When I first moved to Australia for uni, I experienced a lot of cultural shocks.
Here are a few of them:
- I found Australians to be very direct; they say what they mean, and they mean what they say. At first, this can come across as blunt or rude, but in general, they are all extremely friendly and outgoing.
- They also use a lot of slang that was hard to understand at first. For example, they use ‘thongs’ instead of ’sandals’ or ‘flip-flops’. ‘afternoon’ becomes ‘arvo,’ and ‘service station’ is shortened to ‘servo,’ among many others.
- Australians take cleanliness seriously. You’ll rarely find rubbish on the floor, as they really value keeping their environment clean.
- And, of course, Australians love their barbecues. There are even grill stands for BBQs in parks, beaches, and national parks.
What are some cultural shocks you experienced when moving to or visiting Australia?
