This week on Chinwag Tuesdays, I'm sitting down with Aastha, who made the big move from New Delhi to Sydney five years ago after meeting her Australian husband. Aastha has an eight-year background in media and communications, a Master's in Business Administration, and she's now working as a Customer Success Manager, connecting with clients all across Australia and New Zealand.

We talk about everything from the culture shocks that caught her off guard (shops closing at 5pm, anyone?), to navigating a complete career pivot in a brand new country, to the very real challenge of communicating confidently when your accent is different to everyone around you.

One moment in this episode really stuck with me. Aastha shared that when she first arrived in Sydney, she was nervous ordering a coffee because she wasn't sure she'd be understood. She'd ask for her coffee in full, complete sentences, and sometimes the barista would still say 'pardon?' — and that one moment would shake her confidence for the rest of the day. If that sounds familiar to you, this episode is absolutely one to listen to.

Aastha is honest, warm, and genuinely funny, and her story is one that so many migrants in Australia will recognise. We also chat about how she's adapted her communication style for work, what she wishes she'd known before arriving, and the advice she'd give to anyone just starting out in Australia.

IN THIS EPISODE

• What brought Aastha from New Delhi to Sydney (and how she and her husband met)

• The work culture differences between India and Australia that surprised her the most

• How Australians treat time, boundaries, and work hours very differently

• Aastha's honest reflection on ordering a coffee and being asked to repeat herself

• Why communication barriers aren't always about English level

• How Aastha pivoted from an 8-year media career to Customer Success in Australia

• Why asking for help is one of the most important skills a migrant can develop

• Practical time management tips for working parents in a new country

• Advice for new migrants building careers and confidence in Australia

CONNECT WITH AASTHA

Find Aastha on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/aastha-yadav-98102962Short term courses through TAFE: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/short-courses

Interested to hear what other migrants in Australia are getting up to? Check out these episodes:

Nohely

Dawa

Leticia

Carol

Rovie

Daniela

Tom

Daksh

Mohit

Anish

Jo

Aditya

Karen

Julia

Shak

Jeanne

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

Want to work on your own Australian English?

Book an Accent Assessment with Amanda: ⁠https://www.aussieenglishwithamanda.com/accent-assessment⁠

Id. d’épisode : 1000761269619

GUID : b3ba60b3-0876-4891-b40a-50549a2d9a3a

Date de publication : 14/4/2026 à 10:50:00