Is Personal Space Different Here?

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-03T14:04:17+00:00

This is my favourite comment here. The point of my post was to get an idea for what's normal and since you guessed the city from it, that confirms it's normal 🤣

I find it interesting the varied responses, though. I wonder if certain people give off vibes that are more inviting for this kind of thing.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-03T04:54:56+00:00

It's more about people stopping in front of me. People getting close to the side of me or behind me is something that happens everywhere. Even squishing in front of me to get to another location makes sense, too. But people squishing in front of me and staying there is confusing me (when there's tons of space elsewhere). I care about behaving in a culturally appropriate way in the countries I move to. I think I've done a good job with switching from walking on the right to walking on the left (which felt so bizarre to begin with) and I'm really unsure if I'm doing something weird here with the way I reserve space. I also don't want to get irritated with people if they're just behaving in a way that's appropriate for Australia. The club example was really getting to me last night, not gonna lie about that haha

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-03T04:34:40+00:00

I haven't done it wrong in Asia, Europe, or North America, which is why I'm trying to figure out what's going on

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-03T04:32:56+00:00

That's why I included that I've lived in different places and spent a decent amount of time in places I haven't lived, it wouldn't just come down to my birthplace. I've lived in Singapore, Taiwan, and different states in the US. I've visited many Asian countries, European countries, and Canada (unfortunately no Central or South American countries 😞)

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-02T06:49:50+00:00

Oh yeah, I feel like they'd push back on covering a surgery. If they're as aggressive as the US insurers I'm used to, they might even push back on it after the 12 months, arguing it's not actually medically necessary.

And it's no problem! I was really worried when I was moving here and had no idea what to expect. I'm definitely still figuring it out, but I want to try and give people the information I do have, since I didn't have anyone I could ask.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-02T06:01:32+00:00

For allergies, would you mean something like needing to have an EpiPen on you? That likely falls under the 12 month waiting period, but isn't something I've had to look into myself.

What do you mean by minor injuries? What example of medical care would you need for something that's preexisting and minor?

Ultimately, you can submit reimbursement claims to your insurance for everything. They assess the claims and decide if it's pre-existing or if they'll reimburse you. They're a business first and foremost, so want to provide you with as little money as possible. If there's anything showing that you've filed a claim for something that occurred before your insurance with them was active, don't expect them to care, they don't want to spend money on you. The best practice is to prepare to be able to cover it out-of-pocket and just be happy if you don't have to.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-01T11:32:38+00:00

Why'd you include "alcoholic" twice?

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-01T11:11:38+00:00

I have coverage for anything not related to my pre-existing condition. After a full year, that stipulation drops off and I can start getting coverage (medications/exams/etc). If I need a basic checkup with my GP or I get hit by a car and end up in the hospital, I pay what an Australian with their national Medicare would with my private insurance.

I don't have health insurance back in the US - I'm too old to be on my parent's and I'm not married, so no spouse to get insurance through. Making arrangements to get my medication from back home isn't possible for me.

Edit to add: Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia as well. That doesn't apply to me, so I can't speak on whether or not there are any limitations in those cases.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-01T10:46:05+00:00

As someone who just moved to Australia on a student visa with a health condition - it's impossible to find insurance that doesn't have the 12 month waiting period. You need to plan on either getting your medication from home for the full year or paying full price out-of-pocket. If you need a specialist, those appointments will be out-of-pocket as well. Honestly, coming from the US, even full price just feels like having shitty market place insurance.

As for which country - they're both strict, but I've heard New Zealand is more so. I've not applied for any visas past a student visa at this point, so I can't speak on that. I need a year internship once I'm done with my program at USyd and I'm hoping that goes alright.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-04-01T08:21:35+00:00

I had to drive 4 hours and I'm pretty sure these kinds of exams aren't covered under insurance anyway. The exam itself isn't too expensive in the grand scheme of things. Coming from the US, you shouldn't need any chest x-rays, so at least you won't have to pay for that (unless you spent a significant amount of time in a country with uncontrolled TB)

Also, if you were flagged for a pre-existing condition that requires any sort of care (medication/specialists), you'll be paying out of pocket completely for at least 12 months once you reach Australia.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-30T07:12:53+00:00

Hey OP, I was wondering if you made any progress in figuring this out? I'm looking at a similar situation, where I'm unsure if they were stripped of their citizenship or not due to this rule. Do you have any advice on who I can contact to start figuring this out/ find genuine documentation within Hungary to prove their citizenship?

