Australian Culture Shock: 17 Differences I Noticed
Anytime you land in a foreign country, your senses are all of a sudden on overdrive and high alert as you take in all the new sights, sounds of life, smells, tastes of the local food, and feel of your new surroundings. It’s truly like being a kid again, where every interaction is a learning moment. Every little thing is worth getting excited over. This is called culture shock, and it’s equal parts stimulating and exhausting.
Anytime I travel somewhere new, I love to keep track of the cultural differences I’m noticing as I get accustomed to where I’m at. I write down the things that stand out to me like how the architecture or landscape differs, new verbiage I’m hearing, what local produce is new to me in a grocery store, and differences in their everyday way of life.
Although Australia is one of the more similar countries to America, there were still so many things that stood out to me when I first arrived. I’ll do another blog post of solely the verbiage I’ve learned, but here is a list of all things culture and way of living:
1. People live their life around the sun and the weather!
Nice weather means you work early and enjoy the beach in the arvo. If it’s the first nice day in awhile, your boss will cancel work before you even have to call in sick…
2. Everywhere has Apple Pay so you never have to bring your card or wallet with you.
3. All coffee shops + cafes close by 1 or 2pm… good luck getting a late lunch or an afternoon espresso!
4. Australia is super respectful of its First Nations People who originally lived on and with the land. The statement called, “Welcome to Country,” is said whenever flying, before events or significant meetings, is listed on business’s websites, etc:
“I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today, and pay respects to their Elders past and present.”
5. Things are nicknamed whenever possible.
Australians rarely say a full word if they don’t have to, and words that can’t be shortened get a “y” on the end. Ex. “here’s your cap with oaty,” AKA, “here’s your cappuccino with oat milk.”
6. Surf really is life.
7. People walk around barefoot all the time!
I’ve seen people barefoot in the grocery store, the petrol station, cafes, you name it. Beach life, man.
8. Sustainability + ethicality is a standard, not a trend!
Every cafe and restaurant has eco-friendly packaging, compost + recycling bins are everywhere, no one litters, and everyone shops + supports local.
9. Work life balance is SO good - people work to live, not live to work! Work environments are really relaxed, and people don’t take anything too seriously.
10. Bushdoofs are a huge part of the culture! It’s a techno dance party in the bush or on the beach.
11. People take drinking very seriously!
Shots are illegal in Western Australia. Everyone working around alcohol needs an RSA (responsible service of alcohol) certification. Once, I had to drink a water in front of a bartender before she’d give me my drink (I had only had 2 drinks at that point).
12. Most food in grocery stores have a health star rating (0-5 stars) on the packaging so you know roughly how healthy something is.
13. The school system!
Most schools have gardens and teach you about food, cooking, carpentry, woodworking, and living with the land. You actually learn life skills!! What a concept!! Also, all kids wear uniforms.
14. Van life or living out of your car is so popular! Especially with backpackers. It encourages the slow, go-with-the-flow lifestyle.
15. Drugs are as recreational and normalized as alcohol is.
16. There is a “no stress” mantra for everythingggg.
Late for work? No stress, so are they. Forgot to get something done? No stress, it can wait. Long wait on a food order? No stress, you have nowhere to be.