SerpApi.Org
- An expat shared a list of lifestyle factors he has embraced in Australia
- Highlights included beaches, coffee, and work-life balance culture
- He lightheartedly declared it had 'ruined' him for living elsewhere
An expat living in Australia for the past four years has shared a list of things that make living Down Under unlike anything he's encountered - and it's made locals more appreciative of their homegrown culture.
'These are just some of the things Australia ruined for me - in the best way possible,' Carlos Gómez explained in a post shared to his social media account.
The Latin American man, who moved to Victoria to study and now works as an engineer, provided a list of seven specific reasons that Australian life has raised the bar for him.
The first was based around road etiquette.
'People actually give way here,' he explained.
'In Australia, cars slow down so you can merge, and they stop so you can cross the street. It's peaceful and civilised.
'Now if I try this somewhere else, I KNOW I'm either getting honked at, ignored, run over or I will never be able to merge or to cross the street. Australia spoiled me.'
The second factor mentioned in the post shared to his @carlosgomzs account related to Australia's café culture - and specifically the quality of the brew served Down Under.
'After Aussie coffee, everything outside Australia tastes like warm disappointment,' Carlos said.
'A flat white here resets your standards permanently.'
Two of Carlos' points referenced the way Australians prioritise maintaining work-life balance.
Dubbing it 'the 5-to-9 before the 9-to-5', the traveller noted that 'Aussies are out at 5am running, swimming, walking their dogs… and it feels normal' - adding that this is uncommon in other countries he'd visited.
Carlos also mentioned that expectations in Australian workplaces feel quite different to what he'd encountered elsewhere.
'Australia taught me balance, respect, real breaks, and leaving on time,' he reflected.
'Now I'm convinced I'll never survive a full-time job overseas again.'
Of course, Carlos couldn't go past the world-class beaches, admitting that his 'standards' are now impossibly high.
'Now 90 per cent of beaches I see overseas look… mid,' he said.
'Once you've seen Aussie beaches, everything else looks like a sad puddle.'
On a related note, Carlos - like many other tourists - was stunned to observe locals leaving their belongings on the sand without anyone snatching them.
'Here you can leave your bag on the beach, your phone on a bench, or a locker without a lock… and no one touches it.'
The final Australian cultural difference Carlos has come to embrace is the way perfect strangers will pass each other on the street and say, 'How ya going?'
His Instagram post attracted loads of comments from locals, with many expressing gratitude over these aspects that they would normally take for granted.
One Sydney-based woman replied: 'I live in a leafy, beachy area. I work hard at work but leave it at work. I always let cars in. Life is beautiful and I'm grateful. I love our coast and lifestyle.'
'Can't live in a world of non Aussie coffee,' read part of one longer reply, which also noted that Australians have always valued their time 'outside work and before work - but they work hard at work'.
Some agreed that they definitely take for granted the ability to leave their possessions out in the open.
'I never lock my house or my car,' read one reply.
'Matter of fact I often leave my key in the ignition when parked at home.'
But not all Aussies were entirely in agreement with all of the expat's points - particularly in regard to his comments on driving behaviour.
'Everyone is inconsiderate on the road. Especially Sydney drivers,' wrote one person, with a similar sentiment repeated throughout the comments.
A number of replies also cautioned that leaving your valuables at the beach was still 'risky', and encouraged Carlos to remain vigilant.
Nevertheless, many were pleased that an outsider had learnt to embrace so many lifestyle elements considered the local benchmark.
One commenter summed it up best, replying: 'More examples of why we are "the lucky country".
'Of course, these examples are the common rule but there are unfortunately exceptions. Glad the exceptions avoided you and you have had a really fabulous time here in Australia.'
Read more- What unexpected reasons did this Californian expat reveal about her newfound admiration and love for the scenic beauty of Australia?
- What surprising truths have expats revealed about life in Australia that you won't find in the guidebooks?
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- Is relocating to Australia truly idyllic, or are new arrivals facing unexpected challenges?
- Could the UK learn from Australia’s relaxed holiday approach as expat Cam grapples with cultural difference?
