How to Adjust to Living in Australia (for Americans)

Americans imagine Australia to be very similar to the US, but with a funny accent.  Actually there are many cultural differences that show up on an extended visit or when living there.  Here are some tips based on my experience of living there.  There's a lot of adjustments to make before an American feels "at home" down under.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Australian slang dictionary
• conversion chart for metric measurements

1. Americans need to brush up on the metric system to not feel lost when road signs are in kilometers and food weights are in grams.
2. Australians use a lot of slang.  Some you can guess like postie (postman), truckie (truck driver), and yank (an American).  Others are too unique to even guess, so access to a slang dictionary will save you some embarrassment.  For example, Americans use the word fanny to mean rump.  In Australia, it means something quite different.
3. Australian speech uses a different cadence that is unfamiliar to Americans.  When aussies raise their voice at the end of a sentence, it sounds to an American like a question, but usually it isn't.
4. The seasons are opposite to the U.S., so Christmas falls during summer.  You may miss having a white Christmas, but going to the beach on Christmas day compensates for that.  Send all your friends and family a cute Australian chrissy card with a koala and a gum tree wreath on it.
5. Watch the great Australian movies to get a feel for its history and culture.  It helps also in getting a feel for the language.  Try some titles like Breaker Morant, Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max, The Devil's Playground, Sunday Too Far Away, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Man from Snowy River, My Brilliant Career, Rabbit Proof Fence, Quigley Down Under, The Story of the Kelly Gang, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, A Town Like Alice, and many others.  Pay attention to how people interact and what was different from an American viewpoint.
6. Australians like yanks since the U.S. helped them during WWII.  They're familiar with American culture from TV and movies.  They will ask how you like Australia.  Be sure to enthuse about the great things you've seen and enjoyed.  They are proud of their country and easily hurt by any negative comments.  After getting to know someone better, you can discuss differences and mild criticisms of Australia.
7. There are lots of different foods to try.  Be adventurous and try beetroot (slices of beet) on a tuna sandwich and fried egg on a pizza.  Some wonderful Australian foods include seafood like barramundi or coral sea trout.  There are great candies too, like Cherry Ripe and desserts like pavlova (meringue with whipped cream and fresh fruits).  Australian bread is a lot heartier (loaded with fiber) than Americans are used to. Sample Vegemite at a hotel or someone's home before buying a jar of the spread.  I think you have to grow up on it.
8. Their beers make American beer seem wimpy. Fosters Beer is for tourists, so ask for XXXX or Toohey's or whatever you see the locals drinking.  Australia has great wine regions that are fascinating to visit.
9. Australians participate in organized sports throughout their lives.  Join a baseball team or learn cricket or rugby.  Get outside and enjoy the great climate.  When the team hangs around after a game, remember to take a turn to shout (treat the others to beer).
10. In the workplace, Australians follow a different work ethic.  Unions are strong and workers try not to outdo each other.  Getting along with co-workers seems more important than impressing the boss.  Usually there's a morning break (smoko) and an afternoon tea.

Tips & Warnings

• Australia is as large as the U.S. so don't expect to see it all on a 10 day trip.