Australia is known for its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches, laid-back people and breathtaking natural beauty. It is also home to the Sydney Opera House, The Great Barrier Reef, The stunning outback and of course our adorable friends the kangaroos and koalas.
That being, Australia has unique points of culture shock. From baffling slang to booze, some sides of Australian culture are known and expected, while others slip under the radar.
What does culture shock in Australia look like, you ask? We are here to tell you 9 things that might shock Indians about Australia. So without further ado :
1. Vibrant Social Life
Australians are quite a friendly, chatty and approachable bunch of people. If you wish to talk to the person sitting across your table in a cafe, chances are that he/she will approach you before you go to them.
Talking to the barista while your order is being taken is common in Australia. You see tens of thousands of strangers in the streets in India but rarely greet or even smile at them. The exact opposite of this happens in Australia and you might find the Australians over-friendly until you learn their ways.
Australia is one of the most lively and culturally diverse lands, the evidence of that being in the number of immigrants, namely Indians that live there.
There are a variety of ways to explore and learn about the various events and activities taking place across the country, but for those who want a comprehensive guide at their fingertips, Desipedia is a great platform for Indians to connect with the “Desi” community. It’s a one-stop shop to be up to speed and engage with all events and activities within the Indian community.
It serves as a great resource to discover Indian restaurants, businesses, and stores and meet all the needs of “Desis” living in Australia.
2. Language & Slang( And Swearing)
Possibly the most obvious culture shock For Indians in Australia? The language.
Australians abbreviate as often as they can. They will throw an ‘o’ or ‘y’ at the end of a name or place, oftentimes just for fun. They also tend to overpronounce the letter ‘r’.
If you’ve conversed with an Aussie for a bit, you might have also noticed that swearing is pretty common in most people’s vocabulary. If it’s the first time you’ve heard someone use the same word towards a friend or family member as they would to someone they didn’t like much at all, it’s going to be quite a shock.
So how do you tell if your new mate is angry at you when they call you a four-letter word insult?
The meaning behind the words all depends on tone, context and what was happening around you when the sentence was spoken.
Pairing a ‘good morning’ with an insult is a fairly common greeting and is usually intended as a friendly hello, rather than insulting the other person. It takes some practice but you will get the hang of it in the end.
The uniqueness of the Australian sense of humour, though hard to grasp at times can be brilliantly encapsulated by the following quote.
“Don’t worry about the world ending today; it’s already tomorrow in Australia.” – Charles M. Schulz
3. Love For Sport
Aside from the well-known love for cricket that India and Australia share, the latter is truly a land of sports fanatics. Everything from Rugby, Hockey, Soccer and Tennis has their own set of devoted fans and followers.
There is no doubt about Australians and their love for sports, no matter what game.
As you can imagine, it’s a very good conversation starter. Sports in Australia are more of a way of life than a recreational activity or hobby.
4. Christmas In Summer
This may not strike as a big deal, but it’s unusual and will take some getting used to. Christmas in Australia is vastly different to the rest of the world. Christmas in Australia is different because in Australia December is peak summer.
So instead of ice skating, people go to the nearest beach to enjoy Christmas parties. Though there are still magnificent fireworks and Christmas decorations all around the country, somehow the idea of enjoying Christmas and New Year’s Eve in hot summer weather may seem odd at the very least.
If you’re not used to a hot and sunny Christmas, Australia will see to that.
5. Drinking Culture
This one, funnily enough, goes hand-in-hand with the country’s love for sports. If you’ve heard anything about Australia, you will know of the drinking culture prevalent in the nation.
It’s ingrained in their society and is a huge part of the culture that locals and visitors gladly embrace.
6. DIY Culture
Possibly the biggest culture shock in Australia for Indians is the do-it-yourself culture. One of the best parts of being in India is that you don’t have to flex your muscles to build something.
If you order something, say furniture or electronics, assembly and installation are part of it, and that too free, most of the time. In Australia, DIY is a mantra. If you are not used to doing things on your own, you are going to get one of the biggest culture shocks in Australia. If you buy furniture, you will get delivery of solely the parts. It is then your responsibility to assemble it as per the instructions that come with the packaging.
7. Shop Timings :
One of the most unexpected culture shocks in Australia for Indians is doing grocery and other kinds of shopping. Supermarkets, shops and malls close quite early.
Late-night shopping in Australia means shopping until 9 pm. Malls in India on the other hand(of them) are open for much longer hours, with some of them even open 24×7.
Apart from groceries, which stay open a little later into the evening, you will want to get your shopping done before the afternoon is over, or you’ll be waiting until tomorrow.
In cities like Mumbai, life starts after 7 PM. We are so used to seeing small shops, stalls, and street food vendors doing business till midnight and some even further.
Even professionals such as plumbers, and electricians will not be available on Saturdays and Sundays or charge extra. Heck, even the electricity is not connected over the weekend if you are moving to a new house. Stuff like furniture or appliances usually won’t be delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. The reasoning is that everyone deserves a weekly off.
8. Tap Water is Potable
As Indians, we are so used to having a water filter system installed in our homes. We have separate vessels for our drinking water and we wouldn’t dream of drinking straight from the tap.
Well on the contrary in Australia, every time you are thirsty, turn on any tap and quench your thirst. Tap water is safe to consume.
This is also why restaurants in Australia don’t serve water for free to their guests. You have to order a water bottle or bring your own to the restaurant.
9. Cash Culture
India has become a digital economy now and you hardly use cash. Digital payments in just 5 seconds and you are done!
Although Australia is technologically advanced, people rely more on cash instead of plastic money.
Indians and Australians may only have a handful of overlapping personality traits and commonalities, but there is no doubt that Australia is one of the foremost living destinations in the world for Indian students and working professionals alike to work, study and build the life of their dreams.