Today a lovely man delivered a parcel to my house and an innocent comment on the weather led to a discussion of why he chose to live in Brisbane. After growing up in Brazil, and stints living in London and Queenstown he moved here six months ago.
He knew he would love the sunshine and temperatures, after the cooler climates of Britain and New Zealand. But it’s the people of Brisbane he has found to be lacking in warmth. Six months in, he still hasn’t met his neighbours. In general, he says that nobody makes time for friendships or relaxation. Brisbane is no longer the big “country town” that it used to be. It has failed to live up to his expectation of being a warm and welcoming city where people stop to notice the weather and enjoy it together. He said that he is still giving Brisbane a chance, but if things don’t change he will simply move on until he finds somewhere better.
Just an isolated opinion? Perhaps. Could he do more to meet people? Maybe. But I’ve never known a Brazilian to be shy, and it made me sad to think that someone would pack up and leave this beautiful place because nobody had taken the time to make them feel welcome.
. But I’m wondering why you still need a scanner? I have downloaded a great scanner app for my phone so I just take...
5 comments
But if I hadn’t met my neighbours after 6 months I would only think it was because I haven’t made the effort to introduce myself.
It is also easier to make friends in London cause it’s full of other expats also trying to make friendships because they have left all their friends and family back home
Just wait till we get there… we’re going to put Brisbane on the map!
Brisbane is full of 6 foot high fences these days, which is a far cry from what the suburbs were like when I grew up here…
It is sad to think that you can go for weeks without seeing your neighbours unless you make an effort to walk around that fence to say hi…
very sad story.