Culture Shock

On our boring orientation day, the day that we got our ID cards and listened to lectures on surf safety, and the day that our British dorm-mate Stuart memorably and loudly exclaimed "God Save The Queen!" when the presenter asked for the name of the Australian national anthem, they warned us international students about the trials and tribulations of culture shock.  Now, for the students in the auditorium from places such as China, India, France, Russia, Brazil, etc., I imagine this discussion was quite relevant.  I'm sure that adding the language barrier across different cultural customs makes a huge difference in making Australia feel very foreign.  However, the majority of the auditorium was filled with students from either America or Great Britain - and for us, when there's nobody around to bid us "g'day," it's easy to forget that Australia is not the our home country (until either a parrot flies by or you look up at the stars and can't find the Big Dipper).  However, there are certainly differences that I've found quite interesting.

On the day we arrived, we landed at the Sydney airport just before dawn.  Before we had even touched down - before we had been on the ground in this new country - Bianca looked out the window and pointed out great glowing Golden Arches.  Not even on the ground, and the first thing we see in Australia is a McDonald's.  Welcome to the wild outback down under.  Forgive the generalizations in this post, because that's mainly what it will be made of - but a lot of Australians seem to love McDonald's.  However, you're more likely to hear it referred to as "Macca's" than by its full name.  Burger King here is called Hungry Jack's.  Milky Way bars are Mars Bars (except they're a bit different and exquisitely wonderful).  Snicker's and Reese's don't exist, but Cadbury chocolate of all kinds abounds, and Tim Tams are pretty much the best cookie ever invented (read: chocolate, cookie, chocolate, cookie, chocolate, rectangular, and perfect with hot cocoa). 

Sydney - helpful street painters!

I would make the case that Australia's culture is more British than American, but obviously has a heavy American influence.  That really makes sense - Australia was colonized by the British (more specifically, by British criminal camps, a fact that many Australian students I've talked to are quite proud of).  For one thing, the Australians and the British agree on what side of the road they should drive on.  They also agree that there should be a roundabout at pretty much every intersection.  Now, I've spent enough time in New England to have a very solid understanding of roundabouts.  But when they start using them in the wrong direction, it just gets confusing.  Fortunately I don't have to drive, but on my bicycle I've had to be very conscious of it.  At this point, though, it's second nature.  A bunch of us watched a movie the other day, and when Batman got in his fancy car and squashed all of the innocent vehicles on the highway, we were surprised to see all of the people driving on the right side of the road, which is to us truly the wrong side by now. 

Signage can be a little different.  Instead of "Do Not Enter" signs on highway off-ramps, they say "WRONG WAY - GO BACK."  Exit signs at train stations say "Way Out."  Here are a couple of signs that I just can't figure out.  The zebra sign is from downtown Sydney.  The stackhats sign seems to refer to bike helmets - and indeed, bike helmets are compulsory for all riders in Australia - but Australians call them helmets.  Nor have I heard anybody say "whilst." 







Breakfasts here are very British - with a strong tendency towards runny yolks, which I don't approve of.  But they also like to put baked beans and spaghetti on toast for breakfast (not together).  Do the British do that?  We also often have crumpets.  But to make it Australian, there is abundant vegemite available, as well.  I still haven't gotten up the nerve to try it.  The American influence is mostly seen, I think, in the movies and music.  

There are lots of other little differences.  For instance, comforters are called doonas,  pieces of candy are called lollies, flashlights are torches (definitely British), and flip-flops are always called thongs.  I'm sure the list could continue, but I can't think of others right now!