7 things every Aussie expat misses about home
Most people would assume that Australians living overseas would miss stereotypical things like Tim Tams, beaches, good coffee and other Aussie luxuries.
However these simple splendours are easy enough to come by if you know where to look in each corner of the globe.
When Sabine Leroy moved Australia to Dubai, she found herself missing her friends, family and a range of things most Aussies take for granted on a daily basis.
As she writes for Escape, there are seven things she didn’t realise she missed until they were gone.
1. Ring-pull lids on canned goods
A simple staple of any Aussie kitchen is a stash of canned goods with the simple and effective ring pull lids.
Sabine said she often found herself in a pickle when mindlessly grabbing items off supermarket shelves without making sure she could open them.
“YouTube has come to the rescue and in desperate times I have opened a can with a spoon. It takes persistence and a lot of elbow grease, but it works if you’re stuck,” she said.
2. Tap water that tastes good
This luxury is often taken for granted by Aussies, who have access to clean and tasty tap water.
With many Aussies using reusable water bottles and filling them up from taps where needed, most expats aren’t prepared to buy bottled water.
“I’ve bitterly discovered that although tap water is safe to drink in some places, it can taste terrible and bottled water is the only option,” Sabine said.
3. Sun safety in numbers
Most Aussies had the ‘Slip! Slop! Slap!’ message drilled into them from when they were young, with the importance of sun safety being a staple of Aussie culture.
However, in overseas countries where the sun isn’t as harsh, these rules are often not adhered to so strictly.
As Sabine says, “I miss being on an Aussie beach blending in under a beach umbrella, seeing zinc-tinted faces and hearing parents shout ‘no hat, no play’.”
4. Footpaths
Australia is notoriously pedestrian-friendly, with footpaths stretching for kilometres and often overlooking some of Australia’s most breath-taking scenery.
It was something Sabine never realised she missed until she moved to the UAE, where huge construction sites get in the way of walking paths.
“In my very first month of my expat life, I was met with so many dead ends while walking.”
5. Sausage sizzles
Another staple of Aussie culture is the sound, smell and social excitement of a sausage sizzle.
For many expats, you don’t realise how frequent a sausage sizzle on a quiet corner can be until you don’t hear the sound of sizzling onions in the distance.
“Whether it’s a democracy sausage on election day or a quick snack at Bunnings, it’s hard to walk past without buying a sausage,” Sabine said.
6. ALDI
It’s interesting to see how a supermarket giant from Germany became an Aussie fan favourite.
With ALDI being a go-to for many who want to find cheap groceries (and literally everything else you could ever need), many start to miss the convenience and rush of the whole experience.
Sabine said, “Yes you need to pack your own bag as the checkout staff peg groceries at you, but overall I find the experience a pure delight.”
7. Good old Aussie sarcasm
One thing that cannot be found or replicated in overseas countries is the classic Australian sarcastic sense of humour.
With obstacles such as language barriers, speed talking or jokes just falling flat, Sabine has started to miss how Aussies communicate with each other.
She says, “I miss fellow Aussies detecting sarcasm, but also someone responding in kind.”
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