Dangers in Australia

Let me tell you that living in Australia is not as dangerous as it seemed at first glance, every year no more than one person dies from the teeth of sharks, the last death from poisonous spiders was recorded in 1979, in cities there is no need to be afraid of snakes. True, in general, there is simply an anecdotal situation with introduced animals and plants, when toads, rabbits, sheep or camels are brought here or accidentally enter, no one needs the latter here and wild herds can be observed in desert areas, Australians also fight against poisonous toads, which They eat small animals, but they have no control in the form of predators, since toads are very poisonous. The same thing happened with the prickly pear cactus, which was practically able to conquer all of Australia, to combat which it was necessary to spread special caterpillars, which began to eat these cacti invaders. Now transporting animals and plants in Australia.

Perhaps the main danger on the Australian continent is the sun with a lot of ultraviolet radiation, the weather in Australia is usually windy, in many cities at the hottest time the temperature does not exceed 30 degrees, the burn may not be noticeable at first, for example, children are not allowed to leave school without hats . The temperature in winter during the day is about 15 degrees Celsius, at night it rarely drops to 5 degrees Celsius. The weather is changeable, there are years of drought, when the desert reclaims its territories from humans, and there are rainy years, when the desert loses its position, from the point of view of decades, balance is maintained.

Economy and work in Australia

The Australian economy is similar to Russia and is based on the export of carbon resources to fast-growing China, Australia is also a real breadbasket, it is worth noting the colossal export of wheat to the Asian region. However, economic growth has begun to slow over the past year, which has also affected the Australian economy.

In which he asks Ukrainians living in other countries of the world to talk about their new life. This week Katerina Korneva talks about life in Australia.

WHY DID I MOVE

When I first came to Australia, I couldn’t even imagine that I would live here. The concept of “immigrants” has always sounded nostalgically sad to me. But I had to choose: my beloved country or my beloved man. It took me a long time to decide, but in the end I preferred my future husband. We met in the resort town of Gold Coast, spent 4 days together and after a year of communication, we married in Kyiv. After completing all the documents and obtaining a visa, I moved to Sydney.

First winter and adaptation

It was July 2014. It’s the height of summer in Ukraine, but by Australian standards it’s a deep and surprisingly cold winter. There is a specific climate here that you need to get used to. During the day the thermometer is +17, but the squally wind chills to the bones. At night the temperature can drop to +7, and there is no heating in apartments and houses. You can use heaters, but thrifty Australians rarely do this, warming themselves at night with electric blankets and during the day with long walks, because it is warmer outside than in the house. That’s why UGGs are, first and foremost, indoor shoes – so that your feet don’t get cold.

Looking out the window, you can never determine what the temperature is - on the streets you often meet people in shorts, flip-flops and a down jacket.

The language barrier

In September, I began attending language courses, which, by the way, cost at least $200 a week here (if you come to Australia without permanent resident status, as was the case with me, then nothing is free).

Many people think that upon arriving in an English-speaking country they will immediately pick up the language and begin to communicate freely, but this is an illusion.

Australians have a very loose language, far from academic. They love to shorten, eating half a word. Over time you get used to it, so the main thing is practice. True, the same practitioners will communicate with you - native speakers are not interested in wasting their time on a person who takes longer than them to assemble phrases into sentences and select the right words.

How friends are made

Having moved, I was very worried that I would forget the Ukrainian language (my husband is Russian, and within the family we communicate in Russian). In order not to lose touch with my homeland, I went to the Ukrainian church. Fortunately, our diaspora in Australia is one of the largest in the world. I immediately found my first girlfriend, and my Ukrainian became better in a year than in the 25 years I lived in Kyiv. Now I have a fairly wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Most of them are Ukrainians, Russians and Balts. It doesn’t help me improve my English, but it’s important for me to feel moral support.

Is it easy to become one of your own?

It is much easier for white people to become “one of our own” - no matter how hard Australians try, they cannot change the image of a racist country.

They don’t say it out loud, but white people often discuss among themselves how much they dislike racial diversity.

Latina acquaintances often complain that Australian guys do not approach them at all, preferring white-skinned blondes or redheads.

