Way Different

As a fellow Texan in the office related today, some things here are surprisingly like those back in the states, and other things are way different. The way cell phone service is purchased is confusing, but so is simply making a phone call. Prices/costs are through the roof for rent, for most food items, for a coca-cola, but laptops, mowers, and other food items are similar in price. How about this, for 6-month savings deposit the bank will pay 8%pa. And that's not for huge sums either, how about for only$10k deposit?!

Autos on the other hand are some of the expensive items. A new Honda Legend (yes HONDA Legend!) runs $75000, that'd be more like $50,000 in the states. But then a new Honda Accord Euro runs $32,500, very similar to the States again.

We don't hear a whole lot of what is going on in the States, we hear mildly about the Presidential Election, but we get the US Open tennis tournament every day, match after match.

Some public policies are interesting: it is the law that every bicycle rider must wear a helmet, but 18-yr olds are allowed to purchase cigarettes and purchase alcohol - i suppose the purpose is to get more purchases AND more GST (that's goods and services tax). Of course income taxes are referred to as PAYG (pay as you go) taxes. What is kinda cool is that prices, such as laptop computers, etc. are listed in the stores to include all taxes, so whatever the advertised price is, that is the total you pay at the register.

Gotta go...more later.....perhaps.