Moved to Australia but thinking of returning home after 2 months

LegacyUser

like many people my age, i went to australia on a 1 year visa in the hope of having a great time, saving some money and trying out different jobs in the process. ive been here for only 6 weeks and already im planning for my departure in 2 or 3 weeks time. i dont know if im being stupid or not.

its not that i hate the country or anything, but ive found that its more the travelling aspect of being away from home that i enjoy as opposed to working in countries. i adore travelling. but staying in the one place, trying to save money for another adventure, its basically like home but with better weather. and worse jobs. For example, I've been doing farm work which is not only a very physically demanding job, but the farmer i work for talks to me like im useless. he caught me sitting down to take some water last week and because of this he made me end my shift two hours early because "i must be tired". he was teaching me yesterday how to use my hand as a valve to draw water into a kind of black plastic pipe for watering the crops and at first i couldnt get the hang of it so he got all serious and told me i wasnt very co-ordinated and if i couldnt do it then im a bad worker.

Its hardly the worst treatment in the world, but i kinda feel as if it is unneccesary to have people lower my self-esteem even further - all in the hope of saving a bit of money to travel around here more. I came here as an anxious individual pretty low on confidence as it was. in some respects im less anxious and more self-assured but self-confidence will always take a bit of a beating when you're talked to like that.

I guess I have learned some great lessons in the 6 weeks here already. The value of a hard days work is one, how my office job back in Ireland isn't that bad of a lifestyle in the grand scheme of things, how to take care of myself properly (I was a bit of a mothers boy before I left and tended to not do washing or cleaning my dishes). I was socially anxious to the point of hiding in my room every day before I left, this has lessened somewhat. Basically I feel a bit more mature and independant. I just don't know if im being hasty in my decision to leave.

I have about €4000 in the bank and was thinking of using this to take a 10 week trip around Asia. After this my money will be gone and ill be back home looking for a job. As i mentioned before ive learned some lessons here but i feel Australia has a lot more to offer. id say id be the only person ever to come here for a year and intentionally leave after 2 months. just looking for advice as im in a bit of a pickle over this. if i stay here and move city and it doesnt work out, ill most likely not be able to take my trip around Asia. its a tough choice and i think outside perspective will help

R.D. aka MR.D

Hi OP,

I've lived in 4 different countries (currently working in Japan). You've learned a very valuable lesson- working in another country is definitely not like a holiday!!

First of all, the farming. Do you have a background in farming? You mention an office job. Why did you choose farming over an easier job. My family are farmers and it's not easy work.If you're not able for it, then you're not able for it. Would changing jobs not improve things for you?

Why did you decide to go to Australia in the first place? What will have changed after your trip to Asia and you're back in Ireland?

Personally, I wouldn't spend every penny on a trip especially if you're going to be out of work when you get back.

Nobody on here can tell you for definite if you should stay or go. That's your choice.

The Dark Side

Sounds like you need to toughen up and not run away when things get a bit difficult.
The job you're doing now may not be the most glamorous but it will build character. You have a wonderful opportunity to see some of the other side of the world. Don't waste that just because the job you're working in is a bit tough - it's not like you have to do it for the rest of your life.


I worked in Oz for a year and did some pretty awful jobs while there, but you meet interesting people and get to see some amazing places.

Stick it out, you'll likely regret it in a few years if you don't. Ireland will still be here in a year's time.

Rubberchikken

you definitely won't be the first person to go there and return early. my niece did and she was none the worse off for it. chalked it up to life.

take your time making your decision. if you decide to travel and then return home that's fine.
best of luck with whatever you decide.

LegacyUser

unsureemm89 wrote: »

I'd say id be the only person ever to come here for a year and intentionally leave after 2 months.

Nope lots of people come back early. My cousin came back after 6 weeks as he was homesick and really hated the climate and lifestyle in Australia, it's not for everyone.