About prices and purchases

At first I was confused by the prices in stores, but if you compare them with your income level, bananas for 5 dollars or meat for 25 no longer seem expensive. The quality of the products is high - the country has very strict standards for the import of medicines, cosmetics, fruits and vegetables.

Many popular drugs in Europe are not controlled in Australia.

My taste preferences haven't changed much. The only problem was the lack of cottage cheese, which in Ukraine was the main dish for breakfast. I didn’t like the one they sold here, so my husband, who works at a dairy factory, began preparing cottage cheese after school hours. Our friends liked the dish, and six months later it turned into a full-fledged business.

Work and business

Australia has plenty of opportunities for growth. The laws work for small and medium-sized businesses, loans are available, and after receiving permanent residence, the state gives at least 500 hours of English. True, you will have to work twice as hard as locals - no one is interested in your experience and Ukrainian diploma. I know only one exception - programmers. You can, of course, prove your education, but companies always prefer guys with Australian and British qualifications, so many come and start studying again.

Companies always prefer guys with Australian and British qualifications, so many come and start learning again.

We are currently working on developing the cottage cheese shop and expanding production. The next step will be the production of kefir and fermented baked milk. We want to gradually introduce Australians to fermented milk products. Over the last ten years there has been a boom in healthy lifestyles, so we are sure that they will appreciate cottage cheese.

Sports fashion

Australia is a very sporting country. Going to the gym, running, doing yoga or surfing, and cycling are incredibly popular here. Obese people are rare. Most people try to take care of themselves. There is even a TV channel called Healthy.TV, where they tell you how to exercise properly. Smoking, firstly, is not fashionable, and secondly, it is expensive - cigarettes cost about $25 per pack. Therefore, it is mainly recently arrived emigrants who smoke here, and only in specially designated places, which, by the way, you still have to look for.

Standard of living

Australia has been among the top countries with a high quality of life and GDP index for several years. Every year, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide (the capital of Northern Australia) are among the top ten best cities to live. And you can feel it as soon as you arrive here.

Here the “city” is a business center with skyscrapers, and beyond that is one-story Australia.

Sydney is the same size as Moscow, but the population is only 5 million. People prefer houses to apartments and, given the distances, it is difficult to get by without a car. The most important expense item is rent. A one-bedroom apartment in an area far from the center or the ocean will cost about $400 per week. We are currently renting an apartment, but in the future we plan to take out a house on credit. Getting a loan here is not difficult (at 4-6% per annum), but given the high prices, you will have to work on the down payment, as well as on your credit history.

Weekend

Australians love to travel, especially within their own country. Red mountains, white beaches, green plains - it's all here, even the snow-capped mountains of Victoria. There is not a single paid or closed beach in the entire country, with the exception of the small islands of the Great Barrier Reef. People go sunbathing and swimming with their own umbrellas, chairs and sun loungers. Many people buy tents and spend the whole day on the beach.

Australia's proximity to the South Pole and the ozone hole directly above the mainland make the sun very dangerous. Therefore, sunscreen +50 is used daily.

In addition to the beaches, on weekends it’s common to go out with a group of people for a barbecue. All parks are equipped with recreation areas: a free gas barbecue, tables with benches and a children's playground.

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Australia is one of the most prosperous and wealthy countries in the world. In the ranking, which includes the most comfortable states for living, it has been leaving Canada and the USA behind for many years. At the same time, Australia (one of the few) has developed and is implementing an open immigration program for qualified specialists.

Such circumstances, combined with other advantages of this state, attract a huge number of people who have intentions of moving to another country. Indeed, almost a quarter of locals are immigrants. Among the rest of the country's population there are many descendants of those who came here a little earlier.

How What are the main advantages and disadvantages of living in this country? Judging by the reviews of Russian immigrants, being in Australia, as well as in any other country in the world, has its advantages and disadvantages. That is why, before deciding to leave your home country, it is worth studying in detail all the nuances of living in a new place.

