Good day dear reader. If you are familiar with my , then I think it will be interesting for you to listen to another story of mine. At the beginning of April 2019, I moved to the best city in the world - Sydney. Take your comfortable chair, make some warm tea and welcome under the cut, where you will find a lot of facts, comparisons and myths about Australia. Well, let's go!
Introduction
Living in Bangkok was very cool. But all good things come to an end.
I don't know what happened to me, but day by day, various little things began to catch my eye, such as the lack of sidewalks, street noise and high levels of air pollution. A very ugly thought stuck in my head - “What will I get here in 5 years?”.
After Russia, in Thailand, it's very cool to be able to go to the sea every weekend, live in warmth, eat fruit at any time of the year, and this is very relaxing. But despite a very good life, I didn't feel at home. I didn’t want to buy some interior elements for home, but the transport was bought for reasons that it would be easier to sell it, and so on. I wanted some kind of stability and the feeling that I could stay in the country for a long time, and be visa independent. Also, I really wanted the country to be English-speaking. The choice was between the USA, Canada, England and Australia - countries where you can get a residence permit.
Each of these countries has its pros and cons:
- Canada - there is an opportunity to leave for independent emigration, but the weather is a complete disaster.
- England - highly developed cultural life, but the process of obtaining a residence permit can take up to 8 years and, again, the weather.
- USA Mecca for programmers. I think the vast majority would not hesitate to move to San Francisco given the opportunity. But this is not as easy to do as it seems. A year ago I had a process H1B visa and lottery was not selected. Yes, yes, if you received an offer from a company in the USA, then it is not a fact that you will receive a visa, but you can apply once a year in March. In general, the process is quite unpredictable. But, after 3 years, you can get the coveted Green Card. Moving to the states is also possible on L1 visa, but now a law is being lobbied that it will not be possible to apply for a Green Card. I am especially afraid of obtaining tax residency in the United States.
So why consider Australia as a very good competitor for migration? Let's look at the points:
Some facts
I always thought Australia was small continent at the edge of the world, and there is a very high probability of falling off a flat disk. And really, how often in geography lessons did we look towards Australia?
Australia is 6th in area country in the world.
The comparison on the map will be very clear. I think that the distance from Smolensk to Krasnoyarsk is quite impressive
And this is the island of Tasmania, which can be compared with Estonia
Population approx. 25 million person (on average, there are 2 kangaroos for each person).
(Human Development Index) third in the world.
GDP per capita 52 373 USD.
80% of the population are immigrants in the first and second generation
Pretty good scores. But that's why then people don't want to go to Australia...
Nature and climate
Probably, this best ratio climatic conditions that I have ever experienced.
It seems that you live in Thailand and everything is fine with you. Eternal summer. +30. The sea is available. It seems where could be better? But maybe!
Australia has very clean air. Yes, my dear friend, you are beginning to really appreciate air. There is such an indicator as the Air Pollution Index. You can always compare
и . Breathe much better here.
The heat in Thailand quickly gets boring. I missed warm clothes. I really wanted to have +2-3 degrees for 12-15 months a year.
To be honest, I am very comfortable here in terms of temperature. Summer +25 (9 months), in winter +12 (3 months).
The fauna is really here amazing. Kangaroos, wombats, koalas and cute quoks - here you will meet them in their natural environment. What are only ibis (colloquially Bin Chicken)
Cockatoos, parrots and flying foxes are here instead of pigeons and crows. At first, foxes can really scare. Especially if you watch movies about vampires. Usually, these little batmen have a wingspan of 30-40 cm. But don't be afraid of them, they are very cute, and besides - vegetarians
Emigration
It seems to me that immigration to Australia is one of the most affordable in the world along with Canada. There are several ways to emigrate:
- Independent (Get PR immediately)
Australia is good because it immediately provides the opportunity to obtain a residence permit for people with in-demand professions. You can check the availability of your profession in . To obtain this visa, you must collect at least 65 points, 30 of which you get for ages 25 to 32. The rest are knowledge of English, work experience, education, etc.