HelgaWard

Hi,
I traveled to Oz a good few years ago, really enjoyed spending 3 months traveling through SE Asia to get there, then landed in Sydney with the plan of living and working there for 6 months. Got a great job in the same area I work in at home, loved the work, but absolutely no interaction or friendship between staff in the office. Found it to be pretty much the same as living & working in Dublin which is not what I wanted to spend my year away doing. So packed in the job in Sydney and spent 6 weeks working in a surf camp, did not get paid, just got bed and board and free surf lessons and use of equipment in return for cooking food for people attending camps. It was great fun and a great experience. There are lots of jobs like this available in Oz, mostly in the main tourist spots. Might be something you could consider?

Just in regards to the farmer you are working for an his abrupt manner, you have to remember that Australians have a completely different culture than ourselves, how they communicate and what is acceptable to say is poles apart from how we communicate here. Try not to take his criticism to heart, I think in Ireland we are often very 'nice' and polite and try not to say things to hurt others peoples feelings, which means we are often not too good at receiving criticism in a frank manner, as we so seldom hear it. Just try and not take it too personally.
Best of luck with what you decide, a 10 week trip around Asia sounds amazing, would love to do it all again!!

Gongoozler

OP there is no obligation to do farm work, unless you plan to get a 2nd whv. Since you have office experience, why not look for temping? That's what I'll be doing when I go. You could do a few weeks and then take a few weeks off to do some travelling, seeing some places.

Or you could go on to Asia and have some time there. Or yeah you could go home. Seems a shame to throw away the opportunity while you have it though. But of course you have no one else to please but yourself so if coming home is what you really want then do that. I would suggest giving it a little more time there though just to give it a chance. Albeit with a different job.

Electric Sheep

I think you should stick it out. You sound very immature (being surprised that working in another country is not like being on holiday there :rolleyes:), and you could learn a lot from having to face things like an adult, rather than spending all your money travelling then going home to live off your parents.

OneOfThem

You need to relax and take a deep breath. Cancelling your entire Australia trip because you have had one job you don't like is insane.

Flippyfloppy

HelgaWard wrote: »

Hi,
I traveled to Oz a good few years ago, really enjoyed spending 3 months traveling through SE Asia to get there, then landed in Sydney with the plan of living and working there for 6 months. Got a great job in the same area I work in at home, loved the work, but absolutely no interaction or friendship between staff in the office. Found it to be pretty much the same as living & working in Dublin which is not what I wanted to spend my year away doing. So packed in the job in Sydney and spent 6 weeks working in a surf camp, did not get paid, just got bed and board and free surf lessons and use of equipment in return for cooking food for people attending camps. It was great fun and a great experience. There are lots of jobs like this available in Oz, mostly in the main tourist spots. Might be something you could consider?

Just in regards to the farmer you are working for an his abrupt manner, you have to remember that Australians have a completely different culture than ourselves, how they communicate and what is acceptable to say is poles apart from how we communicate here. Try not to take his criticism to heart, I think in Ireland we are often very 'nice' and polite and try not to say things to hurt others peoples feelings, which means we are often not too good at receiving criticism in a frank manner, as we so seldom hear it. Just try and not take it too personally.
Best of luck with what you decide, a 10 week trip around Asia sounds amazing, would love to do it all again!!

With regards to the farmers manner I'd imagine there'd be plenty of farmers in Ireland with the same attitude.

freshpopcorn

The whole travelling and working abroad is for some people and not for others. I've heard of people returning early because it was just not for them and they don't regret it. Others love every minute of it.
I say pick a date and say you'll give it a try until then and try new things in your location and if your still feeling miserable and want to come home then do it without any shame.

nc19

HelgaWard wrote:

Just in regards to the farmer you are working for an his abrupt manner, you have to remember that Australians have a completely different culture than ourselves, how they communicate and what is acceptable to say is poles apart from how we communicate here......

I disagree. I found them to be honest yet frank for the most part. None of this beating around the bush crapp I hate. I find most irish are like this too. No bullshít