Heather in MD Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 My 19-year-old niece is moving to Australia in less than a month to attend college. Housing is being provided, but I was wondering if anyone can give advice about what kinds of things she should pack, what to expect living in Australia, insider tips, etc. She will be living near Sydney and relying on public transportation to get around. Thanks! Heather in MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I'm not sure what kind of answer to give you, but she'll be fine. We all speak English here :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 will she be living in University accommodation? It is called on-campus here. If she is then she will be well looked after, they have special programs for international students. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 How exciting for your niece! We moved form Ireland to Australia, and the biggest shock was just how normal it is here ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 One thing to be prepared for is how expensive the food is. Usually the University accommodation does NOT come with a meal plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 One thing to be prepared for is how expensive the food is. Usually the University accommodation does NOT come with a meal plan. Good point Melissa, and be prepared for how expensive everything is, not just food. When we go to the US we can't believe how cheap food and clothes are, we usually fill our suitcases with clothes from the Gap, and Zara :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 In light of the "how to spot an American" threads, I would want to know what kind of clothes college age girls wear so that she would fit in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 In light of the "how to spot an American" threads, I would want to know what kind of clothes college age girls wear so that she would fit in. There is such a mix of nationalities here, anything goes. And Sydney gets hot, so they often don't wear much ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 In light of the "how to spot an American" threads, I would want to know what kind of clothes college age girls wear so that she would fit in. they wear anything and everything. pretty much what people wear in America. leggings as pants, swimmers under transparent dresses, tight jeans, mini skirts, daggy clothes, pj's while shopping. You name it someone is wearing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 There is such a mix of nationalities here, anything goes. And Sydney gets hot, so they often don't wear much ;) Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thought I said Sydney gets hot, it also gets cold in the winter. Tell her to bring her warm clothes too. An English friend of mine, who has lived in Sydney for about 8 years, gets so cold in the winter that she walks around with a hot water bottle stuffed up her jumper :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 One thing I was surprised while on my first business trip to Sydney was that the shops close early. They open late on Thursdays but close early on Fridays. I was bored on friday evening not realising they close early and end up touring the supermarkets. Banks ATMs are easy to find and if your niece has a Citibank account, she can withdraw money from a Citibank atm there at no charge. Not sure how other US banks with branches there charge. Bringing a supplementary credit card to be used for emergency is always useful. Australia Cadbury and honey is yummy :) Drinking age is 18 and wine is relatively affordable. Sydney has a wine region. They have nice beaches too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thought I said Sydney gets hot, it also gets cold in the winter. Tell her to bring her warm clothes too. An English friend of mine, who has lived in Sydney for about 8 years, gets so cold in the winter that she walks around with a hot water bottle stuffed up her jumper :) What an Aussie calls a jumper is probably called a sweeter? over there. it is the warm longsleeved thing you put on when cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 If she doesn't want to be picked as an American she neeeds to worry more about the accent and less about the clothes :laugh: She will probably find whatever she wears she will be overdressed....Aussies are very cas (casual) :lol: Public transport is probably great in Sydney seeing as it's a major city and all :tongue_smilie: There really isn't much to worry about ....Americans are not hated here so it doesn't matter if they get "noticed". She will probably be suprised at the tiny portions and the huge cost of food. You also have to pay for all your condiments unlike the USA and she will love not having to tip anyone. Tell her to always wear sunscreen and not walk around after dark by herself. And don't stress about the packing..we have stores here...she can buy anything she forgets :lol: Oh and we have a prime minister and not a president. Today his name is Kevin Rudd BUT tomorrow it could be someone different the way things are going around here so make sure she reads the news daily to keep updated...there is no guarantee it will be the same guy in a months time when she gets here :nopity: :001_rolleyes: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Make sure she knows that a rubber is an eraser, so that she is not mortified the first time someone asks her for one! :D And...you don't root for a team, you barrack for one. Don't use the word as a synonym for digging, either. Talking about a part of a plant? Fine. Otherwise erase it from your vocabulary. Just some friendly advice from someone who used it at Bible study of all places. ;) It's a not nice word for teA (putting it mildly). Something a uni student would probably need to know! If she likes Mexican food tell her to have her fill before she leaves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 they wear anything and everything. pretty much what people wear in America. leggings as pants, swimmers under transparent dresses, tight jeans, mini skirts, daggy clothes, pj's while shopping. You name it someone is wearing it. Okay, I have nothing to contribute to this thread but had to say this made me laugh pretty hard! OP, how exciting for your niece. How nice you have a resource such as this forum to get good advice for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thought I said Sydney gets hot, it also gets cold in the winter. Tell her to bring her warm clothes too. An English friend of mine, who has lived in Sydney for about 8 years, gets so cold in the winter that she walks around with a hot water bottle stuffed up her jumper :) Thank goodness she's not in Melbourne! I'm in Victoria also and consider our winters mild compared to the places I've lived in the US, but sounds like your friend would freeze! If she doesn't want to be picked as an American she neeeds to worry more about the accent and less about the clothes :laugh: Accent, yes. I am amazed how quickly people pick up on my accent, often just one