New York definitely has its fair share of expat opportunities too (and not just the amazing Aussie cafes and restaurants you can visit). Advance has its US headquarters here, the Australian universities have great alumni networks, and the Australian Consulate in New York maintains an excellent calendar of events to keep Aussies connected to the homeland. Sporting codes are well represented here too, with AFL, netball and rugby teams featuring a great mix of Australian and American players. Or you can visit The Australian Pub in Midtown for icy-cold Australian beers, great food, and sport on the big-screen TVs (including this weekend's AFL grand final).
If more formal networking is your thing, you can become a member of the American Australian Association. The AAA helps you fuse your old life with your new life, by hosting events for Australians and Americans together - not just business breakfasts, but social events, like the Melbourne Cup, wine tastings, book signings, and black tie galas.
But if you don't want to join anything too structured, you can always meet other Australians on social media, by joining Facebook groups like The Australian Community or Australian Women in New York or Australians in New York, all of which promote informal exchanges and conversation amongst Aussie expats here. Plus I find that the Facebook option is a great source of advice on visa issues, apartment hunting, or buying and selling furniture. They're the kind of routine, lifestyle issues you really need to know about, but aren't always sure who to ask.
Of course the extent to which you engage with these expat organisations is entirely up to you, but it certainly pays to know about them. Because on good days and bad, sometimes you just need to speak with someone who "gets" you. Someone who shares your frames of reference and your sense of humour. Someone who knows how it feels to have that frosty Coopers Pale, meat pie, or flat white. Someone who recommends where you can buy tiny jars of Vegemite, that somehow seem worth every penny to satisfy the craving until your next houseguests come to stay.
I'm sure that other countries offer their expats similar professional and social networking opportunities - you should definitely Google them and see. And even if you only turn up to one event a year, that one random person you speak to might have really needed your friendly face, kind word, or funny story to remind you both why you moved to New York in the first place.
