Clash of corporate cultures

My new employer in Australia has its head office in the states and my current employer has its head office in the Netherlands. Where the Netherlands has a corporate culture of endless meetings, non-stop discussion and slow decision making, my new employer seems to be al little quicker.
They've asked me to be in Australia by the 1st of January (2008 that is). That's in 50 days! and I have a 2 months' notice... Even more worrying, I haven't signed a contract yet.

But hey, what the hell, an opportunity like this one won't fall in my lap again, so yeah let's do this.

I convoke a meeting with my manager and tell him he should be happy I'm finally buggering off. I could see he wasn't happy at all. In fact he's disappointed and even not-amused. "But we need you!" he said, knowing 3 of our 5 member team will be leaving the company with the next 2 months. "No No No, I can't let you go before the 1st of April."