Australia is full of the amazing and the unique, only found on this one place on the planet. As an American, there are many things I appreciate as being similar, considering we speak the language (though sometimes the slang has me thinking otherwise, but that's language for you). There are definitely differences! Here are 15 things I think we could benefit from adding to the American schedule!

1. Tea time

Step aside, England. Australia has not only one tea time, but two of them. That's right. Morning tea and "avvo tea." These bad boys come with an assortment of bikkies and fruit. Or sometimes, they even become a small meal with (typically in my host family's home). Considering the heat, which even strikes in the more coastal city of Brisbane, and how much you walk, it's quite the blessing.

2. Polite speech

Believe me, it's not just the road signs. During orientation and just droppin' eaves on conversations in shops and other places, people were more polite, which sounds ironic considering American's are supposedly the more politically correct. "Freaking out" is referred to as "being distressed," ways of asking for things carry more polite tones, and believe it or not, the buses read, "Sorry, out of service."

3. Barbies

Nope. Try again.

Yesssssssss!

I must hand it to them, Australia knows how to barbecue. They don't slather everything in sauce or heap piles of cole slaw onto plates. They take a great meat, add heaps of people who want to hang out and eat great food. And add fire.

4. Prawns

Mates, these are prawns. Nobody puts shrimp on the barbie, because shrimp are tiny and, if you want substantial crustacean sea swimmers, you'll be looking at these guys.

5. Power outlet switches

Do you see those cute little switches? They have caused me much misery and distress in my short time here, but I'll tell you what, they're a genius idea. Electricity in the States constantly runs to the plug in, hence an instant charge once your phone prongs go in the holes. The downside? It wastes electricity because the current is constantly there. Granted, it's a small amount, but it's still something to save.

6. Escalators for grocery carts

Really though. Who wouldn't want the safety and security of knowing you can let go of your cart at any time along the way and know those much needed Oreos and coffee aren't going anywhere?

7. Marsupials

Of course, all of us have seen these cute and cuddly guys: Koalas! One of many different marsupials which inhabit Australia, they're a biological phenomenon. Also, quite adorable. Among these fellas, there are Tasmanian Devils, Wallabies, Sugar Gliders, Echidnas (random fact, Knuckles from "Sonic the Hedgehog" is an Echidna!), Possums, Kangaroos, and various other small creatures.

8. Copious amounts of sunscreen

With a thinner atmosphere down under, unless it's raining, you've got to have sunscreen on. It helps keep cancer away (a man I met, who works mostly indoors and is a serious applier, has had at least three skin cancer spots removed). Plastic surgery is also quite common here. While my home state of Oregon isn't in too much danger of facing the sun epidemic, it's not a bad idea to work harder at keeping your skin protected.

9. Eco-friendliness

Brisbane makes a conscious effort to reduce their effect on the planet. Reusable bags are encouraged, solar panels frequent rooftops everywhere, a lot of people I've seen use reusable travel (or takeaway) cups for their daily coffee and their toilets have two flushes: One for the liquid and one for everything else. Not to mention recycling is everywhere. It's awesome.

10. Fair trade chocolate

While this may just be at my university and a part of the Australia Studies Centre Program, Fair trade products are consciously a part of some businesses and their dealings. It's awesome to eat chocolate and realize slavery isn't being promoted.

11. Fewer states

Now, this may seem silly, but let me tell you. As an American who lives in Oregon, trying to explain where I live is only possible because I border California and the "state that has Seattle." Here's a look at Australia's state map:

Now, doesn't this look marvelously easy? Then there's no song of "Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas..."

I'm going to get a bit serious here. This is the Anglo-Australian map, not considering the Aboriginal countries that pre-existed for hundreds of years. What I also wish America would do is acknowledge the First Nation territories. In a sense, we do. We have the maps which can be pulled up from Google, but how many of us have seen those in elementary schools? Why aren't our classrooms visiting the nations which used to exist where we call home?

Granted, Australia's First People's wound is extraordinarily deep, and the only reason I know this map exists is because I'm taking Aboriginal Culture Studies. But this map is being shown and discussed in primary and secondary education. Isn't it time we do the same?

There were over 500 nations with their own dialects. Much of it has been lost, but the steps being taken to salvage and understand, how to respect and develop Aboriginal/Anglo-Australian culture brings exciting possibilities to the horizon.

12. Rugby!

Awww, aren't they cute? Yes, we have it in the good ol' States, but it's nowhere near as big as it is here and in other countries. There's Union..

Then there's League..

When you're at a Rugby Union game, it's called "Union," and if at a Rugby League game, it's "League." And heaven help you if you go to one of these games and call it "rugby." It's basically being a heathen.

13. Portion. Sizes.

You laugh as I use Macca's as an example, but it's the easiest one I've found. If you come to Australia and have a big appetite, refrain from ordering a Domino's pizza. It's quite small, and you'll feel like a pig for getting two.

Extra Note: A tall here is actually tall, considering coffee sizes. Starbucks rules do not apply!

14. Ridiculous amounts of slang

We Americans also say some pretty weird things. For example, no one here knows what a "nuker" is (and maybe I'm the only one in the States that does too...) but Ozzies have made it a delicate and wondrous art, far surpassing any I've heard before.

Hope you got a little education and a bit of a laugh. Cheers!