English is the main language spoken here; however almost a third of Australians were born in another country before migrating here. People from England, India, China and New Zealand make up the biggest group of people born abroad who now live in Australia. This means it's not uncommon to hear Chinese and Indian dialects in the community, but it's particularly difficult for me to hear the difference between Australian, British and New Zealander accents.
The Australian dollar is in circulation here. The bills are made out of plastic and show historical figures like Reverend John Flynn, pioneer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service on it. The U.S. dollar is currently worth more than the Australian dollar (every $1.00 USD is worth $1.53 AUD). This exchange rate changes frequently, however.
The average cost of a bottle of water here is $5.40 AUD (equivalent to $3.52 USD).
This week I got to attend the Fulbright orientation in Canberra. The organizers provided us with amazing food, but my favorite thing they served was a dessert called, "pavlova". The origins of pavlova are debated, as both Australia and New Zealand claim the dessert originated there in the early 1900s.
