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There’s a moment that tends to happen when you live overseas.
 Someone hears your Australian accent in America… pauses for a second… and then the questions start.

After eight years living in the United States as an Australian, I’ve noticed the same questions come up again and again. Some are funny, some are unexpected, and some reveal more about the cultural differences between Australia and America than we probably realise.

In this episode, I walk through the questions Americans often ask Australians — from wildlife and language to holidays and everyday assumptions — and what those moments have taught me about the expat experience of living between two cultures.

It’s not really about right or wrong.
 It’s just about understanding each other a little better.

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This week in America somehow turned into a mix of Jeep suspension problems, MRI tunnels, ballroom dancing injuries, drum recitals, and trying to work out why American kids seem to have busier schedules than corporate executives.

After my Jeep Wrangler started developing the infamous “death wobble,” I found myself bouncing between tire shops, mechanics, dealerships, and a father-and-son off-road garage that felt more like a Southern sitcom than a repair shop. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also had an MRI on my leg, discovered my personal bravery limit inside medical tubes, and watched Brianna confidently launch herself toward her first drum recital.

Meanwhile, Georgia got accepted into a summer theatre program for James and the Giant Peach — which quickly raised the question of whether American kids are now accidentally working full-time hours during summer break.

This episode is really about the people behind all those moments though. The mechanics, MRI staff, teachers, parents, and random conversations that make everyday life in America feel both exhausting and strangely warm at the same time.

🎙️ This Week in America — My Jeep Needs Counselling

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Living overseas changes the way you see the place you came from.

After eight years in the United States, I’ve started to notice things about Australia that I never really thought about when I lived there. Not the big, obvious things — but the small, everyday ones. The kinds of things that quietly shape your sense of home.

In this episode, I reflect on what I didn’t realise I’d taken for granted growing up in Australia. From simple routines and food, to humour, culture, and the sounds that stay with you long after you leave.

It’s not about one place being better than another.
 It’s about what becomes visible… once you’re no longer surrounded by it.

If you’ve ever lived overseas — or even just away from where you grew up — this might feel familiar.

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What happens when your kids grow up in a country that still feels new to you? In this episode of This Week in America, I share a simple moment at The Hermitage in Nashville that turned into something bigger — a quiet realisation about identity, family, and what it means to belong in America as an Australian.

Living in the United States for eight years, I’ve grown used to the questions about my accent. But hearing my daughter confidently say, “I’m American,” stopped me for a second. Not because it surprised me… but because of how simple it was for her.

In this episode, I reflect on raising kids between two cultures, how identity feels different as a parent, and how living in America has slowly changed the way I hear people talk about it. It’s not about politics or headlines — it’s about the everyday people, the small moments, and the shift that happens when a place stops being theoretical and becomes personal.

If you’ve ever lived overseas, raised kids between cultures, or found yourself caught between two versions of “home,” this one might feel familiar.

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As an Australian living in America, I’ve come to realise it’s not the big cultural differences that stay with you… it’s the small, everyday habits.

In this episode, I talk through some of the little things Americans do that still catch me off guard — from sending mail from your own mailbox, to turning right on a red light, to traditions like trunk or treat.

They’re completely normal if you’ve grown up in the United States.
 But from an Australian perspective, they stand out in quiet, unexpected ways.

This is a reflection on everyday life in America — the subtle cultural differences between Australia and the US that you only really notice once you’re living inside them.

If you’ve ever lived overseas, or you’re curious about American culture through an Australian lens, this one will feel familiar.

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This week in America — a Kentucky weekend that started with a dance competition and quietly turned into something more. From Louisville traffic during Derby season to bourbon conversations at a hotel bar, a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum, and a roadside stop at Buc-ee’s… this episode reflects on the small, unexpected moments that end up defining the trip.

At the center of it all is Georgia’s best solo performance of the year — a reminder of what sits behind those few minutes on stage, and why those moments land differently as a parent. Along the way, there’s a deeper look at American local pride, college sports culture, and that growing feeling of finding “home” in places you never expected.

If you’ve ever travelled for one reason and come back with something else entirely, this one will feel familiar.

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After living in the United States for a number of years, there are still plenty of things that surprise me about daily life here. Some are confusing. Some take getting used to. But there are also things America does genuinely well — things that stand out once you’ve lived somewhere else.

In this episode, I reflect on a few parts of American culture that have quietly impressed me since moving here. From the way communities show up for each other, to the openness of everyday interactions, to small habits that make life feel welcoming in ways I didn’t expect.

Living between two countries changes how you see both of them. Sometimes it’s the differences that stand out most clearly — and sometimes it’s the things you realise are worth appreciating.

This episode is part of the ongoing reflections from an Australian living in the American South, noticing the small cultural moments that often go unspoken.

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What does everyday life in America actually feel like? In this episode, I share a week that started with representing Australia at a school international night in Tennessee… and unfolded into a series of small moments that say a lot about living in the United States as an Australian.

From sausage rolls, Vegemite, and Tim Tams at an American school event… to watching kids grow up in a naturally multicultural environment… to the small everyday differences you don’t really notice until you do — like ice in drinks, mailbox flags, and even how Easter quietly passes here.

There are also moments that feel a little heavier — rising gas prices, school lockdown drills — and how those realities sit alongside a very normal, routine day-to-day life that often looks nothing like the version of America seen on the news.

This is a reflection on the difference between seeing America from the outside… and actually living here.

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After living in America for eight years, there’s one small phrase I’ve come to appreciate more than I expected.

“You’re welcome.”

It’s such a simple response. But the way different cultures handle gratitude says a lot about rhythm, acknowledgement, and how we close small moments.

In Australia, we tend to say “no worries.” It minimises the act. Keeps everything level. There’s humility in it.

In parts of America — especially in the South — “you’re welcome” feels like something else. It receives the gratitude. It completes the exchange.

Neither is better. But they feel different.

In this episode, I reflect on what happens after you say thank you — and why that tiny half-second can change how an interaction lands.

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This week in America, I started noticing how everyday life works a little differently.

Living in the United States as an Australian, it’s often the small things that stand out — like how many everyday tasks become services. From lawn care crews moving house to house, to businesses built around things most people don’t want to do, there’s a strong sense of opportunity in everyday life here.

After our fridge broke down, a trip to a local appliance store also highlighted how commission-based sales shape customer service in America — something that feels quite different compared to Australia.

Later in the week, a family night out for Mexican food (or Tex-Mex, depending on who you ask) became a reminder that “authenticity” often depends on perspective. Watching Brianna dance along to the music said more about the experience than any label ever could.

School yearbooks arrived as well — a small but familiar part of life in America — and like many things, came with a cost that makes you pause, even if you still choose to buy them for the memories.

And then a simple interaction with the Australian Embassy brought something unexpected. Living overseas, even small gestures can reconnect you to home in ways you don’t anticipate.

This episode reflects on everyday life in America, cultural differences between Australia and the US, and what it means to live between two countries.

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