Mark Nave has swapped his traditional festive feast of eggnog and fried turkey for a cold stubby and a plate of seafood.
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The Tennessee-bred health officer has also traded in a chilly minus 18 degrees for a Dubbo scorcher.
Mr Nave, spending his first Christmas in Australia this year, said the biggest difference was the heat.
"It's totally odd seeing all the Christmas lights around when the temperature is so hot," he said.
"At home it's about minus 18 degrees at the moment and we usually spend Christmas inside in front of a fire."
The food, Mr Nave said, would also be a change from the traditional American Christmas feast where his family usually ate baked beans mixed with maple syrup, fried turkey, ham and baked vegies.
He said this year cold meat, salads and seafood were on the menu.
Mr Nave is spending Christmas with a work colleague and although he admitted he would miss family and friends in America, he said he was looking forward to the change.
"I enjoy the hot weather, it's a lot better than the cold," he said.
"The people here are also really friendly - Tennessee is supposed to be one of the friendliest parts of America and you guys make us look like snobs."
Mr Nave came to Australia from his home town of Hampton seven months ago and has been working at Macquarie Area Health Service as an environmental health officer.
His job involves monitoring legionella activity in health care facilities, ensuring public swimming pools comply with NSW health guidelines and monitoring mosquitoes and their potential to spread disease.
Mr Nave signed a two-year contract with the health service but planned to stay in Australia beyond that time.