Moving over to London for two years is essentially a rite of passage for Australians in their 20s and 30s, as it promises a stark change of scenery while offering most of the creature comforts found at home—similar laws, same language, and a herd of Aussies found at any given pub.
Despite the similarities, almost every former UK expat will admit to missing certain Australian staples during their time abroad. No matter how hard they try, the Brits just can't seem to emulate the beloved Tim Tam.
As part of our joint effort with HSBC to help people who have moved from one country to another, we spoke to Urban List Commercial Director (and former Sydney-to-London resident) Leilani Vakaahi, to get some intel on what you'll miss about Australia when you're living it up in another country.
What did you find surprising about the culture in London?
Drinking, holiday and tanning culture. In Australia, people tend to lay low in winter and come out of hibernation in summer, heading to bars, hosting BBQs and throwing parties.
In the UK, there were two party seasons: summer; when everyone starts spending more time outdoors (it still blows my mind that the sun goes down after 9pm), and again over Christmas in winter. Everyone spent loads of time going to Christmas markets and drinking mulled wine in pubs.
This correlates to holidays too—where in Australia, we take most of our annual leave around Christmas, I found most of my British colleagues taking their main holidays mid-year to align with the European summer. Also, I was so shocked to see how many people get their kit off and tan in the middle of a random London park when the temp hits over 25 degrees.
Did you find any substitutes for said food while you were overseas?
What was the first thing you did when you got back to Aus?
Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with HSBC. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.
Image: Urban List