I have been working in Australia for fi ve years and I’m here to tell you that it’s fi ne, and why. When it comes to the work-life balance, Australia’s the only place I know where the balance tilts more towards life than to work. People live for their weekends and their Friday nights.

Monday morning, in the elevator on their way to the other side of the tilt, someone will be sure to be saying, “Five days left till the weekend!” Come weekends, and Sydneysiders party like there’s no tomorrow. Understandably then, there’s no dearth of nightspots in the city. There are great pubs, jazz haunts, rock venues, and, well, just nightclubs, in most parts of the city – from Kings Cross to Oxford Street, to The Rocks, your choices are unlimited. If you’re a woman, it’s safer to be accompanied by a male friend or a group in case you are out late. Sydney, unfortunately, isn’t the safest of cities. Antepodean gangstas work at times when others play.

Eating out is expensive compared to other parts of Australia, but, even so, there’s great value at some of the restaurants. If I want to eat authentic Australian, there’s Neil Perry’s Rockpool. Croc salad and kangaroo fl ambé? No, I’m kidding. If I crave for food that reminds me of home, I head for Flavour of India. No kidding. I don’t think anyone will have a problem with food here, although Australians do like their red meat. The weather is generally warm; even during Sydney winters, you don’t really need to bundle up.