An American expat revealed the shocking differences between the US and Australia, three weeks after moving to Melbourne.
Shannon Knightfrom Boston, decided ‘on impulse’ to move Down Under and experience life in a new country.
The 26-year-old was pleasantly surprised by several aspects of Australian life, including the reasonable minimum wage, cheap sporting tickets and nightlife culture.
Shannon couldn’t believe that most people could survive on minimum wage jobs because workers at home “are unable to pay the rent even if [they] ’70-hour work weeks’.
“The minimum wage here is $25 an hour and I’ve met plenty of adults here who work as cashiers in grocery stores or boutiques and are doing just fine,” Shannon said.
The expat was also shocked by the way Australians approach their work.
“In terms of work – people just go to work and go home. Their work is not their whole persona, it’s not part of their identity – that’s a really hard concept for me to grasp,” she added.
While many Australians criticize Sydney and Melbourne for not being 24-hour cities, Shannon was pleasantly surprised by the nightlife.
Shannon Knight, from Boston, decided ‘on impulse’ to move Down Under and experience life in a new country
The social scene [is great] – people still go out here even after they’re 24, which is very refreshing.’
Shannon is also pleased that Australian landlords are charging weekly rent rather than monthly rent, as it is “less daunting” if you split the rent into smaller amounts.
The only thing Shannon didn’t know how to do was drive.
‘Everyone drives very calmly here, but I lived in Boston, where we don’t drive very calmly, to say the least.
“It’s just a really hard concept to see. If I’m in the passenger seat and someone cuts someone off, I’m screaming inside, but Australians just shrug and carry on.”
Shannon was surprised by one specific trait in an Australian man.
‘The guys here are considerably more tattooed – it’s not uncommon to see a guy with a lot of tattoos in America, but [Australians] are tattooed from the neck to the ankle. We don’t see that much in America.
The American woman was also shocked by the low prices of tickets for professional sporting events in Australia.
“I saw AFL semi-final tickets on sale this weekend for $40,” she shared. “I don’t know what an AFC Championship ticket would cost, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near $40.”
The 26-year-old was pleasantly surprised by several aspects of Australian life, including the reasonable minimum wage, cheap sporting tickets and nightlife culture
When it comes to food, the expat claimed that McDonald’s in Australia outshines the American one.
‘McDonald’s fries are significantly better – that says a lot because McDonald’s fries are very good and I didn’t think anything could beat them. But Australian fries are fresher and crispier – they’re fantastic.’
She added: ‘I came here expecting everything to be very different and that I would find it very difficult to adapt. Of course there are some differences, but I have it a lot easier now.’
Shannon argued that Australians have more in common with Americans than Britons.
“I thought the British would be more alike because we are geographically closer together, but that is not the case,” she said.