One of our closest friends-couple Lawrence & Norelle invited us to their place for dinner over the weekend and we had some great lamb and potatoes, good drinks, and excellent conversation. Lawrence always intrigues me with questions about the U.S. and because he has never been there we always have enlightened discussion about difference from America to Australia.

This conversation has led me to come up with these lists.  I hope that someday Lawrence and Norelle will get to come to the States and see for themselves:

America is better than Australia because…

1.  Those little red flags on the mailbox, that means the mailman can pick up the mail when he drops off your letters.  We have mailboxes in Australia but the postie only drops off mail, they don’t pick up? What’s that all about… I mean, they’re there, why not pick it up too? And the postman doesn’t work on Saturday either.

2.  Food and drink (meaning alcholic) are priced within reason.  A case of Corona in Australia is upward of $50 (on sale), in America $20.  And groceries can cost twice what you would pay in the U.S.

3.  Kids leave home around the age of 18.  Aussie kids in a lot of cases leave home as adults, after they have completed University and saved up for a down payment on a house, usually late 20’s.

4.  You can make a right turn on a red light, usually used as a yield you make a stop then when clear, go right on red.  Of course in Australia we are driving on the left side of the road, so in their case we are talking about left on red.  Not only it doesn’t exist, but you also get a ticket.

5.  Voting is a privilege not a requirement.  All Australians are required to vote, and fined if they don’t.

6.  Stores are open late.  What is great about stores in the U.S. is that they are open late enough for you to do business, banking, shopping (grocery & retail), and just about anything until 7 or 8pm and in many cases even as late as 9p.m.  Stores, other than grocery, close at 5pm 6-days per week and on Thursdays are open until 7.  It is very difficult to get off work and do any kind of business at all after work.  It’s go on your lunch or beat the traffic on Thursdays to get to one selected spot before they close.

7.  Mexican Food is yummy, and the good Medican food joints in Australia are few and far between (almost non-existent).  I’ve had some of the worst margaritas and even worse tacos.  Mexican is an American regularity and I miss it!  Luckily we make our own!

8.  The release of new products and concepts.  For example TIVO came out in about 2000 in the U.S. and it is only being released here in Australia later this year.  The iPhone is not scheduled for release here until mid next year.

9.  We take a lot of pride in our bald eagle.  Bald eagles are sacred animals that are strong and revered.  Australia has two animals on their coat of arms: kangaroo and emu.  And Aussies love to eat… kangaroo and emu?  Fire up the barbie.

10.  Football.  And not the soccer kind of football.  In Australia we call American football “gridiron” but it’s something that I really miss.  Luckily in Oz we get one game a week, Monday Night Football.

Australia is better than America because…

1.  Sometimes driving down the Eastern Freeway I see dozens of white Cockatoo’s on the side of the road grazing in the grass.  The first time I saw a Cockatoo on the side of the road I remember telling Birdie “oh no, someone’s bird got loose” and then I see two dozen… I thought the zoo had an accident - but no - they are wild!

2.  Nationwide Medicare.  This is one country that doesn’t skimp on Medicare coverage for all.  If you are a resident of this country you get it.  A good amount is completely covered, and this means even if you are unemployed - you have partial medical coverage paid.

3.  On the employment note, Australia is at 4% unemployment. I’d say that almost everyone in Australia has a job. This is good for the market and when looking for a new and better job there sure are less candidates out there looking!

4.  Public transport is great here, you can get pretty much anywhere around Melbourne. Between trams and trains its a good ride, cheap, and clean - only downfall is it is sometimes crowded.

5.  12 months of maternity leave is an option here, with the assurance to return to your same job at the same rate of pay.  Additionally, each baby means the government pays a $4000 baby bonus in the year the baby is born.

6.  LPG (Liquid Petrolium Gas) is an option here for gassing up your car.  Not made from oil this form of gas is three times cheaper than regular petrol. You can buy your car new, or a car conversion runs about $2K and the cost per kilo runs about .48 cents.

7.  More time off from work.  Australia starts employees off with 4-weeks per year vacation (holidays) and this increases with tenure. Not only this, but there is a large population of employees that work only 4 days per week (unheard of in the U.S.).  Additionally you still have the same amount of sick time.  Definitely much more time off from work in Australia.

8.  This is a gunless society. Well, the cops have em, and some bad guys have em, but in general I’d say it’s pretty safe.  There are only 1-5 murders per year with a gun in Australia.  Essentially much better than the figures in the U.S.

9.  Open air markets, something I love about Australia - you can do just about all your shopping at the downtown market including butcher, vege stand, and retail items.  It’s fun and there is a lot to choose from.

10. Australia has mandatory school uniforms in public school.  And not just uniforms, plaid dresses wtih little white hats for girls, and tie’s and blazers for boys.  Cute but also it is good to avoid the pressures of designer clothing at school - especially for those that cannot afford it.

Who’s to say… both are great and they each have their own pluses and minuses. I’m beginning to love Australia more and more as time goes on.  Still, I love my homeland - America the beautiful!  Someday we’ll get to be writing from home.