I edited this in light of moderator comments! 
I saw the thread http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294413 about a Brit moving to America, and realized this was a great idea for myself. My current novel idea has a Canadian moving to Australia.
I've never been to Australia (and am Canadian) but figure Americans would remark on many of the same things a Canadian would.
The MC is a Canadian teen who has moved to the Gold Coast with his whole family from Vancouver. He does not watch TV. The novel is set in the mid 2000's, though other than cell phones/ internet I'm not too worried about that part. He is a sports player (rugby) and from what I understand almost no sports are actually organized by the schools?
While one can comment on:
* high school sports organization
* high school structure
* educational curricula?
* food
* social culture
* shared experiences
* length of daylight/night
* seasons (or lack thereof)
* travel/cars/public transport
* healthcare
* language (and spelling)
* time differences
* house construction
* informal etiquette
What I'm sort of wanting to focus on is what kind of things a teenager from their perspective, would note.
1.) He plays Rugby. How is rugby culture different in Australia than Canada? I know it's generally a lot more prevalent, but don't know how much more.
In Canada, we have two cities, Victoria and Vancouver, contribute 3/4 of the players to our National Rugby team. When Canada sends its team to the international rugby competitions, it might as well be called the British Columbian Rugby Team.
2.) He goes to a restaurant. I know Australians have higher minimum wage so he doesn't have to tip. I know there are McDonalds, but are there mom and pop burger joints? What kind of restaurants are popular?
3.) He goes to school. What gets taught in year 12? (not grade 12, correct?) What kind of subjects are typical for a public high school to offer? I've tried looking online for government syllabi, but must be typing in the wrong words into search engines.
4.) So if there's no sports in high school, how do the "cool" kids get appointed? How does one build social capital in high school in Australia?
Growing up for me, it was zero, play rugby, one - having a car, two, throwing parties with lots of free booze and marijuana, and three, being nice to people and not a dick.
5.) He goes to a shopping mall. What would he notice as different than a mall in Vancouver?
6.) He turns on the radio - to a pop music station, what would be different?
7.) He tries hosting a party while his parents are gone. What cultural faux pax is he going to unwittingly commit?
8.) He goes to a friend's house. What will be different (anything really) about the inside of an Australian's house than the inside of a Canadian's house? What "typical" Australian meal will they feed him that he wouldn't eat in Canada? Mutton perhaps? It's ridiculously expensive in BC.
9.) He asks a girl out. Anything I should know about how Australian teen dating culture is different than Canadian teen dating culture?
Random stuff I know:
1.) Sports are organized differently by state and at that, differently than in Canada, where a good chunk of sports are organized by the schools and not private leagues.
2.) I'm not sure if Australians eat Ketchup or Tomato Sauce.
3.) Australians go to a Chemist, not a Pharmacist.
4.) Vegemite tastes bad and BBQ or "the barbie" is a Big Deal.
5.) Don't say "rooted around" when "searched or gardened" will do.
6.) Australians like to root for the underdog.
7.) Gun laws are crazy tough compared to Canada.
8.) Imports cost more in Australia vs Canada due to shipping and price gouging.
9.) American cars far less common.
Also - I said Canadian/American, because chances are lots more Americans here who've been to Australia than Canadians.
I saw the thread http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294413 about a Brit moving to America, and realized this was a great idea for myself. My current novel idea has a Canadian moving to Australia.
I've never been to Australia (and am Canadian) but figure Americans would remark on many of the same things a Canadian would.
The MC is a Canadian teen who has moved to the Gold Coast with his whole family from Vancouver. He does not watch TV. The novel is set in the mid 2000's, though other than cell phones/ internet I'm not too worried about that part. He is a sports player (rugby) and from what I understand almost no sports are actually organized by the schools?
While one can comment on:
* high school sports organization
* high school structure
* educational curricula?
* food
* social culture
* shared experiences
* length of daylight/night
* seasons (or lack thereof)
* travel/cars/public transport
* healthcare
* language (and spelling)
* time differences
* house construction
* informal etiquette
What I'm sort of wanting to focus on is what kind of things a teenager from their perspective, would note.
1.) He plays Rugby. How is rugby culture different in Australia than Canada? I know it's generally a lot more prevalent, but don't know how much more.
In Canada, we have two cities, Victoria and Vancouver, contribute 3/4 of the players to our National Rugby team. When Canada sends its team to the international rugby competitions, it might as well be called the British Columbian Rugby Team.
2.) He goes to a restaurant. I know Australians have higher minimum wage so he doesn't have to tip. I know there are McDonalds, but are there mom and pop burger joints? What kind of restaurants are popular?
3.) He goes to school. What gets taught in year 12? (not grade 12, correct?) What kind of subjects are typical for a public high school to offer? I've tried looking online for government syllabi, but must be typing in the wrong words into search engines.
4.) So if there's no sports in high school, how do the "cool" kids get appointed? How does one build social capital in high school in Australia?
Growing up for me, it was zero, play rugby, one - having a car, two, throwing parties with lots of free booze and marijuana, and three, being nice to people and not a dick.
5.) He goes to a shopping mall. What would he notice as different than a mall in Vancouver?
6.) He turns on the radio - to a pop music station, what would be different?
7.) He tries hosting a party while his parents are gone. What cultural faux pax is he going to unwittingly commit?
8.) He goes to a friend's house. What will be different (anything really) about the inside of an Australian's house than the inside of a Canadian's house? What "typical" Australian meal will they feed him that he wouldn't eat in Canada? Mutton perhaps? It's ridiculously expensive in BC.
9.) He asks a girl out. Anything I should know about how Australian teen dating culture is different than Canadian teen dating culture?
Random stuff I know:
1.) Sports are organized differently by state and at that, differently than in Canada, where a good chunk of sports are organized by the schools and not private leagues.
2.) I'm not sure if Australians eat Ketchup or Tomato Sauce.
3.) Australians go to a Chemist, not a Pharmacist.
4.) Vegemite tastes bad and BBQ or "the barbie" is a Big Deal.
5.) Don't say "rooted around" when "searched or gardened" will do.
6.) Australians like to root for the underdog.
7.) Gun laws are crazy tough compared to Canada.
8.) Imports cost more in Australia vs Canada due to shipping and price gouging.
9.) American cars far less common.
Also - I said Canadian/American, because chances are lots more Americans here who've been to Australia than Canadians.
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