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Yolandi Jansen van Vuuren in Australia
Published Date
03 December 2009
Home Town in SA
Pretoria-North
Now Living in
Perth, Australia
Occupation
Student - kindergarten through year 7 teacher
Best Thing About the Country?
I feel safe and relaxed and I can talk in Afrikaans about people without them understanding. This is cool, until they turn around and say ‘Ek verstaan jou, hoor’ which is not so cool... I sometimes like the lifestyle of the Aussies because they are relaxed and never uptight. The government looks after all their people and the public schools are affordable so that anyone can have a chance at being educated. The food isn’t too bad either but it’s not Spur though… oh, and I absolutely love the kangaroos.
Biggest Cultural Difference?
SA is still a bit more conservative compared to Australia’s famous ‘no worries’ lifestyle and I think South Africans’ standards are higher than those of Aussies because of the Aussies’ relaxed outlook on life. I prefer conservative though because some of the Aussies have some pretty weird ways of living; like not showering for a few days. These Aussies are also very big on slang meaning that most of the time I’m left with a blank expression on my face and a very heavy Afrikaans accent saying ‘Sorrrry, I doesn’t understand what you is saying!’
Top Things to Do or See?
1. The sights. The Pinnacles, Wave Rock, Sydney Opera House, Mount Uluru, tree top walks, The Great Barrier Reef, sand boarding in Lancelin, the caves and landscapes are really unique and interesting. The old buildings are also great especially the old churches in Perth City.
2. The night scene. Aussies are very keen on drinking and clubbing. Their nightlife is something between the nightlife of Ireland (drinking) and Ibiza (partying). The funny thing is, at 10 in the morning, you’ll already see an Aussie and his mates hanging out at a pub with a pint or coldie*. (* Aussie slang for a cold alcoholic beverage)
3. The beaches. The Aussie beaches are really beautiful and clean. Gold Coast is the main place to be. There are even special ‘doggie beaches’ where you can take your pets and not bother the girls in skimpy bikinis who want to sunbathe. White sands and turquoise blue water... what more can I say?
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G’day mate... Yeah lots of kangaroos hey? That’s not really the impression I got the day I arrived in Perth. I thought kangaroos were scarce here because I only saw my first one after three months, but now I see them a lot more. They are actually the softest animals I have ever felt… it was very nice petting them as they are very tame!
It is very hot and dry in Perth and that’s pretty much what it’s like every day in summer, with temps getting up to 42 degrees and forcing you to visit the beach. Winter is quite like Cape Town – and not as cold as Joburg. As an international student, life is pretty good in Australia. I have a job as a barista which pays well and the shops here are good for spending that money. I live in a suburb called Mindarie (2km from the nearest beach), which is ten minutes from Joondalup (where my university is) and Perth City is also close by.
I am studying kindergarten through primary education at Edith Cowan University, it’s a very nice university. Making friends here is really easy because Aussies are so friendly, they always start talking to any random person – which was weird for me in the beginning. There are so many South Africans in Perth and I have already made quite a few of them my friends as well.
It is very hot and dry in Perth and that’s pretty much what it’s like every day in summer, with temps getting up to 42 degrees and forcing you to visit the beach. Winter is quite like Cape Town – and not as cold as Joburg. As an international student, life is pretty good in Australia. I have a job as a barista which pays well and the shops here are good for spending that money. I live in a suburb called Mindarie (2km from the nearest beach), which is ten minutes from Joondalup (where my university is) and Perth City is also close by.
I am studying kindergarten through primary education at Edith Cowan University, it’s a very nice university. Making friends here is really easy because Aussies are so friendly, they always start talking to any random person – which was weird for me in the beginning. There are so many South Africans in Perth and I have already made quite a few of them my friends as well.
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