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British expat cops backlash for calling Australia the "worst country in the world"

British expat and former school teacher Sabrina "Bree" Collins, has faced backlash online after labelling Australia as the "worst country in the world". The former teacher, who is also a writer, went on an extensive rant on social media about her experience living in Queensland and why she hates it, and the video has since gone viral. "Australia has destroyed everything that I was before I came here and there's so much that's happened while I've here but it's not safe to go public with everything that's happened to me," she began her rant. Collins who moved to Australia from the UK, then shared her unsolicited advice for those hoping to migrate Down Under. "When you're a British woman on the other side of the world, you've really got to sit down and think was it worth it? "If you're a British person sat home in the UK and you're wondering about this fantastic life you could have in Australia, you need to know a few things first." She then went on to label Australia as "very sexist", "abusive", "isolated" and "behind". "The internet is like really behind, technology is behind. "When you are in Australia you feel really, really isolated. You feel like you're stuck in the 1980s, and if you're a woman it's even worse," she said. "And I know loads of people are going to contradict what I'm saying and say, 'I'm living a fantastic life in Australia, 'well look at me, look at my CV, look at all my accomplishments before I moved out to Australia, and look at the way I've been treated." The expat who has a masters degree in education, and more than five years experience as a teacher, has claimed that her career as a teacher was ruined due to the abuse she received. She claimed that as a result of the abuse, she now feels too frightened to set foot in a school in Australia. "And that's why I cannot see a purpose or reason to stay in Australia." She then went on to say that she hopes to move to a "more progressive country" like the US, and write a book about her experiences in Australia. Her video has not been well-received, with many telling her to leave clowning her for calling the US more progressive. "Please leave.. and don't trash my country. I've seen yours and you all come over for many reasons," one Aussie commented. "Don’t let the door hit you on your way out missy!! Bye Felicia," another wrote. "UK is far more worse than Australia mate. Have lived in both countries here is lot lot better," a third wrote. "Oh, boo hoo. Please move. As an American, it’s way more backwards than Australia," an American commented on her desire to move to the US. "You're going to exactly the right place for you. You’ll find the schools are really safe and the police...very safe country for women," another added sarcastically. Other's pointed out that she was living up to the British stereotype of a "whinging pom". Collins is not the only British expat to find issue with the way of life in Australia. A few months ago, another expat <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/please-don-t-be-mad-british-expat-s-bone-to-pick-with-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went viral</a> for listing things she finds frustrating after living in Australia, although she pleaded for everyone's understanding.

Travel Trouble

"You're all wrong": Expat slams Aussie snacks

A Canadian expat has given a controversial opinion on several popular Aussie snacks. Her opinion, which no one asked for, claimed that some of Australia’s most cherished snacks were simply not worth the hype. Iona claimed that since she’s lived in the country for nearly seven years, she was entitled to a candid opinion, free of nostalgic basis. The expat clearly knew her video would cause a stir as she pleaded for people “not to get mad”. She began her TikTok, "These are Aussie snacks I would not touch with a 10-foot pole,” The first snack she blasted was the infamous Smith’s Burger Rings, a BBQ flavoured corn-based chip that is no doubt an Aussie staple. "Burger rings are a crime to tastebuds everywhere," she said. "They don't even taste like burgers, they taste like sadness.” From there she was quick to attack the next product, Arnott’s beloved TeeVee snacks. "I would rather go to Bunnings and suck on sandpaper than eat these again," she said, pointing to a TeeVee snack box. "You're all wrong.” The beloved Arnott’s Chicken Crimpy shapes also came under the line of fire, with Iona sharing they “taste like nothing”. Even Cadbury made the list with their strawberry flavoured Freddos and the Caramilk bar, both labelled a solid “no” for the Canadian. “Jail. Immediate jail!” she remarked. Aussies were quick to shut her down, sharing their opinions in the comment section. "You don't have Aussie tastebuds. They all rock,” one wrote. “Nah, you've too far gone!” another responded, with the official TikTok account for Shapes replying, ”Agreed." Another TikToker remarked, “I really tried to be tolerant and accepting but I punched a hole in my wall when burger rings came up, and things only got worse from there.” Some jumped to Iona’s defence, with one “Australian” commenting, "I'm Australian and I agree with everything,” but the majority of comments declared she had no business slandering Aussie icons. Image credit: TikTok

