10 Things I Miss About Australia

 

Me at the beach in early 2010

To celebrate Australia Day, I decided to write a list of all the things I have missed the most about Australia while I’ve been living here in China.

I don’t mean to give a negative impression of China, because I love living here & there are many great things about this country, but I couldn’t write this list without pointing out some of the main differences between China & the country I grew up in, Australia.

I don’t mind these differences at all; they have taught me more about the world & made me more appreciative of where I’ve come from.

10. Cleanliness.

Streets that aren’t covered in spit, poo, wee, & rubbish. And the people, who don’t spit everywhere, cough or sneeze on you, use the footpath as a toilet, or throw their trash onto the street.

9. Manners.

Being able to stand in the line at the supermarket without someone pushing in front of you, or moving your groceries off the counter & putting their’s there instead. Being around people who don’t steal your seat on the train, push you, poke you or stare at you everywhere you go.

8. Western Toilets.

Public toilets that are more than just holes in the ground, & that already provide toilet paper so that you don’t have to carry it around with you every time you go out. Plumbing that is strong enough to handle flushing toilet paper, instead of having to put it in a bin.

7. Tight Arse Tuesday.

Tight arse Tuesday is cheap cinema ticket day back home. I miss the whole experience of going to the movies; deciding what to see, dinner beforehand, waiting in line for the tickets, getting popcorn, watching the previews… I miss not being able to do that whenever I like.

6. BBQs.

Hanging around the BBQ, chatting with friends, & enjoying the sunshine. Good food, good music, & good people.

5. Family & Friends.

I couldn’t write a list of what I miss about home without including my family & friends. They are the people that make life worth living & miss me just as much as I miss them.

4. Food.

Tim Tams. Twisties. Salt & vinegar chips. Potato cakes from the fish & chip shop. Vegetarian options pretty much everywhere you go. Luckily, we still have some vegemite left over from our last package from home 🙂

3. The Beaches.

All my life, I’ve always been only a short drive or a long tram ride away from the beach. Here, the closest beach is an overnight train away. I feel almost claustrophobic being so far away from the ocean. One of the first things I’m doing when I get home is heading to the beach to sit on the sand & watch the waves.

2. The Aussie Accent.

As I sit here listening to the Triple J Hottest 100, I’m enjoying listening to the hosts voices more than the music. I miss the accent, the slang, & the laid back ‘yeah nah yeah’s.

1. The Aussie Attitude.

The chilled out, laid back, & ‘she’ll be right, mate’ attitude that makes Australia such a relaxing place to live. Being always ready to have a laugh or help someone out, & the focus on the important things, like family, friends & enjoying life.

Happy Australia Day!

Check back tomorrow for a special Wise Words post!

Jen ♥