There's a Fine for that.

     Everything, and I mean everything, is expensive in this country. I went out to buy some school supplies the other day and I'm not sure if I just went to the wrong place or not, but I spent $20 on some folders and notebooks. It was outrageous. Pubs are quite expensive as well, but apparently it's like that everywhere, I'm just new at it.

     To add on top of the expensive nature of things, Aussies really like to fine you whenever you step out of line or do something stupid. If the kitchens are left in a state that is considered "too messy," there's a fine. If you lock your key card in your room one too many times, you're a fined (I think I'm bound to get this one). If you set off the fire alarm, whether it be from an accidental bump of the button or a smokey mistake while cooking, it's a fine. In fact in the last instance it's a hefty fine of $1,000. When I heard this I couldn't believe it. Especially because people were setting fire alarms off left and right at my dorm in Oswego and there was no penalty. I can understand what they're trying to do here. They want you to be careful so that the fire department doesn't have to make an unnecessary trip down to the residence hall to see that everything is okay, but come on! A thousand dollars seems a bit much for something that was accidental in the first place. Yeah, maybe $10 or even $30, $50 if you want to push it, but a thousand! Needless to say, I've been over cautious with everything that I do in the kitchen. It really makes me want to push the fire alarm button though. Not because I want the fine, but because it's such a big bad deal and it would be so easy. It's funny how we have that urge to do what we're told not to. I wonder what sort of instinctual, evolutionary benefit that has for us...