Do we ever really get accepted by the Ausies, or..

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Do we ever really get accepted by the Ausies, or..
Topic Started: Nov 20 2006, 05:41 PM (149 Views)
CHELSEAJAMIE	Nov 20 2006, 05:41 PM Post #1
Redback Posts: 31 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: November 19, 2006	Dear all, we are very curious to find out people's opinions re whether us Brit's ever really get accepted by the Aussies, or would we/are we always just regarded as "pommes?" I would like to think alot of this depends on the way we interact with them, ie with a positive, outgoing attitude...or not, as the case may be... We feel this could be very important regarding our long term happiness, and ability to settle in... Regards Jamie&Kerrie



PC Pom	Nov 21 2006, 11:02 PM Post #2
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	Go back a couple of decades and yeh, you might have a problem, but not anymore. Not if you don't mind being called a Pom, on very rare occassions. Think of it as a term of enderment. It's common practice in Oz to abbreviate all nouns, hence prisoner of the motherland became Pom. Whinging Poms - that's a joke. I've known quite a few Aussies who whinge more than I do (tis true!) but you can't tell them that. They do have a thing called Pommie bashing over here, which when you consider how they generally use the term 'bashing' - as in to bash someone over the head - it sounds quite disturbing. But truth is there's no bashing of anyone's British bonce other than the occasional verbal onslaught - that's Pommie bashing - and it's seen mostly in sport, on tv or in the sports press. Aussies hate to lose at sport and they reckon there's only one thing worse than losing to the Poms and that's losing to the Kiwis! It's just like the English / French thing. Political correctness is frowned upon by most Aussies and even the PM, John Howard, admits publically that he's not a big fan of it. So to call you a Pommie ba##### is nothing short of, well ok. Australia is so multi-cultural now that us Brits don't stand out that much. Mind you, if you want to tell a bunch of Aussies in a pub that they don't do it right over here - you don't know me, right? Be positive, learn to say g'day! Cook on the barby! Wear suncream, thongs and don't avoid the water. Jamie and Kerrie, you'll be fine. Gill and I have had no trouble whatsoever in the two plus years that we've been here and most our work colleagues are Aussies. My dad volunteered as a surf lifesaver in 1993 and that's a almost a wholly Australian establishment. He's now a Captain and teaches both adults and the nippers. He recently picked up an award for services at his local SLSC in Caloundra. Not bad for a Pom! One of my brothers plays in a rock band and is a music teacher. He mixes with all sorts - kids through to hell's angel bikies - and has done since the late '90s and he gets on well with everyone. My youngest brother's a nurse in Toowoomba. Again, no probs. You'll both be fine. Paul.
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


CHELSEAJAMIE	Nov 22 2006, 05:37 PM Post #3
Redback Posts: 31 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: November 19, 2006	Thankyou, you have put my mind at rest! Seriously, we get the impression looking at other forums, etc, (British ex-pats) that alot of how we will get on with them depends on our attitude, ie if we are positive, outgoing and intergrate, we should be ok, although, like anywhere else, there is always the odd idiot... Regards, Jamie.



PC Pom	Nov 22 2006, 10:51 PM Post #4
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	That's the way! If you don't mind me asking, how old are you guys. I get the impression that you're quite young? Just for the record, I'm 41 (OMG that sounds old ) but I feel mid thirties (honest), and Gill's 37.
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


PC Pom	Nov 24 2006, 12:44 AM Post #5
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	Tonk a Pom! http://www.ford.com.au Stuff like this always happens around Ashes time.
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


CHELSEAJAMIE	Nov 24 2006, 03:03 PM Post #6
Redback Posts: 31 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: November 19, 2006	I'm Jamie, i'm a 33yr old engineer and Kerrie is 28yrs, a qualified hairdresser, but currentley working in retail. Regards, Jamie



joeyballantyne	Dec 4 2006, 05:39 AM Post #7
Redback Posts: 6 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: July 7, 2006	maybe its different for different people but we have had nothing but openess and friendliness from aussies we've met all over the coast (mand me working in sydney). we really have made friends for life in a very short time - perhaps because like us a lot of aussies have moved to the coast from all over and like us are starting new and welcome the friendships. we havent gone looking for friends and we havent really needed to, we've met others through friends/school/community/sports/work etc, i suppose it depends on the kind of person you are. yes there will be people who get called pom etc but as paul says, a) its pure banter and if thats offensive to some then how do they cope in england with a much more aggressive tone and attitude in general life? here (the coast) i have experienced good people, helpful people, and yes there are some 'd**kheads you hear and see but still nothing directed at us/poms. this place is a world away from coventry and i dont know how i will cope going back to visit family and friends - i spend most of my days surrounded by genuinely happy people!



mhoctober	Dec 20 2006, 06:44 PM Post #8
Redback Posts: 7 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: December 20, 2006	Guys...we love the place and the people. Keep an open mind and get ready to be blown away by the space, freedom and the feeling of liberty that the climate and free bbq's offer. You can put your spare change away too - there aint any Pay And Displays here!



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