The only other person in the world with my name lives in USA. He got cancer, just as I was getting a knee replacement in Australia. His total bill was US$250,000. Mine was 6 lots of $4 for the bus fare to the rehab sessions.
Word yes! I broke my wrist a few months ago, stayed in the emergency department overnight to have my wrist set in the morning. Orthopaedic and physio appointments, and it only cost my transport, which was higher sometimes because I got taxis sometimes, but still, the Medicare system is a blessing.
Australian here my total bills for 2 years of cancer therapy and surgery, including weeks and weeks in hospital and multiple ambulance trips.... $0 ... Zero frikkin dollars
This video could be ‘living in the USA v practically any other western country’, whether or not they speak English. As a Brit I felt very much at home when I visited Oz in 2012. Aussie and British mentality and humour are very similar. Wonderful place. Good luck with your new life down under. You are in good company.
Absolutely agree! Our first trip from Australia to UK was in 2015. The first day there I said to my wife this is so much like Australia except really old. For an Aussie you feel really comfortable and absolutely loved it.
@@brittk3881 I am proud of my Irish convict relatives because I don't regard stealing a shawl to keep warm or a piece of metal to in his craft. They had priests who said they were normally good people. Did their time, raised nine children & died being reported as fine citizens of Qld.
@@Rose-jz6ix Yes I'm aware of the petty crimes people got sent here for. But aren't we glad they did? Because to me I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world
Australian here, a couple of things I’ve seen in the US that is strange to my eye, they don’t hang their clothes outside to dry, they don’t walk anywhere that a car can be driven, they eat enormous portions, even tiny little towns have fast food joints.
America here in Sydney....these are just stereotypes.....I hung my laundry out, used to walk to the shops, and NSW has as many fast food shops as we had back home. Most Australians don't really know what the US is like.
@@andrewmiller9207Aussie here who lived in USA, that country is nothing like Australia, what I did notice was rural people were very generous and hospitable to me as a foreigner but I'll never return there, I was very homesick for Australia
Vax mandates culled brains and free means communist tax payer funded. Gov weasels making decisions what docs can do for their patients. Say u had an allergic reaction to the Vax, doesn't matter gov authority says u have to keep getting them or Ur doc loses his licence if she writes an exemption. Free means docs are government pets. Docs who don't like it go and kick rocks.
Ask any kiwi in Australia about that. Most of them don't have public coverage, yet they're paying for it in their taxes AND extra for private coverage.
Medicines not about care, its a business. Parients are to be exploited for as much as possible. Everything is money driven, to not be would be "commie". This and guns separates America from ever being truly civilised
Offering plastic cups to guests or using them at home is something I found hard to believe when I first started watching U.S. content. Why would you do that when you could use a glass? Plastic cups or paper cups are for picnics or children’s parties in Australia.
I came to Australia from Canada 37 years ago for a long holiday. I didn't realise just how long it would be as I'm still here. I got my citizenship 25 years ago and didn't leave the country for an overseas holiday until 2004 (Kangaroo Island doesn't count hehe). I'm glad you love Australia too and welcome from a former north American myself haha.
Pls don't compare the U.S. and Canada. The former is one of my least favourite countries, except for the spectacular scenery and the friendly people, while the latter, at least on a surface level, is probably my favourite country in the world.
Exactly, in Australia, I could go around holding a sign that said “ScoMo with the Holloe Duomo”, or “Albanese the it’s so easy that it would be unsportsmanlike so do a scandal already to make this easier for me…zee.” Can’t go after Barilaro though, you get sued for that, and arrested.
In theory, but that's far from reality. If I were to ring my boss and say I'm not coming in today, the first thing he'd ask me is, why not? I could probably get away with saying "it's a medical condition and I'd prefer not to say" on one occassion, but if that became a recurring thing, my boss might not be able to sack me, but it would be the end of my progression within the company. Although I will acknowledge that female employees with male bosses are generally less pressured to provide medical details than male employees are.
@@dozermc5220 really??? I’m retired now and have never once given a boss an explanation (unless I wanted to) as to why I was off sick for the day. When it starts run into several days that’s when you needed a medical certificate 🤷🏻♀️
@@dozermc5220 😲 oh dear. I am so sorry to hear that has been your experience. That sucks! So wrong. Every workplace, and every manager in a workplace in different so I can see why people have such varied experienced.
Interesting thoughts. I am an Australian in my 60’s and I have never known anyone who has a seasonal wardrobe. If you’re hot, wear less clothes….if you’re cold, put on more! Simple. Australians have simple ideals…..nothing else matters if you don’t have good health and access to fresh air, clean water and fresh food.
Im British, we have 4 proper seasons but definitely don’t have seasonal wardrobes. Just layer up if its chilly or dig out the shorts at the first sight of sun 😂
Ha-ha, many years ago, after arriving in Australia, during a discussion about weather and what people wear, a born Aussie work colleague explained it this way: "Here in Australia, we don't dress differently in different seasons. We just complain more about the cold in winter!" He is the kind of guy who wears a T-shirt even in winter and just says "Jeez, it's cold!" But, apparently, it's not worth the effort to put on a jumper or jacket. 🤪
Sure. But you Australians don't have to deal with temperature swings that can go from -40 in the winter, and then into the low 40s in the summer, like people in the northern US and here in Canada need to deal with. You guys have it real easy. I suspect what you lot would call "winter" would be referred to as "spring" and "autumn" here in Toronto, if I'm not mistaken. :D
@@paulfedorenko2301 depends where you live. in places like Tasmania you'll be pretty suprised how cold it can be, ditto with how dry heat you can suffer in up north. all down the east coast the weather can vary, my state of Victoria can have all 4 seasons in the one day!
