Mayu's relocation to Australia - his first abroad trip

Today we’re talking to Mayu, who comes to us via recommendation by Akshay and Anushri, two previous interviewees for our Beyond Borders series.

Four years ago, Mayu — a developer by trade — relocated from India to Sydney, Australia. This is notable because, up to that point, Mayu had never been abroad, let alone moved to another country. Knowing this, we were super curious to hear about how he met this opportunity (and challenge) head-on.

The leap: From India to Australia

Seeking better opportunities

Mayu had been working in India for about eight years when he and his wife decided to relocate abroad. He explains, “I had relocated for work before, but always within India, and ironically never for companies that were actually based there. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to move — the constant adjustment to American, British or Australian time zones was figuratively killing me.”

Apart from the time zone issues, Mayu felt that being closer to his clients would help him serve them better. He chose Australia, and specifically Sydney, because it offered the most career opportunities.

Preparing for a permanent move

Unlike many other nomads, Mayu wasn’t applying for a visa but directly for permanent residency.

I knew I wanted to stay for good. The permanent residency is great because it gives you all the rights and liberties that Australians have, with the exception that you cannot vote. For us, it was ideal, because it gave me and my wife individual working rights, independent of each other.

However, applying for Australian permanent residency is extremely tough, involving various requirements such as literacy tests and health checks. “Almost all of my preparations were geared around the application and meeting all of the requirements connected to it,” Mayu recalls. Despite the challenges, he was confident in handling the process himself without paid support.

Overcoming challenges: Adjusting to a new country

Adapting to a new culture

Moving to Australia presented numerous challenges for Mayu, starting with the permanent residency application. “Apart from the hassle of acquiring permanent residency, probably everything connected to being outside your home country for the very first time!” he says.

There were countless small cultural differences to adapt to, such as standing on one side of an escalator to let people pass and adhering to strict traffic laws. Mayu also found the Australian accent challenging to understand. “My wife and I found ourselves constantly observing and trying to catch all the small things that people were doing differently than back home,” he adds.

Finding support in a new place

Having his wife and friends who had already relocated to Australia made a huge difference for Mayu. “My friends were also a super useful source of knowledge, helping me avoid mistakes they had likely already committed during their own relocation,” he says.

Their support was crucial in helping him find a house to rent, which is much harder than in India. Mayu’s hobbies and interests, such as running, DIY, and gardening, also served as a compass, helping him navigate his new life.

Utilizing support systems and resources

“My wife and my friends were my main support systems,” Mayu emphasizes. He also took advantage of specific Facebook groups for expats, such as “Indians in Sydney,” which provided useful information and connections.

When asked what he wished he had known before relocating, Mayu mentions the lack of a comprehensive guide about moving to Australia. “There is no centralized source of information for foreigners to rely on, a lot of critical information is scattered across the internet or shared by word of mouth. The process of acquiring my permanent residency, as well as the actual move, was a constant quest of “figuring it out”. He explains.

And we still made mistakes! We lived by candlelight the first two nights in our new house because we hadn’t known that you needed to connect the electricity 15 days before moving in.

Thriving in Sydney: Embracing a new lifestyle

Building a new life

Mayu and his wife are settling well into their new life in Sydney. “I like it over here! My wife and I are super happy and we’re settling — just the way I was planning for us to do,” he shares.

They are expecting a baby soon and have bought a house, marking significant milestones in their new life. (editor’s note: congrats!)

Achieving work-life balance

Mayu is particularly happy with his work-life balance in Sydney.

My work-life balance now is great, which is both due to the new location and having switched to a fully remote setup. There’s no commuting, I can keep my sacred 9-5 rhythm, it’s all wonderful.

This setup allows him to follow his hobbies, spend time with his family, and enjoy his career.

Looking to the future

When asked where he sees himself in five years, Mayu is optimistic. “I like it over here! My wife and I are super happy and we’re settling — just the way I was planning for us to do.”

He is excited about the future, especially with their baby on the way and the new house they’ve bought.

Final thoughts

Summing up his hybrid working life in three words, Mayu says, "I honestly feel like balance and productivity perfectly summarize it!" (Editor’s note: I think they do, too, so we left it at that.)

At the end of the interview, almost as a byword, Mayu mentions that he’s planning on running a marathon for the first time soon. He says this casually; as if it was no big deal. More than anything, it’s this type of quiet confidence that stuck with us — and left us inspired.