Cosette Paneque - Expat in Melbourne, Australia
Cosette Paneque is a 37-year-old community and social media manager who live in Melbourne, Australia. She was born in Havana, Cuba but her family moved to Miami, Florida in the United States of America to escape Cuba’s oppressive communist regime back in 1980. She then decided to relocate to Melbourne, Australia as her partner was born and raised there.
At present, Ms. Paneque has been living in Australia for nearly three years with her partner. She said that she had some trouble relying on her partner for nearly everything when she first arrived, with the process of obtaining a de facto visa being particularly stressful. “At first, I was overwhelmed. I cried for about 15 minutes and then I started getting organized,” she said. “I hired Hamilton Watts International Migration Services, which was a smart decision,” she said. “My migrant agent, Laurie, helped me understand the process and made sure I didn’t miss anything. I always recommend using a migrant agent.”
Ms. Paneque also described the struggles she had in adjusting to new surroundings. “When you don’t go to school or go to work, it is hard making friends,” she said. “I did attend some expat gathering and while it can be validating to be with people who share some of those experiences, having expatriatism be the only common factor isn’t enough to make a friendship,” she added. However, after joining several social groups and clubs that catered to her interests, Ms. Paneque said that it has led her to have more solid friendships.
It can be stressful for expats to deal with the accompanying paperwork and required documents that are needed to relocate overseas. However, expats can relieve themselves of the hassles that come with gathering official papers by getting the assistance of professional immigration services to serve as a guide for expats who are unsure about the steps needed in international relocation procedures. Furthermore, expats who have a hard time meeting new people overseas may have some luck by joining embassy events to find locals and expats who share similar interests.
Find out more about Cosette Paneque’s experiences in Australia in her full interview below.
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I was born in Havana, Cuba. In 1980, when I was nearly three years old, my family fled Cuba to escape the oppressive communist regime. We settled in Miami, FL and I became an American citizen when I reached 18.
Q: What made you move out of your home country?
A: I came to the Lucky Country because I fell in love with an Australian man.
Q: Where are you living now?
A: Currently I live in a peaceful suburb about 10km from the Melbourne CBD.
Q: How did you come to choose this new country of residence?
A: I ended up in Melbourne because my partner was born and raised here.
Q: How long have you been living in Australia?
A: I’ve been in Australia for almost three years.
Q: What has been the most difficult experience you've had when you were new in your host country?
A: Almost everything is difficult about moving across the world to a country you’d never even visited before. I didn’t having any family or friends here, no community to belong to. I didn’t know where anything was or how to find it or how to get there. I relied on my partner for a lot and that was sometimes stressful for both of us.
Q: Would you say that formalities like getting visas or work permits and international health insurance was particularly difficult in your host country? What was your experience with these?
A: I don’t know if it’s any more difficult than anywhere else. At first, I was overwhelmed. I cried for about 15 minutes and then I started getting organized. I printed all the documents and sorted them according to the agencies I needed to deal with – immigration, police, FBI, Medibank, etc. I made a schedule and appointments and slowly got it together. I hired Hamilton Watts International Migration Services, which was a smart decision. My migrant agent, Laurie, helped me understand the process and made sure I didn’t miss anything.
Q: Are you living alone or with your family?
A: I live with my partner and our dog. At first, it was joyous and also stressful because I depended on my partner for so much, but that has eased tremendously over time as I made friends and became more familiar and comfortable with my surroundings. I still miss my family and my friends back in the US, of course, and we catch up often over the phone and via Facebook and email.
Q: Was it easy making friends and meeting people? Do you mainly socialize with other expats in Australia? How did you manage to find a social circle in Australia?
A: When you don’t go to school or go to work, it is hard making friends. I did attend some expat gathering and while it can be validating to be with people who share some of those experiences, having expatriatism be the only common factor isn’t enough to make a friendship. I joined social groups around my interests such as photography, drumming, and spirituality and that has led to more solid friendships.
Q: What are the best things to do in the area? Anything to recommend to future expats?
A: Melbourne is an exciting and vibrant city. There’s always plenty to do. Expats and travellers should let themselves get lost in the CBD. Explore the laneways to discover some of the most interesting shops in the city and some wonderful little cafés . If you love sports, a footy match is a must. Beyond the CBD, the suburbs have plenty to offer and everyone has to get out to the country to explore the charming gold towns and the beautiful coastline.
Q: How does the cost of living in Australia compared to your home?
A: I still suffer from sticker shock sometimes. The cost of living in Melbourne is two to three times as much as that of living in Miami. A cup of coffee is comparable, but lunch at even the most innocuous café could set you back much more than you thought. The cost of cosmetics was really shocking.
Q: How do you find the local culture and people in your host country?
A: Melbourne is a wonderfully diverse city, which I love and thoroughly enjoy. I like being surrounded by many different kinds of people. I enjoy cultural festivals and the variety of food. There’s not a lot of great Latin food, however, so I do miss that.
Q: What do you think are the positive and negative sides of living in Australia?
A: Melbourne, and I suppose Australia in general, is a nice place to live. It’s clean and it feels safe. It’s certainly a fun, multicultural city with a lot to do. Xenophobia and racism are very challenging. As an outsider, I feel it very strongly at times.
Q: Do you miss home and family sometimes?
A: I think I miss them all the time. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think about my family or a friend in the USA.
Q: How do you cope with homesickness?
A: I used to go through terrible bouts of homesickness. I just sit with it and accept that I’m homesick, that I love these people all that much and that I am loved and missed too. It gets easier. It just takes time.
Q: Do you have plans to move to a different country or back home in the future?
A: I’m staying in put in Australia for a while. While my partner and I plan to travel and visit the USA, we have no plans of moving.
Q: What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
A: The feelings of loneliness and isolation. Almost everything that was familiar is gone – family, friends, the places you went to, and the food you ate. You’re starting over. Very often, that’s exciting. Sometimes it’s very lonely.
Q: What tips can you give other expats living in that country?
A: Try to be where you are. It’s natural to compare life in your adopted country to life in your home country – and people will ask you to compare - but try to do it without judgement. Accept that things are different, not necessarily better or worse, just different. Try to make friends. Everything is easier and more fun with good friends. Be patient and gentle with yourself.
Q: Do you have favourite websites or blogs about your host country?
A: I read a few expat blogs such as Between Roots and Wings (http://betweenrootswings.com/) and Five Down Under (http://fivedownunder.com/). I follow Tourism Australia on Instagram because they always post beautiful images and I get more ideas of places I want to visit. You can also check out my blog at gstumbledownunder.com.