Years ago when I lived in Sydney I used to go to a 4th of July party each year. But it was called "kicked those traitors out of the empire party" everyone had to wear red jackets and we sang "god save the Queen" it was a lot of fun
in Australia mains power is 240 volts, not 110 volts as in America. this means that with a standard household 10 Ampere outlet, an electric jug in Australia creates 2400watts of heat (2400 Watts =240 volts x 10 amperes), compared to 1100 watts in the USA . This is why Aussies use electric jugs to boil water for eta or instant coffee - the jugs simply boil faster than a kettle on a stove.
We had the same health system as America when I was a child in Australia in the 70s there was no Medicare only private health insurance with government assistance.
Many years ago while at an Australian Air Force command centre we had a young female exchange officer (USAF) who was very some sick come 4th July, so our Australian air force officers decided to have a 4th July dinner with her. What started out as a dinner for six turned into a celebration of 60 people at the officer's mess. We had a Texas chilli competion, hamburgers, hot dogs, apple pie and ice cream and imported American beer. Althought it was 30 years ago I still remember it well.
I moved back to Australia in ‘95 with my (ex) US wife. She was ready for the move, all gung-ho, until she stepped off the plane. Culture shock for her, and I wasn’t prepared for her reactions. She tried finding Americans in Sydney to socialize with, and was dismayed they didn’t pay any attention to US holidays. In late November (Thanksgiving in the US), our host tried to put on a TG dinner for her. Finding a turkey was near impossible (or ridiculously expensive), cranberries was out of the question. It was a nice dinner, but she was rude and dismissive about it, truly disappointing. We came back to the USA after six months and quickly split for good. I’m remarried now, but haven’t gone back since. As much as I want to show the family the country, I’m hesitant. I’m glad to see you’ve at least embraced the differences rather than ridicule every last waking moment. (She even berated a KFC gal publicly for not knowing the difference between ‘dark’ and ‘light’ meat… something Australians don’t generally pay attention to).
'Trying to find Americans to socialise with' suggests to me they are least equipped among the Anglo countries to integrate. Canadians, poms and kiwis have no trouble.
Sounds like your ex is a bit of a unit. Every one of our American cousins I have known who has come to live in Australia has made friends and had no problem fitting in with the Ozzies
Don't be afraid. If your family are decent, friendly human beings, there should be no problems. Besides, Australians are more familiar with American views these days because of their cheap mass media and social media.
When I was younger in OZ, Two subjects were taboo in conversation. They were politics and religion, except the religion of Australian football and rugby league
I don’t know how taboo it is anymore, I don’t really understand the politics as much as I should, but no one around me has shied away from mocking politicians for pulling stupid or incompetent sh*t. And while I would necessarily bring up religion with a stranger without prompting, I and my friend are on very different ends of the theological spectrum (in the sense that, I’m not on it), and we discuss religion fairly often without it ever getting hostile or offensive in any meaningful way (lots of memes).
Sacrilege... Who give crap about rugby.... Set perhaps over half an MCG every weekend maybe... I do gauze include save origin because that's intersate rivalry and almost as sacred responsibility as threshing The Poms or Kiwis... 😜
I was taught money too. No I definitely don't think people in the US believe that, especially not religion. They seem to be able to weave it in to every subject. It does my head in.
I wouldn't be too happy about paying any gratuity. If a business expects to receive additional payments for being busy then they need to rethink why they're in business. The whole point of a successfully run business is to cater to a larger customer base, more customers, more profits. No, if a business wants to charge a surcharge for doing what they are supposed to do, I'll take my business elsewhere.
Yes I was surprised by the idea that a 10% gratuity would be added, and would also take my business elsewhere if that occurred. I wonder if it was the 10% GST (goods and services tax) instead?
I'm an Aussie back in Brisbane now but became a US citizen when I was working there. I recently had a Carpal Tunnel operation and I paid for it myself. (I don't have private insurance, just medicare, and the wait is too long.) It cost a mere $4000 altogether. That was specialist, operating room, recovery, and anesthetist, and then Medicare reimbursed me a few hundred as well. I shudder to think what that would have cost me in the USA, and I had Blue Cross there.
Just love your comment that "a lot of people don't actually want to learn, they just want to be right!". Opinions are valuable if we listen to them ... even if we don't agree. Perspective is a great quality to have. Hope you and Mark have a long, happy, and healthy life together!
The sick day thing is so true! I’ve used a total of four hours of sick time this year (and it’s October right now!) and it’s not because I haven’t been sick. I call in and explain in detail what’s wrong with me and then I work for a little bit on the day I call in sick and then I end up making up my hours by the end of the week. I’ll be all “Hey boss! I’m throwing up and I can’t open my left eye so I’m just going to do the basics and clock out.” And that isn’t even an exaggeration. I called in once and my boss was like “I’m sorry to hear that. Can you please make sure the reports get done first?” And I did it with my left eye closed in between urgent trips to the bathroom to puke my guts out. And then I felt guilty about the strain I put on the rest of the team. I’m wondering if it’s a factor in American’s having shorter lifespans than people in other developed nations.
