Whats it like to live in Australia?

I'm Australian and I'm not quite sure what you want to know, but as far as us Aussies are concerned we live in the best country in the world (rather like Americans in this respect). I'm guessing you are American, so here are some differences: We don't tip - everyone is well paid. We drive on the left and use British spelling Our economy is strong We use the metric system We nearly all live in large cities, it's very urbanised We aren't very religious and are more liberal in attitude We don't use the term 'race' for people of different ancestries - we find it odd when we hear it used by Americans We have strong Asian cultural influences but almost no Mexican influence We don't really have a concept of freedom like Americans, we are happy for laws to be introduced that protect the public We have a laid-back informal attitude and although we apparently work as hard as Americans we don't see it as our reason for living We love to travel and it's considered an essential part of being an educated person if it can possibly be afforded We have an egalitarian culture and dislike bragging or superior attitudes You can only migrate here permanently if you have strong skills eligible for a visa, however you can come on a working holiday or a student visa to check it out

Australia is horrible nowadays. Too many people who aren't Australian telling Australians what to do.

It's a great country and people are laid back. Melbourne is more like an artistic and cultural city, good atmosphere and good environment. Canberra is a sh$thole, packed with government workers who doesn't do any work and federal police who drive around all day pretending they are busy. Sydney is the most messed up but good if you are super rich. Also good if you into clubbing, got heaps of nightclubs whereas Melbourne have more of a outdoor bar setting. Sydney is also pretty segregated, the rich kids live in east, the Lebanese live in the west, the bogans down south, and middle to upper class families live up north. If you are here for a gap year, I suggest you go to Sydney. You will find people from all types of background including yours. Frankly there is just not much to see in other cities.

I haven't lived in Australia and therefore don't know a lot about the economy, but I'm from New Zealand, and heaps of New Zealanders are moving to Australia (apparently because there are better and more jobs). The only cities I've ever been to are Brisbane and the Gold Coast, both in Queensland, and they were magnificent. Brisbane is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. People say that there are heaps of snakes and spiders in Australia, I've only ever seen one snake and that was out in rural NSW (and it was dead). On the whole, the locals are friendly, or at least the ones I've met. There isn't that much crime, although there used to be (look up Underbelly). The police are all armed. The people are generally informal and easygoing. The weather, most of the time, is gorgeous. I only ever go to Queensland in winter (because it gets so hot during the summertime in Australia), I went for two weeks once in the winter and it only rained once, in the morning. Like I said, I don't know much about the economy, or the way-of-life or anything, I'm not a native and I haven't lived there, but my experiences of the country have all been great. I'm dying to go back there and I'd like to consider living there one day.

Penny, seriously ... "americans and other asians" If you don't know that America not part of Asia then I'm not surprised you're being given a hard time. It has little to do with whatever nationality you are.

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My experience: High levels of anti-Americanism and discrimination towards Americans and other Asians.