From Romania to Australia

Hey treaz, We have long time without chatting, but...

2011-12-09T07:05:52.195+02:00

Hey treaz,
We have long time without chatting, but I can't wait to bump with you online before I start sharing part of my wisdom (the very few and little I have).

I understand depression. Is extremely easy to fall into sadness and evaluate the situation without any good feedback... But, do you know there are few things in live that comes without effort? Even fewer those that comes with luck, but you must understand and recognise, you will never start from scratch.

It does not matter where you move to, is just impossible to start from scratch given any professional education you received.

I mean, even people with lobotomies recover their lives and continue walking forward. Don't let yourself down!

Is Australia worth it? Maybe! I can not say it will pay the same bang for your bucks... but you know what is worst? wondering the 'what if?'

Now, ask yourself if you really want Australia, that is a different question. Do you really want to come down under? it will be one of the most rewarding experience, I can assure you.
You don't want it anymore? then drop it, move on to something else and ever look back.

Right-o mate? Have fun these holidays and give it a second thought.

BTW I have observations on your post... Change the asses to assess. The missing s makes it an entire different word ;)

Cheers,

@Anonymous, you are right, this blog needed an end...

2011-12-04T14:16:14.093+02:00

@Anonymous, you are right, this blog needed an ending.

http://fromromaniatoaustralia.blogspot.com/2011/12/end-of-fairytale.html

You haven't posted in over a year. I don't...

2011-12-03T03:22:58.010+02:00

You haven't posted in over a year. I don't know if you've abandoned this site or what, but I'm interested to hear what's new.

Watch out... electricity converters aren't ver...

2010-10-05T06:42:33.484+03:00

Watch out... electricity converters aren't very reliable... are fine if you want to plug stuff for short periods of time.

Electricity is some kind of oscillation and converters most of time doesn't give you the right oscillation for your appliances.

If your device has a AC adapter (or internal adapter) check first if is compatible with multi-voltage input. That way the adapter is going to take the hit and all you need to buy is a plug adapter (from C or F to V or I). Otherwise I will recommend you not to take it with you... will end up being an useless junk at the end of a year or so.

Hi Nancy, welcome around. :) Unfortunately I'...

2010-08-02T09:28:39.250+03:00

Hi Nancy,

welcome around. :) Unfortunately I've been really lazy lately and no new info has popped up on the blog.

Cheers,
treaz

I love reading blogs of people sharing their exper...

2010-08-01T20:18:15.284+03:00

I love reading blogs of people sharing their experiences when they move and settle in Australia.
I will continue reading yours. I'm very interested in languages (specially english) and cultures in general.
Greetings from an argentine teenager.

2010-08-01T20:15:35.556+03:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

It drains the battery, yes... But once again, if y...

2010-06-01T02:49:31.679+03:00

It drains the battery, yes... But once again, if you are using the GPS in the city outskirts is highly probable you are not walking... Syndey is really big.

Related to my visits to other zones... Yes, I have being trying to know a little bit more of parks/cities/beaches and mountains. Everything that is train/bus reachable (that means, many places).

Obviously there are locations where car or your own transportation is necessary; but to get to that moment you will need to spend quite some time getting to know the city.

Cheers

I know about the phones that come with incorporate...

2010-05-31T10:29:18.938+03:00

I know about the phones that come with incorporated gps (there's quite a few of them).
But what about the battery drain? Using the gps will consume it faster. That would leave you without communication and without gps (practically lost, although I must admit that could be fun).

Rod? How much have you traveled in the city outskirts since you got there?

Transportation systems in Australia are great. Mos...

2010-05-31T02:52:52.312+03:00

Transportation systems in Australia are great. Most of the time are on time (98.99%) and you really don't need a car (I can tell, I have being without it for 8 or 9 months now :P).

A regular car cost around a$25,000. A motorbike 5,000ish and a bicycle from a$125 up to a$8,000 (yeah, kind of the same used by lance armstrong).

Some cell phones comes with GPS included and works really smooth.

Thanks for the reference treaz :) Hopefully it con...

2010-05-13T05:59:33.301+03:00

Thanks for the reference treaz :) Hopefully it contains more or less my entire process or general doubts.

Hey friend!! That website is great!! there's ...

2010-05-10T19:19:19.742+03:00

Hey friend!!
That website is great!! there's a lot to read about Melbourne!!!

Cheers!!!

I don't seem to find that option. Hmmm, how d...

2010-04-28T13:30:17.989+03:00

I don't seem to find that option.

Hmmm, how does one do that?
A link or a short tutorial would really help.

As a suggestion... Google already knows how to sug...

2010-04-28T03:44:20.846+03:00

As a suggestion... Google already knows how to suggest other blogs... Use Google reader :P

Hi there!!! How cool is this blog thing?? :)It re...

2010-04-11T22:36:56.003+03:00

Hi there!!!
How cool is this blog thing?? :)It really helps you out, wether is trying to find out important information or trying to make contacts or even friends!! That's one of the reasons I started my blog.
Oh! thanx for following my blog in English!! you are the first one to do it!!
If you ever want to send me an e-mail, it's maitena27@gmail.com

Cheers!!!

