Have you lived in Australia ? is there a lot of xenophobia, bigotry ?. I plan to live there.?

Question

I'd like to live and work in Australia. I have American nationality,am a professional, I was born in Colombia, I look very European.What your experience was living in Australia ? were you looked down many times by rabid nationalists? I appreciate your help.

Answer 1

Australia is a multicultural country and hopefully there are not very many real bigots.

Of course, if you look for them, you will find them!

However, most people are OK if given the chance.

My family came her in the 1930s and experienced a lot of discrimination, and there are some migrant groups today who feel very discriminated against.

However, for the most part people get on well at a person to person level, and the law is on the side of anti-discrimination.

You might like to take a short term visa to Australia to see if you like it, perhaps visit with friends or stay with a family to see the 'real' Australia, not just the tourist-eye view.

Good luck and best wishes :-)

Answer 2

Racism is everywhere in the world and you will find some here in Australia as well.
But generally - Australians are very welcoming. There are a lot of different nationalities living here and Australians don't care what colour you are - as long as you treat other people the same way you want to be treated, you will be fine. (and when I say "Australians" I do not mean "white people" I mean EVERYONE)

One warning - Aussies have a sarcastic sense of humour. Someone may say something to you which you might think it is offensive - but it could be a light hearted comment. That is something you will have to get used to. It is Australia culture.

DO NOT expect the culture here to change to suit you. You are coming here - you have to change to suit it. Australians are very accepting but what we don't like are people who come here and then complain (and whinge and whine) that it is not like back home or how this is better back where you came from.

I have lived here for over 30 years and I don't think I have ever experienced racism. I am of Asian origin.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

G'day,

I always like Mouse's answers for this kind of questions.

Like Mouse, I am an immigrant from South-East Asia and have been living in Melbourne for over 16 years and never regret the move at all. I do not have Caucasian appearance, I speak English with an accent and I still feel like I am born in this country all along. My neighbors are combinations of immigrants and true blue Aussies and we are getting along very well. Racism will always be there in any country, but I definitely do not feel it here.

Unfortunately, there are some immigrants who prefer to stick to their own fellow-countrymen b'cos it is easier to speak in their mother-tongue and cultural similarity. Some even go as far as critising Australian ppl way of life which I dun think it is right, no matter how you want to see it.

As Kella & Mouse said... learn what Australian do, but of course it does not means that you have to go home drunk every night for having too much good time with your mates in the pub/bar ;)

I would also suggest for you to come for a holiday and spend abt 2weeks here, visit some of the capital cities and see yourself different aspect of life in different cities, so you can pretty much have a better picture of life in Australia.

Good luck and welcome to Australia.

Answer 4

I knew someone from Venezuela who lived here for several years, he got on OK. A cousin of mine married a man from Chile, another is great friends with another Chilean who rolled up last Christmas Day. There are people from Argentina, England, India, Malaya, Turkey, France, South Africa and Vietnam on my floor at work. Apart from those people I know a Muslim and some Hindus from Fiji, one Indonesian, one Ghanaian, one Ethiopian, one Kenyan, one Egyptian, one Indian Jew from Mumbai, two Sikhs, Italians, Germans, Dutch, Scots, Irish, New Zealanders . . .
If you wear a purple and lime green Mohawk hairstyle though people might notice you.

Answer 5

i live in Australia actually i was born here but not the point

racism is every where in any country you cant stop that but most Australians are very friendly and welcoming

after all we are a multicultural nation and we are very friendly here

u should love it here

Answer 6

There are bigots in Australia just as there are anywhere else but most Australians will welcome you. We have migrants from all over the world and the vast majority settle in well.

Answer 7

i have heard Aussies are friendlier than Americans good luck!!