Standard of living

The pros and cons of living in Australia should begin to be considered with the state of the country's economy. Based on the available data, industry and agriculture are well developed in this state. The continental country, whose population is only twice that of Moscow, is in 12th place in the world in terms of GDP and second in terms of the human development index, which takes into account education, longevity and standard of living of people. Australia was largely unaffected by the crisis that erupted in the early 2010s. The state's economy continued its steady growth. In 2013, the world community recognized Australia as the second country in terms of population well-being. Only Switzerland has overtaken this state.

The country has deposits of diamonds, gas and coal. However, despite these natural resources, service companies make the main contribution to the formation of the state’s GDP. The Australian government also pays great attention to the development of the IT industry and education. The high standard of living of the country is greatly influenced by the taxation system created here, which is considered completely democratic.

Considering all the pros and cons of living in Australia, one cannot fail to mention the banking system. It is developed so well that residents of the country are given the opportunity to obtain loans to purchase housing. Of course, for this you will need to collect a fairly large package of documents confirming the possibility of repaying the required amount. But this does not frighten the inhabitants of the country. They buy almost everything on credit. For those who have a good job, it is not particularly difficult to get money from the bank to purchase a house, apartment, car, etc. Moreover, loans are issued with a repayment term of 25 years. The high standard of living in Australia is also influenced by the fact that almost everyone can find a job here. Moreover, the unemployment rate in the country is constantly decreasing.

It is worth noting that the average salary in Australia is in the range of 600-650 US dollars per week. A family that earns more than $100 thousand per year is considered rich.

As of March 1, 2013, the population of Australia was just over 23 million people. Most people live in cities on the west and east coasts. The average life expectancy for men is 75 years. Women live five years longer. In terms of living standards, the country ranks third in the world.

Judging by reviews of life in Australia, almost every family here has one or two cars. However, this is practiced in many countries of the world where the economic system is developed. The family uses one car for country walks, and the second, which belongs to the executive class, is used by local residents to go to work. Many of them also have speed boats and yachts.

Food prices in Australia are low. On average, people spend about 20% of their wages on food. And this already speaks of good living conditions in Australia. The low cost of products is explained by highly developed agriculture. Australia practically does not import food products, and harvests several times a year.

Climate

The pros and cons of living in Australia must also be considered from the point of view of the continent's weather conditions. It is worth noting that the climate of this area has a positive impact on the life of the local population. Everyone who comes here notes that they forget about diseases such as allergies and asthma. You can breathe easily and freely here, and you can drink the water even from the tap.

It is also interesting that anyone can choose the most suitable climate for themselves in this country. For those who love warm weather, the state of Queensland is suitable, as well as almost all regions of the country located in the western part of the continent. There are also tropics in Australia. They are located in the northern territory, as well as in the aforementioned state of Queensland, only in its northern regions. Those who prefer a temperate climate zone go to the southern part of the mainland.

Australia experiences a large number of sunny days. Throughout the year you can observe clear skies for almost 300 days.

The warm period in Australia lasts 7 months. It is marked by a fairly comfortable average temperature of 25 degrees. Winter lasts only three months a year on this continent. On this remote continent it occurs in our summer months, that is, June, July and August.

The sun sets early here. In Sydney it gets dark almost at 8pm. Night comes a little later in Melbourne, but earlier in Brisbane.

Due to the warm climate, houses in Australia are built without a heating system. In this regard, in winter the indoor air temperature is equal to the outdoor temperature and ranges from 12 to 16 degrees.

Purity

What is life like in Australia through the eyes of Russians? Amazingly clean. Of course, it is impossible to say that people in Australia do not litter. However, at night all the streets are certainly swept, and those located in the city center are even washed. In addition, if construction is underway within the boundaries of a populated area, then special workers will definitely be involved. Their responsibilities include washing the asphalt after each car that leaves the territory where a building or structure is being erected. Such cleanliness leads to the fact that Australian residents wash their shoes much less often than Russians. Without removing it, they can safely enter the house.

Judging by the reviews of those who have found work in this country, work as a garbage collector here is considered one of the most prestigious. In terms of salary level, it is even equivalent to a ministerial portfolio.

The waters of the ocean washing the shores of this continent are also crystal clear.

