Returning Expat Culture Shock......

[tuky]

Where do they charge rent by the week?

And why?

In NYC they charge rent by the day

For flop houses.

In Beijing, HK by the month, and your Sydney rents look cheap comparatively.

Decent flats in HK only 1/3rd the way up the peak have been going for USD10,000 and more for decades.

And those are cheap for HK.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's a-happening.

Tokyo for 40 years has been sky high.

Average rents have finally hit Sydney it seems.

And downsiders are bailing downunder.

Australia does most things by the week.

The norm is to be paid weekly, rent prices are quoted weekly etc etc

Although I get paid fortnightly and pay my rent fortnightly too.

[Time Traveller]

I am stuck in the rut at the moment YooYung, only my rent is $1,100 per week for a 3 bed 2 bath apartment in the city.

I had to take this apartment because I had no rental history, I had no power bill history, I had no telephone bill history so no proporty managers were interested in me.

I had to go to my employers and ask them to help, so they set me up with a corporate mob who rent to expats (the rent is covered by the company for expats, unfortunately I was blessed with an Australian passport so not classed as an expat, hence I foot the rent bill myself urgh).

To get the phone and internet connected I had to sign a 2 year contract, even though my employment contract is only for 12 months. I had no option, so that means when I leave I will have to pay the final 12 months out.

To get Foxtel I had to sign a 2 year contract, even though my employment contract is only for 12 months. I had no option, so that means when I leave I will have to pay the final 12 months out.

Having tried arguing my case that I will only be here 12 months both Optus and Foxtel said there is nothing they can do, the only option is to sign up for 24 months. Urgh.

Atleast I can use my Indonesian BlackBerry with an Optus pre-paid sim card.

So what's the problem?

The reason the rent is high is because more people want to live there then there are places to rent. Probably people want to live there because of the jobs and higher wages. So either you choose to live there and pay the high prices, or you choose not to pay the high prices and live somewhere else.

It's an easy choice. Last time I went there Australia was not North Korean, you can still leave that country it if you don't like it. And frankly you sound like you'll be a lot happier by leaving it and I don't think you'll be missed either.

Edited July 15, 2013 by Time Traveller

[tuky]

I am stuck in the rut at the moment YooYung, only my rent is $1,100 per week for a 3 bed 2 bath apartment in the city.

I had to take this apartment because I had no rental history, I had no power bill history, I had no telephone bill history so no proporty managers were interested in me.

I had to go to my employers and ask them to help, so they set me up with a corporate mob who rent to expats (the rent is covered by the company for expats, unfortunately I was blessed with an Australian passport so not classed as an expat, hence I foot the rent bill myself urgh).

To get the phone and internet connected I had to sign a 2 year contract, even though my employment contract is only for 12 months. I had no option, so that means when I leave I will have to pay the final 12 months out.

To get Foxtel I had to sign a 2 year contract, even though my employment contract is only for 12 months. I had no option, so that means when I leave I will have to pay the final 12 months out.

Having tried arguing my case that I will only be here 12 months both Optus and Foxtel said there is nothing they can do, the only option is to sign up for 24 months. Urgh.

Atleast I can use my Indonesian BlackBerry with an Optus pre-paid sim card.

So what's the problem?

The reason the rent is high is because more people want to live there then there are places to rent. Probably people want to live there because of the jobs and higher wages. So either you choose to live there and pay the high prices, or you choose not to pay the high prices and live somewhere else.

It's an easy choice. Last time I went there Australia was not North Korean, you can still leave that country it if you don't like it. And frankly you sound like you'll be a lot happier by leaving it and I don't think you'll be missed either.

Whatever.

edited, sorry TT I shouldn't be so abrupt. I came back to Aust. as my Father was dying, he has passed now but I had committed to a project and we are just a few months away from this phase' completion and phase 2 starting in Korea.

Edited July 15, 2013 by tuky

[GuestHouse]

I love this moaning about the comparative cost of renting a place in Thailand v renting a place back in the old country.

Of course renting makes sense in a place where the law forbids you owing your own house - but if you are renting anywhere you have no long term security.

[theblether]

I love this moaning about the comparative cost of renting a place in Thailand v renting a place back in the old country.

Of course renting makes sense in a place where the law forbids you owing your own house - but if you are renting anywhere you have no long term security.

