1. Dont go near any wildlife, it will kill you, but that shouldn't be a problem because Melbourne is a city of 4 million people and the capital of the State of Victoria.
2. It's pronounced mel-bun.
3. The country isn't all beaches and desert, Melbourne is on the south coast of Australia's eastern green fertile region, there is also some medium sized mountains that go along our east coast for ages, like the Appalachians. The further west you go the more desert it becomes - except there is no cacti.
4. Some places get pretty bloody cold in winter, but the only place that gets snow regularly are the snowy mountains (nearish to Melbourne) and the little island of Tasmania to the south. Melbourne is pretty mild cause it's on the coast but expect it to get to like 35 on a hot day.
5. Weed is illegal where you are moving to. It's decriminalized in South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
6. In summer the flies are a killer.
7. Prepare to pay 1.5 - 2 times as much for games and guitars, even when the US Dollar and Aussie Dollar are worth the same we still pay about twice as much for things like that. We don't have as many religious nuts.
8. Our hamburgers have salad and sometimes pineapple, egg and bacon. Also BBQ sauce.
9. Our government is psycho and overprotective but most people are pretty laid back. Cops don't beat you up as much but are otherwise just as big assholes as in the states.
10. Expect to see about 1 gajillion asians in our cities. Apparently they only make up like 5 percent of the population - but 80 percent of our population lives in coastal cities.
11. Every citizen gets free healthcare. But even if you're not a citizen and get fucked up in an accident you will get the immediate treatment you need no matter what, so chill out.
12. We have lots more gun control than you nuts in the states so don't be packin'.
13. We have no bill of rights whatsoever, it's all just "assumed". So don't try that amendment rights crap.
14. Our native population - the Aborigines have more in common with the Native Americans even though they look black. As you would expect people can be pretty racist to them, but there is just as much white trash here anyway.
15. We lock illegal immigrants up in horrible detention centers for years without charge or trial while they are processed - Guantanamo style. But if you're white then you shouldn't have to worry.
16. 100 km/h in a car is pretty fast. 140 is really fast (speeding pretty much everywhere except for the highways in the desert). 50 - 60 is a good speed for residential areas.
17. Small greyish kangaroos are fine, but big red kangaroos will *destroy* your car.
18. There is no such thing as a drop-bear.
And a nice 20 degrees tomorrow.
