Australia or the USA?

Question

I think most Filipinos would instinctively say US ! when asked for their choice. But I have had lots of well-traveled Filipinos who, more often than not would have traveled to the US several times before they visit Australia for the first time, that they were pleasantly surprised and that they should have discovered Australia earlier. 2 of my Filipino friends are thinking of buying property here (Sydney)

Does this sound strange to you? Or are you open to the possibility that you could prefer Australia when you finally see our country?

Add:

Ericka, I am sorry you had some bad experiences. I am just comforted by the fact that most others on the same page seem to like both Autralia and its people.

Australia suffers from a stigma of being "racists". But this is significantly reduced to the extent that it is not worse than the same problem in other countries. Even the Philippines could be considered racist. Some people mock the Indians, and before they became rich, the Chinese.

I hope your next visit will prove the stigma wrong.

Answer 1

Australia! Hands down!

Australia is so beautiful. Aussies take care of their country. People there are also a lot more disciplined. Also, Aussies are a lot warmer a friendlier than Americans.

I went there on a holiday 3 years ago and am now in love with the nation!

Answer 2

They are totally different in some aspects. Some, culturally, are very similar, as Australia seems to follow every US trend that arises and is fast becoming more and more like America each and every day with speech, trends and everything. Your experience in either country will entirely depend on your financial situation. If you are earning a good income, and dont mind being surrounded by a large population. The US would be your natural choice. If you were to live in the OC such as Irvine or Newport, you would experience things you would never see in Australia, not just yet anyway. You can surf and ski in the same day in Cali, you have Vegas which is an absolute spectacle just a 4 hour drive through the beautiful desert. Or a half hour plane trip. Australia is the "lucky country" as they say, but the second line to that phrase is "for second rate people". That sounds very condescending, but there is some truth to the sentiment, Australia is so lucky because of its wealth in foreign export steel, uranium, wool, coal etc. Its abundance in mining is the whole reason for its current vitality. Some Americans can be very ignorant on world affairs but Australians can be just the same way. There are no ivy league schools in Australia, Most of the highly educated are imports. The US has an extreme capitalist mentality. Where only the lions really survive and thrive. The fact they also border with a 3rd world country does set them back a lot with the influx of illegals flooding and poisoning the country by overbreeding etc. It completely depends what kind of person you are, which field you work in etc. If you are a technology, engineering, entertainment or medical person, the most lucrative place to be would be the states of course. But if you are unskilled or lower middle class then Australia will cater to you better to give you better quality of life. The Australian government allows you to stay on unemployment for your entire life, there is no cut-off as in the States

Answer 3

It always happened when one person left the native country for the first time and be amaze how wonderful is the other one. We tend to compare our own country to the next one and then the next country from the previous one. Most of the people see America as the promise land as what they believe from the aspiration and experiences of others. In reality, you can only conclude which is the best place to live and work once you have been visited at least 3 countries of your choice. I heard from a friend that Australia is a nice country and it’s also a nice place to live and work. I can’t tell this time which I will choose AUS or USA as I have never been to any of the two countries.

As for my experiences, I have been visited few mid east and south east countries for holiday. Still, I prefer to stay and work here in UAE. Yes, it’s a case to case basis and depends on the life style preferences of each individual.

Answer 4

I will only speak about Australia because I haven't been to USA yet.

Based on my experience for almost 3 years now, I found the Aussies very friendly. You can start a conversation anywhere. (bus, train, shopping centers, etc.) I like them more (sorry to mention) compared to the migrants in Australia.

Yes, there will be negative ones but generally, isolated cases. In almost everyhting, Australia is a very orderly country from banks, schools, medicare, school buses, etc. Maybe this is the reason why I am missing the chaos (sorry for the word) in the Philippines. The reason being, it seems, for me, my stress level has gone down radically already because of the orderliness of Australia.

But for someone buying a property in Sydney, it will be good investment. It will cost you a fortune also because Sydney I think is categorized as one of the expensive countries to buy a house. (I maybe wrong with this one.)

Cheers.

Answer 5

the US of course, as hollywood & US dollars are still big in the country.

& that there are by far a lot more Filipino-americans than Filipino-aussies. plus Australia suffers from a lack of familiarity, except for cows & the sydney opera house.

& no it doesnt sound strange to me. Filipinos have been going to Australia in years, it just haven't caught up mainly because of the colonial mentality of the filipinos, colonial meaning the country was once a colony of the US.

I have a number of family & friends there but they don't advertise nor petition.

Answer 6

Filipinos are generally clannish (i.e., family-oriented) and when it comes to choosing which country to migrate to, the presence of family/friends plays a major role. It is mainly for this reason why USA seems to be the popular choice of destination over any other country...most of us already have family members and/or friends here. You see, we do need a strong support system when we venture in new places.

I'm aware there are many Filipinos too in Australia but they are recent transplants themselves unlike the Filipinos in the USA who are already deeply-rooted and are in a better position to give assistance to the newcomers.

I have visited your beautiful country and have no doubts that it offers just as many opportunities as the USA. In due time, there would be an influx of Filipinos in Australia too. I think it has started already.

____
inday

Answer 7

America tends to be preferable in my opinion because there are many enforceable, clearly interpreted and fundamental laws and statutes that protects its residents from discrimination and injustice. And when I say residents, I'm not talking only about US citizens.

The US Constitution, the core basis of all US law, in theory protects ALL individuals present on American soil: citizen, green card holders, and even illegal aliens. There are exceptions in practice of course--but very few.

In short, it doesn't really matter what a person's personal opinion is about racial, religious and gender rights, the law always supercedes that, and the law provides the ultimate protection against the abuse or disregard of due process.

Answer 8

I know and work with so may Filipinos here in Australia.
They are all well travelled and have been in the US.
Australia is a vast country of varied scenery.
The opportunities are vast.
All my colleagues/friends live here.
They are educated and have great jobs, and offer us their traditional lifestyles.

Answer 9

I'm here now in USA... most Filipino would probably say USA because it is a country of Big things... big money, big people, etc...

For me, Australia would just be good for vacation...

Answer 10

Ericka I don't know where you got your information from but you are so wrong.
Australia would have to be one of the most racial tolerant countries under the sun. We are normally one of the first countries to open its borders for refugees. We have people of every race, creed and colour. We have sworn enemies living side by side with very little problems.
Don't get me wrong we do have some racially motivated violence but considering the huge racial melting pot that Australia is this violence is minimal.