Property security is over rated, we Brits that think that property ownership is the be all and end all.

I know guys that are trapped here as they can't sell. The ability to get up and go cannot be under rated, and rental is so cheap here it's laughable. Four bedroom villas with private pools for £600 a month, marvellous.

[GuestHouse]

Property security is over rated, we Brits that think that property ownership is the be all and end all.

I know guys that are trapped here as they can't sell. The ability to get up and go cannot be under rated, and rental is so cheap here it's laughable. Four bedroom villas with private pools for £600 a month, marvellous.

While 'residence status security' is under rated.

If anyone thinks the rents back home are a barrier to living there then they have the answer to the question - 'Have you burned your bridges?'.

[theblether]

The biggest culture shock I remember out-with the one I mentioned earlier ( customer service ), was losing the sense of value of money in the UK. I remember continually asking my pals what was a good wage in the UK for years after I came back, I couldn't get my head round it.

I'd been supported by my company for the first year overseas then elected to take an enhanced pay deal in exchange for dropping the support. That enhanced pay deal resulted in me having to sign up for a three year contract ( Golden Handcuffs ) to get a bonus at the end. The bonus was too big to walk away from, and that caused ructions in my personal life as my wife had relocated to Scotland with my daughter and new born son.

Going with my previous post, I know it feels to be trapped in a foreign country, not good, not good at all.

As for the value of money, to this day I still haven't got my head round it. I missed five years of British cultural immersion and you never get it back. On the other hand I got five years of cultural immersion in Germany and with the US forces, and I loved that.

You win some, you lose some. Human nature though is to feel the losses more.

[theblether]

Property security is over rated, we Brits that think that property ownership is the be all and end all.

I know guys that are trapped here as they can't sell. The ability to get up and go cannot be under rated, and rental is so cheap here it's laughable. Four bedroom villas with private pools for £600 a month, marvellous.

While 'residence status security' is under rated.

If anyone thinks the rents back home are a barrier to living there then they have the answer to the question - 'Have you burned your bridges?'.

Fair comment, I think you know my opinion on " burning your bridges ". It's a very high risk strategy.

[cpofc]

Went downtown a couple of weeks ago to hook up with a few old mates up from OZ. They asked me how long since I had been back. Then they warned me about going back. They reckon I am not going to like what I find,

They told me I won't be able to handle the 'culture shock'.

As for burning bridges? The way things are going in Oz right now, let's just say they are in a pretty bad state of repair.

[GuestHouse]

Went downtown a couple of weeks ago to hook up with a few old mates up from OZ. They asked me how long since I had been back. Then they warned me about going back. They reckon I am not going to like what I find,

They told me I won't be able to handle the 'culture shock'.

As for burning bridges? The way things are going in Oz right now, let's just say they are in a pretty bad state of repair.

Its all part of human psychology - Moving jobs, moving house, emigrating - switching allegiance.

The psychological trick of telling ourselves that what we have left has no value, was something we are well rid of is a prop to help us accept the consequences of our decision to move.

[theblether]

Many people go through a period where they demonize the Old Country as they must convince themselves they have made the right decision. We see a lot of that on Thaivisa, too many people here cannot stand the idea that people are getting along fine in the UK, it doesn't suit there thought process.

I wonder if there's ever been a psychological study done on this subject.

[PaullyW]

Here's what I don't always get about us expats and western immigrants.

The same countries that we so strongly criticize and lament are the same western countries that afforded us so much of what we take for granted.

The fact that people can put down Oz, for example, so strongly and proclaim how much more they prefer to live in a place Thailand is a bit unfair. Most of us hit the birth lottery if you will by being born in Western countries. All the nanny state protections and foreign policy and economics and laws/regulations and ect are the very things that contributed to our relatively wealthy position in the world as compared to most Thais.

How would our lives have been if we were born to an average family in Thailand perhaps matching to some degree many of our average families back in the West?

I agree there is much wrong with many of the countries comprising the west, but I think we should remember how relatively lucky we truly are and let that fact temper our opinions about how bad the West is.

[GuestHouse]

Here's what I don't always get about us expats and western immigrants.

The same countries that we so strongly criticize and lament are the same western countries that afforded us so much of what we take for granted.