It’s sucks that sacrificing your health and well-being for an employer who will not hesitate to throw you away like trash whenever they feel like it, is considered a virtue here in the US.
Over here if you’re sick for at least three days then you have to supply a medical certificate. The doctor however does not put what your medical issue is as that is private and confidential, the doctor only states that you were unfit for duty due to a medical issue.
As an European I actually KNOW that the 'Murican attitude towards proper work/life balance is positively SICK. Everywhere else the attitude is: If you are ill, stay at home (on full pay) and do NOT bring whatever bug you have to our workplace. If you are sick for more than a few days, see a doctor - after all it's very affordable, EXCEPT in the US.
I noticed the kettle thing when i was in Alabama. Coffee in the US leaves a lot to be desired and i didn't notice anyone having black tea like we do here. Regarding Tipping, my experience traveling from Australia to the US, I was so confused about why sticker prices didn't include taxes and tipping was always a challenge. I would use my phone calculator to work it out. I feel sorry for service staff in the US. I think tipping is only appropriate in Australia if someone has gone really above and beyond and the tip doesn't need to be cash. For example, I "tipped" friends and family of mine in beers who helped me move house. Probably not the best example 😅 No idea if you have traveled north to Newcastle, but the beaches are better up there (my home town, so probably biased). The healthcare system in the US really is the number one thing that needs to change in my opinion as an outsider looking in. Health care is a human right and although our system isn't perfect (like not covering dental) it is one thing less to worry about in a world full of worries.
When my wife and I went to the US for 5 weeks driving and staying in motels, we bought at Walmart an electric kettle, Thermos, 2 of knives, spoons and forks, 2 mugs, plates and bowls. Also bought with us from home 200 Madura tea bags. Could only get Liptons in the US then. We would buy a roast chicken in the supermarket and some salad, take it to the motel to eat. Boil the kettle in the morning, fill the Thermos and make chicken sandwiches for lunch. A lot of supermarkets also sold ready made hot soup which made a good alternative to chicken.
I've noticed that over time you've developed a lovely, gentle, articulate "Ameri-Australian" or "US-Australian" accent in the same way there is a "transatlantic" accent (British-USA or vice versa) and there used to be a very prevalent "BBC English-Australian" accent in Australian media up until the 1970s. You nail the "Bikkies and a cuppa" in Aussie, you've kept some of the distinct rhotic 'roundness' of the US accent while softening into a lovely blend of the two in a voice unique to you. The medical debt thing, I get a little emotional every time I hear a USAmerican talking about not being able to afford healthcare, of being scared or losing everything to medical debt. It's the one issue I'm hoping hard to hear that the US is finally taking giant strides to change for the better.
as long as insurance companies and big pharma have a stranglehold on the medical field nothing will change. i'm on SSI so all my car is free and it's quite good but you have to be able to prove you can't afford it.
My American aunt was astounded to find that all of us are swinging voters and could vote for someone from a different party at each election. She was also shocked to hear that each of us in the family could vote for someone different and never know (because it's not really discussed). She's a staunch Republican and so is her entire family.
There are 2 elections, one in the spring (Primary) and one in autumn (General). In the spring it's the Primaries where you do vote in party. The party offers up a number of potential front runners for each office being filled. On that one you can only vote for those on your party list (Dem/Rep). I had to choose a party for that one and hated it because I was pretty much an Independent voter. I didn't like either side. The General Election you didn't have to stay in party lines and could vote any way you wanted for each office being voted on, but only your first pick, not like here where you can number it. That was the one I preferred and my votes were all over the place depending on who I thought would be the best one.
@@LadyRennyGade We have Full Senate, Half Senate and Lower House elections at the Federal Level (6 and 3 year cycles). NSW has full elections for both Houses every 4 years (held in March). Local Council elections elections in NSW every 4 years (in September). Don't know about the other States.
American politics is the biggest con job on earth. Americans aren't smart enough to realise they're being screwed at the in the voting booth and in their congress. If voting really mattered in the USA those filthy rich senators wouldn't need backroom lobbyists feeding them cash.
Aussie living in US: I really miss the shopping experience from Australia. Especially coles and Woolworths. All the workers were amazing with a smile. It looks a bit different in here😢.
We still have a small amount of Woolworth stores here (USA) but not remotely as many as we had in the old days. I believe they started shutting down most stores when internet shopping became more widely used. Coles, I haven't thought of that store in a long time. Used to be one in every single shopping mall.
@@SariennMusic73 Woolworths is a primarily a supermarket chain in Australia. In the 1980s they split off the remnants of the general retail stores into a separate company called "Big W". Those stores are similar to Target and KMart, which continue to do well in Australia.
That was really interesting. Some things I guessed you'd say and others I didn't. With the electric kettles, we also use them for making a quick instant coffee. Or one of those cup a soup packets. I hadn't thought about the wardrobe thing before but you're right. Most Aussies usually just have a summer and winter wardrobe and mix and match.
Also, boil water in the kettle for your pasta, then finish on the stove - it's /way/ faster than bringing it to the boil there. Let's not forget the stoner favourite: 2-Minutes noodles! Use the kettle to boil enough for sterilising stuff without chemicals (baby dummies, etc). If you've managed to block your toilet, more often than not a kettle full of boiling water dumped on top of it will break things up enough to get it moving again. And the list goes on.