Medicine

When considering the pros and cons of living in Australia, this topic is highly controversial. The fact is that some immigrants believe that medicine in this country is better than Russia, while others believe that it is not. However, no one can deny that in Australia there is a huge variety of medicines to combat illnesses, and hospitals have high-quality equipment for diagnosing diseases.

Medicine in Australia is under the care of the state. That is why almost all of it is free. When talking about their life in Australia, emigrants from Russia consider this to be quite ordinary. Free medical care is also guaranteed in the country during natural disasters, accidents, as well as for children, pensioners and pregnant women. There is also a network of paid clinics in the country. If you compare the wards in public hospitals in Australia with those in Russia, they are much more comfortable.

Working residents of the country pay for health insurance to Medicare. It helps support the entire healthcare system. For the unemployed, the necessary amounts are paid by the state, and for those who work, by employers.

In addition, anyone can obtain a medical policy for themselves. It is opened by commercial insurance companies. Regular insurance consists of a 1.5% tax, which is deducted monthly from wages. This money will allow you to do the following for free:

• get tested;
• undergo radiography;
• be examined by an ophthalmologist;
• visit your local doctor;
• call an ambulance;
• be observed in a public hospital.

Interestingly, in Australia doctors are not called to your home. It is also not customary here to call an ambulance for the slightest trifle. A team of doctors will come home only when the issue concerns the life and death of a person.

Based on feedback from immigrants, Medicare is not available to everyone. It can only be issued by citizens, residents of the Union, citizens of New Zealand and immigrants of states that have entered into agreements with local authorities on the treatment of patients. All other people need to arrange insurance themselves, using the services of existing companies.

Bad habits

In Australia it is not allowed to smoke while indoors. Alcohol is consumed here only at home, in bars and restaurants. It is strictly prohibited to be in public recreation areas while intoxicated.

Only wealthy people can afford to smoke and drink frequently in this country. The government has set high prices for cigarettes, ranging from $18 to $20. Wine is also expensive in this country. Its price starts at $20. Beer will cost customers $5 in the store, but at the bar it will be offered at twice the price.

Education

The Commonwealth of Australia uses the British education system. That is why the knowledge students receive here is at an appropriate level. All training consists of six steps:

• children from 6 to 12 years old receive primary education;
• from 12 to 16 years old, students must pass the junior intermediate level;
• the secondary senior level with the issuance of a certificate of secondary education is completed by students at the age of 16 to 17 years;
• students aged 16-18 years undergo initial higher or secondary vocational training, after which they receive a standard certificate;
• higher education, to which persons over 18 years of age are admitted and which ends at the age of 22 with the issuance of a bachelor's diploma;
• For those who wish to continue their studies, a postgraduate level with a master's degree is available.

If you look at this education system through the eyes of Russians, then there is no fundamental difference in these levels of education. However, gaining knowledge in Australia is very thorough. That is why many foreigners willingly come here to study. In addition, diplomas from educational institutions in this country are valued all over the world.

As for the cost of education, at the university you will have to pay from 6 to 20 thousand US dollars for it per year. In college, this amount is 3.5-6 thousand US dollars.

Study conditions at universities are quite good. In addition, to help foreign students, these institutions create special services to help those who come to the country.

Schools in Australia are mostly public. And only a few of them are funded by various religious organizations and private foundations. There are Ukrainian and Russian schools for immigrants. They make life much easier for those who come to live in Australia.

Taxes

The interest that citizens have to deduct from their earnings is a disadvantage of living in Australia. After all, the amount of taxes in this country is quite large. Moreover, they are paid using a progressive rate. Depending on the income received, an individual sometimes pays up to 45% of the amount due to him.

So, if a person earns up to 18 thousand US dollars during the year, then he does not need to pay anything. For an amount from 20 to 50 thousand, the tax will be 17%, up to 100 thousand - 20%, etc.

Real estate prices

The country in question is one of the most expensive in terms of housing costs relative to the average salary. In Australia, renting an apartment, for example in Sydney, will cost much more than in Russia. For private houses, you will have to pay $400 per week, and for a room - from $200 to $300. The latter option is unacceptable for families consisting of several people. But real estate prices vary depending on the city in which it is located. So, for a week's rental of a 3-4-room apartment in Sydney you will have to pay $820, in Melbourne - $420, in Brisbane - $525, in Perth - $370, and in Adelaide - $410. Buying real estate in in large cities it will cost 200-400 thousand dollars.