The fact that people can put down Oz, for example, so strongly and proclaim how much more they prefer to live in a place Thailand is a bit unfair. Most of us hit the birth lottery if you will by being born in Western countries. All the nanny state protections and foreign policy and economics and laws/regulations and ect are the very things that contributed to our relatively wealthy position in the world as compared to most Thais.

How would our lives have been if we were born to an average family in Thailand perhaps matching to some degree many of our average families back in the West?

I agree there is much wrong with many of the countries comprising the west, but I think we should remember how relatively lucky we truly are and let that fact temper our opinions about how bad the West is.

Great post Pauly

[cpofc]

you have misunderstood my post. It was not I 'putting down' my native land. I still love my country and always will. My friends, who live in Australia and are not Ex Pats, they were the ones doing that.

Was it just a matter of the grass being greener? I guess I will find that out for myself when I go back for a visit.

[cpofc]

apologies

Edited July 15, 2013 by cpofc

[jocko]

It's possibly a glib thing to say but once you leave home to do a stint as an expat then you are never the same again. You look at the World through new eyes. I highly recommend it to any young person that has the chance.

Absolutely!

And, best to head first for ShangHai, DongGuan, ShangHai, BeiJing, and Dalian, to see how a very important 20% of the world lives and thinks.

Doing this will absolutely change you for the better in many ways.

I did it when I was young.

I do not regret a moment of any day I spent in China or in Asia.

I used to look at the world through RoundEyes.

Now I look at the world through new eyes, which I think (and am sure) are less round.

Time to break out the chopsticks and dig in.

No doubt about it when i was in my apprenticeship in Scotland the company had work all over the world so you would meet the tradesmen coming and going and listen to there traveling experiences and i thought that sounds great and when i finished my time i was of and never regretted one minute of it, i never worked in a factory in my life after that some of my mates joined the merchant navy or army and stayed in for years people used to say they have got itchy feet, i think if you want to take that path as you say opens your eyes there was never much shock for me returning home from long trips apart from the fact that when you went down the pub everybody was still sitting in the same seats its as if you had never been away.

The world is your oyster if you want to give it ago.

[cpofc]

and again

Edited July 15, 2013 by cpofc

[GuestHouse]

The biggest cultural shock I'm having back in the UK is having to fill my own car with fuel and having to pay for my beer when its served in the local pub.

But its not all bad news.

The bar maid, staff not owner, is not earning less in a day than I habitually spend on lunch and I had the pleasure of listening to her telling me with pride that her son has just got into med school.

No invite to play some dumb bar game and the only 'business' going on was serving me some superb real ale.

[OldChinaHam]

Where do they charge rent by the week?

And why?

In NYC they charge rent by the day

For flop houses.

In Beijing, HK by the month, and your Sydney rents look cheap comparatively.

Decent flats in HK only 1/3rd the way up the peak have been going for USD10,000 and more for decades.

And those are cheap for HK.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's a-happening.

Tokyo for 40 years has been sky high.

Average rents have finally hit Sydney it seems.

And downsiders are bailing downunder.

Australia does most things by the week.

The norm is to be paid weekly, rent prices are quoted weekly etc etc

Although I get paid fortnightly and pay my rent fortnightly too.

You know what most researches say about that, right?

They say, those that cannot or are not able to delay rewards are the less skilled labor, the ones who lack education such as migrant worker fruit pickers and other day laborers who get paid by the day.

Then you have different strata which gets paid by the week, the month, twice annually, and annually. They say that it is those who are able to consistently delay rewards who are most successful in life.

This proves to be true.

We all know it.

So it is a real "culture shock" for me to learn that the OZ system works as you say.

This is the first I have heard and I know of no other developed country that does things this way.

Do the head of state in OZ also get paid weekly or twice monthly?

Very strange indeed.

Thanks for the info, this is one interesting fact I learned today about a different culture.

[InsideOut]

Never had any big issues when I came here, and never have any big issues when I go back home (North of Europe)

No big difference, really. Well, it is a difference, but I would not call it a shock. That is indeed a very strong word that I do not feel is an accurate description.

[hellodolly]

I worked many years in Investment Banking in London and then returned to the nanny state of Australia and yes it was a shock. Working in the same industry in Sydney with the weird sydney people and their uptight personalities drove me insane. Most of them acted like they had a carrot up their bum and some of them held their noses so high that they would nearly drown in a rain storm. Needless to say I did not last long and decided to move to LOS to be amongst more normal farang....

