The Aussie Way – Part 2
Earlier in the year I posted ‘The Aussie Way’ which you can read here. I highlighted a few of the differences between Australia and other places. Travellers are quick to assume that English-speaking countries don’t actually differ much. They do though and, especially if you live in another country as an expat, you will notice the subtle differences. There are Lots of Rules Australia seems to be the land of rules. Looking at this positively, the rules protect society and provide certainty, enabling everyone to expect things to be a certain way. Fines for littering for example, I can’t see many people arguing with. However, Australia’s many strict rules also…
Guide to Expat Living in Turkey
What is it like living in Turkey? I get asked this all the time. I am not entirely sure what people imagine life in Turkey to be like but I have been asked all sorts of questions including, and I’m not joking, ‘do they have electricity in Turkey?’ Turkey is an enormous country with vastly differing standards of living, sadly, depending upon the location. Generally speaking life in large towns and cities is pretty comfortable. The more rural you go the more basic, or few and far between, the amenities become, like most places really. My Turkish home was Fethiye, a decent sized town accommodating what was basically a farming…
Come to Australia…and get Killed!
This afternoon I had my first unplanned encounter with one of the most notorious and widely feared Australian creatures: an Australian spider. I was hanging out the laundry: hang, peg, hang, peg, as you do, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a glistening spider’s web at the end of the washing line. I froze and scanned my surrounding area. To my horror it’s proprietor was lurking at the end of the line, watching me, imagining my exotic tastie and about to bite me and kill me…maybe. This didn’t sound much fun to me, so although he didn’t actually look like one of the nasties, I hung…
When the Season Ends
Inevitably, at the end of the Mediterranean summer, the season comes to a close. Have you ever been somewhere on holiday and thought ‘I wish I lived here’? You are not alone. Increasingly people are moving overseas, but if your dream destination is a bustling summer resort, it is worth considering, what are these glorious resorts like off season? When you visit a tourist centre or resort during the peak season it will be a thriving, busy place. There are endless options of bars and restaurants open, shops and of course the weather is reliably glorious. Seasonal destinations are usually seasonal for a reason. These seasons primarily follow the weather,…
Good News!
Last week this blog was a bit of a sad place, but this week I am pleased to report that I have received only heart-warming news. One door closes As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. Last week Tipsy’s life ended but little Lola’s began. One of my best friends back home had her first baby at the weekend and although I would love to be more local so that I could meet the little lady (or not so little as it turns out – my poor friend just had a 9 lb 1 oz baby!) I am really delighted at the news. Hearts a flutter Other…
A Sad Day in Expatland
This week I had one of those days that every expat fears. I awoke to bad news from home. Being in Australia, there is a considerable time difference with folks back home and I am seven hours ahead of the UK. This means that when anything happens after about 4pm in the UK I am unlikely to be aware until a good eight hours later, as was the case this week. The sad news was that my poor Mum had to take the family pet of 22 years on the dreaded one-way trip. Granted, it is not such bad news that I will have to fly home for a funeral,…
Just how do you learn a language?
Communicating with locals enriches travel experiences. If you live overseas as an expat, it is essential. Some are irritatingly good at learning languages and pick them up easily. How should the rest of us go about it though? Take a course I was lucky. I enjoyed the language classes I got at school. If you didn’t pay attention at school though don’t panic, you have not missed your chance to take language classes. Evening and weekend classes are available all over the world. These can be group classes or one on one sessions, depending on your need and what is available locally to you. Since speaking another language is considered…
Expat Life – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Expat life is vastly different from visiting somewhere as a tourist. Tourists enjoy the best of places but rarely experience the difficulties that expats face. Daily life, encountering and rising to the challenges, as well as enjoying the highlights of life overseas can be very rewarding, but it can take time. The Good And now for something completely different Expats live in a different country from their country of origin. As such, those choosing to live as expats are often seeking something different. It may be different weather, a different language, or different food. It may be simply for the challenge of being outside their comfort zone. Whatever the reason,…
The Aussie Way
I have been in Australia a few months now. What have I noticed that’s different from other places? The Land Downunder is unique in several ways. Here are some I have noticed. The colourful Australian use of English Jokes about speaking ‘straylian aside, English is the official language of Australia, but not as we know it. It is not only the Aussie accent that confuses non Aussies, but the use of different words. The news reports that someone was ‘bashed’. The cheddar cheese in the supermarket is defined as either being ‘mild’ or ‘tasty’. Then there are phrases like “I was flat out like a lizard drinking” which once you’ve…