Hi Maitena, I love your feedback. Thanks for takin...

2010-04-09T10:05:20.868+03:00

Hi Maitena, I love your feedback. Thanks for taking the time and giving such great news.
In fact thanks for posting as I looked on your profile and found that not only that you write a blog about Australia, but you are following quite a few blogs on the same subject.

At this moment you are an invaluable resource.
I'd like to keep in touch with you.

Cheers,
Horia

Hi! I think that what you wrote it's true. I t...

2010-04-09T01:46:38.091+03:00

Hi! I think that what you wrote it's true. I told my parents more than a year ago about Australia and at first they didn't like the idea. They always tried to talk me out of it saying things like it's way too far from Argentina, or that I'll be all alone there; my dad even told me that I shouldn't do this to my puppy! (I have a poodle) and that he was going to be very sad!! I don't like that idea either but my dog is staying with my parents and after a while he's going to be just fine!!
Back to the main idea; after months of trying to convince me to stay in Argentina they started to talk about Australia in a good way; what city I'm going to go; where I'm going to stay; if I've made contacts with people already living there. So, yeah, after a while they start to get used to the idea and it's easier for them and for the ones leaving. I strongly recommend to tell people at the early stage of the process (or even before that!)

Cheers!!!

Hi Treaz! I'm Maitena and I'm from Argenti...

2010-04-09T01:34:00.832+03:00

Hi Treaz! I'm Maitena and I'm from Argentina. I'm also in the process to obtain the australian visa. My papers are already in DIAC (Department of Immigration and Australian Citizenship) and I'm just waiting for the case officer decision.
I was reading your post and the comment of Mircea about the amount of money you have to pay to DIAC. The fee that you or anyone else has to pay in order to start the process is around AUS 2500 (I'm not really sure right now) and the second installment that you were talking about is the one required in case you don't get the neccessary band score in the IELTS exam. For instance, if you are required a 6.0 because of your profession and instead of that you get a 5.0, in order to continue you have to pay the 2nd installment. This installment is for 540 hours (or so) of English lessons that you'll have to complete once you get to Australia. However, if you get the 6.0 in the IELTS exam you won't have to pay the 2nd installment.
Ok. I hope I was clear and you understood my explanation!!!
Good Luck!!

thanks for the good wish. :) However, I will make...

2010-04-04T12:13:26.173+03:00

thanks for the good wish. :)

However, I will make sure the luck factor will be as low as possible when I make my move.

I hate leaving really important things to chance.

Mircea, thanks a lot for the update. This certainl...

2010-04-03T23:15:14.631+03:00

Mircea, thanks a lot for the update. This certainly changes my perspective on the issue.
I'm was also taking NZ into consideration.
Do you have any idea whether the second installment is mandatory for people coming from Romania? As it seems to me that we could avoid this kind of cost. Any way I don't get this:
"The 2nd instalment of the Visa Application Charge for dependents aged 18 years or over with less than functional English must be paid before the visa is granted."

If you don't know either I'll ask one of my Australian contacts.

How far along in the process of obtaining the visa are you?
I have an acquittance that just returned from a 1 month trip in NZ (haven't managed to meet her yet, but it will happen pretty soon).

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one trying to get there. I'm glad you found this blog. :)

Hope to hear from you soon

I salute your enthusiasm and don't want to tak...

2010-04-03T00:00:44.464+03:00

I salute your enthusiasm and don't want to take any of it away, but there might be one significant cost that you omitted or downplayed; the actual cost of the visa which is quite high AUD 6035, which is about EUR 4000.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/professionals-outside-australia.htm

I'm Romanian as well and looking into emigrating to Australia or New Zealand. I find the NZ costs to be lower, and the process is not that different. Points based as well, but you don't necessarily have to make 140 points. Applications with 140 go automatically in the selection process, but they also pick up from the 100 points pool.
One other advantage is that if the application for NZ is rejected, I think the visa fee is reimbursed (around EUR 1200).

Best of luck! and don't forget to check out the recent changes that Australia has made to the visa process. I think they don't influence you, but check them out: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

Good luck, you sure will need it

2010-03-29T11:45:07.132+03:00

Good luck, you sure will need it

Well, I could say that up to a point I already tri...

2010-03-23T11:42:56.334+02:00

Well, I could say that up to a point I already tried that...
But my success was little :)

I guess my way of doing this was wrong... I'll search for some blogs and try to find some penfriends.

OK, bring it on!!! Let's see what the australians are all about.

Thanks for the suggestion Trent. :)

Or you could get to know some Aussies online - cha...

2010-03-20T02:18:47.738+02:00

Or you could get to know some Aussies online - chat with them via Skype....

just a thought... from .... an Aussie ;)

Looking forward to your arguments. :)

2010-02-19T16:45:16.204+02:00

Looking forward to your arguments. :)