Most Australians don't have a drip coffee machine (don't think I've ever seen drip coffee for sale in Australia since Maccas stopped doing it in the late 80's/early 90's) so kettles are used for coffee too, mostly instant, not just tea. Home espresso machines are becoming more popular but they're still not the norm.
Never drink instant. Plunger coffee or percolated at home. Flat white or long black out . The coffee pod machines are growing in popularity but I don't like the taste or the waste ( the capsules ). At work instant used to be de rigeur abut now many workplaces have a coffee machine
Increasingly Australians drink decent coffee at their local coffee shops or and have good home coffee machines yo make proper coffee, they are more common than you realize..Australians also make proper tea, often in a teapot,and proper coffee, not drip for sure, to drink out of proper cups not paper cups or plastic mugs.
I’ll still boil the kettle for filling the coffee plunger. And if I’m using a pod machine or espresso machine, I’ll add boiled water to my shot of coffee before a touch of milk.
Oh yeah and I worked at an airport as a barista for 7 years, I had a few Americans try and tip me and I didn't know what to do but vehemently refuse because I felt like I was stealing if I accepted! I got paid $27 an hour I did not need the tips but it was always such a lovely gesture
I worked in hospitality in hotels, I used to love serving Americans because I knew they mostly tip, but also had the odd one that didn't, they must have got a memo from someone local that they don't have to here ;) Although don't be afraid of it, cost of living is crazy now, every little bit of extra helps !
If you work in a service industry, such as in an hotel or in a restaurant, you shouldn’t take advantage of American tourists tipping because it puts us in a bad light. Merely explain the reasons why there is no tipping required in Australia, but thank them anyway.
I apologise if this has been mentioned in previous comments, but, welcome to Australia. As you may have guessed by now we love being visited by anybody who is nice and polite. We will bend over backwards to help you and your partner! About healthcare, Even if you didn't have medical insurance you could still go to hospital and get free care if you are sick or injured. No questions asked if you are a permanent resident. Enjoy your adventure.
Growing up in Australia, were taught from an early age, that a person's politics, religion and sexual behaviour were their business and not anyone elses business.
Stupidly hot in summer is an understatement, we get a whole fortnight of 45 degree days, it sometimes hits 50 degrees, and all you can do is sit in front of an air conditioner, in shorts and a singlet 😅
Good topic! I'm an American living in Australia since 2021, and the habits I've lost are tipping by default, driving (use Sydney Metro daily), and paying too much attention to US news/politics (I scan the Sydney Morning Herald now).
I hope you realise that all MSM media are deceiving you? Little truths are told here & there! WEF's Rupert & Kerry Stokes own the media in Australia! Wef Rupert owns Sky News Aust, the only news outlet we can comment on! Australia really is totalitarianism! They protect MSM media & TV programs to lead their audiences into Disneyland... "Redacted" with Clayton Morris is worth a watch?
In Australia no one really cares much who you voted for or if you’re religious….. as long as you don’t try to shove either of those things down people’s throats, then you’ll hear about it! Regarding tipping, I have to constantly instruct visiting American friends or relatives not to tip everywhere - and they feel so guilty about it! 😀
With my American visitors I just say it’s up to you. No one will get angry with you if you don’t, there’s no expectation. The server isn’t reliant on your tip, it’s just a nice added bonus so if you feel you want to go ahead.
@@kayelle8005 they certainly won’t get upset about it, but I’ve seen evidence of it becoming “expected” even though the reasons it is done in the USA are totally absent here. I’ve twice had staff at local restaurants ask me if I was going to leave a tip and my response was “I was born here, this isn’t the US, and I’ve lived in this area for a long time - that’s a bit cheeky isn’t it?”, much to their embarrassment.
True. Also we dont take "teams" as much as they do over there. Team Blue or Team Red. Although there are some fringe elements here (on both sides) who would like to change that
@@stevenponte6655 bullshit, perhaps you don’t get into politics but Australians in general having to vote in a compulsory sense it leads to more political awareness, the average yank knows fuck all, they just lean towards the left or right
That 10% gratuity is probably the GST, applies to all goods and services in Australia and goes to the Government. Servers are generally payed a living wage so we don't tip unless the service is beyond normal.
Nice perspective. A pitcher in Australia is a jug of beer, if you ask the bartender (ask for middy glasses too). Baseball is in Australia, but only a small number of dedicated people play the game, and it's not televised. Cricket is even slower moving than baseball. The only game slower then cricket commonly played in Australia is Lawn Bowls and it's so slow moving that 80 year olds are commonly players and champions. Coffee in Australia is generally worth going out to your local cafe, and Starbucks is locally ignored. A Starbucks will open in some mall occasionally somewhere in Australia, then close down a year later.
I'm an Australian, but a lot of younger Australians probably talk more about American Politics as it's just so crazy, polarised, and chaotic - hopefully things stay that way, and our government and media don't follow the same path O.o Just the other day one friend told me an American who was visiting here was REALLY surprised that my friend didn't have an American flag :')
Much of what you've said also applies to New Zealand. Except where Australia's weather is Hot and dry, Hotter and drier and/or very, very wet, we have all kinds of weather. Often in the same day.
