Thursday, March 3, 2011

Australia and the U.S.-worlds apart!



Oh, Australia! In some ways, you're so similar to the U.S. but there are times I feel like I'm in a completely different hemisphere! hahah...Here are some of the highlights:

WHO'S DRIVING THAT CAR??? Ok, i get it: Down Under, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, not the left. My brain knows this, but it never fails to freak me out when I look over at what I think is the driver's seat and I see someone sleeping...or a small child...or a dog.... Panic ensues! "That person isn't even watching the road!!!", "Is she REALLY old enough to drive???", "Does that dog know how to send emails too??"
 
KILOJOULE SCHMILOJOULE! One of my absolute favorite things about Australia is my complete lack of understanding of their Nutritional Info listed on food products. Instead of calories, Aussies use kilojoules. I have no clue how it converts and I don't care! Ignorance is bliss! Hmmm I wonder how many kilojoules were in that packet of tim tams I just ate? OH WELL!!

THE GREAT TOILET DEBATE:  In Australia, all toilets are dual-flush with two buttons to choose from: a half flush or a full flush (
the purpose being water conservation). Technically the half flush is for liquid waste and the full flush is for solid waste (you can read more about the dual flush toilet on Wikipedia), but I really don't think it's that simple! Each time I go to the bathroom (I'll spare you the details!), instead of just a simple flush, I encounter an agonizing toilet decision. Will only a half flush be enough to take care of things? If I use a full flush, but only a half flush was necessary, will I waste water and does that make me a bad person? It is an endless struggle!

2 comments:

  1. Loz Meister GeneralMarch 4, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    The worst in when you think NO ONE is driving the car.

    When I had to drive in LA I found the whole experience quite stressful because you have to make sure that when you turn you don't accidentally turn straight in to oncoming traffic! The habit of driving on the left hand side of the road is hard to break. But where I was really tripped up was having to pay for parking, I was always baffled when the person in the booth was on the wrong side!

    I dont count kilojoules or calories, too much work for me. If I need to lose weight, I cut down on my drinking for a month. Works a treat every time.

    As for toilets well the ones in the US have sooo much more surface water at the bottom, that is weird especially when you have to do you know what!

    Love The General xx

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  2. I salute you, General! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome insight, stories, advice ;) Haha yes, I totally forgot about the "NO ONE IS DRIVING THAT CAR" moment!! That is possibly the worst and freakiest one of them all. Haha I love that you're willing to talk about "you know what" on my blog...(funnily enough, I almost wrote "bog" as a typo!). xo

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