A Tad Different from New York

"Frosties," not Frosted Flakes 

So I have been in Australia for a couple weeks now and while I have been here there have been a couple things I have had to adjust to. Some of the basic everyday things are completely different. Light switches are opposite, if you want to turn the light on you flick it down. The date is written with the day first, than month, and then year (today is the 25/11/12). That was one of the hardest for me to get used especially since I date everything in the cake shop. Stores are really only open from 10-5, with the exceptions of food stores and most restaurants. There is late night Thursday shopping though! When you do go to a store, they are VERY big on being green. They do not hand out plastic bags like it's their job. If you want plastic bags for your groceries/purchases, most stores will make you buy them! I even went to Target the other day to buy a pillow and I was charged 20 cents for the bag because I didn't want to carry around my pillow (would've looked like I stole it or something). The cost of living is also higher here, that includes buying food, clothing, rent, and everything else! Speaking of clothes, everyone has their own style here. Of course there are trendy things to wear, but it doesn't seem like anyone sticks to a specific style. Also when reading the temperature. forget about Fahrenheit, it is in Celsius over here, just as meters and kilometer instead of feet and miles. Don't forget the seasons are also switched, I'm starting summer, when it is starting winter in New York.

As far as transportation goes, cars drive on the other side of the road and the driver sits on the right side. I made the mistake once of trying to get into the passenger side, but actually went on the driver side. Cars also have the right of way unless it is a designated pedestrian walk way, then the cars have to wait for them. There aren't any large trucks for families here. So no SUVs, or even pick-up trucks. They mostly drive small cars, vans, or small SUVs. Or they drive these modified small cars that have pick-up truck back to it. Very interesting. Of course there are huge trucks that deliver food and what not, but that's it. Mail is delivered on bikes right now by mail carriers in neon yellow outfits, you can't miss them. People bike everywhere here! Not just to work, but for fun or as their primary transportation. In the city, ambulances are only used for severe injuries, if not as critical, a nurse/paramedic/first responder ride a bike with their neon colored vests stating their position on the back with their medical bags attached to their bikes.

What the modified pick up truck is.

So last weekend I went and saw Breaking Dawn Part 2, the last Twilight movie, but when I went to the movie theater is was different too. When you buy your tickets, you are also choosing what seat you want to sit in during the movie. They don't have to wait all night to get the best seats in the theater for a new movie because when you buy the ticket online or in the theater that part is done. You would just have to walk right in. Also some movies come out later here than the USA, unless they are very popular.

If you want to eat a cookie, it is called a biscuit here. Also  if you want a grilled cheese it is called a toastie. Marshmallows also don't come plain or at least I haven't found any yet. They came with raspberry flavored/pink marshmallows with the plain ones. You also only need to be 18 to consume alcohol and there are liquor stores all over, usually right next to the food store. It is taking some time, but I think I am getting used to the culture and everyday life here.