Same Same But Different

Image by jaqian via Flickr

As one prepares to move half way around the world the questions that inevitably come up always seem to start with "Well what about all the things you're going to miss??" (mostly from your friends who've never left your hometown) and "What about all the things you're going to see & do??" (typically from the friends looking for a vacation from their own dreadful existences).  Well moving to Oz ain't exactly like moving to Timbuktu - everyone still speaks English (sorta), drivers license pictures still look horrible and little Asian guys still ask me if I play basketball (and the answer is still - what makes you ask that?).  For a Black man from the states it's a bit of a bizarro world b/c it's like being dropped in a small midwest town - everyone speaks with a funny accent, there are hardly any Black people but everybody seems happy to see you.  I'm sure there's a plot afoot that I haven't figured out yet so I'm playing along for now. So here are a few tidbits on what you can expect when you get to Oz.

(1) Aussies have grown up with only 5 TV channels.  Less than a 3rd of the population has cable.  Personally I think having only 5 channels should be deemed cruel and unusual punishment and outlawed in the constitution and I've written Prime Minister what's his face to say as much. Just b/c they don't know what they're missing doesn't mean you won't.  Cable ain't cheap but it's a must have so just lock it in and don't ask too many questions.

(2) You will get a speeding ticket - maybe multiple tickets.  Lead footed Americans are not able to adjust to the small increments of KPH vs. MPH and with cameras at seemingly every light you can't play the dumb American to get out of it with the PoPo.  The trick is to keep your US license for as long as possible so that your points go against it and then  don't transfer when you finally get an Aussie license :-)

(3) 4 weeks vacation!  Now that's a difference that's not only nice, it's a necessity when you're this far away from everything.  The Aussies use it to travel around the parts of country where no one in their right mind would want to live, the Poms use it to head back to the UK and remind themselves why they left, and the Americans are still confused and think we're getting away with something.

So, as you can see...same, same but different.  There's lots more to comment on as well.  I'm just getting started.  As always if there's something you're specifically interested in just say the word.  I've probably got an opinion on it.  I'm out.