- You don’t tip anyone. Ever.
The minimum wage in Australia is about $17, meaning employees are not working for (and are not expecting) tips.
- Everything is extremely expensive.
Minimum wage and taxes are high. This means everything is double, if not triple the price it would be in the States. Except sushi; sushi is about three AUD per roll (and I am so not complaining!)
- The total population of Australia is smaller than Texas.
The number of people who live in Texas is about 26 million, while Australia has about 22 million people!
- The volume size of Australia is about as large as the contiguous US.
To put in perspective how small the population of Australia is in comparison to its size.
- There is a hole in the O-zone above Queensland.
This requires sunscreen at all times… or else.
- Albeit friendly and fun, Australians use profane and vulgar words to express affection.
…. And their favorite word of adoration starts with a “c.”
- In modern context, Australia was originally used as a giant prison.
Europeans sent their fugitives to Australia 200 years ago.
- Aboriginal Australians have a similar history to Native Americans.
When Europeans first arrived 200 years ago, they conquered Australia and tried to convert Indigenous peoples’ faiths to Christianity (among other forced changes).
- Aboriginal Australians are accredited as the first people of Earth.
Their history dates back up to 100,000 years, and some of their artwork is older than the Pyramids of Giza!
- Everything is trying to kill you.
From stepping on a stonefish, sharks, poisonous caterpillars, crocodiles, cassowaries, the sun, etc, it is a risky adventure simply stepping outside!