We’ve officially been in Australia long enough to start noticing all the little things that make life here feel familiar, completely different, and occasionally like we’ve stepped into the Wild West.
What I’m finding most interesting isn’t necessarily the big, obvious differences. It’s the little things. The everyday routines and systems that work perfectly well, just in a way that’s different from what I’ve always known.
For starters, there isn’t pay-at-the-pump at all gas stations. At many of them, you estimate how much fuel you need, go inside and pay first, and then fill up and hope you got it right. And once you start driving anywhere into the bush, you quickly understand why planning ahead is simply part of the culture. There aren’t a ton of gas stations, restaurants, or convenience stores once you get away from the more populated areas, so the general philosophy seems to be: fuel up before you go and bring snacks.
Those giant diesel vehicles with 120-liter fuel tanks suddenly make a whole lot more sense, too. At first, I assumed the enormous trucks and SUVs were just part of the Australian aesthetic. Turns out, there’s a very practical reason for them. When you’re traveling long distances through remote areas, having that much fuel capacity can be incredibly useful.
It’s funny how quickly you start seeing the logic behind things once you understand the environment they were designed for.
Restaurants are another interesting difference, and one I’ve actually really enjoyed discovering. There generally aren’t servers in the American sense or traditional table service. Staff bring your food and clear it away, but you typically either order via a QR code or head to the bar. Tap water is self-serve, and tipping is either nonexistent or very minimal.
I have to say, I’m enjoying this part.
There’s something wonderfully simple about knowing the price on the menu is the price you’re actually going to pay. No mental gymnastics about whether I’m supposed to tip 18%, 20%, 25%, or somehow 37% because the screen suggested it. The tax is already included, so everything costs what it says it costs.
It’s very straight forward and very Australian.
Internet speeds are noticeably different from what we were used to in the US, and I’ve had more than one restaurant QR code take its sweet time loading while I’m trying to order food. But interestingly, I don’t necessarily mind being a little less connected and available. There’s something refreshing about not having everything happen quite so instantly.
And then there’s the whole weekly payment situation.
Pretty much everything here is paid weekly, which was one of those things that made me stop and think, “Oh, that’s different.” Rent, utilities, and various other expenses that I was accustomed to thinking about monthly are now happening every week.
The process itself is incredibly easy because most things are set up through direct debit and come straight out of your bank account. It’s really just a different rhythm. My brain is slowly learning to think in weeks instead of months.
Paying for things is also remarkably simple. You can pay anyone directly from your bank app instantly, kind of like Venmo, but directly from your bank and without fees.
Again, very logical. Very convenient.
The cost of living is another interesting piece of the puzzle. Groceries, gas, electricity and plenty of other everyday expenses are costlier than what we were used to in the US. At the same time, there are things that feel like a great value, and there are things that make me stop and appreciate just how much goes into getting certain products all the way over here.
The produce is fantastic. It’s incredibly fresh and delicious, and there’s something nice about shopping around what’s actually in season rather than expecting every fruit and vegetable to be available year-round.
And then there are the vocabulary adjustments.
When we first arrived and Jordan was working, I attempted to order groceries online and had a really challenging time finding everyday things. Cilantro is coriander. Ground beef is mince. And apparently anything remotely related to a pepper is a chile. I’m still trying to figure out if that last one is a Perth thing or an Australia thing. It’s here. It’s just called something totally different.
But one thing Australia has in abundance is sunlight.
There is SO MUCH sunshine here, and honestly, it’s amazing. Our house is flooded with light for a huge part of the day, which means less need to turn on lights and more free sunshine for all of Jordan’s houseplants, which are absolutely thriving.
And then there are the sunsets.
Perth has some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some pretty amazing ones. Because Perth sits on the west coast of Australia, facing the Indian Ocean, the sun dips down into the ocean every evening and seems to paint the entire sky on its way down.
Pink, orange, gold, purple, sometimes all of them at once.
And it happens every single day.
Every. Single. Day.
There is something about watching the sun disappear into the Indian Ocean from your own neighborhood that makes this whole move feel very real. It’s one of those little moments when I look around and think, “Oh. We really live here.”
Of course, all that natural light comes with another discovery.
Apparently, I have been relying on flattering indoor lighting for approximately 40 years.
I had no idea how much the dimmer, warmer lighting in American homes was doing for me until I moved somewhere with this much natural light. Australia said, “Good morning, here is every single pore and silver hair you’ve ever earned.”
There is no hiding from it in Oz.
Food has been another interesting part of discovering our new normal. Australia is incredibly gluten-friendly, but being both gluten-free and vegetarian does make eating out a little more of an adventure. My options tend to revolve around salad, gluten-free pizza, or chips (fries), so we’ve found ourselves cooking at home much more and being more intentional about what we buy.
And then there’s Mexican food.
Friends, I did not fully appreciate how much Mexican food was a part of my life until I moved to the other side of the planet.
There is very little good Mexican food here, which, to be fair, makes perfect geographical sense. We are about as far from Mexico as humans can reasonably get. But it is absolutely the food I miss the most.
And Fritos.
I did not know Fritos were holding such an important place in my heart until they were suddenly unavailable.
Apparently, there are some things you don’t realize are part of your identity until you can’t buy them anymore.
Driving on the left is becoming second nature a little more every day. I still turn on my windshield wipers approximately half of the time I mean to use my turn signal, but we’re getting there.
I haven’t had many opportunities to drive because the car I bought is still somewhere in transit. I’m not entirely sure where it is, but much like everything I’ve ever ordered online, I assume it is traveling approximately 9,000 miles to get here and one magical day they’ll call me up and tell me it’s finally arrived.
And speaking of things you encounter on the road, kangaroos really are like the deer of Australia.
Just this weekend, I saw two on the side of the road that had been hit, and it was strangely familiar. It reminded me of seeing roadkill deer back home, except this time the animal on the side of the road was a kangaroo.
I’m told that it’s customary to check the pouch if you see a kangaroo that has been hit because there could be a baby joey inside.
So far, no joeys.
I’m sure there are plenty of Australians who are completely unfazed by seeing kangaroos along the road, but for me, there is still something surreal about driving along and realizing that the animal everyone else considers part of everyday life is a KANGAROO.
We have Target and Kmart, but they are definitely their own versions of Target and Kmart. The brands are different, the products are different, and there’s often just one option instead of an entire wall of choices.
And somehow, layaway is still alive and well. Except here it’s called Layby.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I really want to.
Another phrase we hear constantly is “Easy,” “Too easy,” or “Easy as.” Everyone says it.
I understand the general sentiment. I’m still working on understanding exactly when I’m supposed to use each version. I’m hoping immersion will eventually sort that out.
But then I got my lashes filled today for the equivalent of about $28 USD, which is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than what I paid in the US, so apparently I have found the one thing Australia has decided to subsidize for me personally.
During my appointment, my lash tech and I got to talking about some of the differences between the US and Australia, including healthcare, parental leave, and the wildlife situation.
She has lived in Perth for almost 11 years now and, according to her, in all that time she has never encountered a snake or a spider.
Three weeks in is far too early for me to call that a victory, but I am very interested in this data point.
Eleven years without a snake or spider sighting feels like pretty compelling evidence that perhaps the Australian wildlife situation is a little less dramatic than the internet would have me believe.
I’m choosing to believe it.
She did, however, make one thing very clear: sharks are a very real part of life here.
So apparently I can spend a little less time worrying about what might be hiding in the house and a little more time paying attention to what’s happening in the ocean.
Noted.
We also talked about some of the differences between the US and Australia, including healthcare and parental leave. She explained how Australia approaches government-supported paid parental leave and publicly funded healthcare through Medicare, and how private insurance can provide additional coverage.
It was one of those conversations that made me stop and think about how differently two countries can approach the basic building blocks of everyday life.
And I think that’s what I’m enjoying most about being here.
We’re still very much in the “everything is new” phase of living in Australia, but I’m starting to realize that the novelty isn’t really about constantly comparing everything to home.
It’s about noticing.
Noticing how people do things differently. Noticing why certain systems make sense in this particular place. Noticing the words people use, the food that’s available, the way people interact, the rhythm of everyday life.
Some things are more expensive. Some are less expensive. Some are exactly what I expected. Some are completely unexpected.
And some things are simply different.
Not better. Not worse.
Just different.
And that might be one of the most interesting parts of moving to another country.
It’s not just the kangaroos and beaches and beautiful scenery. It’s discovering that the little, mundane parts of daily life can look completely different somewhere else.
We’re slowly figuring out what feels normal here, what we’ll eventually stop noticing, and what we hope we never stop noticing.
The sunsets are definitely going on that last list.
I have a feeling I’ll never get tired of watching the sun disappear into the Indian Ocean.
And yes, I am still mourning the Fritos.