In a recently published 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), six universities made it to the top 100 best research and academic institutions in the world. The prestigious international ranking included The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, The Australian National University, Monash University, University of Sydney, and The University of Western Australia.
This year’s ranking displayed a huge improvement for some of these and other Australian universities as more than half of the public universities in the country are now included in the top 500 list. So without further ado, let’s take a glance to the top six academic institutions in the country that are now among the world’s best 100.
Website: unimelb.edu.au
Global Ranking: 40
National Ranking: 1
Founded in: 1853
With its main campus located in Parkville north of the Melbourne central business district, the University of Melbourne is the second oldest university in the country and the oldest in Victoria. It constitutes of 11 academic units operating separately.
Itis well connected with many academic and research institutes such as the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. The university has 15 graduate schools such as the Melbourne Law School, the Melbourne Medical School, and the Melbourne Business School.
According to the 2015 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the University of Melbourne ranked 5th in the world for education, 8th in law, 13th in computer science and IT, 13th in arts and humanities, 14th in accounting and finance, 14th in dentistry, and 18th in medicine.
Remarkable alumni:
Website: uq.edu.au
Global Ranking: 55
National Ranking: 2
Founded in: 1909
One of the sandstone universities (Australia's oldest tertiary education institutions), the University of Queensland is principally a research university, dedicated in generating research and producing graduate students. It consolidates various research institutions like the Sustainable Minerals Institute, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, and the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, among others.
Through the years, UQ has produced world-changing researches such as the still continuing pitch drop experiment, the advancement in high-performance superconducting MRI magnets for portable scanning of human limbs, and the renowned HPV vaccine invention against cervical cancer.
The university is constantly in the top 0.5 percent of all major world university rankings. The Economist Intelligence Unit and The Australian Financial Review rates the Business School's flagship MBA program as the best in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Noteworthy alumni:
Website: anu.edu.au
Global Ranking: 77
National Ranking: 3
Founded in: 1946
The only university to have been created by the Parliament of Australia, the Australian National University is a national research university situated in the country’s capital, Canberra. It consistently found itself ranked among the world’s top academic institutions, and boasts of six Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni.
It comprises of seven colleges: Arts and Social Sciences, Asia and the Pacific, Business and Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, Law, Medicine, Biology and Environment, and Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Also, the university has already schooled two Prime Ministers, 30 of Australia’s current Ambassadors, and more than a dozen current heads of the Australian Government departments.
Noteworthy alumni:
Website: monash.edu
Global Ranking: 79
National Ranking: 4
Founded in: 1958
The second oldest university in Victoria after the University of Melbourne, Monash University is a public research university and is the only Australian member of the prominent M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies. It also cradles the Australian Synchrotron and the Australian Stem Cell Centre.
Monash University is home to 47,000 undergraduate and 20,000 graduate students, and recieves more applicants than any university in Victoria. It has produced CEOs for the 500 largest companies worldwide, skyrocketing its status as one of two Australian universities to be ranked in the The École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech), placing it in the top 20% in teaching, top 10% in international outlook, top 20% in industry income and top 10% in research for the current year.
Its centers extend beyond the Australia, too. The university has a graduate research school in Mumbai, India, a teaching and research center in Prato, Italy, and a graduate school in Jiangsu Province, China.
Noteworthy alumni:
Website: sydney.edu.au
Global Ranking: 82
National Ranking: 5
Founded in: 1850
Also one of the sandstones, the country’s very first university has formidable reputation in the field of Law, Education, Medicine, Accounting and Finance, with the 2016 QS World University Rankings by Subject positioning it at 11th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, respectively, in the global ranking. Through its history, six prime ministers, and 24 justices of the High Court of Australia, including four chief justices have been educated here. Also, it has five Nobel and two Crafoord laureates among its affiliations as graduates and faculty.
The University of Sydney is the result of the expansion of the Sydney College into a larger institution, reasoning that a state university is compulsory in the growth of the society. Currently, it is a member of prestigious academic organizations such as the Academic Consortium 21, Group of Eight, the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN), and the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning.
Noteworthy alumni:
Website: uwa.edu.au
Global Ranking: 96
National Ranking: 6
Founded in: 1911
Another member of the sandstone universities, the University of Western Australia is the oldest educational institution of its kind in the region. The intensive-research university was established as part of an act by Western Australian Parliament, though it never began teaching students until 1913. Throughout its existence, it had educated one Australian Prime Minister, one Nobel Prize laureate, and 100 Rhodes Scholars.
To further its research projects, it established over 80 research centres and institutes, such as the Centre for Energy, the Energy and Minerals Institute, the Oceans Institute, and the Centre for Software Practice. The main campus is situated in Perth.
Noteworthy alumni:
We have taken you on a trip to Australia’s world famous tourist spots already. But among these world class attractions are some of the strangest, quirkiest, and outlandish spots that never reached postcard status. Probably because they only cater to a certain population of tourists who only pursues the freaky, the peculiar, and the strange. But that doesn’t mean that these places are not worth the bus tickets, because they are, especially if you are beginning to think that the Opera House is too overrated.
Here are some of them.
This lonely, dusty uphill road in Peterborough has a sign that makes it clear: Turn off the gas, go on neutral, and don’t step on the brakes. And then you can watch your car move on its own, not downhill, but uphill like an invisible force is pulling it up, defying gravity and your sense of logic, at which point you will whip out your camera because oh boy this is really YouTube worthy.
No, it’s not Mother Nature trying to lure you again into a death trap with her invisible hand. This is an example of a gravity hill, a phenomenon occurring in many parts of the world. Rather than gravity, it is an optical illusion that is at play here. Here’s an explanation. It will never ruin the fun of being here, though.
Sinkholes are scary. They appear without warning, swallowing cars and houses, and making us paranoid thanks to the Internet. The Umpherston Sinkhole, however, is a thing of beauty. Also called the Sunken Garden, this geological majesty formed when a large subterranean cave’s ceiling collapsed into itself, leaving a permanent depression on the area like Earth’s giant pimple scar.
But the Umpherstons, the family who owns the land, won’t just let a humongous pockmark ruin their property. So they renovated the sinkhole, drained the water, and turned it into a glorious garden curtained by thick vines and towered by pines. This place is gorgeous from any angle, whether from above showing a lush sunken field, or from below highlighting a clear, unobstructed sky.
We call the country the Land Down Under, but in the town of Coober Pedy, this moniker couldn’t be more literal. Situated 846 km north of Adelaide, the place is a bustling municipality where more than 60% of the population live underground. But no, Coober Pedy isn’t a town of mole men, nor are they preparing for a global nuclear fallout probably to be unleashed by Skynet. They refused to live above ground because of opal.
The place wasn’t really inhabited before because of the extreme desert heat. But then in 1915 opal was discovered and soon miners rushed to the area. To avoid getting smoldered, the miners lived in dugouts bored in the hillsides where the temperature is more constant. A hundred years later, Coober Pedy is now the largest opal mining field in the word, and there are now underground hotels, barbecues, a few museums, casino, a local pub, a gift shop, and even a church all built 20 feet below the Earth’s surface. It sort of puts the caves we built beneath our gardens to shame.
It is said that the Devil will test our faith at some point, that couldn’t be more true in the Devil’s Marbles, because look at those boulders they are going to roll over us Indiana Jones-style!
Also known as Karlu Karlu, they are a collection of house-sized granitite boulders stacked over each other, some are delicately suspended and balanced, and a few a cleanly sliced and split apart like loaves of bread. Truly enough, this place is one of those geological wonders that seem to spit in the face of logic and science. The explanation, sadly, doesn’t involved aliens. The rock formations are a result of erosion and other natural forces such as wind, plant growth, and water at work.
The site has a major cultural importance for the traditional aborigines of the land, and is deemed as one of the oldest religious sites in the world. It is currently a registered Sacred Site and protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.
