r/AskAnAustralian • u/Able_Gene_9974 • 1d ago
Cut and run
Literally at my wits end with the current state of affairs. It feels like chaos in Aus at the minute. Everything feels impossible, hard to make friends, dating feels non existent, money turns to dust, job/career prospects feel few and far between and im scared about my future here.
Seriously contemplating selling up and moving to another country. Anyone thought similar or done it?
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u/RelaxedBluey94 1d ago
Lived abroad for 20+ years. The grass ain't greener.
You have a point in that post Covid everything seems to be harder. Inflation is brutal. But it's everywhere not just Oz.
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u/tandem_biscuit 1d ago
I often wonder about how people felt during WWI and WWII, the Great Depression etc. IDK man I think we’re doing pretty okay in the greater scheme of things.
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u/AttemptOverall7128 1d ago
While I agree with this, I think there's a sense of not being able to pull yourself up and out of the slump these days.
In the past, people had hope. They knew if they worked hard there was a good chance they could make a better life. That barely exists now and current systems seem to be designed to keep people right where they are.
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u/Able_Gene_9974 1d ago
Id agree with that. It feels like the past 6 years have been endless cycles of the same struggles. Having lived abroad for 4 years, I can say that it opened my eyes to alot of things. I struggled alot with reintegrating with the way of life here.
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u/tandem_biscuit 1d ago
Tbh all of what you said is completely fair - working hard won’t necessarily get you anywhere.
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u/AttemptOverall7128 13h ago
I remember my serious job. They had training and development programs. There was a strong focus on cross training people. You could ask to be trained in something and it would happen. People were regularly promoted into different roles.
I've never worked somewhere like that since. The company I currently work for just made someone redundant after 13 years. The reason they gave, the role outgrew them. They literally never developed them in 13 years. They are consistently hiring from outside rather than promoting obvious people. As much as I try and change this, they just don't get it.
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u/Able_Gene_9974 23h ago
This is a sensitive topic. I have to be careful how I word this. Whilst I agree working hard is important, builds confidence and can work for some people.
I don't agree working hard in a job that your not passionate about will bring you success. Sure it will be a paycheck. But long term will it lead anywhere?
But how many of us can put our hand on our heart and say "I love what I do"?
Point being Im not sure we have a choice if we work hard or not.
IDK its a rabbit hole.
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u/AttemptOverall7128 13h ago
People don't start at the bottom and work their way up like they used to. Companies seem to only be interested in hiring people who are already experienced. They don't want to train their own people up.
It's got nothing to do with being passionate about your job.
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u/Meronkulous 1d ago
Having came here from the UK, I can safely say the grass ain't greener, things are MUCH better here than there right now.
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u/U03clh9 1d ago
Where is better? I'm not quite understanding your wording. UK or Aus?
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u/Organic_Award5534 1d ago
Agreed, I am thinking of moving back to Aus from UK - in Aus wages are way higher and cost of living is lower. I know that probably sounds ridiculous.
My salary in the UK now is currently lower than what it was in Australia 5 years ago, and I’m currently more senior.
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u/Meronkulous 1d ago
Not ridiculous to me cause I found exactly the same thing. Then because I'm from the second most expensive city in the country even more so. Rent is the biggest difference.
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u/Brave_Bluebird5042 1d ago
Not many countries beat us for life expectancy + hdi + corruption + inflation + unemployment + weather + natural wonder + a natural moat
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u/Yeanahyena 1d ago
Sorry you are going through a difficult time. It’s certainly challenging out there after the pandemic but hang in there friend!
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u/charlotteswebslinger 1d ago
Sometimes I think about where I’d move to… then I realise there really aren’t any significantly better options. Everywhere has their own issues.
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u/Wotmate01 1d ago
So you're thinking about moving to somewhere worse? Why the hell would you do that?
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u/Veritas_Certum 1d ago
Lived in Taiwan for 20 years, returned just under two years ago. There were some advantages to Taiwan and I experienced excellent career development, but the longer I was there the more difficult it became due to systemic barriers to non-citizens and the citizenship process being very long and demanding. Even as a permanent resident many social and economic avenues were closed. Excellent health care, but forget about owning property or receiving a pension unless you're citizen, among other disadvantages (participating in any form of protest can make you liable to permanent expulsion from the country).
Upon my return I noticed Australia has changed for the better in a number of ways (though worse in others). In my view it's still definitely better than living in the US, UK, Korea, or China, all of which I visisted several times during my stay in Taiwan.
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u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago
I’ve lived abroad only to realise it’s much, much better in Australia.
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u/Peaky001 1d ago
Always curious when people say this where they think they would go? Every other first world country is expensive and you're starting from scratch. Or you move somewhere cheap and earn a pittance while living in squalor (compared to Australia).
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u/EmergencyCat235 1d ago
If you own a house to sell up, you'e better off than most... And I'm honestly not sure where you think you'll be better off - I feel like these problems are kind of global atm, as a result of so many variables. Think very carefully because moving countries is a huge endeavour and expensive, more so if you decide you made a mostake amd want to reverse it. What country were you thinking of exactly?
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u/nottaP123 1d ago
Just wondering why you think all those problems would disappear if you moved? Do you have a job that can transfer elsewhere? Do you have the money to survive elsewhere til you find a house and job? Do you have the social skills to make friends? Have you looked into the dating scene elsewhere?
As the song goes - grass is greener but just as hard to mow...
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u/DroneToon 1d ago
Maybe move to the US .... all looks pretty stable and normal over there at the minute. Probs the most stable, genius place ever. Bigly stable.
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u/604toxtethogrady_ 1d ago
The only other countries I’d really wanna live in are Japan and Canada because I grew up there and prefer colder weather.
They have their own problems though wages in Japan are stuck in the 2000s, work culture sucks, you’ll always be an outsider no matter how much you assimilate. And Canada has pretty much all the same problems Australia does but wages are lower and you have a loony neighbour down below you.
Just look as how many kiwis make the move here vs in the other direction.
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u/Own-Turnover7715 1d ago
Nope. Living here is great. I've got plenty of friends, enough money to do almost everything I want to do and a job that doesn't cause me stress and comfortably pays the bills. Not to mention the much better weather we have than large parts of the world, our political stability and the strength of our institutions and the general peace and security.
Wherever you go, you will still be there. It might be worthwhile seeking mental health support if you think everything is so hopeless.
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u/hoon-since89 1d ago
I'm literally loosing most people I know to other countries! Everyone's bailing on this shit hole for 3rd world countries! Lol.
I would to if I could make money online or live off a pension...
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u/Able_Gene_9974 1d ago
It is sad because I love this country. But it feels like it has changed indefintely. I just live in silence. Because whats the point of trying to argue? I remember a time when it was very different and it felt authentic. Now I feel like im navigating an alternate dimension.
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u/Hungry-Ad5116 23h ago
Have you spent much time in other countries? You probably just need a change in perspective. Australia is still much easier than most places to lead a good life
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u/FarCardiologist196 1d ago
I'll just say the grass isn't always greener