sentence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 She could search online for a list of Australian words. In theory they speak English here, but when you're looking for bed linen and they're talking about Manchester, you do start to wonder. If English doesn't work she could always try Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic or Afrikaans - she may be surprised by just how multicultural Australia is (at least in the cities). Charity shops selling second hand clothes and household items are called 'op shops' and would be a good place to pick things up cheaply if she forgets to pack anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 What an Aussie calls a jumper is probably called a sweeter? over there. it is the warm longsleeved thing you put on when cold. LOL! Yeah a sweater :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thank goodness she's not in Melbourne! I'm in Victoria also and consider our winters mild compared to the places I've lived in the US, but sounds like your friend would freeze! LOL! Yeah, I always slag her that she would die if she came to Melbourne :) It does get cold in Melbourne, and I think you feel it more indoors cause the house are so drafty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidArchuletaFan Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Haha, what a funny thread. Thing is...even with Aussies having different words for some things, we watch american tv so still use and understand the american versions. Hope this isn't inappropriate but a friend here told me a story of how she visited the US and while there attended a kids baseball game....and there was some speedy kid zooming about the bases and so she was yelling out 'Go little pocket rocket!' which in Australia would mean 'Go little speedy kid' but she said when she yelled that out, she got lots of dirty looks because apparently it refers to a mans genitalia there in the US. Would you Americans agree? Oh actually....don't use the word fanny here. That's slang for a female's genitalia. ;-) But yeah, I agree with everyone else. Aside from things being more expensive than the US and possibly a bit more casual, we're pretty much like you guys. As for the moving overseas bit....just tell her to get some Australian ID, open a bank account and get a Medicare card as quickly as possible and that will make everything else easier. But I'm sure she must have someone guiding her through the process anyway...? Someone at the University? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Oh actually....don't use the word fanny here. That's slang for a female's genitalia. ;-) LOL! I still giggle when I hear Fanny Pack on American tv! Yeah, we in Australia speak American, she'll be right ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 But yeah, I agree with everyone else. Aside from things being more expensive than the US and possibly a bit more casual, we're pretty much like you guys. As for the moving overseas bit....just tell her to get some Australian ID, open a bank account and get a Medicare card as quickly as possible and that will make everything else easier. But I'm sure she must have someone guiding her through the process anyway...? Someone at the University? I don't think international students on a study visa get Medicare. I am pretty sure they need to have their own travel insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 But yeah, I agree with everyone else. Aside from things being more expensive than the US and possibly a bit more casual, we're pretty much like you guys. As for the moving overseas bit....just tell her to get some Australian ID, open a bank account and get a Medicare card as quickly as possible and that will make everything else easier. But I'm sure she must have someone guiding her through the process anyway...? Someone at the University? That reminds me, you have a short amount of time after entering the country to open a bank account using just a passport as id. Seems like it was really short- a week? After that they require more forms of id. Luckily opening a bank account was something we did right away or we would have been out of luck as it took awhile to obtain all the forms of id we would need. Maybe that varies by bank. But as mentioned, surely whoever at uni is guiding her through the process will help her sort it all, and all the rules might be different for students anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pod's mum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 American Express is not the preferred card here, many shops will charge extra to use it. VISA is much preferred if that is an option. (Please feel free to correct me, I've only ever had a VISA debit card.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 That reminds me, you have a short amount of time after entering the country to open a bank account using just a passport as id. We were able to open an account online before we got here. I think we had to go in to show ID when we got here, but we had money in it, and were all ready to do. Oh, and an American homeschool friend was quite offended that she was stopped and 'breathalysed' at a police roadblock. Something about civil liberties :-) I've been stopped twice, both times mid-morning, which makes me think we might need to discuss what constitutes breakfast in Australia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 police breathalyses at all times of the day. I have heard that people who drink all night ( or very heavily over night) have still got a high blood alcohol count in the morning. Sometimes towards the end of the month they have big roadblocks and breathalyse every car going by. I have always speculated that they have to breathalys so many people a month and if they a haven't met their quoter they do a heap at once.( no idea if this is true) . (I am having trouble with the spelling of breathalyse and the spell check is not helping) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenmama2 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Lol. I think it's all been covered. Definitely tell her not to use "fanny". Oh & we roll our eyes at leaving words out of sentences. You don't "write your brother", you "write TO your brother". Just a little thing ;) The only public transport tip I can offer is that many bus routes in inner Sydney are "prepay only", you cannot buy a ticket on the bus as you can almost everywhere else. You can buy tickets at newsagencies & convenience stores (drug stores) though. There will be an orientation package (probably an entire week celebration with lots of free beer too) at her university which will have lots of local info on cheap clothing, food, transport etc. Hope she has fun :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Oh & we roll our eyes at leaving words out of sentences. Right- don't leave words out of sentences. Instead, Australians abbreviate everything. I think it comes out about the same. :D :smilielol5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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