The recent Rio Olympics caused quite a stir with its dank green-colored swimming pools that went unexplained for days, until it is found out that algae have grown in its waters after someone mistakenly dumped the wrong chemicals. Algae, among others, are also the culprit behind the creatively named Pink Lake’s salmon hue.
Located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, the 600 metre-long lake’s color is more apparent from above, like a huge pool of bubblegum milkshake. The cause is the dynamic duo of green algae and brine prawns in high concentrations. Once the conditions are met (high water salinity and high temperature, among others), the algae gather red pigments while pink bacteria gets trapped in the salt crust at the bottom, thus turning the entire lake into Mother Nature’s biggest campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness.
With the proliferation of high-resolution cameras and waves of hoax-exposes, UFO pop culture consumption is now limited to re-watching X-Files episodes and the occasional mistaking of ordinary aircraft as flying saucers. Except in Wycliffe Well on Stuart Highway in Northern Territory. That obsession is very much alive.
Not unlike in Roswell, New Mexico, Wycliffe Well embraces its history of purported UFO sightings and capitalizes on it to become the “UFO Capital of Australia.” This extra-terrestrial fascination began when World War II soldiers in the area recorded sightings of mysterious flying objects in the sky. The journal gets passed from one person to another and the stories get blown out of proportion every time. Now, the town is plastered with all kinds of UFO pop culture memorabilia, merchandises, panoramas, sculptures, billboards, and a display documenting UFO-related newspaper clippings in the area.
And while we’re in the topic of aliens…
Three years ago, a Dutch firm planned on sending people on a one-way trip to the planet Mars to establish the very first human settlement there. The project received over 200,000 applications from people who apparently wants a lifetime seeing only weird rock formations, sand, and vast emptiness. Which is a waste of time, really, since we have those kinds of things here on Earth.
One is the Pinnacles near the town of Cervantes, Western Australia. This area of sand and rocks covers 17,500 hectares, and features limestone formations towering up to five metres high. This provides an eerie, Martian-like atmosphere to the landscape where you can stroll or drive sans any space suit. The reasons for such peculiar formations remain much of a mystery. The most convincing theories include it being a petrified forest, or a product of wind and water erosion, or crushed ancient seashells accumulated inland over millions of years, or warring tribes turned into stone by the serpent god. We will all be disappointed if it isn’t the last one.
If you are in Australia and have good English ability with working credentials, you are in luck. The country is a haven for employment and has a plentiful cycle of job, whether they are casual, contractual, part-time, or full-time. We’ve compiled the most helpful tips for you. You only need to invest time and some effort and you can land a job of your choice.
First thing you need to know is that not every visa will allow you work in Australia (this is assuming you already have one with you).
If you are here as a tourist or for business visitor purposes, you need to know that your visa will not allow you to be employed in any job that normally attracts a paid remuneration (pay).
Student visas, on the other hand, will permit you to work for a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight (because you are primarily here to study), therefore perfect only for casual and part-time engagements. Working holiday visas allow you to work for a maximum of six months for each employer during the validity of your visa. This is fit for temporary and contractual jobs.
If you are on a 457 visa, then you are required to work full-time for your sponsoring employer. If you are looking to change jobs / switch employers, then you can do so but you have only 2-3 months to find a new employer (sponsor) to take over your 457 visa from the time you cease working for your old employer (sponsor).
If you are long term planner, you can consider applying for Australian Permanent Residency a year or two in advance, whilst you still maintain your job overseas. By becoming an Australian Permanent Resident, you will have unrestricted permission to live and work in Australia, which will make it significantly easier for you to land a job down under. This is because employers will not have to go through the trouble of sponsoring you and going through the various stages to prepare, lodge and liaise with the Department of Immigration for an approval to hire you.
Egalitarianism is a cultural norm in Australia, and the same goes when it comes to employment. Employers will hire you based on your skills and qualifications (not on your ethnicity, race, religion, or gender). It is important to clearly communicate your set of skills and characteristics to your employer via your resume/CV. If you have gained specific skills sets and beneficial character traits during your previous work experience, training, or special courses, list them down in your resume/CV. Be sure to also have copies of your qualifications and work references, as these will come in handy when it is time for your interview.
In this age, you can find virtually anything in the Internet. Less and less Australian companies advertise for jobs in the newspapers. Most turn to the internet when posting a job advertisement for a vacancy they wish to fill.
Here are some of the top job sites in Australia, where you can search for job vacancies in your trade or profession:
These sites typically advertise thousands of new jobs every month for all companies big and small across Australia.
The other option is to contact recruitment / employment agencies in your preferred city of choice (to work). These head-hunters look for potential employees for Australian companies.
If you are the product, your resume / CV is your personal advertisement or poster. This will help employers determine if they should consider short-listing you and potentially request you to attend an interview.
In Australia, we recommend that you stick with advertising your qualifications, experience and skill sets clearly, such as your completed qualifications, previous paid employment experience and your best attributes as an employee. It is actually not necessary to include your marital status, nationality, age or photograph. Stick with the facts and how you can add value to the company, and you will be in the right track to landing a job that you can build a career with.
Take note: Write an introduction letter or executive summary that is tailored for the company which you are applying for. If you do this, you will get ahead of most of the crowd. All it takes is a little research about the company you are applying to work for. Learn about their mission and vision and take note of keywords and objectives that you can match in your resume/CV. Employers are always on the look out for people who fit the company’s core values.
First impressions matter, and this can never be more true and applicable in job interviews. Learn about the culture and nature of work of your target company and dress appropriately. Is it a purely corporate environment? A tech startup? A legal office? An ad agency? A fun retail company? These companies require varying degrees of formality or casualness when it comes to attire.
If you are in doubt, always dress up in semi-casual business wear, as Australia’s general work culture leans more towards professional attire (at least for interviews). For men, opt for a business shirt with long trousers and a tie. For women, go with a business jacket with matching pants or skirt, plain blouse, and minimal jewelry.
As Oscar Wilde put it “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” Showing up to your interview corporately adorned shows that you are making an effort for the company.
Yes. You need to ask questions during your interview. The idea that a job interview is a one-sided conversation is a thing of the past. Interviews should not be an interrogation.. Rather, they are open conversations between you and the company to find out if you are match for each other.
Yes, you need the job, but the company also needs you to perform vital tasks as part of their ability to function. So if you don’t ask enough questions, you may never know if the position, the work culture, the way they handle business, and the salary level is what you want. Also, by asking questions, it shows that you are curious, interested, and enthusiastic about the job and the company, which is a win-win situation.
I won’t deny it. I took the chances of working on a foreign country solely for money. If it wasn’t for the dwindling economy and the rising cost of living, I would just stay home, talk to people that speaks my language, and enjoy the food that I grew up eating. Let’s admit it. Comfort zone is the best zone. It is where you feel safe, secure, and at home.
But the circumstances pushed me out. I traveled to a country I only see on the episodes of Lonely Planet Six Degrees, meet strange people, and traverse the first world urban jungle. I did earned a lot of money. And even saved a lot more. Working in a first world country has its blessings. But I’ll tell you, the financial benefits of this endeavor is just the tip of a colossal ice berg that is the amalgamation of perks of working outside your homeland. I really believe I should have done this a long time ago, and everybody should try it at least once in their lives.
So why should you work abroad? Here are a few reasons…
I won’t lie. It scared me to death realizing that I won’t see, talk, dine, and drink with my family and friends for a while. I imagined being alone, missing home, and getting depressed in my new country.
Upon landing ashore, an entirely different world burst in front of me. It’s so alien. So bizarre. And so intimidating. It constantly shook me up and threw me off my balance. And that’s how I learned to continuously get back on my feet and think outside the box. I have done things and learned new skills I never imagined I could.
