Random information about Australia:

Words used more than any other: keen, reckon; also instead of saying how are you doing they say how are you going?

Working hours: are very laid back, no one should have too much stress in Perth because I don't think anything other than a bottle shop, bars and some restaurants are open past five.Almost all stores of any kind, the supermarkets etc are open from 10-5.

Western Australia: Perth is the largest city in the state of WA and I mentioned before it doesn't seem to have the hustle and bustle one would expect to see in a city of a couple of million.Outside of Perth/suburbs of Perth WA is vast and spread out…and very expensive.The lack of proximity to other towns/people lends itself to getting creative about things most of us take for granted.Schools: many live in remote areas which do not have schools or if they do they only go to 16, which is the end of high school.Here like many places in Europe 16-18 is considered "college", is not required, and quite a few choose to either learn to take over farms, take on an apprenticeships particularly in mining which is a huge industry here.For those "towns" that don't have a school, they have what's called School of the Air, and as you might have guessed is broadcasted over the radio, that's now done in conjunction with the internet (if available), books and parents are to supervise.For those who decide to go on to "college" boarding schools is the only option.For those in urban or rural areas most can earn a degree at a university (to us college) in three years. Doctors: Perth is the only place I've been in yet that has an actual hospital, everywhere else primarily has a nursing post or if they're lucky a tiny medi-center.Thus, they have what's called, The Flying Doctor.For example, if something has happened to one of us on our first project up in Badja Station we would have had two options for seeking medical care: a.) waiting for The Flying Doctor to get there (the time varies b/c it's done on a volunteer basis) or b.)make the eight hour drive back to Perth J.