So I’ve finished my one week visit to my home country Australia after living abroad in Montreal Canada for over 2 years. Spending time overseas has definitely made me appreciate Australia so much more than I ever did while I was living here.
So I decided to write up a blog post about the 7 things I have really missed about Australia.
No Matter How Far I Roam!!!!
The Beaches
I know this may seem like an obvious one on anyone’s list however this really surprised me. When I lived in Australia I was not really a beach go’er, I have to honestly say that I would probably only get to the beach a handful of times every year and I used to only live an hr from some of most beautiful beaches in Australia. I have to say my tune has changed ever since being away from Australia and not having access to beaches I really have missed them, I dare say that in my future travels I’ll be trying to get to beaches a lot more.
Tax included
All the prices listed include tax. While I lived in Australia I thought nothing of it but after living in Montreal Canada for over 2 years where all of the prices didn’t include tax it became really annoying everytime i went to buy something to be hit with an extra 15% or so tax on top of the listed price. I love how all prices listed in Australia include tax, what you see is what you get.
Tipping Not Expected
Tipping is not expected, you can get in a cab, buy a drink at a bar or even have a meal without being expected to tip between 10-15% on everything. Don’t get me wrong I’m not stingy I don’t mind tipping but tipping should be for when you have received services above than what was expected. I guess its just a cultural thing but living in Montreal the last 2 years i’ve felt like I’m expected to tip on everything, That combined with the tax price not included end’s up with a fair bit extra on the original price. Which is why I like Australia “No Tip No Worries”
The Food
The food, People who know me will know my passion for Aussie food (Or even food in general) I had a huge list of things I wanted to eat planned before I even returned back to Australia. From fish and chips, meat pies, sausage rolls, sausages in bread and even kangaroo sausages, I love Aussie tucker. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I went back into Woolworths grocery store as I filled my trolley up with chicken chips, shapes, Cadbury blocks of chocolate, vegemite, cherry ripes and snakes alive. I’m so passionate about the subject of Australian food I will be writing a separate article over the coming weeks devoted just to food.
Cant beat meat pie and sauce + a custard tart as an added bonus WIN!!!
The Australian Accent and Slang
Before I left Australia to live overseas I never really paid much attention to Australian accents, However I found while I was overseas my Australian accent radar was always on alert I could pick up an Australian accent across the room in an instant. When I returned to Australia it was so comforting and familiar to be surrounded by Australian accents once again. That and all of the Australian slang that went along with it. I could finally say the words thongs and jumper and other Australian phrases without people looking at me like a weirdo
Everything is in English and Familiar
After living in Montreal for over 2 years where everything is written in French, From trying to read menu’s in French to grocery shopping trying to find a specific item. It felt like such a relief to be back in Australia where everything was back in English.
There is also how familiar everything, Granted in the last 2 years a few things have changed on the sunshine coast and in Brisbane where I used to live It was amazing being back especially in Brisbane strolling around in Queen St Mall where I used to walk through twice a day for 2 years while I was at uni.
Queen St Mall Brisbane
Family & Friends
How could I forget my friends and family, After being away for over 2 years It was great catching up with all my mate and family, being back in Australia for my brother’s wedding was great especially seeing as it meant I also got to catch up with a bunch of relatives I haven’t seen for over 5 years. Having the support of all my family and friends through everything that’s going on in my life at moment has meant the world to me.
Family back in OZ
What things would you miss most about your home country if you left?
hey we have custard tarts here in chinatown too! 🙂
I was back in Perth for a couple weeks after being away for about 6 months, maybe 6 months wasn’t long enough, cause I was pretty happy to leave, although maybe that’s cause it was Perth. Like you say though, somethings are welcome. Cheese was a big one for me after Asia.
Nice blog, interested to know what sort of games you developed.
Tyrhone recently posted..Tulum, Diving, and Silky Smooth Skin
Hey Tyrhone, Ya might not have been so bad because it was only 6 months but guess it depends on where you go and what you like :), They dont have cheese in Asia?
I’ve worked on about 15 or so games from last gen ps2 games to current gen console games on xbox 360 and PC. I’ve worked on bunch of Spyro the dragon games, Star wars games and most recently and MMORPG called the Secret World to name a few
Cool stuff mate, i was learning udk for awhile, not enough to make a functioning game but enough to know how much fun it can be. More into the model creation side of things, shjt models but models none the less.
I’ll email you and let you know about playa, its a good place to chill.
tyrhone recently posted..Tulum, Diving, and Silky Smooth Skin
Ya UDK is pretty cool I did a bit of level design work and particle creation in UDK its a lot of fun :D. Ya I cant model for shit either.
Thanks again look forward to your email
I left Australia 20 years ago to come and live in the US. Even after all these years, I still miss:
– Fish and chips from a fish and chip shop
– real meat pies from a good pie place – Bendigo Bakery has the best pies in the world (I never liked Four ‘n’ 20 pies when I was living there)
– vanilla slices
– passionfruit (yes, I know you can buy it in the US, but it’s ridiculously expensive!)
I got used to the tipping and paying sales tax years ago, so they don’t bug me like they used to.
Love this! I could write such a similar blog on what I miss about Wales. 🙂 Very much looking forward to flying home for the first time, next week. 😀
K. recently posted..A sporting weekend.
I lived in Texas for 20 years and everytime I’d come home to Sydney for a visit, I’d go straight for the pies/sausage rolls, lollies and scout out the local sausage sizzle. There are just things that you can’t find anywhere else despite people’s efforts to recreate the Aussie pie etc…And the beaches, I’m right there with ya. I moved home 2 years ago now and am savouring it all as who knows where we’ll end up!
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