You see, at home you are comfortable and complacent. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s holding you back. Yes, those pillows and blanket on a cold weekend morning would probably mean the world to you and staying in bed all day seems to be the most reasonable things to do, but there so many things you’ll be missing out on. The friends you’ll be meeting, the errands you will be running, the places you’ll be going. There’s an entirely different world out there. Yes, it’s scary to face it. But you can never be excited without being a bit scared.
Prior to being an expat, I have traveled to other countries as well. And I thought I was already “exposed” to their culture because I talked to a few locals and tried their street food for a few days. I’ve never been so wrong. You get exposed when you experience shock, confusion, and disturbance to new ways of living, challenging your prior beliefs and reservations.
And it isn’t just one culture I have to deal with. I worked with Europeans, Asians, Middle Eastern, and Africans. Our office, an expansive singular room filled with tables and cubicle, is nothing short of a United Nations global convention (a colleague calls the cafeteria “the Cantina” in reference to Star Wars).
By getting immersed in new cultures, you develop a thicker skin, trust your gut during periods of fear and confusion, learn to think on your feet, and push through your challenges. Evolutionarily, we are not supposed to be stagnant people. Our ancestors travel in search of resources, and therefore were constantly exposed to new lands, environment, and other people. Once the shock subsides, you will learn to embrace the new experiences. You will realize that the world is very small, and despite the differences in ethnicity, belief, and language, at the core we are just the same.
Contrary to popular belief, racking up as much likes in Facebook or followers in Instagram as humanly possible does not constitute social skills, at least for me it isn’t. Social savviness is the capability to effectively (take note on the operative word) interact and communicate with others, whether it is on verbal or non-verbal level. You might get away with being an anonymous, antisocial introvert whose communal interaction with others is often limited to “Hi.” and “Bye.” Abroad, this won’t help you much.
Like I’ve said, once the initial shock of the new culture subsides, that’s where you’ll start embracing your new experiences, and that includes making new friends. There’s something quite exhilarating about establishing relationship and connections with someone whose set of experiences and perception is different than that of yours. Each thing you share in common, each moment you gained each other’s trust is something worth treasuring.
Buy why be a sociable person? First, it takes the loneliness and sadness away by making contact with other people. Second, it makes work life easier. Imagine the people around you giving a helping hand because you know how to express yourself and ask what you want. And lastly, it will open more opportunities for you.
No one could have said better than Keith Ferrazi. In his book Never Eat Alone, he stated “Today’s most valuable currency is social capital, defined as the information, expertise, trust, and total value that exist in the relationships you have and social networks to which you belong.” Indeed enough, your success in life is determined not only by how much you know, but who you know. By expanding your network, you make yourself more open to other possibilities and opportunities. As long as they are the right people and your relationship with them is genuine and substantial enough, you may tap on them when the time arises, whether it be career growth, investments, new projects, or business expansions.
But networking does just go on singular direction either. It goes both ways. You too become a part of their connections, and you be ready to be tapped when the opportunity comes. Before you know it, you are already on your way to climb the career ladder or be part of a growing startup. The probabilities are endless. That is if you network enough.
There’s more than a way to skin a cat (as an animal rights advocate, I sort of hate this phrase). And as our tasks and jobs get more complex, the methods and principles behind it gets compounded. That means no matter what industry you are in, chances are the people on the other side of the planet do it differently.
I once went back home on a two week vacation and had a chance to compare notes (yes, I still do notes) with an old colleague who works on the same industry. It turns out what we know, how we do things, and the results we look for are worlds apart. It’s not necessary that one person do it better or more properly, it’s just our methods are varied. I went back to work with more ideas, fresh concepts, and simple innovations. Working abroad provides you with the mindset you can never obtain at home. Plus, if your new country is a prime destination for other expatriates, then learning the industry from workmates from other country gets more exciting, because this means more opinions, more theories, and a better understanding.
Working overseas will not only improve you as a person, it will add on oomph to your credentials as well and improve your chances of getting hired and/or climb the corporate ladder. Being an expatriate means you are independent, resourceful, and creative. It also means you can take calculated risk and are never afraid of trying new things. This also shows you are a team player and can work well with others, having interacted with people of various background, ethnicity, and culture before. Also, you have more unique skills and fresher ideas with you, having gone through your job from a different outlook (see global perspective above). These makes your credential jump out from the rest, separating you from the other sheltered applicants.
But this advantage isn’t limited from what’s written on your resume, but gets carried into the interview process as well. You’ll have more things, experiences, and topics to discuss in relation to your gig(s) abroad. The skills you learned, how you find them beneficial, and the way things are done oversees. The possibilities are endless. An entertained interviewer is just as important as an impressed one.
Aussies’ love for sports comes second only for their love for beer. And as a newcomer in the country, it’s not hard to get lost and confused in this affinity, what with the confounding terms and slangs and parlances they’ll throw at each other like they are secret codes of a clandestine society (“What on earth is a ‘footy?’”).
Today, we will clear out the haze and re-introduce you to these athletic pastimes that Australians are going gaga about, whether in the field or in their couches while drinking beer.
Or footy, as blokes usually call it, Australian Rules football isn’t just a sport, but a cultural pillar that transcends to other media not typically seen with other sports such as poetry, the arts, and even mythology. Ironically for non-Australians, this is a plain source of further confusion.
You see, it’s called Australian rules football because it has its own set of rules to set it apart from association football where they use a circular ball, American football where body armors are involved, and rugby. Australian Rules football is being played between two teams of eighteen players on an oval (not rectangular like in other forms of football) field. The main way to score points is by kicking the ball between the two tall goal posts (not touchdown as opposed to American football).
Like American football, tackles are involved, but they cannot run carrying the ball. They can only kick it or hit it.
Australian rules football is considered as the most popular sports in the country as it attracts the greatest overall interest among Aussies than any other football code (code is sports talk for variation) and has consistently ranked first among other sports.
For an untrained eye, it’s not very hard to mix up rugby with Australian Rules football, since both involve muscular men in short shorts jumping on each other for the possession of a singular oblong ball (we know, it sounds very off in paper). The key difference lies in spotting the number of players (rugby has 15 or 13 players only, Aussie football has 18), how much the players trying to bulldoze each other (rugby has a lot more of contact), and the shape of the field (rugby is played on a rectangular field).
In Australia, there are two codes playing the sport, each one having its own rules: The Rugby Union which was founded in 1949 and National Rugby League (NRL) which is considered the more popular sport of the two. Players of both codes are not necessary and completely constricted to their respective factions, as many players have moved between codes on the course of their careers.
Nope. We’re not yet done kicking balls. Soccer (or association football), the world’s most famous sport, is also a big deal here in the Land Down Under, as it is one of the most played outdoor team sport in the country and consistently ranked high in television audiences.
The British immigrants first brought the sport to the country during 19th century. It wasn’t until 1922 that the first national soccer team was created for a tour of New Zealand. Australia’s first venture into the famous FIFA World Cup finals was in 1974 when they faced West Germany. It wasn’t until 2006 that the country qualified again, ending the 32-year absence.
A-League, the professional men's soccer league in the country, pulled in US$92 million in revenue last year (that’s US$6.9 million each club), making it one of the most lucrative sports in Australia.
Eleven men trying to bat a rolling ball with a wooden paddle may not be the most heart-stopping of all sports, but in Australia, this thing is a major hit. Some considered cricket the country’s national sport, as it spawns equal interest in all regions, and is increasingly popular at international, domestic and local levels. Cricket Australia's annual report says that from 2014 to 2015, 1.2 million Australians played formal, organised cricket during the period, a 9% raise over the previous period, making it one of Australia’s biggest participant sport. This increase pours over female participation as well, with an 18% in their number.
Very much like baseball, cricket is played with bat and a ball, and with two teams consisting of 11 players each. One team bats and runs to score, while the other team rolls down and deflects the ball, attempting to restrict the scoring and dismiss the batsmen.
