Do you remember I used to live in Australia? Here some posts about my experience in the land of kangaroos. When I left Australia, many of you asked me : What it’s like to live there … What it’s like to work there… What it’s like to make friends there… In order to clarify everyone about Australia, in January I tried to find other girls to share their experience of living in Australia. So that they could speak a little of the experience, fears and difficulties of moving to the other side of the world. The first beautiful one is Ana Morais …
- Name: Ana Morais
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Age: 31years old
- Occupation: Fitness Club Manager / Personal Trainer
Tell me a bit about yourself…
Hello I’m Ana Morais (because it would be ridiculous to say my ALL name here). I am still in a transition between being a girl from a small village and a citizen of the World. If before I was a dreamer and a defender of my dogmas, nowadays I am free of everything and ready to embrace whatever comes my way. My purpose in this life is to be as authentic as possible, to live well the years that I am here. Also, influence positively the people who I care about.
I am also the second person with the biggest name in Australia, which gives me a lot of pride and three hours more to handle any administrative service here because they can not process my whole name. So in Portugal, my last name is Morais, but for legal purposes in Australia it’s Fernande (no “s” because this would be too long to it on the ID card).
1. What pushed you to move abroad? And why Australia?
I came to Australia, supposedly only for a year, with my boyfriend at the time, who had a proposal to work here through his company. I thought I was coming on vacation. However, in the meantime I started to work and I got used to the Australian life and I here I am, almost four years later. Before actually coming, I never thought I would have the courage to live abroad!
2. When did you move to Aussie land?
June 2014
3. How was the process of moving to the other side (packing, visa, saying goodbye to your family and friends)
In regards to visas it was easy, because the company dealt with our temporary visas and later temporary work visa (457). It was just time consuming in terms of paperwork that we had to deliver – they ask a lot of things… Packing was relatively easy because I thought I was coming only for a year, so I only brought two suitcases. All my other belongings, I left in my parents’ house. The farewell party with friends and family was very difficult and I was also very disturbed to “abandon” my two little cats Mel and Fiona, which are cares by my friends, Teresa and Sergio. Let’s just say there were a lot of tears in the early days, as should be normal for all those who move to a country so far away from Portugal.
4. Did you have any friends in Australia before settling there?
No, it was totally an adventure for me but I quickly meet Portuguese people in Brisbane. You know someone that also knows somebody from Portugal and everything goes really fast…
5. Did you speak English before moving?
No. Although I had English at school, I never practiced outside of classes so I forgot everything. I did a month of classes in the Wall Street, in Park of Nations (Lisbon), before coming here. I learned very basic things like directions, simple questions. When I got here and realized that beyond the language, the accent was weird and difficult to catch… I decided to do another month of classes in Brisbane.
6. I believe you miss your family and friends from Portugal. How do you manage that?
I try to be as present as possible. Of course, I have become very dependent on my phone and I try to respond to all the messages when I wake up (yes, with the time zone I get many notifications at night, but as soon as I see I respond). Social media has become much more important than before because it is the way to communicate with everyone and to somehow see their lives (of those who share a little of their life). With my closest friends I speak fairly regularly, with my mother I usually make a video call through Messenger every three or four days and with my father I speak daily through WhatsApp and video call once a week. I try to “pretend” that there are not thousands of kilometers separating us physically and we speak of normal things, for example, what we are going to do in the day or what we did, the weather, what happened at work or other trivialities, as if we were having “coffee” together.
7. What is the most difficult thing when you live abroad?
Miss important dates like birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and the birth and even growth of my friends’ children. I do not like being the “aunt” who lives on the other side and they will not know the face.
8. How often do you fly back to Portugal?
I try to go every year and I usually stay for three weeks. In 2016, I went three times but for shorter periods. I usually go during the Summer as my skin does not support the cold anymore. haha
9. In regards to job opportunities…
– How easy did you find a job in AU?
REALLY EASY! ATTENTION: the problem here is not to find a job, it is to have a visa that allows you to work… That is the hard part. So I arrived in Brisbane at the end of June 2014.
- In July I got familiar with the city and country.
- In August I started an English course.
- In September I start looking for part-time jobs through (www.seek.com.au)… Something that did not require me much speaking. I thought maybe something in retail.
However I wrote my full profile with the qualifications I had in Portugal and in October I was called for an interview to be Personal Trainer. I went to the interview and only then, I realized all the process that would be necessary to obtain the equivalences of my Degree. It was not enough to just translate the diploma, I had to enroll in the sports institute here and pay almost the entire course. Lucky me, I was able to do “my studies” again and work at the same time. Of corse, everything depends on the profession you have – you might not need to enroll in the course again.
– What exactly are you doing?
