One thing of many things I’ve noticed while in Australia is the difference in the way they perceive and utilise their time here. The first example of this I see in restaurants, stores, bars, and clubs too. Coffee shops usually close from 1 to 3 pm. Other stores, like pharmacies or big box stores, close around 5 pm. Grocery stores a little later, but usually in the early evening, it really depends on where it is or what it is. I feel like this is really evident of their emphasis on work/life balance. It also means though that your day feels a lot shorter than it would in the states, since you have less time to run errands and do your shopping. But I do think it does motivate one to get up earlier, and of course for workers it gives them more time to relax at home or go out after their shifts are over. Which brings me to my next point, people here don’t go out at 10 pm or even later like they would in the states. Instead, people start the process of going out much earlier, like at 5:30 pm. That was a really big shock to me and my other American friends but I honestly prefer it. They do it that way so you go to bed at a reasonable hour and can actually get a full nights rest before having to wake up again to go to work or proceed with your day. For that reason, bars and clubs don’t stay open till the early hours of the morning. I prefer the partying aspect of the earlier times, but I do think the stores closing that early is hard to get used to. But from a work ethic perspective, I think its definitely preferable.
