So for context, I'm currently abroad in Australia right now, doing a Bachelor's. Insert that meme where Buzzlight Year from Toy Story stares into a room shelved to the brim with exact copies of him haha! Sri Lankan male student, comes abroad to do some business degree, picks up cleaning for part-time work and survival, I know, nothing unique.
I've seen a lot of posts here about how you shouldn't come abroad it's tough out here life ain't so rosy on the other side blah blah. Sure, parts of that is true, but overall, life here is amazing compared to Sri Lanka. Everything fucking works. The roads are clean, public transport is amazing, the people are so helpful... And just as a CLEANER, I earn enough to fully cover my living costs living at an accommodation that costs more than A$1400 a month. I enjoy fast food, tech purchases, digital subscriptions and all that and still have enough to get by. I earn around AUD 2800 a month but it often is more with penalty rates and all. I don't have a car and don't drink/smoke/go out or whatever so my expenses other than groceries are hella limited.
And yes, you get taxed but just recently I filed a tax return and got every cent and dollar back sitting on a decent surplus now.
I'm so happy here. I love cleaning, it's so much more satisfying and rewarding than business and IT work that's increasingly funneling is into a dead-end both job-wise and migration-wise. My parents won't let me, but I'd have dropped out ages ago even if that means I have to return to Sri Lanka. My move would be to get licensed as a plumber and migrate again. Looked into this and unfortunately the pathway for VET in Sri Lanka is so shit. NVQ courses for plumbing etc are just a few months long no formal apprenticeship bundled in. No idea whether such a short course with no actual apprenticeship work will even get recognised in foreign countries.
People aren't classist here. They mind their own fucking business and there are no jealous, toxic community/family dynamics here...
There's massive respect for blue-collar work, some pay better than random office jobs. I genuinely don't mind becoming a plumber in Sri Lanka either, when I told my mom she was so sad. She said she would never be able to speak to her friends about me. Why??? It's great, honest work and is far more important than fucking Diversity Officers and bureaucrats.
Long-term I'd want to pay back my parents for all the millions they've spent on me and honestly, after that I'll just do my own thing.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't stay in Sri Lanka as a plumber either, but my point is, even the "lowest" tier of work in a developed country allows you to live comfortably. I earn what Sri Lankan CEOs earn in a month in just 2 weeks of pay when you convert. Why would anyone go back to Sri Lanka even to work some office job when the pay is peanuts compared to even the most entry level work here?
Anyone saying living costs are high here are the idiots either splurging on non-essentials or trying to replicate Sri Lankan culture/cuisine here.
Once you integrate here, you don't have any issues. Sure there are racists but idgaf. Everything can be researched for yourself. You genuinely do not need connections or whatever I found my work all on my own.
Thoughts?
I've seen a lot of posts here about how you shouldn't come abroad it's tough out here life ain't so rosy on the other side blah blah. Sure, parts of that is true, but overall, life here is amazing compared to Sri Lanka. Everything fucking works. The roads are clean, public transport is amazing, the people are so helpful... And just as a CLEANER, I earn enough to fully cover my living costs living at an accommodation that costs more than A$1400 a month. I enjoy fast food, tech purchases, digital subscriptions and all that and still have enough to get by. I earn around AUD 2800 a month but it often is more with penalty rates and all. I don't have a car and don't drink/smoke/go out or whatever so my expenses other than groceries are hella limited.
And yes, you get taxed but just recently I filed a tax return and got every cent and dollar back sitting on a decent surplus now.
I'm so happy here. I love cleaning, it's so much more satisfying and rewarding than business and IT work that's increasingly funneling is into a dead-end both job-wise and migration-wise. My parents won't let me, but I'd have dropped out ages ago even if that means I have to return to Sri Lanka. My move would be to get licensed as a plumber and migrate again. Looked into this and unfortunately the pathway for VET in Sri Lanka is so shit. NVQ courses for plumbing etc are just a few months long no formal apprenticeship bundled in. No idea whether such a short course with no actual apprenticeship work will even get recognised in foreign countries.
People aren't classist here. They mind their own fucking business and there are no jealous, toxic community/family dynamics here...
There's massive respect for blue-collar work, some pay better than random office jobs. I genuinely don't mind becoming a plumber in Sri Lanka either, when I told my mom she was so sad. She said she would never be able to speak to her friends about me. Why??? It's great, honest work and is far more important than fucking Diversity Officers and bureaucrats.
Long-term I'd want to pay back my parents for all the millions they've spent on me and honestly, after that I'll just do my own thing.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't stay in Sri Lanka as a plumber either, but my point is, even the "lowest" tier of work in a developed country allows you to live comfortably. I earn what Sri Lankan CEOs earn in a month in just 2 weeks of pay when you convert. Why would anyone go back to Sri Lanka even to work some office job when the pay is peanuts compared to even the most entry level work here?
Anyone saying living costs are high here are the idiots either splurging on non-essentials or trying to replicate Sri Lankan culture/cuisine here.
Once you integrate here, you don't have any issues. Sure there are racists but idgaf. Everything can be researched for yourself. You genuinely do not need connections or whatever I found my work all on my own.
Thoughts?

