Here are seven things I need to learn to get by in Australia.
1. Driving on the left side of the road from the right side of the car
About 66% of the world’s people live in right-hand traffic countries. Australia is not one of those countries. If that weren’t bad enough, cars are allowed to park on the left driving lane during certain hours. That means drivers are constantly zipping around them. Plus you’ve got pedestrians and bicyclists as well as buses and trams. While Melbourne appears to have better drivers than Miami (everywhere has better drivers than Miami), the street feels like an obstacle course. Then there’s the infamous hook turn.
2. The metric system
The United States is the only industrialised country that doesn’t use the metric system as its official system of measurement. I am prepared for mental discomfort, but I think the best way to learn the metric system is to avoid trying to perform conversions in my head. Simply accept that 23 degrees Celsius is pleasant and don’t worry about how much that is in Fahrenheit.
3. The government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. I have no idea what that means and I don’t understand the difference between the Labor Party and the Liberal/National Coalition because, in the U.S., labour and liberal is wrapped up in a single party (Democrats).
4. Telecommunications
Though it feels overly complicated, communications in the U.S. is fairly simple. The telephone system is monopolised by AT&T. We have four companies that offer nationwide mobile phone service – AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint Nextel – and several smaller regional and local providers. And while there are about 18 broadband providers, they’re not all available everywhere, and only four companies lead the way: AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner, and Verizon. We tend to bemoan the lack of options. In Australia, the opposite seems to the problem. Australia has 188 licensed mobile providers. That alone boggles my mind.
5. Tipping
It’s not customary in Australia to tip except when it is. Servers are paid a normal wage and tipping is not expected, but if your food and service are exceptional, it’s acceptable to leave the change and up to about 10% at fine restaurants. I’m always tempted to tip and I have to reprogram myself away from thinking that leaving just 20 cents behind is not being cheap or insulting.
6. Public transportation
I live in a city with a terrible public transportation system and I rarely use it. That will change when I get to Australia. Melbourne has the world’s largest tram network, almost 300 bus routes, and a train network with 16 railway lines. There is plenty of driving too, but I don’t expect to have a car for quite some time.
7. The art of living dangerously
Spiders, snakes, jellyfish, drop bears, and even those cute kangaroos and koalas can be deadly. But that’s just life down under. If you’re going to have a good time, just get over the fact that some creature could sting, bite, or disembowel, and kill you at any moment.
Haha, nice post. Always interesting to read the views of a newcomer. Hope you get used to the roads, but don’t worry about paying attention to the politicians – nobody does. Have fun in Melbourne, it’s a beautiful city!
Thank you! Melbourne is great and I’m super excited to be returning soon.
When it comes to phone companies, it’s actually pretty easy 🙂 Telstra and Optus are basically the only companies that have good service everywhere. Every mobile (cell) number is 04*something* so there is no such thing as long distance charges for anywhere in Australia!
I’ve been in Canada for 5 months and STILL can’t work out how they change me for my bill 😉
Hope you enjoy your Australian summer!!
I’m not sure about the charges. Theo accrues extra charges with 1300 numbers with his service provider, but I don’t on Virgin Mobile. I have a pre-paid mobile for the time being until the iPhone 5 comes out and then I’ll be looking into Telstra and Optus. Thanks for the tip and your comments!