Moving on Up Down Under

Looking for a job? Want a bigger home? Tired of the U.S. economic turmoil? Well why not try Australia? Seems as if our distant Aussie friends are enjoying the prosperity that Americans once enjoyed. While times are tough here in the States with an unemployment rate that is anywhere between 10% and 18% depending on the source, Australia has handled the economic down turn much better than most other countries.

It is widely known that the U.S. economy has a big impact on that of the worlds but one place that seems to be on the upswing is Australia. Australia's job market is strong and still growing showing little of if no ill affects such as the job market here in America. Last month it was established that Aussies now enjoy the biggest sized homes on average in the world surpassing the United States which had held that distinction for years.

Now before you pack your bags there's a few things you must be able to cope with in order to handle such a big move. For starters Australians drive on the opposite side of the road and car as Americans which can take some getting used to. They have some of our home comforts such as McDonald's and KFC's however they don't serve biscuits at KFC's but rather dinner rolls which are no where near as good. Seems Australians consider biscuits to be cookies which can be rather confusing. On the plus McDonald's in Australia offer up the old style McDonald's fried apple pies rather than the baked ones we've been getting at home for the last 18 or so years which for some can be reason enough to make the move.

Australia has practically all of the amenities and comforts we enjoy in the States though their TV programming leaves much to be desired. Anyone thats ever been down under and seen "Home and Away" knows what I am talking about. Also its rather difficult to catch American sports as there is a 12-14 hour time difference depending on the time of year and part of Australia that you'd be in. Still if you can catch your favorite shows and teams on line you might be open to making such a drastic move.

Don't bother leaving servers a tip in Australia as that is a faux pas. Australian servers and attendants are paid much better than Americans thus it is not customary for them to ever tip. Their toilets flush back-wards which is pretty appropriate based on everything we've covered thus far. Also like most of the world Australians use the metric system which can be confusing when it comes to how fast you're driving or how far your destination might be and if they say the weather outside is 32 it means put on swim wear instead of a thick coat.

Another thing to get accustomed to would be the language difference. Yes they speak English in Australia just as we do here in the States but there are subtle changes in vernacular that you'd have to learn. For starters "elevators" are "lifts", "gas stations" are "petro stations", "side-walks" are "foot-paths" , "garbage" is "rubbish" and "sweaters" are "jumpers". They like the people in England seem to enjoy throwing useless U's in words. For example "color" and "flavor" are "colour" and "flavour". Now while Australians embrace the letter U they dread the letter Z. That is why "realize and centralized are realise and centralised".

No matter how wrong you think they might be in their ways don't bother arguing with an Aussie because it will get you no where. I learned this first hand on a recent trip to Brisbane as I was constantly told that I have a weird accent. Speaking to an Australian is kinda reminiscent of speaking to a person from Boston in that they too hate the letter R. "Car" is "Cah" and "Bar" is "Bah", though usually they'll just say pub. Don't bother asking for ketchup as they prefer tomato sauce. Nor should you ask where the nearest "toilet" is just say wheres the "dingy".

Australia offers up a lot of natural beauty , great beaches and scenic trails to explore just be careful its home to some of the most venomous animals on the planet. If you go to the beach watch out for the Box-Jelly fish. If you go out hiking watch out for snakes as 8 of the 10 most poisonous are native to Australia and watch out for spiders when indoors as the funnel web, red back and white tail are all dangerous too.

Thus if you are a flexible person that can adjust your ways and customs somewhat and are in need of a job or fresh start Australia might be the place for you. The country is prospering when in comparison to the adverse and somewhat dire situation here in America and offers a vast array of opportunity and financial gain for those brave enough to move to the other end of the planet. Just beware of the odd-speaking natives and the poisonous animals as either can perplex you or deal a lethal bite/sting.