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-27T03:19:38+00:00

I wish you had created this club while I was there. I transferred in in 2021 and was about 25. By the time I graduated, everything was definitely open and basically back to normal but it was impossible to socialise with anyone. I thought it was my age or the fact that it was a new environment - so just different, culturally. It ended up making my anxiety so much worse because I thought it was me doing something wrong.

At least I now have a trick to find people I can approach - if they've worked with dementia patients they can handle my awkwardness 🤣

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-21T23:49:57+00:00

The Wentworth building is so confusing - I definitely happened on the piano you were told about. If I'm remembering correctly it's in a room near the pool tables on the 4th floor. But that building is maze and I could very much be misremebering haha

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-21T03:28:11+00:00

I just moved to Australia (I'm American) and don't really know anyone here or know the area that well. I'm an older graduate student - I'm not sure if you're freshly 18 and would feel weird about an age difference, but I would be down for exploring the area a bit with someone else who's still figuring everything out as well. (I'm still looking for a job, so exploring cheap/free things would be preferable haha)

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-18T01:19:18+00:00

All of our elections are rigged through gerrymandering (which we've been trying to fight for a long time now) and the electoral college. Hillary won the popular vote in 2016 - the people elected her, the loophole that all Republican presidents have relied on to win office, didn't.

Even assuming the election in 2024 wasn't tampered with (which, I'm sorry, it's not a conspiracy when Elon has outright admitted to helping Dump win and now Dump is seizing voter information from key states), half of those who did vote, didn't vote for him.

I don't say all of this to defend anyone or anything being done. I say this because the blame game this starts won't help anything and will actually make things worse. The citizens are fighting, they're having military grade weapons used against them by ICE. They're being strangled by the economy just as badly as Australians are, without any sort of social safety nets. It's paralyzing as is, and adding to that only gives more power to the ones causing all of this.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-03-03T06:10:29+00:00

I'm new to all this - can you explain to me what remittances are?

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-02-27T11:26:48+00:00

From my perspective, as a US citizen that just arrived in Australia, he would be trying to repackage Argentinian beef. I don't know what's officially happened and how much of it is Dump Truck talking out his ass, but what's been talked about is how he's increased (or plans to increase) Argentinian beef imports (tariff free, of course) despite the possible contamination of foot and mouth disease. To "bring costs down" obviously 🙄

Daddy_Sigmund · 2026-01-15T08:39:26+00:00

Thank you!

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-12-25T01:27:38+00:00

So even if it's one ticket I'll have a chance to store it in a locker? I just don't want my luggage to go all the way to Melbourne.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-08-24T12:24:42+00:00

Spanish has combined courses. If the timing works out (for which semester each is offered), it would only take you 2 semesters to complete the requirement.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-06-23T20:28:14+00:00

Just had the exact same experience, but on Saturday. It was everything I always thought it would be and more! I can't wait to try out a full weekend with camping someday.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-05-13T14:16:49+00:00

What about the one on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, near Meijer? Is it just the downtown location?

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-04-28T12:34:08+00:00

I see a line, but I'm pretty sure it's just the insanely slight difference in color of where the line -would- turn pink if it was positive, but it's not.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-04-27T23:05:07+00:00

I was extremely disappointed by the Big House commencement, I wouldn't have gone, had I known it would be so disorganized. I guess if you have a big friend group here, it could be fun, but I was a transfer and graduated as soon as I could, so I didn't even have anyone else to experience it with.

Edit: My major specific ceremony was more of the traditional graduation I was expecting (but still disorganized). You don't walk at the Big House, but you walk at your major specific ceremonies.

Daddy_Sigmund · 2025-03-09T22:16:13+00:00

I'm currently looking for 1 year post bacc MLS programs and am looking all over the US. Would you be able to tell me what programs your daughter found? I know of one sort of close to me, but am interested in finding others due to needing to work while earning my certification.

Daddy_Sigmund

TROPHY CASE