How to set up a new life in Australia

As mentioned in a previous post, moving to Australia I had next to nothing set up for my arrival bar my flight, visa and my stash of cheap Vietnamese medicines and toiletries (I could have probably started up a pharmacy). In my first week I could have really done with a to do list of everything I needed to sort. 

So here it is. A list of how to start up a new life in Australia for those considering a move down under. Having now been here three weeks, everything is now starting to fall into place, and though the thought of organising everything seems a little daunting, I'm here to tell you it really really isn't. 

SIM card

Get one of these ASAP, just so when you're making friends it's easier! And also so potential employers can give you a ring. 

Bank account

Make sure to set up a bank account in your first few days too. This takes two minutes and all you need to do is go into a branch with your passport. I'm no bank expert, but I'm with Commonwealth Bank and they seem pretty alright. It's worth having doing a little research before you get out here.

Housing

Book into a hostel for your first week or so. It's the best way to meet new people and it's a lot of fun. Though it can be a little more expensive, and most nights you will have to drink through the hangover from the previous night, you'll meet so many like-minded people. And you could end up finding people that you want to rent somewhere cheaper with. For me, having stayed in way too many hostels over the past months, I was craving unpacking and a living room where I could sloth in front of a TV. Ten days and I was all moved in. 

Gumtree was the best way to find somewhere, and we have definitely struck lucky with our two bed flat. So much so, we even bartered down the price and almost feel a little bad at how cheap we got it. One thing is that most of my friends have bills included, however we don't. So it depends on what you want.

Tax file number

Apply for this in your first few days in Australia. It's simple and takes 5 minutes and enables you to work here. You can however have up to 28 days before an employer needs it, but it's always good to get it done sooner rather than later.

Job

Again gumtree is fab. Unlike England where I always thought gumtree was about selling random shit, there are so many jobs advertised. Most of them you just need to upload a CV rather than a cover letter as well, which I feel are so time wasting. I have no passion for waitressing...just gimme the dollar. 

Hospitality seems to be where all the jobs are at now it's coming into the summer season. Though, I was adamant I never wanted to be a waitress after my £3.60 an hour village pub days, the wages are great. I'm working Melbourne Cup on the public holiday for $50 an hour! Take that village pubs. 

Medicare 

Having a Medicare card means you can see a doctor for free. All you need to do is to go to a Medicare office with your Australian bank details and passport, and then it's all set up. 

Friends

Be prepared to drink a lot, sacrifice your me time and, especially if you're in Melbourne, bump into people from home you haven't seen in years.  A bit weird but quite cool. 

Library

I'd got my library card before I'd found a house or a job! It's definitely worth getting one. Unlike in Asia, a lot of places you have to pay for wifi here (madness) so the library is a good place to get internet access for applying for jobs and flat hunting.  

Hard rubbish

When kitting out a flat that isn't fully furnished, roam the streets. So far, we've found a couple of bed side tables, some chairs and a shoe rack. I got told Thursday was the day in Melbourne that people put out there unwanted stuff. Gumtree again is a saviour. We got the worlds biggest TV from here for free, and though it was the size of a baby elephant, we somehow managed to get it home in a taxi. 

After a few weeks, everything does fall into place. Though it seems like a bit of a stress, setting everything up is all part of the fun. So just go with it. It will all work out in the end. 

Back in the Western World: The 9 hardest adjustments

Living in Vietnam for eight months meant I pretty much turned Asian. Now back in a western culture, there's a few things I'm struggling to adjust to. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll be fine, but in the meantime, let me rant. I love a good list, so here's my top 9:

1. Resisting the 'OOOOO MAKWAR!' urge 

My first trip to a supermarket was a really great but really shit experience. Seeing a whole aisle dedicated to gluten free treats, I genuinely couldn't believe it. Looking closer at the prices however, put me off the grocery experience altogether. I need to remember I cannot barter the prices down, nor will anyone understand if I say 'oooo that's a bit makwar' (Vietnamese for 'too expensive'). I paid $4 for a Snickers the other day. I was just so desperate for that nutty goodness. 