I have many friends who moved just on this visa. The downsides are that the process of obtaining may take more than a year.
After receiving a visa, you will have to come to Australia and settle down in a new place. The complexity of this method is that you need to have capital for the first time.
- sponsor visa (2 or 4 years)
It is similar to other countries. You need to find an employer who will be willing to provide you with a sponsor visa (482). A visa for 2 years does not give the right to obtain a residence permit, but for 4 it does (or rather, it gives the right to be sponsored by a company, which entails another 1-2 years of work for it). Thus, you can get the coveted residence permit much faster.
The entire process of obtaining a visa will take about a month.
- Student
You can enroll in local colleges. Assume to get a Master Degree (Master). The advantage of this approach is that you will have the right to part-time employment. Also, one year after graduation, you can stay in Australia. Usually, this is enough to find a job here.
All visas require an English test. For an independent one, you need a minimum of 6 (IELTS) in all items, and for a sponsorship, only 5 (for technical professions).
Unlike America, a very big plus of Australia is that that your partner will receive a visa similar to yours with full right to work.
Work searches
How to find a job in cherished Australia? What pitfalls can be?
To begin with, it is worth considering popular resources like:
- - perhaps the main aggregator in Australia.
- - I prefer it. You can always find an approximate salary for the position, also very good anonymous reviews.
- - classics of the genre. They write me 5-8 HRs a week right here.
I moved on a dependent visa and was looking for a job locally. My experience is 9 years in mobile development. After a big company, I wanted to find something with a lamp, next to the house and to relax.
As a result, in the first 3 days I went through 3 interviews. The results were as follows:
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The interview took 25 minutes, offer (slightly above the market)
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Similarly, 25-30 minutes, offer (at market value, but after bidding similar to the first one)
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2 hour interview, style rejection “we decided to move on with the candidate who answered the questions correctly”, such failures are formulaic and don't get upset.
There are two main types of work in Australia. This general и contract. Oddly enough, but working under a contract, you can receive 40 percent more, and to be honest, I thought about moving into this direction.
If a company is looking for a contract employee for six months, and you wanted a permanent job, they will refuse you, which is logical.
I heard that people hard to find first job, because there was no experience in Australia, but if you are a good specialist, this is not a big problem. The main thing is to get hooked. Six months later, you will start writing local HR and it will be much easier.
After Russia it is very hard to accept that here Cultural fit comes firstthan your Engineering skills.
Here is a little interview story from my life that happened 2 months ago. To say that I was on fire is like saying nothing. Therefore, I will hide my tears behind the cut
The company mediates between "those who need to do something" и "who's ready to do it". The team is relatively small - 5 people for each platform.
Next, I will describe each item from the recruitment process.
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Homework. It was necessary to make a "classic" - display a list from the API. As a result, the task was completed with modularization, UI & UT tests and a bunch of architectural jokes. I was immediately invited to Face2Face for 4 hours.
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Technical During the discussion of homework, it was established that they use libraries in the project, in which I act as a maintainer (In particular ). To be honest, there were no questions at all on the technical side.
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Algorithms - there was all sorts of nonsense about polyndromes and dictionaries of polyndromes. Everything was resolved immediately and without questions, with minimal resource costs.
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cultural fit — had a very nice chat with the lead about “how and why I came to programming”
As a result, I was already waiting for an offer and thinking how to bargain. And here it is, the long-awaited call from HR:
“Unfortunately we have to refuse you. We thought you were being too aggressive in the interview."
To be honest, all my friends laugh at this when I talk about my "aggression".
So take note. In this country it is necessary, first of all, to be "good friend", and only then be able to write code. This is fucking annoying.
Australia has a progressive tax rate. Taxes will be 30-42%but trust me you will see where they go. And the remaining 70 percent to live very comfortably.
