Australia like Usa?
May 15th 2009, 9:48 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australia like Usa?
I never seem to hear much of this myself except when I am on the phone back to the Northern Hemisphere... or obviously listening to some on here today
May 15th 2009, 10:06 am
#18
'Made in Ulster' Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Australia like Usa?
Yellow taxis in Melbourne and Play Areas outside McDonalds etc = very Americanised, or so I thought anyways!!! 
May 15th 2009, 10:09 am
#19
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: Australia like Usa?
One of the reaons I refuse to don't like the Hills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsong_Church
I guess it depends on where you live in Australia or even Sydney. John Howard encouraged churh delivered social servies by charities such as Anglicare.
I think the worst incarnation was a Catholic run abortion line
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...34-601,00.html
I sense that KRUDD will slowly reverse these decisions like this one
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...7-2702,00.html
You also need to realise the amount spent on private schooling by the commonwealth is massive. Most private schools have a religious orientation,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...654221539.html
Looks like plenty of these will get built as the nature of Australia becomes more Islamic
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...l/1513848.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsong_Church
I guess it depends on where you live in Australia or even Sydney. John Howard encouraged churh delivered social servies by charities such as Anglicare.
I think the worst incarnation was a Catholic run abortion line
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...34-601,00.html
I sense that KRUDD will slowly reverse these decisions like this one
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...7-2702,00.html
You also need to realise the amount spent on private schooling by the commonwealth is massive. Most private schools have a religious orientation,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...654221539.html
Looks like plenty of these will get built as the nature of Australia becomes more Islamic
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...l/1513848.aspx
Er, what? 
Australia does not have an official state religion (unlike the UK, where your head of state is also head of the state church); the only religious schools are non-government schools (unlike the UK) and during my 30 years in Australia, the only Scripture I ever found was in an optional RE class at primary school.
As for a religious bias everywhere...
Australia does not have an official state religion (unlike the UK, where your head of state is also head of the state church); the only religious schools are non-government schools (unlike the UK) and during my 30 years in Australia, the only Scripture I ever found was in an optional RE class at primary school.
As for a religious bias everywhere...
May 15th 2009, 10:14 am
#20
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: Australia like Usa?
Americans overseas with an open mind and thick skin do fine. The difference with Australians is that they are far more vocal in their opion of the US but it is without the snootiness and silly cultural superiority complex some of us Brits can get.
May 15th 2009, 10:25 am
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australia like Usa?
eg: In 2005-06, government schools in Victoria received combined Australian and Victorian Government funding of $10,352 a student, while non-government schools received $5,613 a student.
May 15th 2009, 11:25 am
#23
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: Australia like Usa?
I've never been to the US but I think many parts of it are very like how I expect the US to be: sprawling suburbs littered with fast food outlets and car lots, scripture in schools and a religious bias everywhere, big 4wds reversing out of gated driveways to drive from bland inland suburbs to the city for work, rampant consumerism, screaming adverts, rednecks etc, etc.
OTOH, the wildlife is incredible in an everyday way, which is not what I expect of the US.
OTOH, the wildlife is incredible in an everyday way, which is not what I expect of the US.
The Aussies are like trainee yanks. V8's, Church of Aus is MacDonalds, Walking is unusual - the car is king. Sports mentality (but underneath bunch of wimps) Bad losers and even worse winners, Malls over towns with character and personality, bimbo girls with boob jobs, beach culture, houses (Mc Mansions) make your skin crawl all in rows with palm trees and overly clean look like Legoland. Ugh.
Only nice bits are the natural bits and the stuff in there tries to killyou.
Oh and bushfires akin to those in the states.
Also politics - state against state.
Medicare as health care - fear of getting really sick.
I meet nice people here but they are unusual in that they have opinions other than those of Oprah or don't watch Days of Our Lives.
Plastic people in a plastic land.
I could go on...
Only nice bits are the natural bits and the stuff in there tries to killyou.
Oh and bushfires akin to those in the states.
Also politics - state against state.
Medicare as health care - fear of getting really sick.
I meet nice people here but they are unusual in that they have opinions other than those of Oprah or don't watch Days of Our Lives.
Plastic people in a plastic land.
I could go on...
Too true.
May 15th 2009, 11:53 am
#24
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Australia like Usa?
Apparently clean suburbs are a bad thing. 
May 15th 2009, 1:09 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Under the glow of my new visa
Posts: 629
Re: Australia like Usa?
I'm a Brit that's previously lived in Florida for 7 years, but have only spent a total of 3 months in Australia (although I'm waiting on my 175 to go live there long-term).
There are some similarities between Oz and the States but both countries still differ significantly from each other. They compare in the same sense that Oz and the UK compare or that the UK and the States compare. Someone from elsewhere in the world might consider the UK, OZ and the States to all be very similar to each other in many ways.
When I think of the States, the phrase 'bigger is better' comes to mind. By this, I mean large cars, loud and brash attitudes, things done on a large scale, etc. There is certainly some of this present in Oz but not nearly to the same extent would be my observation.
Eating out in Oz is a lot more common that the UK but not as prevalent as the US. The UK has a LOT more history than both Oz and the States combined and then some. Houses are generally bigger in both Oz and the States compared to the UK.
It'll be interesting to see if my own preconceptions or Oz stack up after I move there (assuming it happens).
- CDM
There are some similarities between Oz and the States but both countries still differ significantly from each other. They compare in the same sense that Oz and the UK compare or that the UK and the States compare. Someone from elsewhere in the world might consider the UK, OZ and the States to all be very similar to each other in many ways.