And get this: due to the material the ball is made of (cork, layered with tightly wound string, and covered by a leather), its weight (163 grams or almost 6 ounce), and the velocity it travels (160 kilometers per hour), cricket has been deemed as the most dangerous ball sports on the planet, and can actually killed its players. We’re taking back what we said about it not being heart-stopping.
With an average area of 74 acres (30 hectares) golf has the largest playing ground of any ball sport. And it is only fitting that a country as expansive as Australia is home to so many golf courses. Also, three of the oldest and most famous golf tournaments in the world is being held here: the Australian Open (since 1904), the Australian Masters (since 1979), and the Australian PGA Championship (since 1905).
But perhaps the popularity of the sport can be attributed to the population demographics. The country is a go-to destination for retirees from around the world. Not to mention, retirement system here is very efficient, golf has become the favored pastime of the senior population. The sport does not require enormous physical energy, speed, and stamina (unlike the ones mentioned above), but rather focus, thinking, and strategy. Basically, things that our retirees had earned along the way.
Now here is the part where it gets weird. For a country which is 60% desert and where snow is mostly non-existent and solely relegated to a certain region, an ice-related sport such as ice hockey going popular is a subject of bedazzlement. And to further add to this bewilderment, the country’s organization in charge of the sport, Ice Hockey Australia, was founded in 1908, making it one of the oldest associations of its kind.
But the ice hockey wasn't a runaway hit back then, as it was only moderately popular with mediocre participation and minimal audience attendance compared to other sports. It wasn’t until 2000 that the lukewarm pastime became overly cool (heh!) in part due to the establishment of the Ice Hockey League, seeing an increase in players and viewers.
Currently, Ice Hockey Australia has seven state and territory-based affiliate associations across the country.
Did you know that Thor is Australian? No? Well, because he isn’t. He’s Norse. But the actor who plays the hammer-wielding god of thunder, Chris Hemsworth is. Two years ago, the bloke from Melbourne was voted People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. This caused women around the world ages 15 to 60 (the 70-year olds are not yet over Errol Flynn) to swoon and turned their sights to Australia thinking it’s the land where all the gorgeous men in the world are being bred.
While this may be a bit of generalization (“a bit” is the operative word here), a bloke is one of the most interesting and most charming guys you’ll ever met.
Why? Here are a few reasons...
We all have that female friend who has a boyfriend that produces a blood-curdling scream on sight of the eight-legged varmints, leaving his girl vulnerable to trauma/injury/abduction.
But that is not an option for blokes. These guys are hard wired to give these arachnids a very apparent and out bursting “meh.” You see, spiders might not be as dangerous as the world would have them believed, but it can be a common sight in the country, especially if the person lives closer to the outback (along with other crawling nightmares that would make us believe Mother Nature really wants us dead). And given that he is a natural gentleman, he will definitely rush to your side on a slight wail of alarm to defend you, make you feel safer, and tell the spider to go home and rethink his life of scaring people.
Guys, in an attempt to put their best foot forward, can be completely ingenuine. He will shower his girl with respect and thoughtfulness and then proceeds to treat the restaurant crew like he’s the worst person on earth just for serving the wrong wine. This has been, and will always be, the biggest deal breaker (guys, be warned).
An Aussie guy, on the other hand, is nice to everybody else. This is because he adheres to the virtue of mateship, meaning he treats others with respect and kindness, even if it’s someone he just met. Also, Aussies are known to be egalitarians, and they believe that everybody should be treated with equal respect, regardless of their gender, race, educational background, or status in life.
So, if he’s nice to you, you can be pretty sure he treats his barber, the counter clerk, and the bar tender the same way.
Thirty percent of the time, we can’t make up what Chris Hemsworth is actually saying. But we don’t mind, do we? It’s music to the ears (“We don’t know what you’re talking about Chris, but just keep talking.”). Just like their female counterpart, the Aussie male accent is just one of the most amiable in the planet. It’s a bit rough, even messy, and very animated, what with the various shifts in the intonations that flow steadily, quickly, and softly.
The Australian accent is heavily grounded on the British inflections, but with the swankiness removed and the edges roughen up, possibly influenced by the tough life and harsh terrain they have to go through when the Brits first settled here. Just imagine crying for help in fashionable British accent while getting chased by kangaroos. That’s how it started. We guess.
Is hiking together your idea of a perfect date? Or a mud marathon? How about food-throwing festivals? Guess what, your Aussie boyfriend will gladly go through those activities with you.
As what we have explained, Australia’s terrain is a paradise for swashbucklers, daredevils, and adrenalin-junkies. And the more inland it gets, the stakes go higher. The Outback is so uninhabitable (but beautiful at the same time), the Survivor reality series thinks it’s harsh enough to make their contestants painfully betray each other, and thus chose it as a location. So whatever challenge you throw at your boyfriend, keep in mind that he had gone through worse.
But not all dates should involve hurling yourselves to danger. Sometimes you need to sit back, take a break, sip a cup of coffee, and have a great conversation. And guess what, no other guy will appreciate coffee as much as you do than a bloke. For them, coffee is not just a mere pick-me-up, a ritual, an offer of hospitality, an essential part of their culture, and a basic commodity. Next to beer, it’s probably the most appreciated liquid nourishment in the country.
So if you love coffee, an Aussie guy would be perfect for you. Be it espresso, latte, or black. He wouldn’t mind.
You know what goes great with a few cups of coffee? Lots of laughs. And oddly enough, we have yet to meet a bloke who doesn’t know how to pull a good punchline. Whether it’s self-deprecating, a friendly banter, or highlighting a big irony, they can effortlessly draw a few laughs.
Again, this stems very deep from their history i.e their first few years of settling in the country as migrants from Great Britain. Life was rough, the land initially infertile, and the weather harsh. In the face of desperation, gloom, and hopelessness, the early Australians turned to humour to lighten things up. This same levity and sporty mockery also strengthened their bond with one another (they have no one else to rely on but each other) and played a great hand on their survival. A few centuries into the present time, life is already way better, but we’re glad they kept that playfulness with them.
If you are married to, are engaged to, or are in a committed relationship with an Australian guy, then you may be eligible for a partner visa. If everything works out completely well for both of you, you can become a permanent resident or even a full-pledged Australia citizen.
Living here has so many benefits. Health care is awesome. Quality of life is great. And don’t even get us started with the tourist spots. Plus, imagine living with a guy with the qualities highlighted above.
Despite the name, there’s close to nothing to be a cause of ire in Ireland. The Emerald Isle is home to the most stunning views in the world, the most beautiful ancient castles, and the most modern companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Twitter (thanks to their low corporate tax rates). The food is good, the people is very friendly, the lifestyles are very active, and the place is quite rustic and even sometimes provincial. And did we say they also love beer?
Ireland and Australia have so much in common. So today we compare the two so you may choose wisely on which country to settle to.
Relying mainly on services and high-tech industries as well as trade, industry and investment, Ireland’s economy can be categorized as of modern knowledge type, focusing mostly on technology and groundbreaking ideas to further growth. In 2005, survey by The Economist found the country to have the best quality of life in the world. It has an unemployment rate of 7.8% and a deflation rate (Yes, deflation. That’s not a typo.) of 0.5%.
Industries that pay on an above average rate include food, drink and tobacco processing; telecommunications, transport medical appliance manufacturing; construction, and oil and gas exploration. Currently there are no oil reserves discovered in the country, so huge opportunities await to whomever will first find one. You might want to stay away from material manufacturing (metal, plastics, rubber, textiles, leather, pottery and glass), electrical and electronic engineering, and printing and publishing as these are the lowest paying ones.
Ireland’s average working time is 1,821 hours annually, or 35 hours a week.
One of the largest mixed market economies in the world, Australia’s economy is primarily driven by its service sector, comprising 68% of its GDP. Other sectors (and biggest employers) include mining, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, tourism, media, education, and logistics. It is the 12th largest in the world in terms of GDP. Unemployment here is higher by a small margin at 5.8%, but still very low in overall scale. Inflation rate is 1.3%.