Table of tax deductions
| Taxable income | Tax on this income |
|---|---|
| $ 0 - $ 18,200 | Nil |
| $18,201–$37,000 | 19c for each $1 over $18,200 |
| $ 37,001 - $ 90,000 | $3,572 plus 32.5c for each $1 over $37,000 |
| $ 90,001 - $ 180,000 | $20,797 plus 37c for each $1 over $90,000 |
| $180,001 and over | $54,097 plus 45c for every $1 over $180,000 |
Working style
Here is the working style very different from what we are used to.. Be prepared that for the first N-years you will be wildly bombarded from many factors.
In Russia, we are used to working hard. Staying late at work until 9 pm is normal. Chat with colleagues, complete the feature to the end ... Came home, dinner, serial, shower, sleep... All in all, it is customary to live with a bias in work.
Here, everything is completely different. Working day 7.5 hours (37.5 hours per week). It is customary to come to work earlier (8-9 am). I am arriving around 9.45:XNUMX. However, after 5 pm everyone goes home. Here it is customary to spend more time with the family, which in my opinion is more correct.
It is also customary to take children with you to work. But, what is more strange is to come to the office with a dog, here in the order of things!.
Once, after work, I wrote to the designer that he was blocking me in the development of the feature, to which I received a response:
Konstantin – apologies for being the blocker on this….I would have done it last night but it was the Game of Thrones final episode and I had to weigh up priorities.
And this is normal! Damn, I really like the priority towards my personal time!
Every office will always have beer and wine in the fridge. Here, in the order of things, in the afternoon to drink beer. On Friday, after 4 pm no one works anymore. It’s customary for us to just hang out in the kitchen and talk while freshly ordered pizza. All this is very relaxing. Friday turning into Saturday is my favorite.
However, there are some very funny moments. Once, during a heavy rain, the roof of our office leaked and the water flowed straight into the TV on the wall. The TV was found to be inoperable and replaced with a new one. Guess what happened 3 months later during heavy rain?
Facepalm
Where to live
The search for housing was probably one of the biggest fears when moving. We were told that it would be necessary to collect a ton of documents confirming income, experience, credit histories and so on. In fact, none of this was required. Of the three apartments that we chose, we were approved in two. Lastly, we didn't want to go.
When looking for accommodation, be prepared that prices will during the week. Before choosing an area, I advise you to read about it, since the idea of \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbliving in the center of Sydney (Central Buisines District) is not the best idea (for me it's too noisy and crowded, but everyone chooses for themselves). Already after 2-3 stations from Central you find yourself in sleeping areas with a calm atmosphere.
Average Price for One Bedroom - 2200-2500 AUD/month. If you search without a parking space, you can find cheaper. Many of my friends rent Two Bedroom in the center, and the price can be one and a half or even two times higher. It all depends entirely on your needs. Yes, unlike Russia, One Bedroom will consist of a guest and a separate bedroom.
Most apartments rented unfurnished, but if you try, you can find a fully furnished (as we did). Viewing the apartment is always a group. A day and time are appointed, about 10-20 people come and everyone looks at the apartment. Further on the site you confirm or refuse. And already your landlord chooses to whom to rent an apartment.
The housing market can be viewed at .
Food
I think it is not surprising that in Sydney you will find food to your taste. There are so many first and second generation immigrants here. I work in the city of Alexandria and there are two Thai cafes near my office, as well as about four Chinese and Japanese ones. And the most interesting thing is that immigrants from these countries work in all these cafes, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of food.
My wife and I have a small tradition - on weekends to ride . Here you will always find the freshest oysters (large 12 pieces - about 21 AUD) and delicious salmon about 15 AUD per 250 grams. And most importantly, you can immediately buy champagne or wine for an aperitif.
For me, one thing is not clear in the Australians. Here everyone cares about healthy eating, so that the bread is gluten-free and organic, however, for lunch at the office, everyone likes to sharpen tacos or burgers. Very popular set fish'n'chips, you will meet him almost anywhere in the fastuda. About the "healthy" of this set, I think everything is clear - "batter in batter".
australian steaks Many people consider local meat to be the tastiest in the world. good steak will cost about 25-50 USD in a restaurant. In the store, you can buy for 10-15 and cook at home or in the park on the grill (which are free).
