G’day Ginge, I to came out here to North America. I have been here for 11 years living in Arizona. I haven’t seen all the states but I have seen all the west states. My favorite place for a Burger was in Montana at a place called Bubba’s BBQ. The staff were very friendly and the restaurant was very clean. I also was no spring chicken when I came to the USA, I was 37. I have only been back home twice in the past 11 years to take the family to meet their extended family in Australia. I have a wonderful son to my ex-wife and a step son & daughter with my current wife. My wife wants to move to Australia because she felt so welcome amongst all my old school friends and family. But before I left Australia I was a Jack of all Trades but a Master of None. The past 7 years I have been working in the security industry and would love to find the same kind of work back home. The wages for a security officer here in the US are not the best, most start at $10 per hour. Not enough to support a family of 4. I have been reading different online sites where you can earn 2-3 times that for the right company in Australia. The part about the Superannuation gets me, don’t get me wrong I am all about getting your true worth. If people on work/holiday visa’s can collect thier Super when they leave the country, why can’t Australians collect thier Social Security when they move back home when they leave? It all has to do with the difference in Government Legislation. I told so many people when I first moved to the USA that they could make so much more in Australia doing the same kind of work. So like everyone has read in Ginge’s & Louie’s articles, if you are young enough, get on a plane and go to Australia, stop making excuses. Save what you need and come home with a little nest egg to at least start your retirement. Trust me, unless you are making the big bucks here in the USA, you can kiss your retirement plans goodbye. To all the wonderful friends and family I have here in the USA, thank you for being there when I needed someone to turn to as all my family is back home in Australia. Thank you all for letting me express my opinion, as that is just what it is My Opinion. I will leave you with some words someone told me many years ago:- Life is what you make of it, if you don’t take the chance don’t complain. Your future is there for the taking, God gave you 2 feet you have to choose to take the steps!
True Blue Thru & Thru, E C aussiemate64
I know that reading through so many post’s on here that everyone has certain points of interest that all play an integral part of making a decision to make this move. 2 years ago I was making a little over $45k a year until I was let go under Voluntary Termination. Like I would voluntarily quit while I am being treated under Workman’s Compensation!! Anyway, it seems that at least 90% of bloggers agree that this would be perfect for a single person who has no ties? When I left Australia in 2001 for the USA, I had no degrees, I hadn’t even completed school. When I was 14, my parents wrote a letter to the Education Department to have me exempt from school. I was 1 of 8 boys and both my parents were out of work. I helped my father do whatever we had to to bring home an income. This sometimes meant collecting bottles, cans and all kinds of scrap metals. So after meeting a girl from America, I decided that I have to do what I feel is right for me, so I came to Arizona to be with her. Leaving everything I knew back home in Australia, family and belongings. My parents in law suggested I get my GED, which I went for the test 2 weeks after they suggested without studying and passed with an 84%. I am not on here to diss on anyone or say that anyone is wrong but coming from my background I personally know that you sometimes have to chase your dreams. Otherwise that’s all they will ever be, Dreams. In 2010, I went from a job where I was earning $18.80 per hour to Unemployment Insurance for 3 months ($1100 total) and when I did finally find work, I was back at $10 per hour. Drastic change, but my current wife and I made it work for us. All this after we bought a nice house to boot. Would I like to find something better, yes. Do I have time or the funds to go back to school to earn a degree to pursue a better job, No. So I say to anyone who has No Ties and would like to visit Australia or any other Country take a leap and go. America will still be standing here waiting when you get back. It is much harder to uproot your whole family and move. Good luck to you all and may you always be happy with the choices you make. Aussiemate64.