Our New Life Down Under: Eight Reflections from Eight Years in Sydney
Here are our lessons of what we learned since making the big jump from Zürich to Sydney. Elevating personal development surely came with its own challenges - but so much worth it!
Today eight years ago we arrived in Sydney on a one way flight from Zürich via Singapore starting our new life on the other side of the world.
Was there a reason to move that far? As experienced travellers we love the more relaxed lifestyle in both Australia and New Zealand after travelling already many months from Auckland to Dunedin as searching explorers.
We learned English in Auckland back in 1999 as our first approach of living in a larger city far away from Europe. Gratefully we kept in contact with our Kiwi family who came over to our wedding in Czech Republic afterwards. Not a surprise we went back to their house early 2016 on our sabbatical trip.
After spending three months in Sydney by myself to study at the Australian Institute of Management and to learn about the job market in that year, I finally received the right offer and secured a sponsorship visa within just eleven days - time to move!
Was it hard despite the photos look so relaxed? Of course. Missing family and friends from Europe? Sure. Ready to explore and learn? Of course!
Here are my top eight lessons from eight years living in Sydney.
1. Appreciation
Coming from a 16-year career at the same company, I took many things for granted and assumed most companies offer those perks like business travels across the globe. The reality is quite different, especially as I landed in a small business below 20 employees where I could and had to decide on things which were given in the past. What a welcoming change!
Here in Australia I learned to appreciate what we had but also the little things which others take for granted living down under like stability, great weather, an awesome living style, and more friendliness between people. Whenever I read news from Europe which are not encouraging a return, I appreciate what we experience here day by day including the friendships built.
2. Curiosity
The beauty in moving far from home: every day brought something new to uncover. Yes, we learned English in school but the vocabulary used at the dentist or the Aussie slang outside of larger cities feel challenging.
We learned to unlearn old assumptions and started to embrace unfamiliar norms. Staying open minded without insisting on old habits was the best way to keep us going beyond our comfort zones which also opened doors to unexpected encounters and opportunities.
3. Exploring
Moving to Sydney was not like to another European or even American city, it came with the chance to explore another world as an entire continent of beauty and wilderness.
Especially in the first few years we found a rhythm of discovery to explore Australia with fresh eyes - from coast lines to bush hinterland, from staying in rural villages up to posh areas in the larger metropolitan regions.
And not to forget: the seasons are upside down, we’re always half a year ahead compared to the Northern hemisphere. Just in the Blue Mountains about two hours west of Sydney they celebrate Christmas in July when it gets cold - and we even got fresh snow in August!
4. Mindset
Adapting to a different life in another language meant more than just learning new customs, rather a shift in mindset in many regards.
We moved from Swiss precision to the Aussie “now worries” approach and recognised a more relaxed approach, even if something didn’t go as planned or was not on the same standards we used to expect back home.
Given the different backgrounds of those around us taught us that becoming a global citizen was key to fit in everywhere and to navigate the uncertainties of a new life with grace. Working from anywhere helped on that discovery!
5. Network
Building new connections seems to be easier in this freedom seeker country where most arrived by themselves or generations before to build a new life.
Somebody said the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne were like melting pots. Sure, we should all treat each other the same way but I would slightly disagree - as it feel it like a salad bowl: The real taste comes from combining all ingredients with cucumber, lettuce, tomato and sauce.
That’s what diversity is all about here: applying respect and learning from each other for a mutual outcome. And when this is not the case everywhere, the majority of people somehow practice this mindset in their daily life.
6. Reflection
Moving far away gave us the chance to carve out some moments to pause and take stock of our journeys. Reflecting on the milestones achieved (do we live in a dream?) and going through tough challenges has given certain depth to the experience.
The Australian landscapes around us inspire constant reflection - sitting somewhere at the Sydney Harbour enjoying a large flat white coffee let us realise that taking the chance for a change helped us to see many things that life thrown on us in the right perspective.
7. Reinvention
Starting over in a new country which we only knew as a traveller and student gave us the chance to rewrite our own stories and to see our origin with the refreshing eyes of distance.
From multiple partially unwanted career pivots to lifestyle changes, Australia offered us the freedom to adapt ourselves in ways we never expected. Reinvention here means breaking out of boxes we didn’t realise we were in, including professional identities and personal interests.
This told us that life is never static and that the journey itself is often the greatest transformation to learn from.
8. Resilience
The two neighbour continents (!) down under - Australia and New Zealand - both got their portion of catastrophes from earthquakes to draughts; before covid we even had bushfires all over the country. Not a surprise that the worldwide risk management standard has been defined in ANZ.
Therefore resilience became a part of the way of living for most people. That includes the readiness to manage economic crises like the GFC and of course the pandemic. We also had our own unhappy portion of being affected and thus developed an inner strength of committed survival to know there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Love the optimism in this region!
TL;DR
Summarising the eight points as little task for ourselves:
Appreciation: Be thankful for what we have been given.
Curiosity: Be ready to learn and unlearn every day.
Exploring: Develop a habit to get out and enjoy your experience.
Mindset: Become a global citizen of the world instead of “us vs. them”.
Network: Create your own community with those around you.
Reflection: Find the bigger meaning from every step of the journey.
Reinvention: Develop yourself further to the next level.
Resilience: Build your own protection far away from earlier supporters.
Would we do the same move again if somebody offered that? I bet we would!
Did you make a smaller or bigger jump as well in your life - or dream about it?
Wonderful photos and insightful discussion. My favourite was your comments on reinvention. Hits hard.
Great post, Gunnar. Thank you for sharing! In response to your question: I’ve made a few ‘jumps’.
Currently I’m living in the beautiful hills of Kafue Gorge Zambia. They remind me of the Scottish hills of my birthplace, but without the cold weather. Yeay!
Queensland Australia was a good place to grow up (my first ‘jump’ as a child) because of the escape from Scotland’s cold weather.
However, the yearning for the rich history of European architecture had me ‘jump’ again as an adult, and spend 15 years in Spain before deciding I no longer wanted to experience cold winters. 🥶