Myths about the country that you're in

1. Tokyo is the #1 expensive city in the world (2003)

Relative to what I'm earning Tokyo is a hell of a lot cheaper than NZ. Restaurants, clothing and supermarket food is all about the same price as NZ. Drinking, accomadation and the movies ARE REALLY expensive. BUT alcohol (at store) is cheaper than NZ.

Restaurant: Good meal & 1 drink $30
Clothing: Jeans $75
Boneless chicken Breast: $6/kg

I think the expensiveness of Tokyo is a bit of a myth

2. People will come up to you if you are a foreigner and ask you to teach them English.

Doesnt happen at al. Maybe very occasionally to women but NEVER to men (and not just me OK?!!!)

How about where you are? Is everything like what you'd expected?

1. It rains all the time and the sky is always grey.

Everyone told me it rains ALL THE TIME in England. So far its rained less than 15 times I reckon since I've been here (over 6 months)!! Plus we had an awesome summer this year....and there is still blue skies out more often than not.

2. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

London is a VERY expensive city in some aspects like rent, car insurance and public transport. But its also cheaper than NZ in other aspects like food, car prices and furniture. It kinda balances everything out. If you are earning the pound then its not so bad....if you travel here on foreign currency you always pay more!!

3. London is a shithole.

In winter sometimes I guess it can look pretty bleak but in summer its beautiful. Every city has its bad, run down areas. You just have to get to know where the good places are. There is some amazing architecture here and beautiful parks. Plus there is always so much to do!!!



People often dont like the cities they relocate to as everything is different to what they are used to. Some people come here...stay for a few months and then think 'fuck this, I'm going home'. I think you really have to give London a chance. Once you get settled in, start to know your way around here and make heaps of new friends its really quite a nice place to live.

:o)

i was in this exact situation a few months back, just with a few more problems to top it all off. got really depressed about it. but you get over it, and once you do you see that london isn't this bleak shit-hole you thought it was and is actually a really cool place to be. even when the sun goes down at 3.45pm

The number one myth i heard about london before i left is, "You spend a pound like you'd spend a dollar". If you were spending a pound that quickly, i'd advise seeing a retail therapist

1. australian guys are hot

all the hot guys ive met are kiwis or poms.... :/

I heard that Aussie girls are HOT but Aussie guys are pretty average

I've come to really like Tokyo. I'm back here next year and I can imagine I'll stay for another 6-12 months

Mind you, if I didnt have my GF and friends here maybe I wouldnty feel so motivated

aussie girls are either dogs-arses or stunningly hot

aussie guys... are feral in general

lol @ Ruthie.

don't know where to start. will do it later. need to go out to dinner....

im serious graph!!!

where do all the hotties hide?!

Oh what the HELL are you two talking about??!! Aussie is full of hotties!!

I'm the one stuck in uglyville....I swear 99% of the population here is well below average in the looks department. I'm not kidding either.

I agree Domino - English people are seriously lacking... and there are so many people with some sort of deformity or other - its like Chernobyl or something...

Makes me realise how gorgeous NZ girls are.

I look around on the tube in the mornings hoping to spot at least 1...just 1...mildy attractive person to look at. But alas, there are none. I actually get all excited when I do see someone hot 'cos its such a rare sight.

British = Really Fat/Way too skinny....bad hair, bad teeth, bad noses, bad accents!!

I agree tonymanero....makes me realise what I am missing back at home!! Kiwi guys are hot!

Paris had quite a few very attractive girls Barcelona was full of them, even the plain ones were pretty. Italy seems to have some very very styley people and not too many dodgey types either. Thailand has very so many attractive girls but your never sure if your looking at a 12 year old, a 30 year old, or a guy.

My pick so far is Spain with Thailand and Italy coming in a close second. The one thing tho is they seem to age quickly there were no pretty older women maybe they were in hiding but the people we guessed to be mother and daughter didnt leave much hope for retaining the looks...

As far as myths go i think (so far) the italians arent as crazy as ive been told, thier driving has so far been the best of anywhere other than america and nz. and apart from the fact they dont like talking in english as soon as they figure out youre not american they are quite helpful.

ok.. so i saw a hottie last night
from switzerland though!

living with a guy who grew up in bondi (guy off the maccas vege burger ad those in oz!) and he has some hot friends.....

theres hope for aussie yet!!

U must love to "vege out" then ruthie?

i prefer to party hard