I've been meaning to share my Australian adventure for quite some time. I've at last made the time to document this remarkable, thrilling experience. My initial expectations about living in Melbourne were rather inaccurate. I reckoned it would resemble living in Southern California except with attractive Australian accents. Though I've heard the Gold Coast shares similarities with SoCal, my Melbourne experience has proven somewhat different. By different, I genuinely mean all four seasons occurring within a single day. Honestly, if you haven't got sunscreen, a brolly, thongs thongs, footwear, and a jumper sorted, you're experiencing Melbourne incorrectly. Beyond the temperamental climate, there's been quite a number of changes I've had to get used to. Here's merely a partial rundown of some of these adjustments:
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1. Driving: Of course! The cars travel on the left instead of the right side of the motorway. Plus everything's measured in kilometres. I constantly felt like I was going WAY too fast. It genuinely took me roughly two months to remember which side of the vehicle to walk to and check the right direction at a pedestrian crossing. Aside from the fact that I'm driving on the left side of the motorway, nothing else changes. The pedals are in identical spots. It's rather like learning to ride a bicycle.
2. Metric measurements: Celsius rather than Fahrenheit, kilometres instead of miles, metres not feet. You understand the idea. It can be remarkably bewildering. When someone mentions it'll be 26 so pack some shorts…my initial reaction is you're either a. mad or b. from America's Midwest. But in fact 26 is practically the ideal temperature for a day!
3. Gratuities: It's simply not customary here, and that is genuinely wonderful! However, it was the most challenging behaviour for me to break. It demanded immense restraint not to leave a gratuity. The adjustment became easier as dining service operates quite differently to America's standards. Be mindful, though. Some venues will regard you oddly knowing you're from America and don't leave gratuities. I've also experienced the confusion numerous times asking whether I ought to tip where my companions insisted no and the attendant/driver/etc. confirmed yes. Dear Australians, please refrain from being misleading regarding the gratuity custom. Likelihood is, Americans will probably still leave something. Simply mention it's not the norm but is perpetually welcome. Regards, Bewildered American.
4. Groceries: Since I've mentioned tipping, it feels right to discuss groceries too. There are comparable patterns. You'll spot McDonald's (Maccas), KFC, and Hungry Jack's (Burger King's lesser-known sibling. Seriously, please do NOT assume this tastes identical to Burger King despite their shared ownership), plus various burger restaurants and certain American goods on shop shelves. My initial shopping trips at the supermarket felt utterly bewildering. I actually cried simply because I couldn't locate products with ease—they were either labelled differently or didn't exist in Australia. Have you ever witnessed an adult weeping in a supermarket? Certainly not my best showing. Yet here are my most surprising discoveries:
a. Pepsi and Mt Dew are revolting here! I get why most people around the world favour Coke over Pepsi. As an American, I can handle sweet, but crikey Mt Dew and Pepsi in this country push sweet to an entirely different plane.
b. Ranch dressing…DOESN'T EXIST HERE! You can grab bottles at the supermarket, but it's not the proper, homemade, buttermilk ranch dressing. You can pick up the Ranch sachets but only at the American shop and they're around $5 compared to the 2 for $1 back in America.
c. Butterfingers, cookie butter, Girl Scout biscuits, peach rings, Hershey and Hershey with almonds (though you can locate the cookies and cream variety), double stuffed Oreos (since nobody has the patience for standard Oreos), and various other confectionery items are practically impossible to obtain or simply don't exist. When you do manage to find them, expect to fork out considerably. Should anyone wish to send me care packages with any of the items mentioned above, I'd be truly grateful!
d. Authentic Mexican cuisine. Coming from Southern California, I've been tremendously spoiled by access to excellent Mexican food. I've discovered good Mexican food at a single establishment…just the one. I shouldn't ever order a carne asada burrito at a Mexican restaurant (whether fast food or sit-down) and encounter a reaction of utter bewilderment as though I'd just spoken French. Yet it occurs, and I've learnt to cope. But I'd give anything for albondigas soup, menudo, tamales, or a lengua burrito now and then.
e. Meat Pie: OMFreakingGOD I'm completely addicted to meat pies. In America, at a baseball match, you grab a hot dog. In Australia, at a footy game, you get a meat pie. It's got all the goodness of a chicken pot pie except with beef and no vegetables. Just pure beefy deliciousness!!
f. Bottle Shops: They've got drive-throughs…America, you need to lift your bottle-selling game. Cheers!
5. Vocabulary: Australian slang features quite a few distinctive terms including: a lot heaps, afternoon arvo, redneck bogan, speedo budgie smuggler, sick crook, crybaby sook, breakfast brekkie, liquor store bottle-o…. Pretty much trim a word down or stick an "O"/"ie" on the end and you're set. Incidentally, root carries an entirely different meaning in Australia. I received some bewildered stares when I mentioned I root for the Red Wings….I support the Red Wings….
I'm certain there're plenty of other things I haven't covered and will keep sharing in future posts. If you've relocated from the US to Australia, how was that for you?
Until next time…
Keep wondering!