Food & Wine

“Please don’t be mad”: British expat’s bone to pick with Australia

British expat Jordana Grace has taken to TikTok to share her three biggest gripes with Australia, with the claim that most Australians don’t bat an eyelid at them. Jordana lives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after leaving the United Kingdom behind, and boasts a following of almost 300k on her TikTok where she regularly shares insight into her Australian adventure. “Sorry in advance,” the budding MixFM radio host began, “I’m gonna make Australia mad.” “Three things I don’t like about Australia,” she went on, “that Aussies don’t even realise is a thing.” From there, Jordana went on to list the aspects of life in Australia that were causing her the most trouble, though her claim about Aussies may have missed the mark, with Jordana’s gripes known frustrations across the country. “First up is the slow internet speed - like, what the fudge?” She said, “sorry for the salty language, but it’s like nails on a chalkboard how in some areas in Australia the internet and WiFi is just so slow.” In 2023, the UK ranked 45th in the world for average broadband speed with 145.33 Mbps, while Australia came in at 73rd with an average speed of 88.77 Mbps. “Please don’t be mad,” Jordana continued, “but next is the terrible phone service. There’s like three major providers in Australia, and they all have nicknames like Vodafone is Vodafail, Optus is Optus Droptus, and Telstra … no-one can come up with a clever nickname for but it’s just very inconsistent phone service over here." <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7197724229943446789&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thejordanagrace%2Fvideo%2F7197724229943446789&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fo0hBIk9tbBrEQhCIsd8xABfiuj1zkbogAuDFjA%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast2a-v-0068%2F0f22bd61bc15443ea1f3e5214fcdd9f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1676361600%26x-signature%3D1ck2cF1fvQNZsDbJz4kKysELBSg%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> “And finally, the postage cost and speed," she said. "In the UK I didn’t realise that next day delivery was such a luxury, because over here postage not only can take weeks but the postage cost can cost as much as the item sometimes.” In the United Kingdom, prices to post a parcel begin at £3.95 for 1st class ($6.90). In Australia, 1st class parcel postage begins at $9.70. And as any Australian knows, postage times can span from a couple of days to a couple of weeks in busy periods. “Okay, but that’s it!” Jordana concluded, before pleading for everyone’s understanding, “I love you Australia, please don’t hate me.” Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

British expat shares strange Aussie slang words she doesn't understand

When Charlee moved from the UK to Australia, she never expected for there to be such a language barrier. The 25-year-old expat shared a list of unique Aussie slang words that she had "never heard in her life" until moving Down Under, with the list of Australianisms quickly going viral. “If you’re thinking about moving to Australia. Listen up. But first – Australian’s don’t all come at me,” she said in the video. “I am very aware I am an uncultured British person which is why I have moved to the other side of the world. I am ready to see the sights.” Charlee said despite having lived in Australia for a few months now, there are still quite a few words she hears daily that have her wondering what they mean. “First thing – an eskie. An eskie is a cool box (what they call it in the UK),” she said. “I do actually quite like the word. It sounds better than ‘cool box’ but still, [I’ve] never heard of it in my life.” The word "esky" became common in Australia after a brand by the same name released the first portable coolers in 1952. Another word Charlee struggled to understand was “doona". “A doona is a duvet. I don’t understand why you would just change the last three letters of the word. It’s quite a nice word, ‘doona’, it sounds very Australian … but it’s just a bit of a strange word.” Like most expats, the term “thongs” threw Charlee off when she first heard it. “I know we should all know what thongs are by now – they’re flip-flop. However, on the odd occasion someone will say thong to me and I genuinely think they're asking me about the piece of material wedged between my butt cheeks.” The other words Charlee listed were footy, ‘too easy’, ‘scull’ (ie scull a drink) and pants, which they refer to as trousers in the UK. Charlee's videos about life in Australia have garnered her an impressive following, with comments rolling in from natives saying "Yep, welcome to Australia!" Image credits: TikTok <div class="media image venti" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 493.639679px; margin: 24px auto;"> </div>