Australia makes sure its migrants adhere to its strict standards of skill and qualifications through a point-based system. The most paramount of these qualifications is the ability to speak English. Also, there will be more assessments to make sure your trade and competence is something the country needs. The industries in need of migrant workforce in the country are varied and disparate, ranging from technology to medicine to construction to finance to manufacturing. Currently, Australia is providing what deemed to be the highest minimum wage in the world. Also, average working hours here is just the same as Ireland’s level at 36 hours a week.
Ireland’s health care system is divided into two tiers: the public and private sectors. All residents are eligible to receive health care via the public health care system. The Health Service Executive manages this and is funded by taxation. Depends on his/her income, age, illness or disability, the patient may be obligated to settle a subsidised fee for certain health care received. There are no charges for maternity services and child care up to the age of six months.
Meanwhile, private health insurance can be accessed by those who want to avail of it. They are available through private companies offering this type of service.
Australia’s health care system functions on a centralized level, and is carried out by both private and government institutions. The state and territory governments supervise aspects of health care within their jurisdictions, such as the operation of hospitals.
Just like in Ireland, it is two-pronged: the private health system and the Medicare. The latter is funded partly by a 2% Medicare levy (with exceptions for low-income earners), with the rest being supplied by government. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income earners without private health insurance. To find out more about how Australia’s healthcare system works, check our blog here.
Due to its temperate climate, Irish cuisine centers on the grown crops and meat from farmed animals with contributions from the English cuisine. Common foods/ingredients include butter, cheese, oats, wheat, cod, shellfish, trout, salmon (typically smoked), lamb, mutton, potatoes, rhubarb, pear, and plum. The country is also known for its alcoholic beverages, mostly bearing its name, such as the Irish whiskey, Irish stout, Irish red ale, Irish mist, and Irish cream.
When dining outside, be conscious about place settings. The knife above your plate is for the butter, while the little plate next to your bigger plate is for the potato peelings. It is not for bread as many assume, as bread isn’t usually served here. Holding the potato down using your fork in one hand, and peel the skin with your knife in the other. Also, keep your hands on your lap when not using, as opposed to most western settings where hands must always be visible. Service charges are usually included in your bills.
Australian cuisine is a fusion of native aboriginal inventiveness and British colonial contribution, with mix of Asian and Mediterranean traditions provided by wave after wave of post-colonial migrations and helped transform their cuisine. They usually take advantage of meat available in the continent, such as lamb, kangaroo, and emu, as well as pork, beef, and chickens. Like the Japanese, Aussies prefer the freshest produces as much as possible (check here for Australia’s most amazing/weirdest foods).
When dining, it is not encouraged that you talk about business or work, unless your host initiates so. Even during business lunches or dinners, it is rare that people will dive in straight on to business conversations. Always start with small talks during meals. Tipping here is usually 10 to 15 percent.
Irish families would rather buy properties than rent them, this results to a less than reliable rental market in the country. There’s a very apparent shortage of apartment here, especially the three- to four-bedroom apartments which is perfect for the family. However, just like the general rule in other countries, it is unwise to purchase a property if you just arrived or you don’t see yourself living in the country for more than three years.
While searching for a private rented accommodation, you may turn to local newspapers, real estate agencies, or even websites such as myhome.ie, let.ie, and daft.ie. It is advised that you view first the rental accommodation before making any tenancy transactions as the quality of apartments vary heavily. For long term agreements, minimum rental period is usually six months to a maximum of three years. The region, city, neighborhood, number of bedrooms, age, and quality of a property usually determine the rental price.
Unlike in Ireland, owning a house is not very common in Australia. Around 33% of residents here lives in a fully owned properties, 31.4% rents their home, while 35%of homes are mortgaged.
The departments of state governments provide public housing in Australia. It is divided into two categories: the inner-city medium to high-rise apartments and the low-density townhouses/fully detached houses located in the suburban fringes of cities and towns. The inner-city public housing is generally found in Melbourne and Sydney. They are usually 3-5 story walk-up flats and 11-22 story high-rise towers. Low-density suburban estates is located in almost every city and town in Australia.
Expectedly, rents are cheaper in rural than urban areas. It’s also lower the further a property is from a large city or town, public transport or other facilities. The average rents are highest in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. You may check here for a comprehensive guide on how to find an apartment in the country.
Ireland has a few extensive light rail networks serving the suburban areas. These include the Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) rail line running the length of Dublin's coastline as well as the Luas tram system which has two popular lines. Light rail systems also exist in Cork, Limerick and Galway. However, buses are the main means of transport in the country. They are convenient, affordable, generally fast, frequent and reliable. Roaming around by car is also an excellent way to go around the country, as roads and infrastructures in the country are well developed. Taxis and Uber services also operate here.
A one way train ticket here costs US$2.87, while a monthly pass is at around US$122.66. Starting taxi tariff is US$4.57 with US$1.45 for the first one kilometer. A Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will set you back US$26,486.77. Gasoline is at US$1.45 for every liter.
The rail way system in Australia is extensive and efficient logically due to its huge size also. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all sport expansive electric commuter rail networks which eventually have developed and expanded over time. Trams have operated extensive across the country but have since shut down in favor of cars, except in Melbourne and Adelaide. While Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth have partially underground transit systems. Buses and taxis also operate in the country. However, despite the very good public transport system, driving is the most used mode of transport in the country, and this number continues to rise. If you want to find out how commuting etiquette here works, check here.
Commuting costs here are less expensive than in Ireland, though. A one-way ticket here sets you back by US$2.96 while going for a monthly pass will increase it to US$96.96. A kilometer ride of taxi is US$1.62 with US$2.98 as starting tariff. If you want your own car, a Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will cost you US$17,430.44 plus US$0.96 for every litter of gasoline.
Ireland has a maritime influenced, mild and humid climate. It is characterized as mild, moist and shifting with generous rainfall and not much temperature extremes. The driest and warmest time of the year is during May to mid-September, while January and February are the coldest. Winter days can be most, cold, and short. But temperature rarely falls below freezing due to the Gulf Stream. Snow might be very occasional here, but it is very common in the mountainous regions. It can be very windy in the coastal areas, while hale and thunderstorms are very rare occurrences.
Due to its massive size, climate also varies vastly in Australia to a wide degree. This is reflected on the snow-capped mountains in the south and arid deserts in the interior. Majority of the country leans more towards the temperate, tropical rainforest climate. Australians get plenty of sun and warmth most of the year but with huge drops in temperature during winter.
The weather widely differs with every city. To find out more about the climate in each of them, check it here.
Advantages of Irish citizenship include:
Advantages of Australian citizenship include:
If you can survive the uncertainties of the weather, then either Ireland or Australia is perfect for you. Both nations are known for their unpredictable patterns. Also, the two share their love for beer, reflected on the many pubs and bars on major cities and even small towns. Also, both countries are relatively safe and known for their strict gun laws.
Because of its location, Ireland’s main draw is its proximity to Europe. Within two to three hours, you can be either in Barcelona or Spain, while the United Kingdom is a mere 45 minutes away. Also, accommodation is highly affordable, though you have to compete your way to find a good one. And if you are working full time, you are entitled to 20 holidays, and this is mandated by the law.
However, unemployment rate is quite high in Ireland. There are also lots of redundancies and the job competition is stiff. The European Union is going through some financial challenges already, and may or may not be worsen by Brexit, but Ireland is one of those who can feel the woes already.
Australia, on the other hand, is much stable economy-wise, as it is not part of any economic bloc who decides what is its financial fate. In fact, it is one of the very few who came out unscathed by the recent global recession. The outdoor and active lifestyle is Oz’s best pride, coupled by the warm weather and friendly people.