In the meantime, my functions have progressed in the gym and at the moment I am a Club Manager and I still have some personal training students. This is my full-time job, but I’m starting a personal project aside, a Youtube channel called “Move com Ana Morais” and my mission is to get girls from Portugal to move with me, at home, at the gym or even outside. I will post weekly content and information with workouts or healthy practices in general. Totally free and in Portuguese!
– Is this a different occupation from the one you had in Portugal?
Yes, in Portugal I was only a Personal trainer and classes instructor.
– Any advices for Portuguese who wished to find a job in Australia….
Be persistence with the visa. Finding a job will be easy. Australia is tightening its “seatbelt” more and more in regards to issuing visas. As a result, I suppose the sooner you try, the better. If your profession is one of the ones they need, you can try to apply for a temporary work visa still from Portugal or wherever you are in the world. Check this link to see the requirements for obtaining a working visa and to see the lists of professions accepted. Another option would be coming with a tourist visa, which is valid for 3 months. (you can also try the working holiday visa, check HERE). If you main goal is to travel, improve the language and make a little bit of money, why not?
| O melhor da Austrália | O pior da Austrália |
|---|---|
| The fact that it is a country with organized services but at the same time with a relaxed vibe | The fact that it is isolated and far from everything |
| Workers do not need to be overloaded with ridiculous hours to live well, as in Portugal | The fact that it is quite difficult or even impossible for certain people to live here, given the visa requirements |
| There is no trash on the streets and it does not smell tobacco because even on the street there are certain restrictions | Entertainment is very expensive (even for Australian pockets) - salaries are higher here but so it is the cost of living. Going out to have drinks, cinema, taxis, restaurants are very expensive |
| People who serve you or on shops are very friendly and greet you with a smile all the time | Traveling to another Australian city and staying in hotels or even Airbnb is really expensive, unless you get a great promotion |
10. Would you advise people to move to Australia?
Of course yes. To Australia or anywhere in the world. Go learn how to unpack yourself, see other cultures and you will never be the same again. “A mind that stretches with new experiences, never goes back to the old dimensions” (by Oliver Wendell Holmes). Australia is an excellent choice because is a country of great opportunities, organized, fair and… The weather is always good, at least in Brisbane, in the state of Queensland. The only cold months are June, July and August BUT temperatures can reach up to 20ºC.
11. Give us 3 important advices for people thinking about moving to Australia…
My advices are all bureaucratic because I think it is the only impediment or the biggest complication in Australia.
- Research into possible visas you can get – without a visa you can come here. Prepare certified and official translations of the main identification documents, diplomas and other certifications you might have. And finally, see if you know anyone who is already here to help you settle in the first weeks. This is valid for any place.
- Bring MONEY because Australia is expensive and the visa processes are expensive.
- It is important to get involved in the culture of the country from the beginning and be with “locals” for the true experience (look for Meet Ups in areas if you want to meet people with whom you will have things in common). However, I also think it is important to connect with the Portuguese community, who lives in the area and who can help you in various situations: paperwork, recommendations of best places to go, best practices… I’ll be here if you need me!
12. Have you traveled in the country? Where have you been?
Of course! There are a lot of trekking spots and nice beaches around Brisbane. I have also been to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Byron Bay, Noosa, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, Stradbroke Island, Great Barrier Reef (hopefully you have a chance to see before disappearing altogether, unfortunately) and Whitsunday Island (Whitehaven Beach, the most beautiful beach ever!).
I’ve also been to New Zealand, and it’s worth a visit if you come here.
- Favorite food in Australia: Korean food 🙂 (Sorry, there is no an typical Australian food apart from the breakfasts and flat whites – coffee with milk)
- Favorite habit in Australia: Brunch out – Every breakfast is Australia are actually brunches and they are really good and chic.
- Favorite place in Australia: Byron Bay (Although Australia has amazing beaches and the unique Great Barrier Reef, the place where I usually go back is Byron for its hippie vibe – I have not yet find another place on Earth like Byron).
- Favorite sport in Australia: I train in the gym, it is my favorite place everywhere in the world. It is cool that people are more open to exercising and they recognize the benefits of training. Totally different from the Portuguese mentality, which I hope it will change one day.
- Favorite expression in Australia: (about the fact that they abbreviate everything) – Have an avo in the arvo! Eat an avocado in the afternoon!
13. One sentence to describe Australia and your Aussie experience…
Australia has as much of peculiar as of mix of cultures and here you never stop learning.
Although it was not my dreamed country, it was the place where I had time and conditions to reflect on who Ana was and what her dreams really are. This interpersonal growth is something that no one will take away from me – a more comprehensive mind that will not shrink again 🙂
Instagram: @ana_lucia_morais
Facebook Page: Ana Morais
YouTube: MOVE com ANA MORAIS
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Thanks for sharing a little bit more about Australia and your life there with us.
Girls, feel free to contact Ana if you have any questions about the country. I am sure she will be able to help you.
Beijinho,
Daniela