I know where you are coming from and the experiences would have doubly hard as you do not have your own contact circle and having to rely on Lee's "friends". I must say that it is extremely hard making friends and from experience, Melbourne is a harder place to build the circle. Compare it with back home where you can simply chat with ppl at a nightspot/pub - ppl here hang around in cliques. Sigh. I miss my good ol circle of mates but most of them are all over anyways so we make it a point of trying to catch up at least once a yr if possible.

Drop me a line if you head my ways!

sounds like we're all living in the same kind of place....

I'd tell you I experienced otherwise but it wouldn't matter.

I suppose I'm lucky that Nil's friends actually do want to get to know me. :)

*big squeezes and hugs*

mirebella: i'd love to go to Melb. the Melbourne girls who moved to Sydney whom I'm writing to find it the opposite fm what you say tho.

ront: =(

mei: i wish i could say otherwise too. i can say i had the same experience u did, when i was in Perth - and enjoyed it a lot. but we're also at different phases in life. i think as students & in uni, everyone's attitudes are different. but being where we are now, peers here are on all different levels - married, in relationships, with kids etc. a bit more settled and comfortable.
yeah, ^_~ count ur blessings. it might be similar circumstance, but we'll both have diff sets of problems. *hugs back*

it is true..as students, it is miles easier to make friends and form cliques.

Trust me, it is not only Syd. It's the same in the UK if not worse - Australia is more of a melting pot than the UK. But, that's not the point.

From our chats you know that I've been through the same shitcrap that has been dished out by bacon's friends. Being asians, there is such thing as face and swallowing comments which might hurt someone else - tact, if you would like.But I believe that this is not the same in the upbringing of most westerners - they are taught to speak their mind irregardless. Hey, I am all up for speaking your mind, but tact and saving grace is very important - and as we grow up, it becomes more important than anything else

This is why most of the friends loves me - even though I actually cannot tahan them- it is the tact that gets me through the day and the fact that I do not want bacon to fall off with his friends. I guess my mommy brought me up well - unlike some people who insist on pressing down ignorant views and 'pity' on us. Love is a sacrifice.

Remember, we are better than them *flips hair back snottily*

Some of it also depends on the place you live and who you hang out with. I've met a lot of friends in Sydney from all over the world. Of course, I'm probably friendlier than the average Human. Though Aussies are quite well known for being friendly, but I've noticed some people do have bad streaks.

When my old flatmate got his GF, she was very arrogant and treated my wife and I like crap, whcih made life difficult around our house. Though, after YEARS of persistence I finally broke through her outer shell [and there was almost a person in there ... almost]. But, she wasn't what I'd regard as an average Aussie either.

A lot of Aussies actually make friends quite easily in the work place. [At least I do normally].

But, every suburb is probably different too.

Lily - Just a q - these Melbourne girls in Syd- are they local born and bred girls or are migrants?

I agree with most of the sentiments here - student life allows for a lot more exposure and exposure but when you start over, its a diff ballgame altogether. Why I wonder? Does becoming an adult make us a lot more cynical?

I wish I had an office bound job that actually allows for bonding. Sigh...

I don't know. I work with a lot of Aussies and all of them are very very friendly, married or otherwise (even though we haven't met). As a matter of fact, I am thinking of inviting a few of them to my reception (if I do have one!). The single ones are cheeky but I can handle it. ^.~

I brought this up to Nil once - the whole "what if I can't stand your friends?" and you know what he said?

"You are not going to date my friends and you don't have like them. It would be nice if you could get along with them but at the end of the time, I'd rather you have a good time with me and be happy and not worry about other people who aren't part of this relationship."

Nil is so right.

*hugs*

Gosh this is my first time commenting on your blog! So hello darling! :0P From your last couple of posts, I got a bit worried so I hope a familiar voice would sound about right just now.

Zona, when you left home we all wished you the very best, knowing you were following your heart and wanted to make this relationship with Lee work. We applaud you for your guts and for taking that plunge knowing you'd be leaving home, family, your scatty friends and of course the work you were so passionate about. As I've said in our previous conversations, things just seem a bit wonky in Sydney but persevere!

Then again having lived in New York and London, despite being large impersonal cities, one would always be able to connect with the people, its places and experience things as a local. People would be welcoming and glad to show you the gems of their city, their pride and joy, its little nooks etc.

You yourself have experienced the best as well having seen and done so much travelling for work and pleasure. So I believe you when you say you’ve experienced X and Y in Sydney and have done much soul searching wondering what’s missing and in a way why your so disconnected from everything around you.

As always we are here to support and comfort you if you need it. We miss you (3 way comp giggling sessions!) and should you make the decision to come home for a breather we welcome it and say take some time out to think about what you really want at this point. But don’t let the city give you a beating! It takes time; it takes much effort which I know you’ve put in and more.

Sydney may yet welcome its newest resident with open arms albeit cautiously! It’s terrible that you’ve not had some shout out experiences but you are more than capable of rising above! You’ve met a few bad apples, unfortunately but I think the whole orchard is still worth a look see. Maybe? Hopefully? Take care doll. And will spread the word amongst the troops regarding May :0)

grr...annoying when folks think they have someone figured out after only reading her blog. happens to me often. I'm always drawing parallels between your Sydney move and my move to Kansas. Here's another one. I've lived in Kansas for more than a year and still feel like a bit of an outsider. With my core group of friends and family on the other side of the country, I still feel isolated in this place. We've tried to meet people, but we've also learned to just explore this state on our own and find ways to amuse ourselves.

Maybe you need a visit home? I know a trip to California always re-charges me and helps me live again in Kansas.

Kansas?? make sure you have toto with you.

this feeling of isolation...now its 2 years...living up north in this place...still feel unwelcomed....&¤%E&%#%¤/

Holy Batshit! Was it something I said?