I would lie if I say that I had experienced a cultural shock when coming to Australia. It’s pretty similar to Europe. However, there are some things that I found different in Australia:
- One-storey houses. That’s especially descriptive of Adelaide. You can only see skyscrapers and blocks of flats inside the city center (which they call CBD – central business district). Just outside the CBD the only type of houses you will see will be one-storey.
- Water fountains and free toilets everywhere. Sounds like a small thing but it actually makes life much easier!
- Free bike rental (in Adelaide). They just ask you to leave your passport as a deposit.
- Lots of cycling paths which makes cycling around the city much more pleasant. Here’s a picture of the path I was taking every day from the place I lived to the university.
- University hub had microwaves and toasters available for everyone to use. Hot water as well.
- More expensive ☹ However, after spending some time in Adelaide, I’ve discovered Central Market, which offers cheap fruits and veggies (still not as cheap as in the UK for most things ☹)
- Palm trees!
- Australian accent. There a link to a video of the way Australians speak
Honestly, there’s no exaggeration in this video, they shorten everything!
To finish off, things that I’ve found similar to Europe:
- Buses are never on time.
- University library working 24/7. Which is useful even for exchange students especially before the exams.
- 10 cent deposit for bottles and cans (not similar to the UK, but similar to many other countries in Europe).
Is Australia similar to Europe?