High prices

The average family living in Australia, consisting of parents and two children, spends between 5 and 6 thousand dollars on various needs. After all, if compared with Russia, the prices here are quite high. For example, going to the cinema costs $20-30, and going to a restaurant will require you to fork out $50.

Great distance

Residents of Australia who want to travel will have to spend about a day on the road, spending time on tedious flights. This is why Russian immigrants do not often visit their homeland.

Also, due to its remoteness, the Australian market is not able to offer the inhabitants of the continent those services and goods that the rest of the world has already become familiar with. For example, new types of technology sometimes appear on this continent with a considerable delay, which can be up to six months. The same applies to films. In Australia they come out later than in Russia.

Solar activity

Directly above the continent are ozone holes. This results in more skin cancer being diagnosed in Australians. In order to protect themselves from this disease, people have to wear clothing that covers their body as much as possible, and also use sunscreen.

There are also environmental problems in Australia. They include desertification, soil erosion, and depletion of land reserves. In addition, the country has a very tense situation with fresh water.

After all the pros and cons of life on this continent have been carefully studied, you can decide on emigrating to Australia. Anyone who is not afraid of difficulties and decides that there are still more advantages to living in this country will have to do the paperwork. How to move to Australia? To do this, you need to choose one of three directions. Let's take a closer look at them.

Professional immigration

One of them is English. That is why its knowledge is required by those who decide to move to live on this continent. To obtain a work visa, you will need to speak English at a certain level, confirming your skills by passing exams.

A higher level of knowledge is necessary for those people who collect documents to emigrate to Australia and apply for positions there as social workers, teachers, architects or accountants. In addition to confirming the required level of English, you will need a diploma of education and work experience. However, for employment in some specialties, the last two points will not be required. In addition, a candidate to move to a distant continent needs to score a certain amount of points. It takes into account knowledge of English, work experience, education and age. Such a system is structured in such a way as to give the main preference to people whose age ranges from 25 to 40 years, who have a higher education and speak English well. Does someone who meets all the necessary requirements need a visa to Australia? Yes. A job candidate is issued a professional visa. This includes your spouse and minor children. An Australian passport, as well as citizenship of the country, is issued after four years of stay on the continent.

Business immigration

Knowledge of the official language of Australia will also be needed by those people who decide to open their own business on this continent. It is worth noting that the country’s authorities promote the development of entrepreneurship and innovative projects.

There are certain business visas that are issued to those people who have already successfully conducted their business abroad, have property or personal savings in excess of 800 thousand Australian dollars. The annual turnover from their event should be at least half a million dollars.

There is also a budgetary principle of immigration. It is suitable for those entrepreneurs who will open a new business or acquire an existing one.

Immigration for studies

This option is suitable for young people. At its core, it is a type of professional immigration.

First, the student will have to choose to study one of the most popular specialties in the country. After graduating from the university, the young specialist will have the opportunity to obtain a temporary graduate visa. The next stage is a permanent work visa.

Immigration through study will require a clearly thought-out plan of action and the right choice of profession. It is recommended to pay attention to the type of occupation that does not require work experience for its confirmation. These are professions such as teacher, architect and some others.

Almost a year ago, I immigrated to Australia professionally as a marketing specialist. (Olga has a financial education and an MBA in marketing). However, on the Green Continent, I decided to change my type of activity and gain experience in the hospitality industry in order to eventually launch my own business..

Seven years ago I began to think about leaving the country. I began to consider English-speaking countries: the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. I have a financial education, and by 2008 I had already worked in this field for three years, so I was primarily thinking about an internship in the US for finance professionals. But due to the crisis, these internships were suspended there and the quota for foreign labor was reduced. Then I began to consider Canada, because, having studied the offers of employers, I realized that I met the criteria. But a couple of years ago they narrowed the list of specialties for which I could move. In 2009, I changed my field of activity to marketing, later received an MBA in this field, and ultimately chose Australia for immigration.