If you are a cheese or sausage lover, this is heaven for you. Perhaps, I saw a similar choice of different groceries only in Europe. The prices are very loyal, for a Brie briquette of 200 grams you will pay about 5 AUD.
Transport
Have your own transport in Sydney - it's more need. All entertainment such as beaches, campsites, national parks - exclusively by car. The average fare for a bus or metro is 3 AUD. And most importantly, it is a waste of time waiting. Taxi is very expensive – an average trip of 15 minutes will cost about 25 AUD.
Vehicle prices are surprisingly low here.. We often go snowboarding and wakeboarding, and therefore we simply need to have a car with a trunk on top. In our opinion, the ideal solution was RAV4 2002. This is one of the best value for money purchases I've ever made. Attention 4500 AUD! At first we were looking for a catch, but after 6000 km we somehow calmed down. The most important thing is that the cars here are in very good condition, despite the mileage.
However, we also use motorcycles. The main plus is free parking everywhere! But it is worth observing the temporary regime, otherwise there is a risk of getting a fine of approximately 160 AUD.
There are three types of vehicle insurance:
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Mandatory done once a year and covers only physiological damage
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If you want to cover the damage to the vehicle, then you need to pay for additional insurance, about $300-400.
Just the other day, a colleague of mine was telling scary stories about a friend of his who caught up with a Ferrari. He didn't have insurance and he pays 95.000 AUD owner. Also, this insurance covers the evacuation and replacement car, otherwise, you will pay out of pocket.
- The third type is similar to Casco (damage is covered to your vehicle regardless)
It seems to me very funny that with full rights you can drink 1-2 bottles of beer and drive, however, the fines for exceeding here are simply cosmic
Before you click on it, it's better to sit down and prepare ammonia (or Corvalol)
| Exceeded speed limit by | Demerit Points | Typical Fine | Max. Fine if proud by Court | License Disqualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not more than 10 km/h | 1 | 119 | 2200 | |
| More than 10 km/h but not more than 20 km/h | 3 | 275 | 2200 | |
| More than 20 km/h but not more than 30 km/h | 4 | 472 | 2200 | |
| More than 30 km/h but not more than 45 km/h | 5 | 903 | 2200 | 3 months (minimum) |
| More than 45 km/h | 6 | 2435 | 2,530 (3,740 for heavy vehicles) | 6 months (minimum) |
That's exactly how it is my dear racer. The next time you drive 100 + 20 km/h on the highway, remember this. In Australia, speeding starts at 1km/h! In the city, the average speed limit is 50 km/h. That is, you will be fined starting from 51 km/h!
Same for 3 years you are given 13 Demerit Points. When they end, for whatever reason, your license is suspended for 3 months. Then there are 13 of them again! Seems like a very strange system to me.
Metro and suburban transport are integrated here. Roughly speaking, in the center you take the subway and the train travels 70 km from Sydney. And each metro station has 4-5 platforms. To be honest, I still make mistakes and go somewhere wrong.
To save time and money, we bought electric scooters. Xiaomi m365 and Segway Ninebot. It is very convenient to move around the city on them. Sidewalks without joints, straight, are made for scooters. One big minus - so far, it's illegal, but already in some areas they are testing the law so that you can ride. But in fact, many people ignore the law, and the police themselves understand that this is nonsense.
Entertainment
I really like that here you can find almost anything for your leisure time. I will tell you about what I managed to try during the six months of my stay in this wonderful country.
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Perhaps the first thing we tried the local Wakeboadring в . We already had our equipment after Thailand, so we only had to pay for the subscription. From May to October is the winter season, and subscription price for this time is 99 AUD! To be honest, it's quite warm to ride until you fall into the water. Well, nothing, tempering is always useful. Also, to avoid thermal baths, you can always buy a wetsuit (250 USD).