However, while Ireland’s properties can be very low-cost, houses and rents here can be very expensive, as is the general cost of living. And if you love going around Europe, you may like to settle in Ireland instead, as the Land Down Under is bordered by the ocean from the rest of the world.
While the entire Europe is busy having a generally anti-immigrant stance, a political party in the Netherlands called Denk (or “Think” in Dutch) courageously stood up to oppose the rising xenophobia and racism slowly embattling much of the continent these days. This only represents the country’s position of slowly opening its gates wider for immigrants is the waves of globalization enables more people to be expatriates, travelers, and migrants.
Today we compare the Low Lands and the Land Down Under to get to the bottom of their migration potentials (pun intended).
Considering that the Netherlands has only 17 million inhabitants and is the 18th largest economy in the world, the country is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest in the world. It operates on an open economic structure (they can freely trade internationally) and relies on export. Other main industries include metal and engineering products, agriculture, petroleum, electronic machinery and equipment, chemicals, and construction. It has an unemployment rate of 6.8% and inflation rate of 0.3%.
At US$28,000 to US$30,000 annually, the wage here is average compared to most of European countries. It is deemed higher than that of Spain and Italy, but lower than that of England and Germany. However, work-life balance here is guaranteed, with Dutch Laws prohibiting anyone from working more than 45 hours a week. This policy resulted them to have one of the lowest average working time in the world at 1,425 hours annually or 27 hours a week.
One of the largest mixed market economies in the world, Australia’s economy is primarily driven by its service sector, comprising 68% of its GDP. Other sectors (and biggest employers) include mining, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, tourism, media, education, and logistics. It is the 12th largest in the world in terms of GDP. Unemployment here is higher by a small margin at 5.8% with an inflation rate of 1.3%
The country currently has the highest minimum wage in the world, making up for the considerable high income taxes. Like in the Netherlands, a law is also mandating employees to work for a maximum of 40 hours a week only (they fought for that right in the past), making the average working time here to be only at around at 1,664 working hours annually or 32 hours a week.
And if you came here unemployed (or became unemployed in the process) here’s a quick and comprehensive guide on how can you land another job.
The Dutch health care is considered as the best in Europe, taking the top rank in the list of 34 nations in the 2012 Euro Health Consumer Index. It spends a lot on its health care system at 11.9% of GDP, second only to the United States. They have a network of 160 primary care centers, with open surgeries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most of the doctors speak very good English, making them fairly accessible to expats and new immigrants.
Health insurance here is mandatory. And is covered by four statutory forms:
Australia’s healthcare system functions on a centralized level, and is carried out by both private and government institutions. The state and territory governments supervise aspects of health care within their jurisdictions, such as the operation of hospitals.
It is two-pronged: the private health system and the Medicare. The latter is funded partly by a 2% Medicare levy (with exceptions for low-income earners), with the rest being supplied by government. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income earners without private health insurance. To find out more about how Australia’s healthcare system works, check our blog here.
Because of its coastal location, main ingredients of Dutch cuisine include fishes, but also centers around pork, chicken, or beef. On the traditional level, their method of cooking and preparation is simple and straightforward, focusing more on vegetables and farm produces than meat. Dutch diet is mainly rich in fat and carbohydrates and contains dairy products, reflecting the nutritional requirements of farmers, fishermen, and laborers back then.
Cafes are located everywhere in the country, all serving quick snacks. Broodjeswinkels (small shops) sell open-faced sandwiches, consumed traditionally with a glass of milk or buttermilk. Meanwhile, informal restaurants like Poffertjes offer fried dough pancakes, typically with powdered sugar. And lastly, raw, salted, smoked, or dried herring are being sold on street stalls. You will usually purchase the herring from a barrel, then hold it by the tail and eat it on the street.
Australian cuisine is a fusion of native aboriginal inventiveness and British colonial contribution, with mix of Asian and Mediterranean traditions provided by wave after wave of post-colonial migrations, thus helping transform their cuisine. They usually take advantage of meat available in the continent, such as lamb, kangaroo, and emu, as well as pork, beef, and chickens. Like the Japanese, Aussies prefer the freshest produces as much as possible.
The country is has a rich culinary atmosphere, evident by the many restaurants continuously sprouting in cities from ultra-exclusive joints to pubs to dives serving street food. Melbourne itself has become famous for gastronomical adventurers because of the many restaurants and cafes lining up its streets. Also, Australian food is diverse as they are enjoyable and sometimes challenging. Check some of them here.
Social housing is high level and well developed in the Netherlands, as 60% of the residents here own their properties. However, that doesn't mean the renting market is underdeveloped for the other 40%. The properties for rent are up to par also, though the process can be pretty complicated. On some areas, restrictions are applied on who gets prioritized to live in the house. The odds mostly go for those who have strong connection to the area i.e. they were born there, working nearby, or has a family in the area.
As a foreigner, a migrant, or expatriate, there is no restriction for you to own a property. However, like in renting, it is restricted to low-income earners, which makes it quite challenging. It is mostly advised that you rent if you are new to an area or planning to stay there for three years only or less. If you are able to own a property, on the other hand, there are tax benefits and mortgage costs are often lower than that of renting.
Unlike in the Netherlands, owning a house is also not very common in Australia. Around 33% of residents here live in fully owned properties, 31.4% rent their home, while 35% of homes are mortgaged.
The departments of state governments provides public housing in Australia. It is divided into two categories: the inner-city medium to high-rise apartments and the low-density townhouses/fully detached houses located in the suburban fringes of cities and towns. The inner-city public housing is generally found in Melbourne and Sydney. They are usually 3-5 story walk-up flats and 11-22 story high-rise towers. Low-density suburban estates is located in almost every city and town in Australia.
Expectedly, rents are cheaper in rural than urban areas. It’s also lower the further a property is from a large city or town, public transport or other facilities. The average rents are highest in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin.
Public transport in the Netherlands is well-developed, efficient, and relatively affordable compared to the average income. The OV-chipkaart is the country’s main smart card system in traveling, and can be used in trains, metros, and buses. Various railway systems operate in the country. They have three rapid transit systems (metros) serving various cities, a rail transport that connects almost all major towns and cities (it is the busiest in the world), three large tram networks which operate in three cities, and two light rail networks. There are also regional and city public transport bus services, but their connections are quite limited due to the extensiveness of the train networks.
A one way train ticket here costs US$3.13, while a monthly pass is at around US$84.92. Starting taxi tariff is US$4.47 with US$2.35 for the first one kilometer. A Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will set you back US$24,255.49. Gasoline is at US$1.71 for every liter.
Australia also has very efficient public transport system. But unlike Japan where trains are more popular, driving is the most used mode of transport here, and this number continues to rise. Trains only come second, then walking (the country has a very good culture of walking), and then buses. All of Australian cities have reliable, affordable public bus networks and train lines, plus taxis operate nationwide. These train lines include commuter rail networks, trams, light rails, and rapid transits.
Commuting costs are a bit less expensive here than in the Netherlands. A one-way ticket here sets you back by US$2.96 while going for a monthly pass will increase it to US$96.96. A kilometer ride of taxi is US$1.62 with US$2.98 as starting tariff. If you want your own car, a Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will cost you US$17,430.44 plus US$0.96 for every liter of gasoline.
The Netherlands has a moderate maritime (or oceanic) climate characterized by cool summers and mild winters, with typically high humidity. This is more evident in the Dutch coastline, where the difference in temperature is definitely smaller between summer and winter, and between day and night than it is in the southeast part of the country. Since the country is small in land area, there isn’t much else variation in temperature and climate from region to region, however, the marine influences are less felt inland. Rainfall is distributed throughout most of the year with a dryer period from April to September.
Due to the massive land area, Australia goes through differing climates. This fact is characterized by the severely hot climate in the Kimberley region in the north-west of the continent to below zero in the Snowy Mountains in the south. Also due to its size, there just can’t be one seasonal calendar for the whole continent.
