Learning to Be an Adult in a New Country
things i've had to figure out since moving to america:
- what the heck is a W-4
- why does everyone talk about 401(k)s
- how to tip (it's more complicated than you'd think)
- why is healthcare so confusing
- what is a credit score and why does mine not exist
welcome to adult.
australian things i took for granted
universal healthcare. just... having it. not worrying about which doctors are "in network."
superannuation. retirement savings that happen automatically without me thinking about it.
reasonable wages for service workers. no tip guilt because people are paid fairly.
public transit. san francisco has... some? better than most american cities. but still car-centric compared to sydney.
american things i'm adjusting to
small talk. americans are friendly in a way australians aren't. every interaction comes with chitchat. it's nice but exhausting for an introvert.
portion sizes. why is everything so big.
sales tax not included. the price tag lies. always.
imperial units. i've lived here two months and i still don't know how hot 75Ā°F is. (it's fine, apparently.)
the financial learning curve
setting up my first american bank account felt like a video game quest. multiple forms. proof of address. proof of employment. wait 3-5 business days.
then: credit card applications denied because i have no credit history. because i've never had american debt. catch-22.
solution: secured credit card. build credit. wait. american adulting speedrun.
the social stuff
making friends as an adult is different. especially in a new city.
at work: acquaintances mostly. friendly, but everyone has their own lives.
outside work: joined a climbing gym. trying to be the person who shows up consistently. it's slow.
i miss the easy friendships of university. where you saw people every day automatically.
now friendship takes deliberate effort. i'm learning.
what i'm proud of
- filing my first (complicated) taxes
- setting up renter's insurance
- cooking actual meals instead of just surviving
- not getting lost as often
- learning which grocery stores are for what
- making my apartment feel like home
small victories. they count.
the paradox
i'm more capable than ever. i have a real job. i live alone in a new country. i handle adult things.
and also: i call my mom when i don't know how to do basic life tasks. and that's okay.
adulthood isn't knowing everything. it's figuring it out as you go.
successfully parallel parked today. in an american car. with the steering wheel on the wrong side. peak adulting.