Observations - Differences between USA and Australia

The following is a list of differences we observed during our travels through the States between March to the end of June, 2012.

As this list is a "Work in Progress" we welcome any other suggestions you have.  Send these via the Comments

Our OBSERVATIONS:

Firstly, in USA the accent is a big one, and varies between each state
USA still has Imperial measurement compared to our Metric;
USA cars are Left hand drives, in Oz we have Right hand drive;
USA drivers Drive on the Left hand side of the road;
USA school buses are all Yellow and the same model of bus.  In Australia School buses are varied and usually run by private contractors unless the school has their own service.
USA service staff expect Tips. In Oz our minimum wage is much higher than USA so we just DON'T TIP (a much better system);
In the USA don't think that the marked shelf price for groceries/items the final amount you pay at the checkout in supermarkets....expect to be shocked and pay more.  The final 'mark-ups'  on your receipt is for Taxes and they vary between Federal, State and County taxes which are NOT INCLUDED in the shelf price.  In Australia we has the GST and is included in the final marked price - so what you see is what you get and you don't have to guesstimate the price you will be paying at the checkout (more sensible);
USA has "Lay Aways". In Oz we call them Lay-bys.
USA has sodas, Oz we call them "Soft drinks";
USA has Cotton Candy, in Oz we have Fairy Floss;
USA and Australia have McDonalds;
USA has I-Hop - a family style restaurant offering pancakes as their main menu (nothing similar in OZ);
USA has Denny's family restaurants. Oz has Sizzler;
USA has Burger King. Oz has Hungry Jacks;
USA has Fries, Oz has Chips;
USA has Ketchup, in Oz we have Tomato Sauce
USA has Gridiron and Oz has Rugby League (the only football code)
USA has Hurricanes that blow anti-Clockwise, in Oz we have Cyclones that blow in the obvious direction ie. Clockwise;
USA has Jack Cheese, we call it Cheddar (and Oz cheddar isn't bright orange)
USA serves breakfast with "Biscuits", in Oz we call them Scones served jam, cream or butter and served with Tea or coffee.
USA has Wal-Mart, Oz has K-Mart and A-Mart (note: The highest criminal activity is recorded in Walmart carparks compared to any other location in the states);
USA has CVS, Oz has Chem-Mart, Chemist Warehouse, Terry White Chemists just to name a few (note: CVS also has Drive-thru for prescriptions),
USA has RADIOSHACK, Oz has JB Hi-FI and Dick Smiths
USA has Drive-thru ATMs, in OZ we still get our exercise by having to walk up to the ATM;
USA shower heads and taps all seem to be different in each state;
USA has Romaine lettuce, we call it a COS lettuce;
USA has Hoagies, in Oz they are a meat and salad roll;
USA has Shrimp, we call them Prawns;
USA has squirrels and deer that wander the streets, in Oz we have Kangaroos that hop around city streets (NOT !!),  But squirrel DO hop around streets in the US.
USA has Pick Up Trucks, we call them Utes ;
USA has V8 Asian model Utes/Pickups eg  Neesarnnn (Nissan), Marzzsda (Mazda), Hoondai (Hyundai) and Toyotas;
USA has AMTRAK as its national railway.  In Australia there is NO national railway system - each individual State governs their own railway system and there is NO integration between each State (when are they going to learn). Note: the only railways that cross over States is the "Ghan" between South Australia and Northern Territory...and the line across from New South Wales (Sydney) to Western Australia (Perth).
USA calls Thongs - Flip Flops and in the USA Thongs are Underwear.  In Australia Thongs are Thongs (Flip Flops) and Underwear is called underwear  (have been caught out saying – “it’s too cold to wear my thongs here”..OOoops.)
USA light switches work in reverse to Oz, sometimes even sideways;
USA power points don’t have Off/On switch you just plug it in (lower voltage too);
USA power points have 2 paralell prongs and a round lower prong;
USA toilets have large bowls and hold about 4 litres of water; in Oz the toilet pedestal holds only about 2 litres of water;
USA calls Toilets “Restrooms”;
USA bottle openers are placed anywhere in an apartment, Oz we keep one on our key rings;

Finally, US citizens do not know what a DUNNY is……..

This is a first - here is a photo of 3 observations in one go -
·         Light switch (sideways)
·         Bottle opener on the door, and where else BUT
·         In the DUNNY !

This photo has not been photoshopped or
altered in anyway !!!