Tag Archives | American culture

Tasmanian beach

Where Australia Wins

By on March 9, 2013 in Australia, North America, Oceania, USA

Coffee, nature, tipping, shipping, online shopping and overall lifestyle — I go through where Australia wins in my expat mind.

March 9, 2013 · Continue Reading · Comments { 2 }
Brooke and Pat at Chocolate Factory tour in Tomsk

When a simple question becomes difficult

By on August 6, 2012 in Australia, Oceania

I got a packet in the mail from Australian immigration last week, and it got me thinking about a question I often stumbled over when I traveled. Would love to know if any expats share my pain.

August 6, 2012 · Continue Reading · Comments { 22 }
american flag

The Best and the Worst of the USA

By on August 1, 2011 in North America, USA

America. It’s a pretty spectacular place, and I’m not just saying that because I was born and raised in the good ol’ US of A. No, I’m saying that because many people all over the world say it as well. I had the privilege of traveling back to America… Read more recently after 3 long years away, and it helped me to

August 1, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 36 }
drinking in america

Day 192: Why am I exercising?

By on July 12, 2011 in Food & Drink, Health & Safety, North America, USA

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been using my over the door resistance band gym system that Pat and I brought back from the States for a mere $26 in order to get fitter. So far, I’ve noticed firmer arms, a flatter tummy and a teeny-tiny bit of slimming in the legs (we’ll get there!). But why? Why am… Read more

July 12, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 29 }
boys playing ping pong

Day 186: Hanging Out with Countrymen Abroad, Why Not Stay Home? My Extended Response

By on July 11, 2011 in Australia, Oceania

Literally the second I was about to write about day 186, I got a comment on another blog post that left me thinking. The post was talking about hanging out with my American friends… Read more here in Sydney, which is basically what I was going to maybe write about for day 186 because it was yet another celebration for the Fourth

July 11, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 21 }

Day 183: Sydney, Swarming with Americans

By on July 9, 2011 in Australia, Oceania

I used to think I found a large group of Americans in Sydney… Read more… that was until July 2nd. This year I actually partook in the July Fourth (on the 2nd) festivities put together by the Americans in Sydney group, and boy I found out there are hundreds of us Americans floating around this great city.
A bunch of them

July 9, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 10 }
brooke hannah pancakes on the rocks

Day 177: Pancakes, Because People are Feeling Homesick

By on July 7, 2011 in Australia, Food & Drink, Oceania

There’s been nothing quite like the good ol’ American holiday of July 4th to bring out the homesickness in just about every American abroad I know. Talking about barbecues and fireworks has taken over my blog feed lately, but I’ll tell you what, the homesickness factor became apparent in my local circle of friends a little sooner than that.
And… Read more

July 7, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 8 }
pat at baseball game

Day 163: Baseball, Beer, Warm Sun… It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This

By on June 24, 2011 in North America, USA

Baseball. It just doesn’t get much more American than that. I spent a good chunk of my childhood watching (or playing) baseball, whether that was out in the backyard, down at the ball fields or in a major league stadium, and now it is one of the activities that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about it… Read more

June 24, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 8 }

Day 159: Coffee in America

By on June 17, 2011 in Food & Drink, North America, USA

I start most of my days with a nice hot cup of coffee, except for when I decide to switch it up with a cup of tea, and I wouldn’t (or couldn’t) have it any other way. I love coffee; it is a spice of my life… Read more, and I can now see American coffee in a new light after

June 17, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 27 }

Day 103: I Live in a Bilingual Household

By on April 14, 2011 in Australia, Oceania

I’ve always wondered how people that speak two different languages make a relationship work. I always wonder more how they communicate at home since communication, to me, is like the essential part of making a relationship work, no?
I know it’s not to the same extent as, let’s say, someone who speaks Spanish and someone who speaks Japanese getting married,… Read more

April 14, 2011 · Continue Reading · Comments { 13 }