At this point, Fede would probably tell me that I shouldn't criticize Australia so much--that the Aussies don't like it. But, my point is not to criticize--just to acknowledge the differences. You can make your own judgment.
Since I'm talking numbers, I'm going to number my observation about numbers.
#1. Units in apartments buildings are not numbered in a way that makes it easy to figure out what floor the unit is on. For example, we live in unit 91--on level 3. This is typical of all of the units we saw when we were apartment-hunting. Maybe it's some security measure because you can't figure out where someone truly lives unless you're able to walk through all of the floors? Maybe they prefer to number the units consecutively so you can easily tell exactly the number of units in a building?
#2. I haven't quite figured out the phone numbers here. In the US, everything has 10 digits (including area code). Here, there are some numbers that are six digits, written like this: 13 12 15
Then, you have the land line phone numbers that are eight digits, written like this: 9632 8032
Sometimes, in order to indicate that the land line is in Sydney, some people add a "2". So, now you have nine digits: 2 9632 8032
There are also toll-free numbers, which are 1800 numbers, with 10 digits. I haven't figure out what the difference is between the toll-free numbers and the 6 digit numbers--since they both seem to be used by companies that want you to call them. I assume the 6 digit numbers are also free, but maybe they aren't.
Mobile numbers are ten digits--but people write them in different ways:
0466-988-581 or 04-6698-8581 or 0466988581
But I think the hardest thing for me is the use of the word "double" when people say their phone numbers. My brain has to think about it before my hand can start writing--which means I inevitably don't get all of the numbers.
For example, when I tell people my mobile number, I would say:
zero-four-six-six, nine-eight-eight, five-eight-one
But, if an Aussie were to say my mobile number, she would say:
zero-four-double six, nine-double-eight, five-eight-one
Eventually I'll get used to it, but I'm not quite there yet.
#3. I know that in France (and I can't remember what other countries), they use a period to separate thousands. For example: 2.000 is the same as 2,000
Here, they use a space: 2 000
#4. This isn't really about numbers, but I'm going to throw it in here anyway. In Australia, the punctuation at the end of a sentence is not called a "period" it is called a "full stop."
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P.S. Happy Lunar New Year!
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