Depending upon where in the continent you are each month, the seasons will vary, whether the weather is defined by the Temperate zone seasons or the tropical seasons. To find out more what is the climate and weather patterns in each of the states in the country, check our blog here.
The Netherlands and Australia have as so many similarities, their qualities and characteristics are almost mirror-like. Both have a well-structured economy, an all-encompassing health care, very low crime rate, an egalitarian culture, and efficient transport system. Also, both countries have the tendency to build traffic congestions, especially in bigger cities, and the unpredictable weather patterns.
However, The Netherlands has the upper hand when it comes to their tax system, which provides a 30 percent tax-free allowance available, as well as lower average working hours. Living the country also opens more opportunities in other European countries by the agreement in the European Union.
But this specific benefit is also a major drawback, job and career opportunities are mostly restricted towards migrants from EU countries only. Also, you need to learn Dutch to better get along with the residents.
Australia, on the other hand, prioritizes the job market according to skills, not nationality, and opportunities are available to almost everybody. And since English is the main language, it’s fairly easy to deal with people. Also, the country offers the highest minimum wage in the world, which makes up for the expensive living.
If you like traveling the world or fond of going abroad, however, Australia is isolated by ocean from the rest of Europe and Asia, and provides a major challenge. Also, the properties can get very expensive, the reason why only 30% of people here owns their home.
Australian girls can get stereotyped a lot. They love beaches, they’re all blond, and all have sexy accents. While most of these are true, Aussie ladies are in fact, way more than those, and could be one of the best companies you can ever have. If things work well, you may elevate this into exclusive dating, a relationship, or even marriage. And you will have a respectable, gorgeous, and intelligent lady forever by your side.
We listed down the reasons why you should date an Aussie girl, like right now.
Disclaimer: The traits detailed in this article cannot represent accurately all Australian women, as they are completely complex and multi-dimensional people. We merely highlighted the good and general traits embedded in their character as part of their national identity and culture.
The brunette on the other side of the bar? Looks like a snob. The blond in the nearby table? Way out of your league. For tens of thousands of years, women have been intimidating men in ways more than we can imagine. They are either too smart, too rich, too busy, or too social. It’s like wearing an invisible “back off” sign.
This isn’t much the case with Aussie ladies. You see, they belong to one of the friendliest, most polite, and most laid-back people on the planet. They’ll talk to you like you were their old neighbor. They’ll laugh at your jokes, listen to your stories, or, if you’re lucky, buy the next round of drinks, all these considering you are a well-represented, decent human being yourself. They might not like you right away, but at least you’ll have a fighting chance, and not treat you like you have a restraining order from them.
Who hasn't heard of Margot Robbie utter a word and didn't think “OK, that accent is melting me?”
Aussie accents is up there with British and South American as one of the most likable in the world. It sounds British (because history) without the ultra-formal and posh tone. It’s more relaxed, a bit rougher, and flows with politeness and gentleness imbedded in its inflections.
Though on the flipside, you will inevitably lose all the arguments with her. Seriously, who wants to maintain contention with a lady whose speaking timbre you can’t even resist?
As men, we generally love sports, a good laugh, a few rounds of drinks, night time drives, and adventures. And what do we love more? A woman who likes all of these, too.
Australia is known for its very active and outdoor lifestyle. They’re so mad about sports like cricket, rugby, and football (not to be confused with the egg-shaped variety). And since the country is 65% rough terrain, the love for adventure runs in their blood as well. And after a day’s hard work, they’ll cap it off with a few shouts (that’s Aussie term for rounds) of beer with a good company. Imagine having a girlfriend with no reservations for these things and you are in for a lifetime of fun and happiness.
Some girls aren’t really looking for boyfriends but slaves. But not Aussie girls. You see, they are one of the most practically able people on Earth. They can think on their feet, they know their way around things. They can build and repair whatever it is that needs to be built or repaired. In short, they don’t need you.
But no. They are not a race of misogynistic people who abhors men in general and probably raised Wonder Woman. They are just capable themselves. She will not whine or nag over broken things and disappointments. So, if your type are eternal damsels in distress, Aussie women aren’t those. Adopt a kitten or something.
For some westerners, being Asian or Indian or African might feel like you came from the far side of the planet. But not for an Australian woman. More likely than not, she already has an Asian, Indian, or an African friend from the other side of the street. So your culture won’t shock her anymore, at least not that much.
The thing is, Australians have been living with immigrants as their neighbors for decades already. This makes them more accepting and accustomed to multi-cultural people. Also, being a country at the center of global migration further helps this mentality. And lastly, Australians are natural travelers, so they won’t mind meeting and befriending people of different ethnicity, race, or culture.
So it won't matter where you came from. Just be polite and friendly and you’re good with them.
No good relationships ever evolve solely around lying in couches and Netflix marathons. You both need to get out, discover the world, take the road, face your fears, and get your feet dirty. And oh boy, Aussie ladies love to travel.
Australia is a huge country, and a larger patch of this land is home to some of the most challenging treks and most beautiful natural attractions ever. The fact that the country is isolated by ocean from much of the United States, Europe, or Asia means Aussies don’t have much choice but travel their own country first.
The 21st Century have seen the rise of women empowerment. Ladies now don't want to be just housewives. They are now climbing corporate ladders, working as bread-winners, refusing to take the train seat you offered, and splitting the bills.
Meanwhile, Aussie ladies have been doing these for decades already.
Australia works on an egalitarian principle, meaning everybody is being given equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities regardless of social status, education background, race, and gender. The country works hard to eliminate sexism and bigotry from the national psyche and maintain the “neither superior nor inferior” culture. So if she offers to split the check or buy the next round of drinks, keep in mind that she’s not trying to impress you, she’s just being Australian.
We’re not saying you should marry an Australian girl for the sole purpose of landing ashore the Lucky Country. You can do better than that.
But the truth is, when you fall head over heels and marry an Australian citizen, she has the capacity to bring you over home and make you a permanent resident or even a citizen, too. And look at the benefits, the country has an amiable climate, friendly people, awesome tourist spots, a diverse culture, and great cities to live in. Imagine living in a great country with an awesome girl beside you forever. It’s a win-win situation here.
And then here comes the spiders. Oh wait, she’s not afraid of those, too.
When we hear of Denmark, we think of Hans Christian Andersen, the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen’s waterside, and the country’s enormous tax rate. The thing is, Denmark is more than these. The country features one of the best living standards and highest quality of life in the world and is home to one of the happiest people in the planet. These qualities, among others lie, parallel to the Lucky Country, so we decided it’s time we compare the two of the best migration destinations these days.
Although rife with valuable natural resources such as mature oil and gas wells in the North Sea, Denmark relies more on human resources to support its main economic sectors such as agriculture, food processing, electronics, construction, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and tourism, among others. In a nutshell, Denmark sports a mixed-economy structure. It has an unemployment rate of 3.19% and inflation rate of 0.50%.
In the office environment, the country operates on an egalitarian convention. Superiors and subordinates are expected to work on a “horizontal” principle, i.e. the bosses working with the team rather than just handing down orders. If you are employed by the government sectors, your salary is determined by trade unions and employer associations. If you work for the private companies, it will be based on your qualifications. At 1,436 hours a year (or 28 hours a week), it has one of the lowest working hours in the world.
Australia operates on a mixed market economy structure, and the 12th largest economy in the world. The economy is primarily driven by its service sector, comprising 68% of its GDP. Other sectors (and biggest employers) include mining, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, tourism, media, education, and logistics. It is the 12th largest in the world in terms of GDP. Unemployment here is higher by a small margin at 5.8% with a lower inflation rate of 1.3%
Much like in Denmark, a culture of egalitarianism and consultancy also define the Aussies’ working style. Subordinates are required to share opinions and suggestions or even challenge their superiors’ ideas as long as executed professionally. This adheres to the Australians’ virtue of mateship, in which everybody is treated equally with respect. Australia enjoys a lower than average working hour at 36 hours a week.
