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Australia vs the USA

As I fly out of Australia tomorrow for a holiday in Portugal, Italy and one day in Singapore, I thought I would quickly reflect upon my first year in Australia. It has definitely been a challenging year in some aspects, but at the same time really rewarding. I have gained a lot of skills in a variety of things.

A lot of Australians ask me the things  I like better here than in the US, so here are a few!

  • Healthcare: They have a public healthcare system, which covers everyone. Yes they also have private health insurance but for people who cannot afford to have private health insurance, they can still be treated and not go bankrupt due to an illness or disease. Prescriptions are so cheap.. heck even saw on the news this morning that they are going to try and make a bill pass so unchanged prescription meds, and referrals to specialist would no longer be necessary if it is an ongoing condition because they analyzed that a lot of money and time was wasted due to appointments for these reasons... Which brings me to my next thing
  • Laws and bills actually get moved along and passed quickly. Sure, checks are balances are in place for a reason, but I feel like American politics just juggle issues for ages and it takes forever for something to be done about it. 
  • GUNS? Haha right, Australia did a gun buy back in the 90s and people were paid to turn in their guns. Sure I have heard of the random one person shot here and there but no major gun massacres everyday.
  • Student Loan System: You don't pay anything towards your student loan debt until you earn over $55,000 dollars a year... How nice right? On top of that, for domestic students, education is not that expensive anyways so your loans wont be much compared to what they are in America. 
  • Public Transportation: maybe more in Melbs than other places in OZ, but I can get anywhere I want to go easily, quickly, and cheaply here. I love that I get to walk so much and dont need a car to survive. 
  • A person with a normal job is able to make a really good living. Lets think about teachers in America... they are paid soo lowly in America, what does that say about our priority to a good education? How will America keep any teachers with the way we treat them now?   Anyways teachers, social workers, people working in non profits, in retail, hospitality, etc etc, are paid real life living wages. 
  • Work life balance here is much better. Full time is 36 hours per week and people are given proper holidays, not just two weeks like many young Americans. Maternity, paternity, sick leave, and long service leave give, and all taken as well. 
  • Australians travel outside of their own country. 
  • People don't judge you based upon religion and it doesn't take part in political decisions.

Of course there are different advantages in the US as well.. however I feel for the average Joe, one can thrive a lot better here than in America, but that is just my opinion!

See you soon Portugal, Italy, and Singapore! 
xoxo
Nicole

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