marcelle38

i'm just curious, it seems similar from peoples discriptions, but i've never been to oz so i wouldnt know

Ray

Go wash you mouth out ...

geeandtee

erm....no

australia is a great huge desert with green bits round the edges
the usa has a mix of green bits, deserty bits and other stuff.

Thydney

Bits are physically similar. The people are worlds apart

sime303

If I am informed correctly there are less 'roos in the US.

tonrob

Almost identical. Sometimes I have to go back and check my boarding pass just to make sure.

another bloody yank

Just because Brit Expats bitch about the same things no matter where they are doesn't mean the countries are similar!


Seriously, I've read Comments in the Canada and OZ forums that sound exactly like some of the things I read here, driving, fashion, food... Makes me feel better really, it's not just the US!

Tableland

Less than 20% is officially desert, with most being scrubland that has some agricultural use. The landscape ranges from mangrove swamps to Mediterranean to tropical to temperate with quite a lot of snow in the Alps in the winter. It has, I think, the lowest population density outside of Antarctica.

The US also has a varied climate, if not quite as varied as Australia's, although large central and SW areas of the US are flat and brown like parts of Australia. But you'd know that.

The main differences that I found is that Australians are less cynical than Americans, have a much better sense of humour, are more capable of original thinking and have a much better knowledge of the world outside their own nation. Australia also has a healthcare system, that most basic of measures of a civilised democracy, and much more annual leave. In addition to this it does not have the US's rather ridiculous obsession with automatic weapons and ammunition and also has superior pension arrangements. Finally, Australians are much more liberal in their attitude to most social matters. And there is much less crime. And pollution.

On the other side, America has a lot more going on in it, has more job opportunities, better pay and (some would disagree) lower taxes. Also, you get to visit cities like New York and Washington with relative ease, which is a bonus in my view.

Visually, I found very few differences, only the US is like a mirror-image because they drive on the right. Fewer bill-boards in Australia. Less in-your-face advertising in Australia. More koalas in Australia. US much more multi-cultural. Um. Cars the same, but more expensive in Australia. Fuel more expensive in Australia. Houses insanely more expensive in Australia - in fact in some cases prohibitively so. US is a republic, and Australia will be very soon. Um. More lard-arses in the States. Good customer service in both, I found. Less paranoia about the future in Australia. Both have armed police. More civil liberties in Australia. Um. Younger drinking age in Australia. Much, much less traffic in Australia. That's it. Can't think of any more.

lisag8070

No idea....I've never been to OZ, they wouldn't let me in....and it was much easier to get into the USA anyway...

neil

Easy way to find out - get anyone who's been to Oz to tell you whether or not the streets are paved with gold there too.

Tableland

Unusual really, while Australia is not easy to get into, it's usually an easier option than the US, although most Brits don't even consider the US.

lisag8070

Sorry no offence....but there's no Smiley for sarcastic and tongue in cheek..

Tableland

Pas de probleme. I'm not a Smiley kinda guy.

Dan725

Yep. Aussies are generally as capable at taking the piss and being sarcastic as your average Brit......can't always be said about folk in the US

another bloody yank

We're just hard like that...