When I think of the States, the phrase 'bigger is better' comes to mind. By this, I mean large cars, loud and brash attitudes, things done on a large scale, etc. There is certainly some of this present in Oz but not nearly to the same extent would be my observation.
Eating out in Oz is a lot more common that the UK but not as prevalent as the US. The UK has a LOT more history than both Oz and the States combined and then some. Houses are generally bigger in both Oz and the States compared to the UK.
It'll be interesting to see if my own preconceptions or Oz stack up after I move there (assuming it happens).
- CDM
May 15th 2009, 1:24 pm
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Australia like Usa?
That's quite astute Vash.
Cos the Uk is more like Europe than many other countries, but is not quite.....
Which is what I have said a few times, which is that it vaguely looks like the US but is quite different in other ways, make no mistake.
Cos the Uk is more like Europe than many other countries, but is not quite.....
Which is what I have said a few times, which is that it vaguely looks like the US but is quite different in other ways, make no mistake.
May 15th 2009, 2:22 pm
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Australia like Usa?
Originally Posted by mumomonty
Quote:
Originally Posted by mumomonty
The Aussies are like trainee yanks. V8's, Church of Aus is MacDonalds, Walking is unusual - the car is king. Sports mentality (but underneath bunch of wimps) Bad losers and even worse winners, Malls over towns with character and personality, bimbo girls with boob jobs, beach culture, houses (Mc Mansions) make your skin crawl all in rows with palm trees and overly clean look like Legoland. Ugh.
Only nice bits are the natural bits and the stuff in there tries to killyou.
Oh and bushfires akin to those in the states.
Also politics - state against state.
Medicare as health care - fear of getting really sick.
I meet nice people here but they are unusual in that they have opinions other than those of Oprah or don't watch Days of Our Lives.
Plastic people in a plastic land.
I could go on...
Originally Posted by mumomonty
The Aussies are like trainee yanks. V8's, Church of Aus is MacDonalds, Walking is unusual - the car is king. Sports mentality (but underneath bunch of wimps) Bad losers and even worse winners, Malls over towns with character and personality, bimbo girls with boob jobs, beach culture, houses (Mc Mansions) make your skin crawl all in rows with palm trees and overly clean look like Legoland. Ugh.
Only nice bits are the natural bits and the stuff in there tries to killyou.
Oh and bushfires akin to those in the states.
Also politics - state against state.
Medicare as health care - fear of getting really sick.
I meet nice people here but they are unusual in that they have opinions other than those of Oprah or don't watch Days of Our Lives.
Plastic people in a plastic land.
I could go on...
Originally Posted by Satch_Boogie
Wow, if this is how people really feel about Americans then maybe my American wife should not come to Australia. We were hoping to get away from this attitude when we left the UK.
Like all countries we do have Australians like this that only see things filtered through their own prejudice. But in this case I think it is a Brit but you cannot blame all Brits for the one's like this - most of them aren't so narrow minded.
May 15th 2009, 6:42 pm
#28
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Bromsgrove/Melbourne
Posts: 606
Re: Australia like Usa?
I'm a Brit that's previously lived in Florida for 7 years, but have only spent a total of 3 months in Australia (although I'm waiting on my 175 to go live there long-term).
There are some similarities between Oz and the States but both countries still differ significantly from each other. They compare in the same sense that Oz and the UK compare or that the UK and the States compare. Someone from elsewhere in the world might consider the UK, OZ and the States to all be very similar to each other in many ways.
When I think of the States, the phrase 'bigger is better' comes to mind. By this, I mean large cars, loud and brash attitudes, things done on a large scale, etc. There is certainly some of this present in Oz but not nearly to the same extent would be my observation.
Eating out in Oz is a lot more common that the UK but not as prevalent as the US. The UK has a LOT more history than both Oz and the States combined and then some. Houses are generally bigger in both Oz and the States compared to the UK.
It'll be interesting to see if my own preconceptions or Oz stack up after I move there (assuming it happens).
- CDM
There are some similarities between Oz and the States but both countries still differ significantly from each other. They compare in the same sense that Oz and the UK compare or that the UK and the States compare. Someone from elsewhere in the world might consider the UK, OZ and the States to all be very similar to each other in many ways.
When I think of the States, the phrase 'bigger is better' comes to mind. By this, I mean large cars, loud and brash attitudes, things done on a large scale, etc. There is certainly some of this present in Oz but not nearly to the same extent would be my observation.
Eating out in Oz is a lot more common that the UK but not as prevalent as the US. The UK has a LOT more history than both Oz and the States combined and then some. Houses are generally bigger in both Oz and the States compared to the UK.
It'll be interesting to see if my own preconceptions or Oz stack up after I move there (assuming it happens).
- CDM
Just as i thought,thanks
May 15th 2009, 10:31 pm
#29
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Australia like Usa?
To a Brits eyes Australia, or at least parts of it, can have a very American feel at first glance... but it is only really those first impressions. The reality is, that as a society, its not much like America at all.
Big houses, more big cars, wide streets all have that US feel about it but as previous posters have stated Australia falls somewhere between the UK and the US.
Big houses, more big cars, wide streets all have that US feel about it but as previous posters have stated Australia falls somewhere between the UK and the US.
May 15th 2009, 10:41 pm
#30
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 234
Re: Australia like Usa?
Oz reminds me of a wannabe USA.