Travel Trouble

British expat shares things tourists must never do in Australia

Jordana Grace, a British expat based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, has shared three things tourists should never do in Australia if they don't want to be "judged" or "yelled at". The expat, known as That British Gal on social media, shared the cultural shock she's experienced since moving to Queensland from the UK. "Here are three things you shouldn't do when you come to Australia," Jordana said in a video posted on Instagram. "We all know Australia's hot. But if you're a tourist and all you've done is come here and complain about the heat it's not going to go down well," she said. "Just ignore the boob sweat, smile and carry on," she added. Her second tip is never to ask where you can find the nearest Starbucks, considering Australia's coffee culture. "Australia invented the beloved flat white, don't disrespect the great coffee culture here by basically asking for sugar dirt water," she noted. She added that the best course of action is to ask locals where they get their favourite coffee as you're bound to find a good one. Her last piece of advice is one that all Aussies know: never swim outside the flags. "The lifeguards aren't just there to be pretty, they are there to help you swim safely," she said. "So swim between the flags, you don't want them yelling at you through that big tannoy". <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntboZpjbrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntboZpjbrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by That British Girl (@thejordanagrace)</a> </div> </blockquote> Many others have agreed or shared their tips in the comments. "Don’t forget to slip slop slap, " one commented. "Only the local are allowed to say 'It’s too bloody hot,'" another added. "I believe the flat white was actually invented in New Zealand," one corrected. "Haha, trip over in Australia and you'll find a cafe. Swim between the flags is so important!!" wrote another commenter. Image: Instagram

Travel Tips

Expat shares her five biggest culture shocks since moving to Australia

A British expat has listed the five biggest culture shocks she experienced since moving to Australia. Robyn Turner, who now lives in Melbourne, has been adjusting to her new life in Australia over the last five years. In a funny TikTok video, the personal trainer said there are five things she never knew existed until she relocated to Australia - including people walking bare feet in public, lemon lime bitters and 42°C days. “This is Australian things that sent me into a coma when I first moved here from the UK,” she said. The first thing of her list that caught her by surprise was people walking around bare feet at indoor public places. “People walking around the supermarket or any other store in bare feet, shocked me,” she said. “You would never catch anyone that wasn’t on a beach with bare feet in the UK. “It doesn’t appeal to me but I mean, you do you, I just won’t look at the floor.” Robyn said she was confused when she couldn’t find an aisle dedicated to alcohol inside supermarkets. “I had no idea this wasn’t a thing,” she said. “I was first like, ‘Where do I go and buy some wine from?’ and someone was like, ‘the bottle-O’ and I was like, ‘What’s a bottle-O?’ “I had no idea, shocked me to the bones.” The third overwhelming thing she couldn’t handle was the scorching weather, especially summer days that reach high temperatures of 42°C. “When I first lived here, I lived in Sydney and it wiped me out,” she said. “Absolutely killed me.” <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@r0bynturner/video/7176424965128899842" data-video-id="7176424965128899842"> <section><a title="@r0bynturner" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@r0bynturner?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@r0bynturner</a> Australian things that sent me (a brit) into a coma <a title="australiatravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australiatravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#australiatravel</a> <a title="sydneytravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sydneytravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#sydneytravel</a> <a title="uktoaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uktoaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#uktoaustralia</a> <a title="britinaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/britinaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#britinaustralia</a> <a title="melbournetravel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/melbournetravel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#melbournetravel</a> <a title="backpackingaustralia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/backpackingaustralia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#backpackingaustralia</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Robyn" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7176425241798068993?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Robyn</a></section> </blockquote> Despite the culture shocks, she expressed her approval for lemon lime bitters, a popular cocktail in Australia that consists of lemonade, lime cordial, and Angostura bitters. “This surprise was in the best way possible,” she said. “Thank you for introducing me to lemon lime bitters. That is amazing stuff, it’s like liquid gold. “You (Aussies) are the ultimate gatekeepers not letting the rest of the world know about it.” Robyn said she also couldn’t get enough of espresso martinis after her friend introduced the cocktail to her. “It’s so good,” she said. Her video has been viewed over 600,000 times - with many agreeing with her culture shocks. Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Aussie expat discovers list of things that are illegal Down Under

