quicko: things mom noticed, day 7

--"stock take" sale instead of an "inventory clearance"
--lots of people listen to music while commuting
--"manufacturing jewellers"
--lots of high school boys in kilts playing bagpipes
--Australians know a lot about American politics
--corn a stick at the markets
--hot lemonade and honey at the markets
--some flowers, such as azaleas, are similar to what we have in spring, but there aren't any daffodils or tulips
--azaleas and geraniums bloom simultaneously here
--our tropical plants/house plants are growing naturally here
--normal neighborhood sounds here sound jungle-y or rainforest-y (American zoos play recordings that sound like my neighborhood!)
--things we usually have to pay to see (kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, tropical plants, etc.) are just living naturally here
--spider plants just grow outside here all by themselves (i.e., not houseplants)
--not a lot of people seem to style themselves elaborately in terms of hair, make-up, etc. -- they tend to look more natural for the most part; not pretentious; easy-going, outdoorsy looks are more common; not fussy
--people ask where you're from and when you say "the U.S.," almost everyone responds with a story about when they were there (or want to go), but almost entirely the West or East coast and very rarely Ohio