As many of you know, I am not from Australia. My country is a small dot in the map, near Italy, in the Mediterranean and its name, Greece. Many of you might know Greece from its history or its latest economical disaster.

Australia is considered one of the most environmental countries, if not the most progressive one concerning environmental behavior, such as recycling, protection of the wildlife, water savings and many many more. So, it is kind of challenging for me to just compare my country’s environmental policy with Australia’s and just mention the little things that made me appreciate Australia more and get mad at my own country.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Sydney is the majority of recycling bins, almost everywhere. Back home to find a recycling bin, many times you have to walk at least 10 minutes. Here they are everywhere. Even if you don’t wish to recycle, you don’t have a choice. In Greece people think that recycling is a waste of time, so I faced a sort of “discrimination” because I want to recycle. Quite amazing.

The second and most wonderful thing I found totally different is how people respect bicycles here. As a bike rider myself, back home it is hard to ride your bike easily and with no worries. Here it is like a paradise. You can go everywhere with your bike, because the government really cares about them. By creating new special roads and parks really gives the impression that bikers are not being encountered as anyone else. And that is a great great difference.

The last thing I would like to add is the signs for saving water everywhere. In every shower I ever been until now there are signs that remind people not to waste too much water while they are having a shower. This might seem insignificant to many of you but to me it is one of the many small strategies that are followed, so that people will appreciate water even more.  I wish this type of thinking would exist in Greece too.

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