I've lived in Australia for years. Don't make these 8 mistakes when you visit — especially if you're an American like me.

Australia has many norms I never saw in the United States. Jaimee Marshall

• I'm from the United States and I've lived in Australia for a few years.
• Australia has norms US travelers won't be used to — for example, we don't pre-pay for gas here.

I'm an American from Philadelphia who has spent the better part of four years living in and traveling through Australia.

With its over-$100-billion tourism industry, the country sees millions of visitors each year, many of them from the US like me. Although the US and Australia are similar in many ways, some significant differences could lead to misunderstandings or confusion.

If you choose to become one of these visitors, avoid making these common mistakes — especially if you're an American.