I never heard this about Australia, can you develop ?

Aren't they the coolest in the world ? :-)

Most of the ones I know are arrogant. Also close minded

[Dancealot]

Most of the ones I know are arrogant. Also close minded

I this the reason why they also don't greet you when they accidentally meet you in a shopping mall or on the street?

[tuky]

Where do they charge rent by the week?

And why?

In NYC they charge rent by the day

For flop houses.

In Beijing, HK by the month, and your Sydney rents look cheap comparatively.

Decent flats in HK only 1/3rd the way up the peak have been going for USD10,000 and more for decades.

And those are cheap for HK.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's a-happening.

Tokyo for 40 years has been sky high.

Average rents have finally hit Sydney it seems.

And downsiders are bailing downunder.

Australia does most things by the week.

The norm is to be paid weekly, rent prices are quoted weekly etc etc

Although I get paid fortnightly and pay my rent fortnightly too.

You know what most researches say about that, right?

They say, those that cannot or are not able to delay rewards are the less skilled labor, the ones who lack education such as migrant worker fruit pickers and other day laborers who get paid by the day.

Then you have different strata which gets paid by the week, the month, twice annually, and annually. They say that it is those who are able to consistently delay rewards who are most successful in life.

This proves to be true.

We all know it.

So it is a real "culture shock" for me to learn that the OZ system works as you say.

This is the first I have heard and I know of no other developed country that does things this way.

Do the head of state in OZ also get paid weekly or twice monthly?

Very strange indeed.

Thanks for the info, this is one interesting fact I learned today about a different culture.

The Australian Head of State is the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Not sure if she gets paid for being Queen.

Yes, you are right, Australians cannot delay reward and are highly unskilled and lack education.

If asked the majority of Australians would choose to be paid by the day, like the average hooker is paid by the hour.

One day, if evolution continues, Australians might go to school and gain an education, up their skill levels to the point where they don't need to be paid at all. I assume not requiring any reward is the pinnacle of civilisation?

I is a brain

[CBR250]

Yep, per week. Mine is $4,400 per month.

Putting aside middleclass welfare payments, that would be more than the average net income for most Australians

Tell me about it mate. Really hurts the hip pocket. You should see how much tax I have paid in the last 12 months. Hard to feel good about living in Australia.

I wouldn't mind the taxes so much if most of it wasn't being spent on things with which I fervently disagree. Like subsidies/gifts for mates/ generous contributors of the political parties (think ethanol, tollways). Consultancies for more mates. Misplaced welfare payments. Money for tame NGOs that will push the government lines. Massive perks (superannuation, study trips) for pollies who spent their political careers doing only what the party whips told them to. Bloated bureaucracies. More and more police to harass the small stuff and ignore the big stuff. OK - enough griping, my BP is starting to rise - and the low BP is one reason why I enjoy living here so much.

[StreetCowboy]

 

Yep, per week. Mine is $4,400 per month.

Putting aside middleclass welfare payments, that would be more than the average net income for most Australians

Tell me about it mate. Really hurts the hip pocket. You should see how much tax I have paid in the last 12 months. Hard to feel good about living in Australia.

I wouldn't mind the taxes so much if most of it wasn't being spent on things with which I fervently disagree. Like subsidies/gifts for mates/ generous contributors of the political parties (think ethanol, tollways). Consultancies for more mates. Misplaced welfare payments. Money for tame NGOs that will push the government lines. Massive perks (superannuation, study trips) for pollies who spent their political careers doing only what the party whips told them to. Bloated bureaucracies. More and more police to harass the small stuff and ignore the big stuff. OK - enough griping, my BP is starting to rise - and the low BP is one reason why I enjoy living here so much.

Personally, I don't see why you elected them.

I know, we can all deny responsibility and say it was someone else that did it, but sometimes in society we have to shoulder collective responsibility.

I suppose after a long time being an outsider, it's difficult for returning expats to feel part of the society that has brought them up, especially when they are asked to make significant contributions by way of tax.

SC

[OldChinaHam]

Where do they charge rent by the week?

And why?

In NYC they charge rent by the day

For flop houses.

In Beijing, HK by the month, and your Sydney rents look cheap comparatively.

