Re: upping sticks and moving to a new continent - helps if you've got something set up in the way of job up front. But I understand that it's pretty straightforward getting temp jobs in Australia? Other than that, all I'd say is Go For It! And well done, you!

moving across the world and tips on life in the Southern hemisphere?

Don't jump, or else you might fall off the planet. It is all upside down over there, you know.

Wear lots of sunscreen as IIRC you are almost the whitest person on the planet and AUS is sunny in that "almost no ozone layer" way.

I gather that Consuela highly recommends Zorbing, which is basically sealing yourself inside a massive cat toy and rolling yourself down a hill. Why they do that only in the Antipodes -- actually, NZ, but maybe they do it in AUS too -- I do not know.

My only insights about moving are: buy those floor-protective feet for your furniture! Pack your checkbook, recent bills data (i.e. account and phone numbers, if not actual bills), and passport all in the same place. You will need them all at once, and immediately.

The recent bills data isn't as immediately necessary when you jump countries, especially that far, I've found. Checkbook can be next to useless too. However, passport and all your immigration papers should be close to hand.

We don't have jobs there yet, but Almanzo's occupation is in high demand, and if I take classes at the university, I can qualify for a student visa, so we should be all right. We've got the ETA's, so that's three months to find corporate or scholastic sponsorship.

Since I'm about to become all un-American and stuff next month, would anyone mind offering up some random advice about moving across the world and tips on life in the Southern hemisphere?

Hey, if you have any particular questions about stuff, by all means email me and I'd be happy to help.

Hi, Madrigal! Long time no see!

No advice on Sydney, though.

Have fun in Sydney, Mad! I did! Course I was only there for like, 36 hours. But whatever.

What ita said. Hand-carry your important papers with you, including passport, medical records (like your shot record), birth certificate, things like that. You don't want those lost either in checked luggage or separate shipments.

Even though you aren't going as a tourist, get a guidebook or two. Even if you've been to the city before, guidebooks are easy to carry with and provide suggestions.

Give yourself 3 weeks to get over the first shock of moving, and 6 months to really settle in.

It's a looonnnggg flight. I'm in favor of melatonin, noise-cancelling headphones if you can get them, and trying to get on Sydney time as soon as possible.

And don't think too much about all us jealous folks who would love to be going to Sydney, if only for a visit.

Give yourself 3 weeks to get over the first shock of moving, and 6 months to really settle in.

Another piece of advice: most people find that homesickness is worst somewhere around the 6-month mark. It might be a good idea to schedule a vacation of a week or so around then, to somewhere that is neither Australia nor the US. (Say, New Caledonia or Fiji or something.) Assuming that's feasible.

It's a looonnnggg flight. I'm in favor of melatonin, noise-cancelling headphones if you can get them, and trying to get on Sydney time as soon as possible.

True. Try to sleep on the plane (taking a couple of OTC sleeping pills might help). It'll get into Sydney in the morning (around 8 or 9, probably), and if you can manage to stay up from there until 8:30 pm or later, then get a good night's sleep, you might find you've got no jet lag problems at all. (That's been my experience when I've managed it.)

Oh, and once you're there, check out the markets at the Rocks. Open each weekend. I mean, recover from the move first, but it's worth checking out.

Madrigal -- my brother is over in NZ going to school, he was able to use certain types of financial aid (something like the Pell Grant, or Stanford loans, or something) at the university he attends. You might be able to do the same thing in AU.