Melbourne is the same, I remember an extreme example when i was down around Point Cook and we went into a class with clear blue skies almost 30 degrees celsius and an hour and a half later it was like 10 and pouring with rain.
Kaitlyn you're more Australian than you realise as soon as you said that in winter you put on a JUMPER you gave it away I doubt any American watching would know what that was.
i had a heart attack recently (here in aus') it only cost me 66 aud and thats just for the meds. i hate to know what a ten day stay in hospital in the US would have cost me.
Your so right about politics. In Australia it is said there are three things you shouldn't discuss unless given permission and they are money, politics and religion so you bring them up at your peril.
that's actually a form of control though, they don't want sheeple discussing these things, they want you obedient. as a result most people know very little about those 3 topics (especially money)
@@brunetteXer Please note I said if your asked. I see nothing wrong with offering your views however giving unsolicited advice or opinions is plain rude. I like a good debate, and have strong views that I am prepared to defend, but you don't need to know them unless you indicate your willing to engage. That is what I like about our country.
@@billschild3371 whilst i agree, the problem with people not discussing these topics is that they then get elevated to some mystical level. And people are seriously uninformed. one of Robert Kiyosaki's biggest points was that in his "poor" dad's home money was never discussed, but in the "rich" dad's home it was, freely and openly. each system creates a mindset.
Yeah on the last point: we had insurance in the States last trip (don't yell, it was when my eldest was under 2. Shes had her 30th and coming up for 31!!!). took the baby to the hspital and the bill was over $200. Very little covered by insurance (the excess was $500, so do the sums...) Ironaically it was so much more affordable in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Only needed antibiotics. When you do get a Medicare card you will appreciate it. Then, all you need is ambualance cover (and that is worth having - the two of you should cost less than $200 a year. But go skiing and need a ambulance helicopter transoprt to Sydney that would cost $10K.
Aka "this information you've started has no reason. It's all about how good you look." I'm sorry but I found this comment trivialised the things you've said.
I'm a 76yo Aussie, 6th generation, and yes the traditional way of making tea was kettle on gas stove/boiling water over chopped tea leaves in pot. Then came the tea bags and it became electric kettle/boiling water over tea bag in cup/mug. Since the introduction of the microwave, depending on where you live, tea bag in mug of cold water, two minutes in microwave, add milk after removing the tea bag is quite common .... for those that like a strong cuppa. I'm in rural Qld where electricity is quite expensive so electric kettles are out of the question.
Kettle vs microwave electricity use depends on how you're using them. If you're boiling a full kettle for the sake of one cuppa, you're better off using the microwave. However, if you're making several cuppas at the same time or need a larger amount of boiled water, then the kettle is the best option.
@@grandmothergoose Yes re one or two persons and the microwave. Three or more, then an electric kettle would be ok. Gas kettle takes a very long time. Here in the bush, if we're going to boil a full kettle, it's to fill a thermos with what's left over.
No real problem buying kettles them in the USA. Some family and friends had them in Sept when I visited. People used to have the whistling kettles on the stove, but mostly they made a pot of coffee. I have been drinking 'white tea' tea with milk daily since arriving in Oz 47 years ago. I would boil water in a pot for my cuppa while there in USA as microwave water is so insipid. I went back for school reunion and people avoided discussing politics, but I know their politics vary widely.
I have an American friend who lives here in Canberra (she also came here for marriage) but she often puts on thanksgiving meals for her friends here. She also did an Independence Day themed birthday party for her youngest son
We did the same thing in Viet Nam with US friends. They found a turkey but an oven was almost impossible, then carving on the floor covered with newspaper was great fun.
Indigenous Americans don't appreciate thanksgiving & independence Day - Just like indigenous peoples don't celebrate Australia Day! These are days of mourning the brutal deaths of our families by the Brutal inhumane imperial colonial savagery that Lizzy preserved & reigned for 75 years!
Having visited the US recently, I'd say other habits you've changed are: looking right, then left when crossing the road; clicking light switches down to turn them on (not up), and plugging a cord into a wall socket then turning it on via the switch on that socket (for those unaware, the US doesn't have switches on their sockets); calling milk milk, not creamer or "half and half"; and having to check closely which note or coin you're using to pay with because they're more distinct here ( the smallest is a 5c which should be gotten rid of like NZ did a while ago). I hated tipping too, I reckon if you put a menu from Australia and the US alongside you'd see the prices are similar, but in the US there's sales tax AND the 18-22% tip which makes the US prices up to 30% more expensive! If you ever get the chance to visit NZ (please do!) then you'll find its quite similar to Australia.
I don't mind tipping cab drivers, usually just by paying cash and rounding it up to round figure so there's no change. They're not on an hourly wage, and just the fare or a percentage of it. But they have to be friendly. If I get no response from a simple 'Hello, how are you" or they come across rude in any way then no tip.
Yeah but US kettles suck compared to ours actually most of the appliances we use suck over there it's the side effect of them using 120v everything is like half the power so kettles and toasters etc here are 2000w and in the US are 1000w
I lived in the US for a few years and I found it strange that I couldn’t easily buy an electric kettle as we use it here for making tea, coffee, instant cup a soup, filling a hot water bottle etc etc. I also had to buy extra clothes, especially coats as the weather was very much colder in the winter. The other thing I soon realized was the difference with our senses of humour. As Aussie humour is very tongue in cheek, and a bit sarcastic as well so I found that Americans would take everything I said literally, so I kept having to say I’m only joking. I also realized very quickly not to talk about religion, politics and guns as Australians in general are nowhere near as religious, are more center/left in politics and have very different attitudes toward guns. For the most part though I found Americans to be very nice and friendly and I had a good experience living there.