In Australia, there is a point-based immigration system, according to which a potential candidate receives points for his qualifications, work experience, age, knowledge of English, etc., and must achieve a total score of no less than the current passing score of 65.

Help from specialists

I contacted an immigration agency - this significantly speeds up and simplifies the moving process, because... specialized companies monitor regularly updated lists of in-demand specialties (in Australia there is a general quota for immigrants that takes into account the needs for employees of various specialties in different states). For me, the whole process from submitting documents to the agency to receiving a visa took 6 months. My visa gave me the right to permanent residence in Australia for 5 years with the right of renewal, but after 4 years after receiving it I can apply for citizenship.

Residence

The immigration option on a student visa is more complex and will cost the person moving more. Now in Australia they want to double tuition fees for foreign students. This year, one semester of study will cost at least $5,000, while in order to obtain a student visa, you must have $22,000-24,000 in your bank account as financial security.

Part-time work is problematic: by law, a student cannot work more than 20 hours a week (the government strictly controls how students attend classes), and employers, as a rule, do not need employees for such a small number of hours - everyone wants to hire a person full time.

Student attendance is controlled by the authorities, even if we are talking about six-month courses - it should not fall below 80%. I myself witnessed this control when I came to Australia for English courses.

Good behavior

One of the criteria for obtaining permanent residence is the availability of financial guarantees in the amount of $40,000 per year. In other words, you should always have this amount in your account, and the government has the right at any time to request confirmation from the bank that you have it. This amount is calculated based on the cost of the food basket for the year (this includes expenses for housing, groceries, car rental, etc.).

Each immigrant is assigned a settlement officer who monitors all the little things: fines for violating traffic rules, calls to the police for noise in the apartment. If you are complained about three times, you can get an entry ban for 5 years.

Change of field of activity

I came to Australia as a marketing specialist, but decided to change careers and am now gaining experience in the hospitality industry. My visa does not obligate me to work as a marketer, but I do have a residency restriction - I must live in Canberra for the first 2 years. Moreover, if I want to move to another state, I need to document that I cannot find a job in my specialty in my state.

In the hospitality and tourism industry in Australia, specialists are in high demand, while jobs in marketing are very difficult to find. Moreover, the salary of, for example, a bartender is the same as that of a marketing specialist. As for the difference in salary levels depending on the state, there is none: there is nothing like in Russia, when for the same job in Moscow you get 60,000 rubles, and in Vladivostok - 25,000 rubles. It's the same with housing prices - they are about the same in all states.

I'm currently interning in a five-star hotel - in a bar and at special events, and also gaining business experience by working as an assistant to the owner of a small cafe in the city center. I’m testing the market - it’s easy to start your own business here, there’s no “protection protection” or inspections by regulatory authorities. In Russia, I have always worked in large international companies, where we, the employees, are nuts and bolts and cannot manage large processes. In Moscow it is difficult to be a small entrepreneur, they are destroyed - taxes, endless checks from the state, high competition and, of course, crime; in Australia, on the contrary, small businesses are very developed, which are supported in every possible way, not to mention the presence of numerous niches.

I am very impressed by the relaxedness of Australians, their friendliness, their favorite expression - no worries, the international environment in this country. I'm happy that here I can start, essentially, with a clean slate.

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Hello! My name is Natasha, and for 5 years now I have been living in a country where everyone walks on their heads, or rather in Australia, in the city of Sydney. Here I work as a marketer, I run my blog in Instagram and a radio column, and I also organize picnics for Russian immigrants like my husband and me. Life on the Green Continent is full of interesting discoveries, and even now I continue to be amazed by some of them.

Especially for readers website I will tell you the whole truth about the features of this distant and beautiful country.

The question I get asked most often is: how to move to Australia? We moved here thanks to my husband, who received a work permit. We decided to try to live in this country, and then we stayed and never regretted our decision. Like any other country, there are many pros and cons to living in Australia. If you are interested in relocating, I advise you to check the Immigration Department website, as the rules are constantly changing. And also check whether your profession is on the list of in-demand professions for migrants.

