Sunday, July 13, 2014

Things that are different ... to me

The following is an ad hoc list of things that I've noticed that are different.


  • Door handles are about 6-8 inches higher than in the States.  In older houses the difference is more pronounced.
  • If you are providing a list of number, say, you're phone number like 0457 722 ..., you would say O, four, five, double seven, double 2, ....   I flinch when trying to write this down, and they flinch when I pronounce a digit twice or three times in a row.
  • "Z" is pronounced "zed" and "H" is sometimes (but not always) pronounced "haytch".
  • The bulletin at church has the week's activities and prayer requests, but nothing about the service and order of worship.
  • Lot's of safety regulations.  You are not allowed to hold the phone or even use a Bluetooth ear device in the car.  (If your car has Bluetooth built into the radio -- then that's OK.)
  • Internet is via 3G and 4G.  This means it is metered, which changes the way you use the internet.
  • Driving on the left side of the road is something that never becomes second nature.
  • Food is REALLY expensive.  A value meal at Hungry Jacks (Burger King) is $9.50
  • Australia does not serve what we would call "regular" coffee.  There are lots of coffee shops, but you get lattes, espressos, etc.  I end up getting something called a "long black" most often.  It's an espresso with water. 
  • Each electrical outlet has a switch for each outlet -- on the outlet itself.
  • Australia is incredibly multicultural.
  • If you liked the meal you would say it was "lovely" or "beautiful".
  • A prominent supermarket chain is "Woolworths" (which I remember in the States as being a drugstore.)  In Woolworths, both the front and back wheels on the shopping cart pivot.
  • Fish and chips are awesome -- and everywhere.
  • Beginning drivers are required to have a big "L" or "P" on their cars.  L stands for Learner and P for Provisional.

No comments:

Post a Comment