An Australian living in the UK has compiled a list of things that she didn't know were illegal in Australia until she moved overseas. Sharing the video on TikTok, Rhiannon was baffled by the UK's relaxed laws when she relocated to Brighton in the country's south. The Aussie expat was shocked to discover how many things she could get away with in the UK without a fine, like drinking outside and riding a bike without a helmet. "Doing things in the UK that are illegal in Australia," Rhiannon captioned her now-viral video, which has over 3.7 million views. Her first rebellious act was jaywalking, which is completely legal in the UK but can result in a $220 fine in Australia. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7070904397538086149&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40rhiannon.cunningham%2Fvideo%2F7070904397538086149&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fbf2ccabe024f4f39b5c2c531e21452ac_1646323224%7Etplv-tiktok-play.jpeg%3Fx-expires%3D1647579600%26x-signature%3DdoBHOSlZPty%252BAq7826AeROEE%252F94%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"> </div> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;">According to the Road Rules 2014 act, jaywalking can cost pedestrians up to $220, but if you choose to have the matter determined by a court, the maximum penalty increases to a hefty $2,200. Next, Rhiannon put her feet on the seat of a UK train, which can cost Aussies up to $1,100 in fines, according to Transport NSW. Rhiannon was also shocked to discover that in both England and Wales, citizens over 18 years of age are permitted to drink in public. These rules differ state-to-state in Australia, however drinking in public places outside licensed premises and in council-designated no-alcohol zones is illegal. The expat then went for a bike ride without wearing a helmet, which is perfectly legal in the UK. In Australia, bike riders are required by law to wear a helmet, with the maximum penalty hitting NSW residents with a $344 fine. Rhiannon's comment section on the video was flooded by fellow expats, with one British woman claiming she was shocked at Australia's rigid laws when she visited Down Under. "When I went over to Aus to see my sister, I was too stunned to speak at being told you couldn't just cross the road," she said. Despite Rhiannon's video, many people have claimed that Aussies don't abide by these laws, and are viewed more as guidelines. "Do people actually think Aussies abide by these rules?" one person asked. "I've lived in Australia my whole life and never heard of any of these 'laws'," another said. Image credits: TikTok @rhiannon.cunningham </div>

Travel Trouble

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 <a href="https://www.escape.com.au/top-lists/7-weird-things-i-miss-about-australia/news-story/180b1c7835141f5fc36e348138181157">Escape</a>, 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.” Image credit: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

There is an embarrassing mistake in the Australian citizenship test

An English expat has found a mistake on the Australian citizenship test and was left stumped when she came across a question that had three incorrect answers. <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank">DailyMail reports</a> the woman has been studying the Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond booklet in anticipation of the quiz, when she came across a misleading question regarding the size of the country’s population. “The three options were '18 million', '22 million' and '30 million',” she told SBS. “It made me think, ''well, I know 22 million is wrong, I know 18 million is wrong, should I just put 30 million?'” “I told the examiner, 'I think there's a mistake in the exam'... He said ''22 million is the right one'.” But, as DailyMail reports, 22 million is the incorrect answer as Australia’s population surpassed that mark back in 2011. The test includes 20 questions and requires 15 correct answers to pass. The Department of Home Affairs released a statement regarding the test: “To maintain the integrity of the citizenship test, all questions and answers are confidential. It would be inappropriate for the Department of Home Affairs to comment further on the contents of the citizenship test. “The Common Bond Booklet contains 20 sample test questions to assist applicants in preparing for the test. “For clients who sat the citizenship test from 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018, the failure rate was 2.9 per cent. “A person is allowed to attempt to pass the test on three occasions on the one day. They may attempt the test a number of times.” What are your thoughts?

