Who are you?
I’m a freelance travel blogger and writer who loves street art and sweet treats.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
I moved to Sydney in June 2014. I met my Aussie husband in London 5 years ago and after living together in London for a few years we decided to try his country on for size.He is originally from Melbourne but we moved to Sydney so that it would be a new adventure for both of us.
What challenges did you face during the move?
Honestly, the hardest part was saying goodbye to family and friends. As I work in travel I rarely spent much time in London so naively hadn’t thought about how hard it would be on family and friends to see us go. Luckily I get to travel back often but it is so sad to miss out on milestones like the birth of new family members and other special occasions.
Are there many other expats in your area?
There are! Quite a few people I knew from the travel industry in London have moved to Sydney for work recently, which has made it much easier for me to build up my freelance work base here.
What do you like about life where you are?
I love being able to spend more time outdoors. I work from home so break up my writing assignments with walks to friendly cafes or a swim in our pool. Even having the wonderful Sydney light and bright blue sky shining through the study window makes me feel happy.
What do you dislike about your expat life?
The distance. Although Skype and social media are great for staying up to date with friends and family it’s not exactly easy to hop on a plane to the UK when you need to give someone a hug.
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
Aside from having to learn the Aussie lingo I guess the biggest difference I notice is how less crowded Sydney is to London. I know many Aussies might think of Sydney as a busy place but coming from 12 years in central London it feels like we’ve moved to the country!
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
I’d recommend reaching out to expats already in the city you plan to move to. I think almost everybody has a friend of a friend to connect you with (at least in Australia) and it’s great to have first hand advice from someone who has been through the same thing – especially if they can meet you for coffee or a cold beer when you arrive the other end.
What are your plans for the future?
We have no fixed plans for the future. At the moment I am waiting for my Australian partner visa to be fully processed and then after that who knows where in the world we’ll end up. My husband and I have loved the expat experience in Sydney so much we’re already looking into some possible locations for our next move.
You cqn keep up to date with Jayne’s adventures on her blog, Girl Tweets World.