Not wrong with humour and so on. I enjoy the interaction on my small channel with those around the world. Humour and interpretation is rather different
@@AJS86 - some of your society came from England; some didn't. Australia is a melting pot of different peoples. The Aborigines are the original Australians; are you going to say their sense of humor is like the English too? I think not.
@@SweetThing Yeah it kind of is the same, since our OG Australian brothers and sisters have been raised mostly in the same society with the same culture that the rest of us have, they have much the same sense of humour. Why wouldn't they? The same goes for anyone of migrant descent who was raised here.
Health care can be a bit of a mixed bag in Australia depending on what conditions you have. Elective surgery can be a wait of a few weeks to 2 years depending on where your are and what you want done. Having said that it's still better than the states (going by what's in the media).
Many Australians let their political views do the talking through the ballot box. They also tend to discuss views in echo chambers online, amongst like-minded family and friends or, as a few do, join a political party.
Australian politics are less extreme than the US because of compulsory voting. It's not about being in an echo chamber it's about not tolerating extremism.
@@JoTheSnoop maybe because people tend to hang around people that are like-minded.... It's not about "echo chambers" it's about who you spend time with. I have friends across the political spectrum, but none of us are extremists - so we do have some interesting political debates. However as soon as someone says something extreme they get pulled up on it.
@@raylouis7013 I think it boils down to personal political opinions over partisan politics, which is a lot easier to amicably discuss because aren’t immediately conflated with swathes of different people associated with the same party. Beyond that, I think the biggest difference is voting attitudes, since you might not just vote for whatever party that mildly associates with your views and might actually put down preferences that support your personal viewpoint as best as possible. I think that makes political discussions a lot less hostile than in America, since your views don’t necessarily reflect on who you may vote for.
Oh wow, I'm going on 4 years here (this weekend marks it for me) and again, I can relate to so much of this video. Especially the holiday's. My step daughters have offered to do something for the American ones here, but yea nah, 4th of July is just too cold and it doesn't fit with the history here. Thanksgiving doesn't fall at the end of harvest season here, so it doesn't fit, plus the traditional food is too heavy at that point. Memorial Day and Veterans Day = Anzac Day here. It just isn't separated out. I am so glad that politics are more subdued here. It makes it so much calmer, so much easier when I do get into a discussion. Your demi-god comment fits so well. People often ask me about US politics and I can point out the good and bad of any situation without having people get angry if I don't take a side. The same with sports, it was basketball where I was. There you had to have a team you supported, and you had to know who you were around and support the "right" one, and it could get more heated than a political conversation. It can here as well (footie teams) but at least it's not likely to end up in a fight. Red Solo cups - hahahaa, yea I don't miss those. But if you do, there is a Redcup site with an aluminum version. I still have problems taking sick days, still feel the guilt, but at least I don't have to explain it when I do take one. And if I need one, I know I have it available where in the US that wasn't always the case. I can't count the times I went to work sick even with pneumonia or the flu because I just didn't have any available or the boss made me feel guilty because I "had to be there." Dates still get me. When I see one written in mm/dd/yy I have to stop and think. We are loving your videos. We sit and watch them together all the time. My husband points out 'she's saying what you said' all the time. I am so glad you are finding your footing here. Have a beautiful day!
We also have remembrance day on the 11th of November and stop for a minute of silence at 11:00 am. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, we remember the fallen because that is when the guns of the Western Front fell silent and this signalled the end of the First World War.
It doesn't matter how long you've been here or how settled in the Aussie life you are you should never forget where you come from, and that should be respected by all.
Been there. I went ten years without a plug in water heating device. I have found that Sunbeam Express are exceptionally durable and reliable. Had one for over seven years before buying my current kettle, simply traded up to a more whizz-bang model that heats to different temperatures for different types of hot drinks, but the Sunbeam Express still works perfectly
Absolutely you're correct about us Aussies and our politicians. I love how u said jumper 😀 our eldest lives in the US has been there almost 2 yrs. I can understand the tipping thing. We just don't do it here.
By law in Australia your employer is not obligated to know why you are sick, you do not have to provide a reason. They can request for a doctors certificate if you are obligated in you contact or award or eba. But that certificate also will not state the reason why you didn't attend work. The reason for this is because if you have a health condition that you wish it to remain personal, you have that right. As an employer, most times my staff will tell me why they are sick without me asking. Tbh i generally don't ask for details, because really what's the point, and just like you said to just give me advanced notice on further days off if needed. Making staff happy and comfortable at work makes for a more reliable and efficient staff and going sick is just another expense in running a business that you cannot avoid.
