![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/2018-03-20-16.31.15.jpg\")
<\/a>Even after all these years its hard to get onboard with the lingo. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to just say “G’day mate” to a stranger and just don’t think to do it.\u00a0 It still surprises me when someone says it.\u00a0 I do say “Cheers” a lot now.\u00a0 I also got called out recently by an American visitor for saying “windscreen” instead of\u00a0 “windshield”.\u00a0 So some stuff is sticking.<\/p>\n
Things I miss:<\/p>\n
- \n
- People – that’s a no-brainer<\/li>\n
- Retail competition – there’s just not enough people here to have to the Walmarts, Targets and Amazons or more than 2-3 types of any given product<\/li>\n
- Funny ads – not a lot of creativity in the TV commercials here<\/li>\n
- Central heat \/ AC – why Australia, why?<\/li>\n
- Stable housing location – after not moving for 11 years, we’ve moved 3 times now<\/li>\n
- Cheap beer – but the craft beer offerings are getting better<\/li>\n
- Good weather radar – radar is terrible here and not very useful locally<\/li>\n
- Normal, non-swooping birds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Things I don’t miss:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Prescription drug and political ads<\/li>\n
- Snow\/ice (cold weather in general)<\/li>\n
- Traffic<\/li>\n
- Crowds<\/li>\n
- Signing credit card receipts<\/li>\n
- Tipping and tax added after the total<\/li>\n
- Dollar bills, bland money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Money.jpg\")
<\/a>So colorful<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Things I’m indifferent about:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Which side of the road \/ car to drive on – I believe I’m masterful at driving wherever.<\/li>\n
- Long flights – after 7 transpacific flights, what’s another 14 hour flight?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, I haven’t gone full ‘Straya yet, but I’m slowly getting there.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handelblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Straya.jpg\")
<\/a>G’day mate!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is hard to believe I arrived in this strange land three years ago!\u00a0 Time flies when snakes and spiders are trying to kill you.\u00a0 Just kidding, I’ve only seen one snake and while I see a lot of spiders around, none seem to move at all.\u00a0 Of all the things I thought I might … Continue reading 3rd Australiaversary<\/span>