Expats’ praise for living in Australia – realestate.com.au

Forget the rising real estate prices or the endless sunshine for a moment.

The virus of an expat social media message has inadvertently delivered the ultimate show of support for Australian living, revealing the profound, everyday realities that cement our country’s reputation as one of the world’s most desirable places to live.

Carlos Gómez, a Latin American engineer who has called Victoria home for the past four years, recently shared a list of things that “ruined” him for somewhere else – in the best way possible.

His insights provide a compelling, practice-oriented account of the ease, civility and natural beauty that truly define the Australian experience and attract people from all over the world.

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Gómez first marveled at the civilized road etiquette, where drivers actually give way and stop for pedestrians.

“In Australia, cars slow down so you can merge, and stop so you can cross the street. It’s peaceful and civilized,” he told his followers.

“If I try this anywhere else now, I KNOW I’ll be mauled, ignored or run over, otherwise I’ll never be able to merge or cross the street again. Australia has spoiled me.”

Then there’s Australia’s world-famous coffee culture.

Gómez stated that after an Aussie flat white, “everything outside of Australia tastes like warm disappointment.”

The expat also praised the ingrained work-life balance, noting the “5-to-9 culture before the 9-to-5” culture of early morning activities and the expectation of “real breaks” and leaving work on time.

“Aussies are running, swimming, walking their dogs at five in the morning… and it feels normal,” he said.

“If I try that somewhere else and there’s no one outside, it feels like I’m in a horror movie. Depressing and suspicious.”

Gómez especially loves the outdoors. Source: @carlosgomzs/Instagram

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Naturally, Australia’s pristine beaches also featured prominently in his post.

Gómez admitted that his standards are now “impossibly high,” while other global coastlines seem “middle” by comparison.

“Once you see the Australian beaches, everything else looks like a sad puddle.”

Perhaps most revealing, Gómez was stunned by the pervasiveness of trust and security as he saw locals leaving belongings unattended on beaches or in lockers without locks.

“Here you can leave your bag on the beach, your phone on a bench or (in a) locker without a lock… and no one will touch it,” his message read.

Gómez originally moved to Australia to study, but now works as an engineer. Source: @carlosgomzs/Instagram

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Locals who responded to Gómez’s post largely agreed, expressing their gratitude for these everyday elements that they often overlook.

“Straya, the best country in the world,” someone commented.

Another wrote: “I completely agree with the coffee comment. It makes Starbucks look like regular coffee.”

Others, however, warned against vigilance.

“Sometimes things can be stolen and other times they can’t. It depends on the region you’re in,” one person said.

“As an Australian I will never leave my stuff unattended,” said another.

Ultimately, Gómez’s viral observations provide powerful, real-world evidence of why Australia is not just a place to visit, but a truly exceptional place to live.

It is the unique blend of courtesy, quality, poise, natural beauty and confidence that makes the Australian way of life so highly desirable and for many simply unbeatable.