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| If you knew then, what you know now | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 1 2010, 12:35:31 AM (2,188 Views) | |
| aurora | Feb 1 2010, 12:35:31 AM Post #1 |
Piker
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This one is a question from MUO's Boomerang Lounge , but thought y'all (!) might be better at answering this.....(don't know if I am in the right forum though) What is something that you would have brought with you to Oz that you did not? |
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| canaussie | Feb 1 2010, 12:38:26 AM Post #2 |
True Blue Mate
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Family! Everything else you can either replace or adjust with something else. You can't replace your family. We are moving next week and it is going to kill me to leave behind my adult children, and my parents....I've done it before and ended up coming back home. |
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Paula (dual Canadian/Australian) married to an Aussie since 1999 and mummy to an Aussie since 2000 | |
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| blarg | Feb 1 2010, 11:17:29 AM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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I really can't say I would have brought anything extra. Most of what I miss are things you can't simply bring across (like trashy fast food outlets or reasonably priced housing).  I'm happy here. |
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| tina_o | Feb 1 2010, 11:30:05 AM Post #4 |
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Chinwagger
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I would have brought more money-lots of it. I'm not trying to get into the much discussed topic of the cost of living here and as much as I've read and tried to prepare myself for the prices of things, it's still shocking to me. I did take the advice of bringing my make-up with me, but I couldn't help checking to see what the prices were. $17.95 for a tube of Mabelline mascara!!! Mabelline???? I have to go grocery shopping today and I think I may have to take out a small loan.  Ok, I'll shut up about this.  (I decided I'm allowed 1 post to rant and that's it!) 
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| shylady | Feb 1 2010, 11:45:13 AM Post #5 |
oldYank
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Yes, you're allowed, Tina!  One hint: Do NOT stand in the grocery store, trying to figure out if $14.99/kilo is a good deal, compared to USD$/pound, it'll make you crazy, and cause shopping to take hours! Check out the specials, and familiarize yourself with foreign brands and trolleys, and take it easy for this first week, or your brain will  Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| SanDiablo | Feb 1 2010, 03:14:39 PM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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My Cat. Had no idea she was going to still be alive...and spry. |
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| tazydevil5 | Feb 1 2010, 06:52:10 PM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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Ten tons of Pepperocini Peppers...the same amount of Jolly Rancher's.... Love Robyn |
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| sheowahya | Feb 1 2010, 07:10:04 PM Post #8 |
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True Blue Mate
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It's a "woman thing" I would have packed CASES of my favourite tampons. i HATE the tampons here!!!! |
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My Timeline ======= Category 136 BN - Skilled Independent. Skills Assessment: Applied ICAA: 13May05 Addtional Classes Required: 08Aug05 Re-submitted PASA: 05Feb07 Approved as Accountant 2211-11: 26Feb07 Main Visa Application: Sent to ASPC: 12Mar07 Application received: 16Mar07 Acknowledgement received: 10May07 Credit Card Charged: 10May07 CO assigned: TBD Medicals sent UNrequested: 26Jul07 PPC sent UNrequested: 18Jul07 VISA Approved: 07Nov07 Main move to Australia: 17Apr08 | |
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| Bindie | Feb 1 2010, 09:02:39 PM Post #9 |
True Blue Mate
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I can't think of one thing. Lol Things I want are here. |
 The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
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| natasha_alena | Feb 1 2010, 09:38:26 PM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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I read this thread this morning and thought I have nothing to add, there's really nothing else I would have brought! It's all material things, you learn to live without. But then I saw this and I have to agree! I'd have brought a suitcase of them if I had only known! |
| "You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather" | |
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| RachaelK | Feb 1 2010, 10:25:53 PM Post #11 |
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True Blue Mate
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They have regular tampax here now - they're just labeled differently. They've got the compax in New Zealand so I figure it's only a matter of time before we find them here. It's a start. Though I did pack a whole lot. I'm also pretty sure listing 'feminine products' on the customs list disuaded them from going through those boxes... Lol. |
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| tina_o | Feb 2 2010, 11:40:17 AM Post #12 |
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Chinwagger
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Lisa, How did you know that's exactly what I tried to do yesterday? I had to buy about 10 things and it took me an hour and a half to get out of Woolies, wasting time trying to figure out the kilo/pounds conversion and prices. One bummer: I didn't realize there were no pretzles here.  I have some food questions. Will post in Tucker Time. Thanks! |
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| boomerang | Feb 2 2010, 11:53:00 AM Post #13 |
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True Blue Mate
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I've found pretzels in the chips aisle at Woolies, but there is only one or two brands......the other place to look is at fruit/veg specialty shops. |
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| KimInMellie | Feb 2 2010, 02:37:07 PM Post #14 |
True Blue Mate
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Because we ALL do it. How can you not? It's an instinct that fades with time, I promise. I think it's related to having to convert pounds to grams/kilograms to figure how much meat/cheese/etc to ask for at the deli counter.
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 Go that way really, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn. -- Charles De Mar | |
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| blarg | Feb 2 2010, 04:45:17 PM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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In the end you just get used to the pricing. You innately know that $12/kg for mushrooms is expensive and $8/kg is cheap (in my area). Of course if you go to a market you can get it even cheaper, but my point is just that I found it most helpful to get a general feel for what the price normally looks like and then you can make your purchasing decisions on that. Last week Woolies were doing a sale on mushrooms. Such a good sale, only $14/kg. Uh, no thanks. This week they're back down to $11/kg and they're not on sale. Whatever. At the meat counter I just pretend 500g = 1lb. It's close enough. |
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| gpierce | Feb 2 2010, 04:51:48 PM Post #16 |
True Blue Mate
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Lawn mower, power tools, more transformers, garage cabinets, new furniture, 15 years worth of shoes, etc, etc, etc. Basically I would have brought an entire life plus enough spares to get me through the next 15 years:) |
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| sunshine | Feb 2 2010, 05:52:22 PM Post #17 |
True Blue Mate
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Would have brought another set of sneakers and like 5 sticks of gel deodorant, but I'll live. The prices per kg do look shocking, but it's really not awful after doing the conversion, I don't think. (I tend to think of Australian prices as being 1 1/2 to 2 times what they're listed as in the US, strictly numerically speaking.) Though I stick to the fruit/veg markets around town that sell produce and meat at 1/2 to 2/3 the price at Coles/Woolies. Love that! Edited by sunshine, Feb 2 2010, 05:57:17 PM.
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| Steph | |
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| CynicalCountess | Feb 3 2010, 09:11:38 PM Post #18 |
True Blue Mate
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Don't forget not only kg->lb, but also AUD->USD. I'm pretty good at math, but it eventually makes me dizzy. Still, it's EXPENSIVE here! Blarg, I do the 500g = 1lb when I buy pasta. Sunshine, I found gel deodorant in a convenience store. I prefer rollerballs, personally. Edited by CynicalCountess, Feb 3 2010, 09:16:24 PM.
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| SanDiablo | Feb 4 2010, 07:13:06 AM Post #19 |
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True Blue Mate
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Out of curiosity, what sorts of things do the Aussie's miss that they cannot find in America?? Besides vegemite and timtams... |
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| Judy | Feb 4 2010, 09:34:29 AM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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Milo and good marmalade and soft wholemeal bread that isn't slightly sweet. Not much else really, for me anyway. |
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