August 10th, 2004 | The lowdown by Jamie Vraniak

Life in Australia

Upon arrival in a new country it is generally in one's nature to survey the scene for everything and anything that is, well, different. Looking back on my own arrival into Australia, I recall scouring the existence here for everything un-American. The reason I came here was to escape from the every day life I was used to, to expand my cultural knowlege, and to just be somewhere that was not home. Imagine my dissapointment at walking down city sidewalks only to be met with McDonald's, KFC, even 7-11 on every street corner. "How," I thought, "did I manage to fly to the other side of the earth, only to find everything I left behind?"

The thought continued to perplex and trouble me throughout my first week or so in Melbourne. It seemed so easy to look out the window each morning and forget that I was not at home in the U.S. It seemed Australians dressed similar, ate similar, listened to the same American music, watched the same American television shows, and were overall not that much different than what I was used to back in the states. I could not help but feel a little let down.

It was not until I closer examined and got better accustomed to life in Australia that I realized how different it truly was. It was somewhat shocking to me the first time I actually heard someone use the term "No worries, mate!" When people in stores, restaurants, and on the streets would greet me cheerfully and make casual conversation, at first I was secretly skeptical and wondered what it was they were trying to get from me. But on further examination, most people are truly sincere. "No worries" isn't just a slang term around Australia, it is a way of life. The people here take each day calmly and unhurried; you rarely find them pushing through crowds to make a destination in the nick of time. If you are late, you are late; if you leave early, you leave early. It is that simple. It never seems the wrong time of day to relax and have a coffee with a friend or jump into the ocean to catch a wave or two. Everything is just so relaxed and simple. People really don't seem to worry, or stress about minor things, or need to dress in a way that makes them seem better than others. In a word, this "mini-America" as it has been so called, seems to be the more easy going version of what we know as home.

With a little more understanding than I had coming into this country three weeks ago, I can now accept that Big Macs are a way of life here, as well as Slurpees, Whoppers, and buckets of fried chicken. I am prepared for the fact that when I walk into a store it is likely that I will hear Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson on the radio. But I am also prepared for the fact that no one will jostle me in the streets, give me dirty looks for my rugged jeans and t-shirt, or roll their eyes when I ask for directions.
Eventually I broke down one late night after the bar, and did what I swore I would never do: I made my way to the local McDonald's for a midnight snack. Even as I fumbled through my purse for the still not-quite-familiar coins, and the line behind me began to lengthen, I began to apologize to the cashier. Instead of grumbling to himself and gritting his teeth in the usual American manner, he smiled and gave me a warm and simple, "No worries". And honestly, I believe he really meant it.