Our video
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With the onset of winter, it would be a sin not to go to roll on Snowboard. After two years in Thailand, seeing snow was like a fairy tale. Pleasure, of course, is expensive - about 160 AUD for a day of skating rinks, plus 150 AUD for a day of accommodation. As a result, the average weekend trip for two is about 1500 AUD. The journey by car takes about 6 hours. If you leave on Friday at 4 pm, then we usually get there around 10.
Our video
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Just two weeks ago we discovered Camping . Here you can immediately see where the taxes go! In Australia, camping or camping is very common. And through always possible to find a place. Most of these places Free and with a 95% chance you will have a barbecue and a clean toilet.
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A month ago, we were celebrating my wife's birthday and decided to eat out in Melbourne. However, we are not looking for easy ways, and decided to ride a motorcycle. So, for motorcycle tourism there are endless horizons!
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Of course, Australia is a paradise for Surfing
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Lots of national parks, in which it is pleasant to take a walk on the weekend
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The most beautiful beaches in the city, which were sorely lacking in Bangkok (you still need to go at least to Pattaya)
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As funny as it sounds, I started brewing beer. It's very funny to arrange gatherings at your place and invite your friends to try your beer.
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Whale watching - you can go by boat to the open ocean and watch the whales migrate.
Our video
Destruction of myths
Everything in Australia is trying to kill you
This is probably the most popular misconception..
In the last six months I have seen a lot of articles about the deadly creatures from Australia. . How I love the title of this post! It seems to me that after its opening, you should no longer have any desire to go here. Huge spiders, snakes, deadly box jellyfish and even hail with spikes! What idiot would come here to seek death?
But let's face the facts
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If my memory serves me, Since 1982, no one has died from the bite of a poisonous spider.. Even the bite of the same is not fatal (perhaps for children). Recently, a friend of mine was wearing a hoodie and got bitten by this individual. Said that “the arm hurt and was taken away for three hours, and then it passed”
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Not every spider is poisonous. One of the most common is . And he is not dangerous. Although this baby can reach 40cm.
One day, I came home and started pouring a bath. I took a glass of wine, climbed into the warm water ... I close the curtain, and there is our little friend. Bricks that day laid so much that would be enough for the first installment on the mortgage. (actually just let the spider out the window, I'm not really afraid of them)
Box jellyfish - who does not know, this is a super small jellyfish that can kill you in 2 minutes. Here, as they say, no chance. According to statistics, approximately 1 person per year.
A more dangerous situation animals on the road. If you want to be sure to see kangaroos, then just drive 150 km from Sydney. Every 2-3 km (sometimes more often) you will see downed animals. This fact is quite frightening, since a kangaroo can easily break through the windshield of your car.
The ozone hole. Many people think of Australia as something like this
Somehow
It seems to me that everywhere 30 parallel, the sun will no longer be your friend. Fresh ocean wind exacerbates the problem. You just don't feel like the sun is slowly warming you up. In Thailand, the sun is very intense, but there is less wind, so you feel the heat, which is not the case here.
Conclusion
Well, where we do not
In any case, the choice of residence is a highly individual preference.. Some of my friends, after a year of living here, made the decision to return back to Russia. Someone doesn't like the mentality, someone doesn't have enough salary, and someone just seems bored here because all the friends are on the other side. (literally) end of the world. But, they had this wonderful experience, and now returning, they know what awaits them in this distant country.
For us, Australia has become a home for the coming years. AND if you will be passing through Sydney - do not hesitate to write to me. I will tell you what to visit and where to go. Well, if you already live here - I'm always happy to drink one other glass of beer in some local bar. I can always write to or .
I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts and stories about this country. After all, again, The main goal is to inspire! It is always difficult to decide to step out of your comfort zone, but trust me, my dear reader - in any case You will not lose anythingBecause Earth is round. You can always start your tractor and drive in the opposite direction, and the experience and impressions will always remain with us.
Source: habr.com