Mates Up-Over Mates Up-Over (MUO) was established in 2001. It is an online support community for Australians in America. While this has extended over time to Australian expatriates anywhere in the world, and also to American expatriates in Australia, the majority of members are Australians in America.
The MUO website provides expatriate information, and tools for intra-member email contact and communication; however it is the forum community that is the true heart and soul of the website.
The main aim of the MUO Community is three-fold:
- 1. To provide a safe and empathetic venting place for new Australian expatriates, while at the same time encouraging members toward healthy acceptance of cultural differences, rather than fostering resistance and/or despair.
- 2. To provide a distinctly Australian community, where Australians can find and form friendships with other Australians in America, and in an environment rich in humor and understanding. Real contact is encouraged by way of get-togethers, community events, and special occasions.
- 3. To promote valuable assistance and information from more seasoned members for all things of an expatriate nature, from pre-moving advice, to immigration experiences, to post-move coping strategies.
MUO represents a uniquely close community, distinctly Australian culturally, while at the same time a very welcoming and fun-filled atmosphere for any expatriates and their families to join. Members are typically very loyal and fiercely proud of their community, and embrace it as their own.
The following topics demonstrate the success of the community in achieving the above three-fold aims.
- 1. G'Day Everyone - This topic demonstrates several qualities of MUO members. The welcoming attitude, the belief in the philosophy of the website, and the Australian sense of humor.
- 2. God Bless Us Everyone - This topic is a great summation of the friendships formed via MUO, the real contacts, the community closeness, and as always, the uniquely Australian flavor.
- 3. Help - From Aus to USA - This topic is typical of the huge amount of posts from Australians and Americans seeking advice and direction from members who have had the experience.
