• I’m Australian but spend part of the year in New Orleansand there was a culture shock.
• American coffee not really my style and biscuits are something totally different in the US.
• I easily got one US driver’s licensewhich is good because there are drive-thrus everywhere.

Long before my first visit to New Orleans, I fell in love with the historic culture of the American city. As an Aussie, I never thought I’d be able to call The Big Easy home, but now I’ve split my year living between the two countries.

Adjusting to life in New Orleans has been an eye-opening experience full of unexpected surprises and plenty of heart-wrenching moments.

Here are some of the biggest culture shocks I encountered this year Aussies in the US.

I’m still getting used to American coffee

I never realized how serious Australians, especially Melburnians, are about their coffee. I am used to a certain standard and flavor.

Fortunately, there are a handful of places that serve great coffee in the States – but I emphasize the word “hand.”

Five years later, it still amazes me to see Americans embracing each other sweet, syrupy drinks which barely resembles what I consider coffee.

Plus, I can’t believe drip coffee is still a thing here. It’s a rarity where I’m from in Australia.

I thought it was much easier to get a driver’s license in the US

In Australia, obtaining a driver’s license was a lengthy process involving learner’s permits, over 120 hours of recorded driving with a licensed driver and a rigorous test.

In the US, getting the permit was a breeze by comparison. I only had to sit in a theory class for a few hours and then spend eight hours behind the wheel with an instructor.

After that, my test was driving around the block, parking, using my turn signal and boom, I had my license. The ease was both impressive and a little scary considering they were letting me drive on what had recently been the wrong side of the road for me.

The licensing rules varies from state to state, and many Americans under the age of 18 must take a more formal course/testing process. But I’m still shocked at how different my two experiences were.

I’m still getting used to the language differences around food

Language navigation differences between the US and Australiaespecially with food, it’s like playing a guessing game.

Imagine my surprise when I ordered crackers for the first time in the US and got something that looked more like buns. I was expecting what I now know to call a cookie.

I wonder if I’ll ever stop ordering chips and realize too late that I should have said “fries.” In Australia, both fries and chips they’re called chips — we only differentiate ourselves by saying “hot chips” for french fries.

Things also get lost in translation with my accent

My Australian accent caused some wild misunderstandings in the US.

From writing “Greary” on my coffee cup instead of “Ree” to a drive-thru worker at Taco Bell thinking I was trying to order pizza when I just said, “I have an order on my mobile,” is a daily game of “Guess what I said.”

It keeps things fun, at least, and that’s why I love being able to order through an app whenever I can.

Southern food was a culinary awakening

New Orleans cuisine it’s an adventure for the taste buds. I learned to embrace the savory grits (I’d usually add sugar and eat them as porridge at home) and came to love the rich flavors of gumbo.

i fell in love with Southern food shortly after my arrival in the States. However, entering a whole new world of gastronomy was an adjustment.

There are some dishes – like white beans – that I just can’t get my mouth around and I have days where I crave the place. fish and chip shop back home

There’s a drive-thru for everything in New Orleans

In New Orleans—and many cities across the U.S.—you can hit the drive-thru for just about anything from cafes at the bars.

The weird looks I got from locals while taking a photo of a bank with a car for friends back home were funny and the concept of picking up a daiquiri on the way out it seemed wild to me at first.

Now, I’m kind of hooked. It’s the ultimate lazy comfort.

Americans use so much ice

Compared to what I’m used to in Australia, everything is oversized in the US. A “small” siphon feels like a bucket to me.

However, I really don’t understand why Americans like their drinks filled to the brim with ice.

Once you take it out, there is almost no liquid left, no matter how big the cup.

Tipping culture is so confusing to me

The first time I came to the US, my biggest worry wasn’t getting through immigration or having the right documents – it was the tip.

It sounds silly now, but I still find the practice of figuring out what percentage of my total I should leave behind confusing.

In Australia, gratuity of service workers is not expected and base salaries are usually higher.