Well, to make it easier for you to make a decision, I suggest that you first learn more about the life of Australians.

1. There is no eternal summer in Australia

I used to think that in Australia it was always warm, sunny and you could swim in the warm ocean all year round. This is indeed a very sunny continent (about 250 sunny days a year), but the weather can be different and even unpredictable. In Sydney, even in summer, the ocean rarely warms up to a comfortable temperature, and Australians themselves prefer to go for a beach holiday to Bali, Fiji or Thailand.

The country is large; several climate zones pass through it: from the tropics in the north to a cooler climate with rainy winters in the south. If you wish, you can even go skiing in Australia: there are several ski resorts where real snow falls (although the prices there are steep!).

Australia is also often called the Green Continent, but this is not entirely true: most of the continent is desert, and tropical forests are found only along one coast.

2. In winter, it can be warmer outside than at home.

Here’s a paradox: despite the fact that the winters here are not harsh, the lack of central heating and “cardboard walls” make me feel colder than in Russia. That's why sheepskin slippers were my first purchase.

Usually in winter it’s even warmer outside than at home: once in my friend’s apartment the thermometer rose to a maximum of +9, while the temperature outside the window was about +13. This is roughly how I spent three summer months. Australians are saving themselves as best they can: using heaters and simply dressing warmer. Ugg boots, which are worn on the streets all over the world, are worn here at home.

3. Australians love the ocean and nature

Typical road in a residential area: Along with their cars, many families park boats, sometimes two at once. There are more than a hundred beaches in Sydney (just imagine, you can choose a new one every weekend!), and people try to spend their free time usefully. Many people enjoy surfing, riding small boards, while others simply swim or relax in the shade.

4. Relaxed, unhurried and unbearable accent

It’s not for nothing that there are so many legends about the Australian accent: it really baffles the untrained ear! Locals speak quickly, swallow sounds, and even use many abbreviations: arvo = afternoon, brekky = breakfast, etc. Add here Indians and Asians with their own accents: at first, out of habit, my head is spinning from this language mixture.

Here are some interesting observations about the mentality of local residents:

• Australians don't give their all at work, but think it's better to do 80% and go surfing. And it doesn’t matter that you expect 100% results from them. At work, sometimes it even turns out to be convenient: firstly, something can be done faster and handed over, and then slowly finished. And secondly, in the end the alterations may be different than you originally expected. Users will test and perhaps find errors that can be corrected along with improvements. “I work for life, but I don’t live for work” - that’s their motto.
• Nobody is tense. And why, when you have a glass of coffee in one hand and an endless ocean stretches before your eyes? You can go outside in pajamas, sweatpants, or even barefoot! Nobody cares. It may seem that people here are a little childish, and this is usually the case until they reach 30-35 years old: at this age Australians start families and give birth to children (usually 2-3, no less).
• It's strange, but despite his relaxed approach to life, Australians love to plan everything in advance.. Air tickets are purchased 8-9 months before the trip, vacations are planned a year in advance, meetings with friends are planned a month in advance.
• Australians will not get into their souls, and in general when communicating, they will behave politely and keep their distance, avoiding topics that may be unpleasant. Of course, there is racism in Australian society, but in general immigrants like us are treated well here.

Fun fact: According to statistics, 50% of Australians never iron anything. No one will look at you askance if you come to work in wrinkled trousers and shirt: if it’s so comfortable for you, then why not?

Moreover, I want to go to the store in pajamas to buy bread - please! Do you want to walk down the street barefoot and walk to the nearest store? In my area every second person walks like this: Once at the checkout at the supermarket I met a guy who was wearing only a towel. How do you like this?

By the way, Australians have another habit - they like to drive barefoot. I used to be disdainful and wrinkle my nose when friends told me how much they loved driving barefoot, but a couple of years ago I started doing it myself and got involved - and it’s really very convenient.

6. Australia is a topsy-turvy country

The seasons here are “turned” upside down: when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter reigns in Australia. It turns out that June, July and August are the winter months. Accordingly, New Year and Christmas fall at the height of summer, and this was difficult to get used to at first. The traditional Australian celebration of these two holidays is a barbecue on the beach. And we carry with us a Christmas tree, a bowl of Olivier salad and make “snowmen” out of sand.

