29) Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, some things are reversed. For example, Kmart merchandise is higher quality than Target, and prepaid phone plans are better value than monthly plans. Truly a topsy-turvy place
Conversation
30) You can buy a half dozen freshly shucked Pacific oysters or Sydney rock oysters for A$9 at many supermarkets. This is a big boost to quality of life
2
9
31) Anyone driving a Ford pickup truck is guaranteed to have bad car manners
2
1
10
32) Australians are proud of their "Hills Hoist", which is a spinning clothesline. Currently unclear to me whether this is a pro wrestling move or something to hang laundry on
2
6
33) It's been a year and I still don't understand why people like gardening so much. Every weekend is gardening, or buying tools for gardening, or talking about the garden. Boggles the mind
3
8
34) The number of places and situations where it's acceptable to go barefoot are much more numerous in Australia
1
7
35) "Splice" Pine Lime is the best ice cream stick.
1
3
36) Many Australians prefer to live in single-family detached homes ("houses") instead of apartments ("units"). That's because houses allow them to host parties where all their friends come over and have a BBQ in their backyard.
But in reality, they will never do any such thing.
1
7
37) After singing Happy Birthday in Australia, all well-wishers are forced to say "hip hip, hooray" three times. No one knows how this senseless tradition arose.
1
11
38) Two years in, now. I've noticed over time that things not involving borders or visas "just work". Regular life is so smooth that I'm worried about becoming soft and complacent.
4
10
Replying to
Time to return to Hong Kong! (And me to Vietnam)
/ducks