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Nha Trang might just be one of the best places in Vietnam

Cameron Mackenzie is a New Zealander who has lived in Japan and Korea for a number of years but now finds himself ensconced in Vietnam. He is currently working as a Sales Supervisor for CBRE and residing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). There is little wonder why local and foreign tourists flock to Nha Trang as this is a laid back ocean-lovers salubrious paradise! It has a short rainy season (September to about mid-December) however, it hardly rains all day... mostly afternoon showers. From November to the end of January I would advise heading to Muine, Vung Tau or Phu Quoc Island if you are after nice sunshine and no rain. Nha Trang is best from February through to October where an early morning dip in the ocean is a delight when the water is somewhere between 26 – 28°C! There is certainly no need to hesitantly inch your way in. What to do Nha Trang has a plethora of options when it comes to fun and entertainment. There are islands and diving sites to explore or aquariums, temples and a water park to visit. You may wish to venture to the local hot springs and soak or maybe just cover yourself in mud and then revel in your new 'skin'. You can find any number of spots with fantastic views to just grab a coffee, beer or cocktail and just rip into those good books you brought with you. Take the photo above as an example of where you could park yourself on the beach front but out of the sun and with table service to boot! All you ladies will absolutely love the nail/ hair salons they have, where everything from 'French Tips' to hair straightening will cost a fraction of what you would pay back home. Get your dental work done here. Why pay $600 or more for a crown (titanium inner) when you can pay just $150! Prescription glasses will also at a huge discount. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27537/vietnam-expat-two_498x245.jpg" alt="Vietnam -Expat -Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> When in town, I love to take the ferry to Hong Tam Island for a half day. I take a book, my swimmers and enjoy the half of the island that is not off limits to those not staying here (about US$350 per night... ouch!). They have a fantastic large pool, restaurant, lovely beach and I just nab myself a nice hammock between two coconut palms giving me ample shade and marvel at the view and somehow attempt to finish my book between swims and eating. Tickets are available from the Hon Tam office at Nha Trang port. The cost is 370.000 dong per person (this may have changed) which includes the fast speed boat to the island, buffet lunch, use of the pools, snorkel equipment, kayaks showers, etc. Ice tea was free with lunch or Heineken cans were 35.000 dong each (US$1.50c). Motor bike parking is free at the port or you can catch the bus to VinPearl Resort and get off at the port, the second to last stop. The bus is 3000 dong (US$0.20c) from the city centre. Alternatively, for less than US$10 you could get to the port by taxi. Wanting to fill one day with as many activities as you can? Consider heading to Vinpearland. You can either go by slow ferry (about 20 mins) or take the cable car (about 10 minutes from memory). The ticket includes the cable car and all activities for the day (about USD$25) and the views over the beach, city and bay are fabulous! This is the world’s longest over-water cable car. Once there, well, it's really a child's fantasy land! Ok, we are all really just big kids and I had a great day here enjoying what this wonderland had to offer: Restaurants, Carnival rides, games room, a really impressive aquarium and then to top it all off a huge water park with a wave pool and slides galore! We finished off our day sipping a nice cool beer whilst enjoying sunset on the beach looking back across the water at Nha Trang. Oh, don't miss the light and music fountains which is a spectacular display of colour, light, motion, music and water acrobatics. The park is open from 9am to 10pm... just check prior to booking After an activity-filled day... enjoy a few made for total R&R. Visit one of my favourite spots (Louisianne) which is actually a fabulous beach bar/restaurant with pool and their very own (to die for) Pilsner and range of dark beers! These hand crafted beers (500cc) served to you on your poolside lounger are around US$2! Seafood fried rice is a bargain for about US$4. If I have had enough sun prior to lunch, I would often shoot across the road (about a three minute walk) to my one of my favourite restaurants (Veranda) and select from their range of three course meals for no more than US$6-$7. All this in a slightly refined dining ambience with air con, free wifi and a view of the beach. The service however, can vary from enthusiastic to fairly ordinary but I always thought the food was great value for money! One of the best things about Nha Trang is the range of restaurants and bars all in close proximity. No problem if you want your croissant and espresso each morning as there are numerous places to satisfy this craving. Live football and rugby on the big screen? Not to fear, two streets back from the beach and there you can find a hub of sports bars catering to your every need. Anyone for a US$1.80 Heineken? Dinner time arrives before you know it and I found a great little seafood buffet restaurant where I can hoe into their wide range of freshly caught local produce for hours and pay no more than about US$12. As always, I literally waddle out of here as I quite possibly consume 4kg of seafood. Thank the lord the elevator is always in good working order at our apartment, I could never manage the stairs after a feed like that! <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27536/vietnam-expat-three_498x245.jpg" alt="Vietnam -Expat -Three" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> After an action-packed day of reading whilst tasting their entire range of ice cold ($2) boutique beer, why not go see a flick? After a leisurely stroll in the evening along the beach promenade with numerous other couples and families, head to the theatre at Nha Trang Centre. Tickets are less than $5 and yes, the Hollywood movies are in English. I haven't mentioned the bike/motorbike rides or the half/full day snorkelling/diving trips that one could do. There are cultural activities you could go see like the water puppet show, visit Long Son Pagoda and the Cathedral (French Gothic style). There is The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam with a real 18 metre-long whale skeleton. If you feel a little tired, how about Thap Ba Hot Springs Centre which is a great place to relax and rejuvenate after a day of exploring Nha Trang. The Alexandre Yersin Museum commemorates the late French bacteriologist if you need to escape the heat and the brain is thirsting for some info! Another option could be The Hon Khoi Salt Fields which are one of the most unique tourist destinations in Nha Trang. Here female workers harvest mounds of natural salt from shallow fields between the months of January and June. Basically, there is more than enough to do or as little as possible! If it’s a fun, interesting, beautiful and warm destination that anyone, any age could enjoy for two nights or two months then Nha Trang is the spot for you! Have you ever been to Vietnam? If so, how did you find it? Let us know in the comments section below, we would love to hear from you. Find more information on Vietnam at the <a href="http://www.vietnamtravelapartments.com/" target="_blank">Vietnam Travel Apartments website</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/international/2016/06/breathtaking-pictures-of-the-worlds-largest-cave/">Breathtaking photos give rare glimpse inside the world’s largest cave</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/5-trends-in-river-cruising-you-need-to-know-about/">5 trends in river cruising you need to know about</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/08/why-vietnam-is-perfect-for-travellers-over-60/">Why Vietnam is perfect for travellers over 60</a>

