The view from Down Under

I take pride in being a student of observation. I like to know every minute detail of my surroundings and have a natural ability to see changes around the neighbourhood and things along those lines. Whether it be a new door at the local dry cleaner or the recent puke deposit placed by some yob on the side of the road.

I have lived in 4 countries now and visited many others. My new home, Australia, is much of what you would expect in any westernized country but I have found some small changes versus that in the northern hemisphere (although there are some similarities to England).

Below are some of the small things I have observed, which lends credence to the idea that things are 'opposite down under'.

1) Water drains the opposite direct down the drain versus that in the northern hemisphere. This was popularized by The Simpsons episode -- which sees Homer shedding a tear looking at the specially rigged toilet at the US Embassy whilst singing 'America the Beautiful'.

2) Revolving doors turn clock-wise. Reason I know this is different -- starting pushing the wrong way (instinct had me try to push counter-close wise). If I'm wrong please let me know -- but my instinct tells me I'm right.

3) People orient themselves on the left side. This includes walking down the stairs, down the street and even escalators. Also, the UP and DOWN escalators are oriented in the opposite direction in malls/shops as opposed to North America. Seems like a small thing but when you are walking down the street and bashing into people at every turn -- you figure it out pretty quick.

4) 'EH' the verbal crutch that most Canadians boast is actually used in a similar fashion here - but people say 'hey' at the end of sentences. Pretty crazy, eh (or is it hey)?

Its not to say that moving South of the equator is going to throw you into a culture-shock coma but there are some small things that really reinforce the idea that you are not in Kansas any more.