A British expat made a huge life decision and uprooted her life from the UK for a fresh start in Australia, yet there were a few things that caught her by suprise
After making a mammoth move to Australia, a British expat has revealed the five things that no one tells you.
Cat Scully, 31, was searching for a better work-life balance and outdoor lifestyle, so she made the brave decision to uproot her life from Newcastle and move to Australia in 2021. After initially exploring Western Australia, Cat settled on Perth, thanks to its slower pace and diverse landscapes of white-sand beaches, rolling hills, and urban city life.
It’s been five years since the mega move, and Cat has settled into her new life and is even an official Australian after her citizenship was approved. She’s settled down with her husband, and the pair spend evenings at the beach and weekends exploring the surrounding areas.
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Yet moving to the other side of the world and uphauling her lifestyle hasn’t always been easy, with the project manager revealing what caught her off guard after taking the leap across the globe. Speaking to 1st Move International, the removals specialists to Australia, Cat said that anyone who makes the move will become a morning person, something she has adapted to.
“Most of my social plans are now built around early mornings, meeting for a walk, a beach dip or breakfast at 7:30 or 8 am. Everyone’s keen to get out and start their day early, generally before it gets too hot,” she said.
And when it comes to coffee for those early starts, there’s an extensive collection to choose from, which naturally turns expats into a renowned coffee snob without realising. “Even your standard coffee shop does an amazing coffee, and for a fraction of what you’d pay in the UK. You very quickly stop settling for anything less,” Cat revealed.
Thanks to Australia’s warm climate, there’s an abundance of avocados available, something Cat applauds as part of her new Australian life. “Avocados are everywhere here! It’s often 2 for $5 (£2.65) and they’re huge and really good quality. Even other groceries feel different; some things are more expensive, but avocados are definitely cheaper than in the UK and feature on loads of breakfast menus,” the 31-year-old said.
While the UK is dreary and dark during the winter months, Cat said that those who make the move will make the most of evenings and weekends. She said: “After work, it’s so normal to head straight to the beach for sunset, go for an alfresco dinner, run along the river, or even just jump in the car on a Friday and head into the bush for a weekend trip. You really make the most of your time in a different way.”
And it appears Cat has already forgotten what life was like back in the UK. “I can barely remember what it was like when it got dark at 4 pm in winter, or that really fast-paced UK lifestyle. Life just feels more outdoors, more stretched out, and a lot more balanced here,” she revealed.
Since making the move, Cat documents her life in Australia on her YouTube channel, sharing the realities of living on the other side of the world, alongside weekend adventures to places like Fremantle and Melbourne.
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