Miscellaneous

There are many Aussie/American differences that don't fall into any easy category, and are probably not deserving of more than a line or two. These are the ones you'll find in this inevitable "miscellaneous" section.

• You many have noticed that Americans write "dates" differently. While Australians use the date/month/year approach, the American dating standard is month/date/year. This is one of the more difficult differences for Aussies to get used to, but it's one of those necessary ones.
• American paper money denominations all look the same, so you'll actually have to look at the numbers on them. Coins are one of those things you might never master. One cent coins are easy enough, but then you get 5 cent coins (nickels) which are bigger than 10 cents coins (dimes), which are about the same size as cents (pennies). Then there are 25 cent coins (quarters), and 50 cent coins which you almost never see.
• American light switches are; up = on, and down = off. The opposite of Australian light switches.
• In Australia, floor numbering in multi-story buildings start at the "Ground Floor" then "First Floor" and so on. In America there is no such thing as a "Ground Floor". The "First Floor" is, well ... the first floor.
• Paper sizes for printers and photocopiers are named a little differently. Australian "A4" paper is called "Letter" size in America, although there is also an A4 size which is a little bigger than "Letter".
• There is no way that the many different types of shower and bath tap (faucet) arrangements in America can be listed here. Suffice to say that this is nearly always the very first challenge an Aussie in America has to face.
• Most American homes have their shower/bath and toilet in the same room, and it's generically called the bathroom. If you ask where the toilet, you'll probably get a funny look.
• In America, many laundry rooms do not contain a laundry sink. Hand-washed items may have to done in the bathroom sink.
• It is very difficult to find "World News" on American television. Some of the ethnic channels will supply world news though.
• American radio stations are usually "theme-driven". For example, there are Talk Show stations, Oldies Music stations, Country & Western Music stations, and so on.
• The American financial year is from January 1st - December 31st, and tax forms must be submitted by April 15th each year.

Reader Feedback on this Topic

• Actually, A4 and Letter size paper are two completely different things. Letter size is the US standard and seems to only be used in the USA and its near neighbours, as it is measured in inches: 8.5 by 11. A4 is used by most other countries (including Australia) and measures slightly more narrow and slightly longer than Letter. Generally, A4 is very rarely used in the US and can be difficult to find but not impossible -- Staples.com has it, I think. However, most photocopiers, printers, and fax machines in the US will have settings for A4...as do most word processing software packages. - Vicky
• About toilets and bathrooms and restrooms...you might want to mention that in America, most homes have ensuite bathrooms (with toilet and shower/tub together in one room) and that's called simply a "bathroom". A room with just a toilet is called a "half bath"; when a house is said to have "2 and a half bath", it means there are 2 rooms with both a shower and toilet, and one room with just a toilet. I don't think I've ever seen a home where there's a toilet and a bath *together* but in two separate rooms, as I saw frequently in Australia. Anyway, the term "restrooms" is mainly used for public toilets. If you ask where the toilets are, people will know what you're talking about but they might look at you funny...I know this was one of the things we've talked about on my website, the idea of asking "where's the toilet?" can make us Americans a bit red-faced! :) - Vicky
• The half bath always has a toiled and sink for washing hands. Americans also have what is called a 3/4th or three-forths bath, which is a toilet, sink and shower (no bath tub to sit in). A few homes and apartments do not have a bathtub at all, only the shower. It's one of the things to check when house-hunting in the USA. For some reason, we don't like to say the word toilet in public, so it's "Where is the rest room please: or Where is the Ladies Room? In a home, it is where is the bathroom please? - Carol
• Definitely don't ask for the "toilet" when you need to go and are in a public place eg a shopping mall. I did that in a mall in Kansas when I first moved here, after much confusion I was eventually directed to the place in a store that sold actual toilets!! Really. You should ask for the Restroom, asking for the "Ladies" also won't work. - Anonymous

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