The Danish health care is a public system funded though income tax at a regional and municipal level with integrated financing at the regional level. It is divided into two parts: the primary health care which is provided by general practitioners and handles general health problems and is generally the first point of contact if you ask for general medical treatment, and the hospital sector which is deals with patients who need more specialised medical treatment such as intensive care or the need for specialist equipment.
All Danish residents and European Union citizens have access to Denmark’s health care benefits.
Australia’s healthcare system functions on a centralized level, and is carried out by both private and government institutions. The state and territory governments supervise aspects of health care within their jurisdictions, such as the operation of hospitals.
It is two-pronged: the private health system and the Medicare. The latter is funded partly by a 2% Medicare levy (with exceptions for low-income earners), with the rest being supplied by government. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income earners without private health insurance. To find out more about how Australia’s healthcare system works, check our blog here.
Denmark might be an ultramodern wealthy country, but its cuisine originated from what the peasants’ ingenuity and local produce back in the old times. This was further developed with the cooking techniques on the 1800s as well as ingredients available during in the Industrial Revolution. Not to mention, foreign cooking methods and ingredients imported from tropical countries further contributed to the national cuisine’s enhancement. Danish cuisine is famous for its open sandwiches, cold cuts and buffets, and beers.
When dining, do not begin eating until the host says “Skol.” Always finish everything on your plate. Not doing so is a waste of food for them and Danes do not like it. Do not discuss business, follow your host’s lead. And wait to be told where to sit, as there may be a seating plan. For tipping, restaurants usually include a 12-to 15-percent gratuity in all bills already.
Australian cuisine is a fusion of native aboriginal inventiveness and British colonial contribution, with mix of Asian and Mediterranean traditions provided by wave after wave of post-colonial migrations and helped transform their cuisine. They usually take advantage of meat available in the continent, such as lamb, kangaroo, and emu, as well as pork, beef, and chickens. Like the Japanese, Aussies prefer the freshest produces as much as possible (check here for Australia’s most amazing/weirdest foods).
When dining, it is not encouraged that you talk about business or work, unless your host initiates so. Even during business lunches or dinners, it is rare that people will dive in straight on to business conversations. Always start with small talks during meals. Tipping here is usually 10 to 15 percent.
The living cost in Denmark is already expensive, so people who migrate here chose to rent than to buy a property. Danish property is of high standard is usually spacious. Rental accommodation here differs from houses with gardens in the suburbs to city apartments. Most of them, however, tends to be in the form of multi-storey buildings or terraced housing. Majority of these are clustered together in the residential parts of the major cities in the country.
Like with any country, location typically determines the price of the rent. The average monthly rent for a place outside the city is expected to be cheaper than an apartment in Copenhagen. However, this does not mean that a house located miles away from Copenhagen is going to be cheap. Finding a place to settle here can be challenging. Apartment ads are usually posted in newspaper and internet adverts.
Owning a house is also not very common in Australia. Around 33% of residents here lives in a fully owned properties, 31.4% rents their home, while 35%of homes are mortgaged.
The departments of state governments provides Public housing in Australia. It is divided into two categories: The inner-city medium to high-rise apartments and the low-density townhouses/fully detached houses located in the suburban fringes of cities and towns. The inner-city public housing is generally found in Melbourne and Sydney. They are usually 3-5 story walk-up flats and 11-22 story high-rise towers. Low-density suburban estates is located in almost every city and town in Australia.
Expectedly, rents are cheaper in rural than urban areas. It’s also lower the further a property is from a large city or town, public transport or other facilities. The average rents are highest in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. You may check here for a comprehensive guide on how to find an apartment in the country.
Denmark’s public transportation and infrastructure is ultramodern, efficient, and of high standard. Three types of railway networks operate in the country: Regional (Re), InterCity (IC) and InterCity Lyn (ICL). The Regional trains connect local stations to the main national network. InterCity and InterCity Lyn trains run on the same routes, ICL trains are just faster and do not stop at as many stations. Copenhagen, however, is the only city to have a metro system, and it operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It utilizes unmanned, automated trains on the network.
A cheaper alternative to trains when traveling within Denmark are buses or coaches. Some of them also operate to travel to and from the country. You may ride a taxi here, but expect the fare to be expensive.
A one way train ticket here costs US$3.57, while a monthly pass is at around US$55.75. Starting taxi tariff is US$5.95 with US$2.27 for the first one kilometer. A Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will set you back US$35,715.16. Gasoline is at US$1.56 for every litter.
The rail way system in Australia is extensive and efficient logically due to its huge size also. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all sport expansive electric commuter rail networks which eventually have developed and expanded over time. Trams have operated extensive across the country but have since shut down in favor of cars, except in Melbourne and Adelaide. However, partially underground transit systems still operate in Sydney, Brisbane Perth, and Melbourne. Buses and taxis also operate in the country. However, despite the very good public transport system, driving is the most used mode of transport in the country, and this number continues to rise. If you want to find out how commuting etiquette here works, check here.
Commuting costs here is less expensive that in Denmark, though. A one-way ticket here sets you back by US$2.96 while going for a monthly pass will increase it to US$96.96. A kilometer ride of taxi is US$1.62 with US$2.98 as starting tariff. If you want your own car, a Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or any equivalent new car) will cost you US$17,430.44 plus US$0.96 for every litter of gasoline.
Located between three European climatic zones, Borea influence in the north, Atlantic influence the west and Continental influence in the east, the climate throughout Denmark is a combination of these influences, and is generally described as temperate. Characterized by mild winters and cool summers, rainfall here is evenly distributed throughout the year. The western part of the country, however, features an Atlantic climate while the eastern parts sports a more continental influenced one. During summertime (May to August) the temperature is pleasant especially during the first month. Winter on the other hand, is ruled by snow, ice and icy winds.
Required clothing here includes lightweights with rainwear during summer, and a waterproof and warmer clothing during winter. Bring an umbrella and a sweater for almost any time of year.
Due to the massive land area, Australia goes through differing climates. This fact is characterized by the severely hot climate in the Kimberley region in the north-west of the continent to below zero in the Snowy Mountains in the south. Also due to its size, there just can’t be one seasonal calendar for the whole continent.
Depending upon where in the continent you are each month, the seasons will vary, whether the weather is defined by the Temperate zone seasons or the tropical seasons. To find out more what is the climate and weather patterns in each of the states in the country, check our blog here.
Despite the huge distance gap and the culture in which they thrive on, Denmark and Australia have more similarities than we can imagine. Both are home to the happiest citizens on the planet, have excellent living standards, healthy lifestyles, short working hours, egalitarian cultures, and the remarkable love for beer. Also, they share the same downsides, such as the expensive cost of living and the competitive housing market. It will just come down to matter of preference.
If you prefer a cooler climate, Denmark is your country. Also, the Scandinavian culture is very inviting. What with their very formal, humble, and laid-back way of living. There’s always something going on each day. The health care here is also superb, albeit at the cost of high income tax.
And speaking of which, as mentioned, Denmark has the second highest tax rate in Europe, so that’s another huge consideration. Also, you may have to learn Danish to survive the language barrier. And most establishment closes before eight in the evening, so you will be left with an empty street after dark.
Australia, meanwhile, has English as its main language, so you won’t have difficulties communicating here. Plus, the Aussies are warm, friendly people who will have no trouble striking a conversation with you, even the random strangers. And the climate is very warm, which is the main draw among those from Europe. The lifestyle here is very active, with everybody going for a jog, a walk, or a sport to enjoy the sun.
On the downside, Australia has a very unstable weather, and if you live in small towns, there won’t be much going on, as the entertainment and activity centers are mostly in the city (on the upside, less congestions). And traveling to other countries can be a bane, as Australia is bordered by the ocean on all sides. It’s more expensive and takes longer to get around.