia quite an adjustment, even my Aussie hubby is having trouble (his family aren't that close to him so we both only really have each other). I have a feeling we will probably only be here for a couple of years as well, whether we head back to the UK (or somewhere else in Europe) or go back to America remains to be seen.

If you ever want to chat just send me a message! :)

[Ardentwhispers]

I'm sort of different because I was born in Australia but lived in the states from ages 5-21, so I'd say I'm both aussie and american, and not out of place (or completely at home) in either place. I've been here 4 years next month, and I have to say I prefer Australia in almost every sense. Of course there are things about the states I miss, and I miss my mum and family there like crazy, but the quality of life here is much better, and I just like how Australia still has a community feel to it...hopefully it won't lose that in it's quest of Americanisation. I do miss the food though lol.

[Lumber Joe]

I guess US. It opens much more opportunities than AUS

[Josh]

Sorry to barge in on this thread but I find it really interesting to read what people from other countries think of Australia and in particular Australians, I have never been to America but my cousin has and she tells me all what she sees, she has married 2 American guys and has 5 kids, and she likes it over there, but I think mainly because of the men:o:o, anyway thats her business..can I ask 1 question if you are from the US, can you tolerate our disgusting hot weather, I as a born and bred aussie still cant stand the heat:no: