Living Abroad Tips

8 things Australians living in the U.S. will miss about Australia

Wise

01.02.17 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

You've moved across the world to explore new places, meet interesting people and take on new experiences.

But no matter how much you enjoy living in a different country, there are always certain things that you’ll miss about home.

So Wise has rounded up a few of the things that Australians living in the U.S. will miss the most:

1. Christmas on the Beach

xmasbeach

Most Aussies will tell you that Christmas on the beach sure beats Christmas in the snow.

Particularly during the holiday season, those from the land down under are sure to miss soaking up the sun, swimming in the ocean and lighting up the barbie on Christmas day.

2. Optional Tipping

tipping

In Australia, tipping is optional because servers get paid a higher minimum wage than in the U.S. and don’t depend on tips as part of their salaries.

But in America, servers are paid under the minimum wage and their livelihood depends on earning decent tips. So, you might be surprised if you see it as standard at some restaurants to have a 15% tip already included in your bill.

Shona, an Aussie who recently traded Melbourne for NYC, explains:

“Back home, we generally only leave a tip if the service is exceptional or if you want to ditch your change. But in the U.S, if you don’t leave a tip your server may become angry and might even approach you to ask why. This happened during my first week in New York and I was mortified. On the one hand, I hadn’t yet realized that tipping was such a part of the culture. On the other hand, I really felt like it should be my right to decide how much I wanted to leave.”

3. Lucas Papaw Ointment

lucaspawpaw

A cult favorite, Lucas’s Papaw antibacterial ointment is exclusively produced in Australia and is the kind of item that Aussies eagerly have sent to them in care packages from home.

It's hard to find in the U.S.

4. Chicken Salt and Vegemite

vegemite

These two salty, quintessential Australian snack enhancers are hard to give up.

They're hard to find in U.S. groceries, and even harder to imitate.

5. Wearing Havaianas Year-round

flipflops

In many parts of the country, “havies” (also known as flip flops or thongs) can be worn year-round and are acceptable footwear for pretty much any occasion.

Dane, an Australian expat living in Boston told us:

“They’re good for casual fridays at the office, your brother’s beach wedding or a first date!”

6. Universal Health Care

universalhealthcare

If you’re an Australian living in America, then chances are at some point you’ll need to go to the hospital.

Just don’t be surprised when they hand you an enormous bill at the end. This is a big contrast to back in Australia, where everyone has access to universal health care and never have to pay out of pocket to see a doctor if they carry a 'medicare' card.

7. Aussie Rules Football

aussiefooty

Not quite rugby and not quite American football, Aussie rules or “footy” as it’s fondly called is almost exclusively played in Australia and is an aggressive, skill-based sport.

Die hard fans (which most Australians are) will sure miss cheering on their favorite AFL team.

8. Driving on the Left Side of the Road

driving

Makes much more sense than driving on the wrong, I mean right side of the road.

Doesn’t it?

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