Each Australian spends on average $400–550 on gifts, because it is customary to buy gifts for all of your relatives and even their children, and Australians have large families. So one day my colleague had to stock up on almost 40 gifts.

There is also holiday Christmas in July - the so-called July Christmas. It is celebrated arbitrarily in July, that is, in the middle of winter, when it gets cold outside: it is customary to sit by the fireplace with New Year's attributes and give gifts to loved ones.

By the way, The school year in Australia is also “upside down”": starts at the end of January and ends before Christmas, in mid-December. The financial year also differs from the usual calendar year and begins on July 1.

7. In Australia, everything is trying to kill you - is it true?

If things were so bad, it is unlikely that Australians would be among the ten happiest nations in the world. There are sharks, poisonous snakes, matchbox-sized cockroaches and palm-sized spiders here, but people have somehow adapted to live peacefully with the surrounding flora and fauna. Each animal has its own habitat. Basic rules help reduce fears and protect yourself: you should shake out your shoes before putting them on (in case someone crawled into your shoes), carefully monitor your belongings while relaxing in nature, and swim carefully in the ocean. Caution never hurt anyone!

One day a large spider climbed into our house, which we heroically caught. After discussing the situation with friends, I found out that many Australian houses even have a special glass for catching spiders: they are not killed, but caught and taken outside.

I am also often asked: is it true that in Australia sharks eat people off the coast? This can really happen here, but according to statistics, many more people in Australia die from falling out of their own beds than from shark bites.

Once I myself found myself close to a shark, but, to be honest, I didn’t even see a fin. We were on one of the southern beaches of Sydney: swimming and boarding in the coastal waves. Suddenly the siren turned on, the rescuers began to fuss and began to drive everyone out of the water: 2-3 sharks swam from the ocean, which were larger in size than boats.

I asked the woman lifeguard if they often see sharks. It turned out that she sees them almost every day, but these are all species that are not dangerous to humans. Large sharks rarely swim from the ocean (they were seen on this beach only 3 times during the season): when this happens, the beach is closed.

8. Kangaroos outnumber the human population

Australia's national treasure is subject to mandatory census: as of 2011, there were 34 million kangaroos in Australia. Let’s compare with the population in 2011: 23 million people, which means There are indeed more kangaroos in Australia than people. Here are some interesting statistics. The bad news: there is an ozone hole over Australia (or rather over Antarctica). The good news is that experts predict that the ozone layer will fully recover in 30-50 years. Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of skin cancer in the world. Therefore, the population tries to adhere to sun safety rules and teaches their children to do this from childhood. For example, a hat is a mandatory part of the school uniform: a child will not be allowed to play outdoors during recess if he has forgotten his hat at home. It is not customary to sunbathe here, and special tents are bought for the beach (umbrellas are quickly blown away by the wind).

Australia has very strict laws regulating the production of sunscreens, so the creams produced are effective and of high quality. There are even phone apps that can tell you what level of sun activity you have today and recommend your level of protection. If you follow all the recommendations, then nothing will threaten your health.

Weather. Whatever you say, the weather in Australia is great. So, in Sydney the temperature never drops below zero, snow does not fall, on a good winter day you can even walk in a jacket, and my complaints about Sydney winters are more likely from being spoiled.

Comfort. Australian cities are perfectly suited for a comfortable and quiet life. There are ramps and elevators for those who have to use a wheelchair, special places are equipped - this, it seems to me, is an important indicator. Driving on the roads here is a pleasure, and most of the signs have a picture and an explanation: if you don’t remember the sign, you can at least read it. Markings on the road help you turn into the right lane. And on the Great Ocean Road (a place where there are 5 tourists for every 1 local) there are signs “In Australia they drive on the left side of the road.”

People. I like Australians: they are kind, open and cheerful, always ready to help and will not pass by a person in trouble. They don't worry about little things, which means there is a lot less stress and pressure. People know how to enjoy life, spend a lot of time with friends and family, and I really like all this.

Would you like to travel to Australia or have you already been to this country? Share your opinion with us in the comments.