Travel Tips

Young Aussie expat befriends lonely 91-year-old

After striking up a conversation while waiting for a bus in Cornwall, south-west England, a young Australian girl has become fast friends with a lonely 91-year-old widow. Gemma Louise Donhou, originally from Perth, Western Australia, began talking to Edna while heading home from work one day. The elderly widow said she had gone into town to do something to take her mind off her loneliness. “She was lonely in the house by herself after her husband of 55 years had passed away,” Donhou wrote on Facebook. “It broke my heart thinking of this cute little old lady all alone with no one to talk to so I asked for her number so I could come visit her for a cup of tea.” And visit her she did, posting this adorable photo with Edna, claiming it was her “first selfie”. <img width="497" height="420" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26612/14102679_10154386326677770_6820152607571064913_n_497x420.jpg" alt="expat befriends widow" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Since the snap was shared on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lovewhatreallymatters/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Love What Matters</a> Facebook page, it has garnered almost 70,000 likes and nearly 3,000 shares, with comments praising the young woman’s kindness and generosity. “That's so nice,” one woman wrote. “This young lady was raised right. Bless her, her family and her new mate. I so love reading stories like this.” “Well done Gemma,” said another. “Young people today get a little respect but you have shown such compassion for this lady, and I am sure a little ray of sunshine into her lonely life.” Donhou has been overwhelmed at the support for her act of kindness, writing of her surprise that “something so small that I did just being friendly” attracted so much attention. “I'm being asked for interviews this is crazy I never expected a response like this!” she said. “I'm happy that the story has reached so many people and has inspired people to help others.” How wonderful. Tell us in the comments below, what’s the most beautiful act of kindness you’ve ever witnessed? Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/08/couple-eats-61-year-old-wedding-cake/">Couple celebrates 61st anniversary by eating original wedding cake</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandma-dances-in-car-park/">Grandma hilariously breaks into dance in car park</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/couple-celebrate-65-years-with-photoshoot/">Couple celebrate 65 years with adorable photoshoot</a>

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Nha Trang might just be one of the best places in Vietnam

Young Aussie expat befriends lonely 91-year-old

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