Also, going in sick can lead to other workers alongside you getting sick and that's a massive burden on the employer to deal with. It simply makes more sense to let someone who's sick stay at home and maybe do a tiny bit of their job online if possible
I'm from a small town in NSW but mostly grew up in Sydney & lived near Dallas for close to a year. Texas is like central west NSW sponsored by the right to bear arms. I loved it there & the lift style of weekend barbeques & sports was very similar. Politically I don't even remember many discussions, albeit abit of racisme I cam across now and then (this was in the early 2000's). If you've lived near Bathurst or Tamworth, Fort Worth is very very similar :)
I want to study abroad in Australia for my uni graduate program in the next year or so. I have only been to Australia once a couple of years ago (Melbourne) in December to visit family. Americans may also make tea using a Keurig machine. When I went to a shopping centre they had so many cute Aussie clothing brands (I wish we had Ghanda in the US, I bought way too many jumpers and so many people ask me where I bought them from lol). The northern and southern hemisphere seasonal switch was indeed very nice, because I travelled to Melbourne during Christmas break in the United States. It was the best Christmas I've ever experienced; a 37+ degree day with no clouds, swimming in the ocean, trying to avoid getting attacked by seagulls, and having a BBQ in December was something I have never experienced in my life, and it was amazing; versus a -10 degree Christmas being stuck inside the home because there was a massive snow storm that produced over 200 cm of snow, and you can't drive anywhere because the roads are slippery, icy, and downright terrible. I also admit that I did get confused at the DD-MM-YY format whenever the date (DD) was 12 or under. I would be like "how can it be February 1st already?" and then did a double take to realise that the date format was different... true story. I never fail to find it amusing every time an Aussie asks if red solo cups are actually a thing at frat parties, "college" (uni) parties, etc. because they very much are. You can never escape them at virtually any house party you go to in the States. Sometimes they appear like wild Pokemon in front of fraternity and sorority houses on Friday/Saturday nights, just littered all over the place. If you spot multiple on the ground that's how you know someone was having a good time last night. But yeah, us Americans do think it's kind of odd to drink out of glasses instead of plastic cups for some reason. You can sort of compare the solo cups to chicken salt in America; something that is not needed, but rather it just feels "normal" and "better" since that's what we grew up knowing and using, a "staple" item of the country so to speak. (No, chicken salt is not a thing in the US.)
I think in the US you have to live the American dream, be rich. And for most it never happens. Out here you don't have to live the dream to be comfortable. Sure it can be tough and we have similar problems but all in all I'm bloody glad I live here.
As an Aussie, I'm so glad we don't have a tipping culture. Knowing when to tip and how much to tip is one of the things I dislike the most about travelling overseas. I'm actually a little bit surprised that you encountered a 10% surcharge for a large group booking at a venue. A lot of venues would be likely to give you a group discount the larger your group is because they know they're going to make a larger profit of a bigger group. Taking ingenuine sick days (aka sickies) to use up your yearly sick day allowance is definitely part of the Aussie culture, but it's something that's directly linked to your responsibility level in a workplace. Frontline employees and employees in industries filled with primarily younger workers are far more likely to take sick days when they're not genuinely sick. Staff in positions of responsibility, or those looking to progress within their organisation do not "usually" abuse the priviledge as it is something looked on unfavourably by employers.
Great video 😊 Are you sure it was 10% gratuity on your wedding contract? I think that’s illegal here in Aus. Are you sure it wasn’t the GST? I could be wrong but I would be surprised if they added a compulsory gratuity 🤷♀️. We can add surcharges .. for public holidays ect(because wages are higher on public holidays)
Another great video mate , when i saw the Notification for this vid i got myself a bikkie (custard cream ) and a cuppa and sat down and watched BTW 4.59 k subs almost 5k are you going to celebrate the milestone ? 🥳
My son's mother in law went into Emergency in September and on into Intensive Care where she spent 10 weeks, followed by 3 weeks on a main ward. She has only came out last week. She had 1 emergency operation and 2 further procedures. She had MRIs, CTs, x rays, blood tests, oxygen, lung drainage 3 times, lots of medication and, now out of hospital, is receiving ongoing follow up treatment from the hospital as an outpatient. Total cost of all care from entry to Emergency to today: ZERO.
Oh boy, this video resonates on so many different levels. I’ll be going through many of the things you have mentioned, too. I’m an Aussie returning to OZ next April. I’ll have to get rid of some habits as well. You see, I have been teaching in American international schools in Japan for 26 years. First off, I’ll have to stop bowing to people. Secondly, I’ll have to stop taking my shoes off everywhere I go!. On another note, I have been in my current position for twelve years and have not taken a single day off work. There are many such examples, but let’s keep it short :>).
When I saw the movie "The Warriors" I was amazed at the 'creativity' of the Art Director - the NY subway trains were all covered in graffiti... I thought it was a clever way to show a dystopian society. Imagine my surprise when I saw the NY subway for real! The trains were covered in graffiti.
Some graffiti is wonderfully artistic, many of these highly skilled artists could never fit their mastery on a simple canvas and they want to share it with as many people as possible. Tags are crap, though, but it's graffiti artist pre-school, their skills are in their infancy
Great Video. As an Aussie, I have always found it strange how Americans are Democrats or Republicans for life. And how much it rules their life. Here we may vote for one party federally and a different party in state elections, depending on policies etc.
I watched a baseball game at Fenway park and although I thought the game itself was boring, the experience with the crowd singing and the hotdogs, etc was really fun. I floored my US hosts when I said that baseball was boring and they retorted, yeah, so is cricket and said I agreed completely - for some reason they expected me to care a lot about it. Americans were all unfailingly nice, but none of them were prepared to make a single concession to the idea that their way of life was 100% perfect.