Decent flats in HK only 1/3rd the way up the peak have been going for USD10,000 and more for decades.

And those are cheap for HK.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's a-happening.

Tokyo for 40 years has been sky high.

Average rents have finally hit Sydney it seems.

And downsiders are bailing downunder.

Australia does most things by the week.

The norm is to be paid weekly, rent prices are quoted weekly etc etc

Although I get paid fortnightly and pay my rent fortnightly too.

You know what most researches say about that, right?

They say, those that cannot or are not able to delay rewards are the less skilled labor, the ones who lack education such as migrant worker fruit pickers and other day laborers who get paid by the day.

Then you have different strata which gets paid by the week, the month, twice annually, and annually. They say that it is those who are able to consistently delay rewards who are most successful in life.

This proves to be true.

We all know it.

So it is a real "culture shock" for me to learn that the OZ system works as you say.

This is the first I have heard and I know of no other developed country that does things this way.

Do the head of state in OZ also get paid weekly or twice monthly?

Very strange indeed.

Thanks for the info, this is one interesting fact I learned today about a different culture.

The Australian Head of State is the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Not sure if she gets paid for being Queen.

Yes, you are right, Australians cannot delay reward and are highly unskilled and lack education.

If asked the majority of Australians would choose to be paid by the day, like the average hooker is paid by the hour.

One day, if evolution continues, Australians might go to school and gain an education, up their skill levels to the point where they don't need to be paid at all. I assume not requiring any reward is the pinnacle of civilisation?

I is a brain

Sorry about the Head of State comment I made.

Maybe you need a revolution?

Didn't do much for America, I agree.

But you guys could do it right this time.

When you no longer require reward,

Then you will truly be past your prime,

Like Ms Jean Brody.

Someday soon, if you no longer require reward and remuneration,

Maybe you all can then begin living like Lords

As they used to do

In Britain, when they had lands.

That is where I would be,

If I had my choice,

And enough land.

(More probably Ireland, though.)

Edited July 17, 2013 by OldChinaHam

[StreetCowboy]

Feudalism encouraged inefficiency and corruption

I am glad that we are past that, in my country, though it is not so important to me that I would live there.

Unlike Thais, the greatest gifts that my country has given me are not countryside, climate, or kinsfolk,, but independence, wit, education, freedom and an insatiable thirst. Some people might argue that they are not all gifts to be grateful for,...

[OldChinaHam]

Feudalism encouraged inefficiency and corruption

I am glad that we are past that, in my country, though it is not so important to me that I would live there.

Unlike Thais, the greatest gifts that my country has given me are not countryside, climate, or kinsfolk,, but independence, wit, education, freedom and an insatiable thirst. Some people might argue that they are not all gifts to be grateful for,...

Not if they had just finished quenching their thirst

[StreetCowboy]

Feudalism encouraged inefficiency and corruption

I am glad that we are past that, in my country, though it is not so important to me that I would live there.

Unlike Thais, the greatest gifts that my country has given me are not countryside, climate, or kinsfolk,, but independence, wit, education, freedom and an insatiable thirst. Some people might argue that they are not all gifts to be grateful for,...

Not if they had just finished quenching their thirst

With a thirst like mine, they'd struggle to argue at all after quenching it, except out of Albion bellicosity

[OldChinaHam]

Feudalism encouraged inefficiency and corruption

I am glad that we are past that, in my country, though it is not so important to me that I would live there.

Unlike Thais, the greatest gifts that my country has given me are not countryside, climate, or kinsfolk,, but independence, wit, education, freedom and an insatiable thirst. Some people might argue that they are not all gifts to be grateful for,...

Not if they had just finished quenching their thirst

With a thirst like mine, they'd struggle to argue at all after quenching it, except out of Albion bellicosity

Invite them to one of these pools after you have filled it with the beverage of your choice.

Cheap too at pounds600 per month. It's LAUGHABLE!:

Posted 2013-07-15 12:54:20

theblether, on 15 Jul 2013 - 12:48, said:

Property security is over rated, we Brits that think that property ownership is the be all and end all.

I know guys that are trapped here as they can't sell. The ability to get up and go cannot be under rated, and rental is so cheap here it's laughable. Four bedroom villas with private pools for £600 a month, marvellous.

Edited July 17, 2013 by OldChinaHam