What is the difference between Australia and Kenya?

What is the difference between America and Australia? (And a few questions about Australia in general)?

• Laws? Shopping? Transportation? Fashion? Holidays? Which is more expensive to live in? What kind of money do they (Australians) use? What is the temperature like in Australia, is it rainy, snowy, cold, hot, humid or dry? For those of you who have lived in both countries, which place did you like living in better, Australia or America? Would it be hard for an American to move to Australia? Sorry for all the questions, but please take the time to answer. Thanks :) Any websites you want to share would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to share any Australian experiences you may have had!!!

• Answer:

  I'll do my best to answer as many of your questions as possible: Our laws are basically the same as in any other developed country, but some obvious differences are: Our drinking age is 18 throughout the country. We drive on the left hand side of the road. You can't drive anywhere with a blood alcohol concentration of more than .05. Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone in a car. Handguns are illegal without a permit and it's very difficult to get one. All other types of guns are strictly controlled. We have very strict racial and other discrimination and vilification laws. Our cars are generally smaller than most cars in the US though larger ones are available We have trains and buses just like in the US Some cities have trams as well. Australia is completely metricated - we use Celcius instead of Farenheit for temperature, litres instead of gallons, kilograms instead of pounds, metres instead of yards etc. Our seasons are the opposite to yours, Summer is Dec-Feb, Autumn is Mar - May, Winter Jun - Aug, Spring Sep - Nov so it's hot at Christmas time and many people spend Christmas Day on the beach. Most of our population lives within 100km of the coast and the population density in the inland is very low. We have a very multi-cultural society and more than 20% of the population has one or both parents born outside Australia. Our food, wine and dining out are great. At home, most of us eat a wide variety of ethnic (particularly Asian) inspired food plus food like steak, lamb chops etc. and of course our outdoors lifestyle means that BBQs are common. Our school kids all wear uniforms Their long vacation is in Dec and Jan We celebrate Christmas and Easter just like in the US. Our other main holidays are Australia Day (26th Jan), Anzac Day (25th April), Queens Birthday (mid-June), Labour Day (varies between states) and a few local holidays in each state. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving. We watch a lot of American television and movies and will know a lot more about your country than you know about ours. The cost of living in Australia is generally a bit higher than in the US. Petrol (gas) is more expensive and so are a number of other things like personal products, cars, and electrical goods. Our salaries are high which tends to compensate to some degree. Our minimum wages are higher than in the US. We have universal healthcare for citizens and PRs which is paid for out of our taxes. We have very good social security safety nets like enemployment benefits, income support, disability allowances, childcare subsidies and many others. We have no separate social security payments - everything is paid out of taxes. There is no need to tip in Australia. If you experience excellent service, a tip is appreciated but will never be demanded. Our money is Australian dollars with 100 cents to the dollar as you would expect. Currency denominations are 5c, 10c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins and $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. We have no 1c or 2c coins. Items can be priced in increments below 5c e.g. $1.49 and the total of all items purchased in the transaction is then rounded up or down to the nearest 5c. As far as temperature is concerned, it's just as difficult to answer that question as it would be in America. Australia is nearly the same size as continental USA and our climates vary from sub-equatorial tropical in the north to cool temperate in the south with large variations in between the two including hot deserts in the centre of the continent. About the only generalisation that can be made is that it doesn't snow anywhere except in a few mountains. I'm an Australian and have lived here most of my life but have lived and worked in America for varying periods of time over the years. I enjoyed my time in America, but Australia is a better place to live. It's safer, cleaner, warmer, friendlier and we have a far more relaxed lifestyle while still having a vibrant economy and good work opportunities. Americans fit in well in Australia, but coming here to work and live is very difficult. Working visas and residency are only available to people whose skills and experience are in great demand in Australia. For information about emigrating to Australia, go to: http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm A few general websites: http://www.about-australia.com/ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia/ http://www.australianexplorer.com http://www.australia.gov.au/About_Australia EDIT: And Jayjay - Australians are probably the least racist people in the world. We have one of the most multi-cultural societies on Earth and people of every colour and creed are welcome here. Like every country, we have some racists but they're very much in the minority and there are strong and well enforced laws against them acting upon their prejudices. I have no idea where these ridiculous statements come from.