From Pretoria to Sunshine Coast: Michelle Strydom on new weather, new job and the confidence that emigration builds

Out and about is a column where we talk to people who currently live abroad, or who used to live and work there. This week we talk to Michelle Strydom, who lives in Australia.

Hello Michelle, it’s great to chat with you! Where in South Africa are you originally from, and why did you decide to emigrate first to New Zealand and later to Australia?

We are originally from Pretoria. It’s quite a long story, but the short version is that my husband, Marco, out of the blue received a job offer from New Zealand. After discussing it thoroughly, we decided it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. Four months later – visas in hand – we were on our way to start our new chapter overseas.

After nine years we became citizens of New Zealand and then decided to emigrate for the second time, this time to Australia. With our new passports we were able to do so without visas. The main reasons for our decision were a better climate and more opportunities. We currently live on the Sunshine Coast, about 45 minutes north of Brisbane – almost the same climate we were used to in Pretoria. New Zealand is an incredibly safe and beautiful country, but the predominantly wet, cold weather became a big challenge for us.

Tell us more about your family.

Marco and I got married in November 2015. Two months later he got the job offer from New Zealand and our lives changed overnight. He went over in May 2016, and I followed two weeks later – after some documentation challenges and quite a few questions, because we were newlyweds!

Was the work culture a big adjustment?

Yes and no. For Marco it wasn’t a big adjustment at all, he settled in very quickly and his colleagues made him feel very welcome. For me it was a different experience. In New Zealand I worked at three companies, and at two of them I didn’t really feel like I belonged. The third was an international company where I really felt part of the team. In our experience it often comes down to who your supervisor is.

The so-called tall poppy syndrome is something I experienced in New Zealand, but not in Australia.

Little things were also new to us, such as a fixed “morning tea” break that everyone takes at the same time, and lunches that are enjoyed together, outside in the fresh air.

In Australia, the work culture feels much better for both of us. We feel welcome and genuinely enjoy our colleagues.

There are a lot of South Africans in Australia. Was it difficult to adapt?

Not at all. We’ve only been here for eight months now, but we’re adjusting really well and have already bought our own house. It’s literally been a hundred times easier than in New Zealand. Here people don’t care where you come from, you’re simply accepted as you are, and help is offered freely.

What was the strangest thing for you to get used to? What was the biggest adjustment?

My experience is based on Queensland’s rules. One of the biggest adjustments is that each state and territory has its own regulations and even its own public holidays.

Then: your digital identity. You can’t do anything without it: you cannot open a bank account, get a job, rent a house or buy a car. It’s a lot of administration, but once it’s done, everything works smoothly.

We also brought our cat with us from New Zealand. She was an outdoor cat there, but here there are strict rules. She is not allowed to roam outside the yard, there are hefty fines, and she must be registered at all times and wear a collar with her number.

Do you get opportunities to travel?

We haven’t explored Australia yet, but we’ve had a great time travelling around New Zealand. We converted a delivery van into a motorhome and covered 80% of the most beautiful places on the North Island. It was a great experience, and the travel bug really bit us! Many tourists explore the country in the same way, it’s affordable and adventurous. New Zealand also has some of the best mountain biking trails I’ve ever seen.

Are there South African stores or products available near you?

Yes, two shops in our area have a large selection. But from the beginning we decided to get used to local products. South African products are very expensive abroad. Local products cost about half as much. We do treat ourselves to biltong and boerewors sometimes, because nothing local comes close to the real thing!

What would you call this emigration chapter in your life?

“The deep side isn’t always bad.”
We had never travelled outside South Africa before we emigrated. We blindly moved to a country we had never been to. It was the best thing that could have happened to us. We dreamed big in South Africa, but never could have foreseen that we would be here one day.

What would you say is the biggest change in yourself since you emigrated?

Without a doubt: confidence. When we boarded the plane in 2016, I could barely form a fluent English sentence. Today, I live in an English-language country and work in an international call centre. I say this not to blow my own trumpet, but to encourage others. If I could do it, you can do it too.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us – a lesson, something you wish you knew, or advice for others?

Most importantly: If your marriage is not 200% strong, do not start this chapter. Emigration brings stress and great challenges, and it can break a marriage. You need to be on the same page.

Then something I believe in very strongly:
Support the country you live in or live in the country you support. We’ve seen people come here and try to recreate South Africa in Australia or New Zealand – and when it doesn’t work, they get bitter and go back.

Also: your best friends aren’t necessarily South Africans. Open up to the Aussies and the Kiwis, they’re wonderful people.

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