I'm sure if you held a '4th Of July' party stacks of your friends would come, Aussies love a chance to party. Combine it with a 'Christmas in July' party for extra fun!
Australian here, With the wardrobe thing, you don’t really need a seasonal wardrobe. You need clothing for when it’s boiling and clothing for when it’s freezing. That’s it. Particularly in the area of NSW I live in, the weather changes so quickly there’s really no point 😂
2:38 Old school is to always have a pot on the boil. My Grandmother and Aunty always had a pot of tea on the go any time of the day. IF they poured a cup then more leaves went in. It all ended up in the garden. The old telling the future from the leaves came in as well. The visitors in the cup. There is so much from the years of tea.
You're becoming quite Aussie for someone who's only been here 10 months 😊 Glad you've dropped the tipping expectation; it must drive ppl nuts to get a bill or even a basic service like a cab ride and have to add a certain % every time. Electric kettles have multiple uses, especially if they have different temperature options. I choose the lowest one for filling hot water bottles. (A good tip for when you're freezing next 4 July!) As for politics, a lot of us do talk about it but it depends which circles you move in. It's a bit different from religion, in the sense that most of us don't mind what religion you follow as long as you keep it to yourself!
Maybe you should ask some of your Aussie friends to take you to a Test Cricket match. After that experience you might get a renewed appreciation for the game of baseball.
Test cricket may be the highest form of the game..and can last for 5 days,, but now always... I much prefer watching the Black Caps beat Aust. when it's their turn in 50 over ODIs. She might find that more engaging to watch :-) Our 20-something Chinese homestay daughter a few years ago starting getting cricket lessons :-0
@@neville132bbk it is usually a joy to experience something that is a once in a lifetime thing. No doubt you may see other Australia versus New Zealand ODIs in the future but be prepared for a disappointing end to each of these.
@@neville132bbk of course if you wanted to attend a sporting match where you can expect a win there is always the Bledisloe Cup matches held between the Wallabies and the All Blacks.
Interesting about how Americans like to discuss politics. While visiting USA about 10 years ago, my wife and I having a quiet drink in a 'bar', and a bloke started chatting to us and ear bashed us about firstly American politics, which we made clear to him we weren't interested in, then started up with Australian politics. We made it clear we weren't interested in Australian politics either, and also told him he knew far more about Australian politics than us, and he appeared almost distraught that we so blase and didn't know half the Australian politicians he was telling us about.
I don't wish to offend Americans, but how The United States - a first world nation and that in which many would argue is perhaps the greatest country on Earth - does not have anything really resembling universal healthcare, is one of the worlds great unsolved mysteries.
Their problem stems from ww2. They dominated. They then spent the next decades self promoting. "I am the greatest!". So they believe they are perfect, whereas the rest of us knew we had to continually improve.
Hey Kaitlin, my name is Graeme, and I live in Wollongong Just south of Sydney. I love your vids, and I thought that it was about time that I subscribed. It is always fascinating, to hear the differences between the US and Australia from you, as you now live here in the land down under.
Lived in Washington State but unless it was a political matter, would disregard politics. I always used a kettle on my stove to boil the water for my hot drinks. Layers of clothing to wear and take off when needed. I understand about the tipping, 20.33 is not bad per hourly wage. I have gotten to the point of not caring about national holidays, my anniversary, my husband's and mine birthdays and the occasional holidays. Boxing Day is like Black Friday but after Christmas. I do miss baseball but I don't watch it here. I am no longer working so each day is pleasant for the most part. Been living here since late September 2016 and I appreciate not rushing about.
You know we have Baseball in Australia right? If you miss it so much you would find a local team to follow. If you absolutely have to watch MLB you can just like many AU Baseball fans do. Why is this an issue?
@@nickmaguire4914, I am very aware of baseball here, my husband played when he was younger and the rules are slightly different. It is not an issue but simply missing my home team who got a wild card this season into the playoffs. They didn't make it but it is a new rebuilt team.
I don't mean to argue or point fault, but we have Christmas and Easter, we have Anzac Day, we have Melbourne Cup day, all cities have Show day (not on the same day) ~ we have Remembrance Day, May Day.... Used to be the Queen's Birthday ~ I guess it will become the King's Birthday. I'm not saying we have a lot of holidays, but we have a few. Mostly they try to organise them on Mondays, turn them into long weekends, and we have a few of those. As you point out, days like the 4th of July are the American National Day. Ok, we have Australia day - 26th January. And there are a number of 'special' days that are not holidays as such, but are celebrated. Like Halloween, Valentines, Mothers and Fathers. If you're of Irish descent, there's St Patrick's day. If you have any Chinese friends, there's Chinese New Year. If you come from a religious background, there are various Saint's days.
Is it 'mum' or still 'mom'. Just one of the subtle differences between British English ( which Aussie is based on) and American English. When you said tea and biscuit and not tea and a cookie I said welcome aboard lol!
Hmm, mom or mommy originated in the UK, the US did not invent that word. Mom is still in use in the West Midlands, in cities such as Birmingham. Now if you were Irish, you’d say mam.
Tipping...what a scam ..gettiing customers to pay the wages bill so the owner pays minimum . I'm astounded you didn't jump all over that shit 50 years ago .