2. Crossing roads

Walking out in front of bikes got too normal for me when walking to my local supermarket in Saigon. So when I got here and found you could get fined if the red man was flashing and you were crossing, I was a bit outraged. To be fair, it's obviously a safer road crossing system, but I have places to be.

3. The weather

I thought Australia was supposed to be warm? I genuinely thought the plane had taken a wrong turn and ended up in England. Gimme that Asian sunshine. 

4. Taking I.D on a night out

I forgot this was actually a thing.

5. No one wears pyjamas out

I need to remember it's really not ok to go out to breakfast in my pyjamas.

6. No more manicures

Long gone are the days I can get manicures for a dollar. OH LIFE. 

7. A phone like this not being acceptable

It's pretty normal for expats in Saigon to have a shite phone like this. This doesn't seem to apply to Australia though. A lot of people have laughed at it, but I'm proud to say I am the owner of this phone. Nokia 3410: a classic. I even accidentally left it on a wall the other day. Someone found it, called my contacts to let me know and I picked it up the next day. Too rubbish to steal. Perfect.

8. The language

I've said thank you in Vietnamese a few times now, resulting in some confused looks. I need to remember I'm not in Vietnam anymore, and actually in Australia. Though I've definitely met more northern people than I have Australians. 

9. Laws

Seeing as Vietnam was very lawless at times, it's good to be back in a country where laws are, on the whole, followed. However, putting alcohol in a brown bag when you're outside. Why? 

My first two weeks in AUSTRALIA!

The last two weeks have probably been the busiest of my life! Reunions, hellos and goodbyes. Job searching, house searching and friend searching. All mixed in with adjusting back to a western culture. Oh and wine. A lot of wine.

It's all been a bit of a blur really, and it doesn't seem like two weeks since I said my goodbyes to my parents again for another year. Now I've got time to reflect, I really have done a lot in a short space time!

Ive moved in to a beautiful little flat with two guys I met in the hostel, with the rent not actually being too scary. I wanted to move out of the hostel ASAP. One week was enough for me and I was craving unpacking and putting my pants in a drawer, not having to share a room with 7 other people and not having to make the risky dart from the bathroom if I forgot to take my towel in for a shower. 

I've also managed to get a job working for a hospitality company working at the Melbourne race course. With the potential to earn up to $50 an hour on some shifts, it's definitely helping with the shock of how expensive everything is compared to Vietnam. One shift here could potentially account to three weeks teaching in Saigon. Ridiculous. 

I'm definitely still looking for work more related to communications and PR, and now being more settled with somewhere to live and an income for the time being, I'm going to get my search properly on!

Amongst sorting a house and a job, it's been a little strange adjusting back to a western culture (see next post). I'm really missing Asia, but I think that's all to do with change. When I moved to Vietnam, I really missed England. So I guess it's just normal. There are a ton of Vietnamese restaurants here, though I'll probably never go in them. Paying $15 for a bowl of pho rather than 50 cent back in Saigon would make me want to cry.  

Moving over to Australia was definitely a lot less stressful for me compared with my move to Saigon. My two best friends were already in Melbourne (Sophie has now gone more north to do her farm work for her second year visa), and I knew a few other people here too. I was also going back to an English speaking country, so if i had any dramas it would be easier to get things sorted.

However moving to Vietnam, I had everything pretty much set up for me. A house, a job, a social group. Coming to Melbourne, I had none of the that - just three nights booked in a hostel and my flight and visa to get over here. But it's been good for me; a challenging new experience. Which is something I wanted. Look out for a checklist type blog post I'll put up for those wanting to set up a new life in Australia too.

So far, Melbourne seems like a pretty cool city, and I'm close to both the city centre and the beach. Everything seems so chilled, and the food is unreal too! Australia is proving to be amazing for gluten-free meals, both in restaurants and supermarkets, making England look very behind the coeliac times. And obviously coming from Asia, where all I ate was pork, egg and rice/ egg, rice and pork, I've definitely died and gone to coeliac heaven! I've had a lot of take away gluten free pizzas, so the next task is to join a gym, so fat Liz doesn't make an unwanted return. 

The two week conclusion is that I think I'll be in Melbourne for a good while to come. Though, now I'm having a bit of a struggle to what my blog name should be called. Suggestions are very much welcome...