When in Australia...People and Customs

A bit of the history of the continent reveals the arrival of an English explorer named Captain James Cook. He arrived at Botany Bay in 1770. Until Cook's arrival, Australia was occupied by the Australian Aborigines, who still live in the back country. Today, the continent has a population of more than 19 million.

Australia is known for its fine wines and easygoing natives and includes not only the cultures of the Aborigine, but the Maori and Polynesian people as well. Australians are also known to have quite an appetite for alcohol, a fact documented in the history of the continent. The Australians derive the reason for this inclination toward alcohol from their British heritage, citing that when the British sent petty thieves as punishment to live in the remote continent, they also sent future rum runners, and thus began the ferocious appetite for alcohol, which has been passed down from generation to generation. The primary drink of the continent is beer, and it's a fact that Australians consume four times as much of it in a year than any other nation. Each region specializes in its own brand of beer.

Australians as a whole speak "loud" and are known to be very friendly ("blokey"); they enjoy themselves. Americans who tell stories in bars (pubs) would feel quite welcome on this continent. In fact, locals have been known to "adopt" those who join them in their drinking - "schooling" them in drinking Aussie-style.

A "school" is three or more people who take turns buying rounds of drinks (called a shout) for each other until each one in the group has bought a round. Obligation to buy a round is expected. "Wouldn't shout if a shark bit him" and "long pockets and short arms" are unfavorable expressions which may accompany one's untimely departure from a pub with failure to buy a round of drinks of his Aussie buddies. (Also of note is that "Aussies" do not drink and drive and such behavior is harshly rewarded by the police).

Hospitality is high on this continent, so much so that Australians frown on tips. They do allow them in restaurants, but no more than 10 percent. Australians also frown on tourist complaints about how long it takes to get one's food to the table. They focus more on the meal than the length of time to prepare it.

It is interesting to note common misconceptions associated with the Australians. For instance, even though Americans think "shrimp on the barbie (Australian for barbeque)" is a common occurrence, it is not - and the phrase of the people is not "good day, mate" but "no worries, mate."

Here are some common "Aussie" expressions and their meanings:

Arvo - afternoon

Barbeque, BBQ, Barbie - outdoor cooking

Bloke - a male person, friend, or dude

Bottle-o - liquor store

Bring a plate - bring a dish of food to share with your host and other guests - This is when one is invited to a party.

Bush tucker - native foods of Australia (ants, birds, fruits, goanna, nuts, reptiles, and seeds)

BYO - bring your own drink (This does not have to be an alcoholic drink. Some restaurants in Australia are BYO, meaning you can bring your own wine, but there is a charge for providing and cleaning glasses. This charge is called "corkage.")

Chook - chicken
Cozzie - swimsuit
To Be Crook - to be sick or ill
Cuppa - a cup of tea or coffee
Dag - a geek
Dunny or Loo - toilet
Fair Dinkum - honest, the truth, "Fair dinkum?" "Is it really true?"
Flaffel - to take a lot of time doing something without really accomplishing anything
Flat Out - really busy
Fortnight - two weeks
Hoon - a loud, obnoxious person
How Ya Goin? - How do you do?
Kip - a nap
Mate - a friend, stranger, greeting, a way to end a sentence
Schooner - a 15-ounce glass of beer
Shout - to buy a round of drinks
Snag - sausages
Strine - the Aussies spoken language
Stubbie - beer served in a bottle
Teetotaler - one who does not drink
Vegemite - a famous bread/toast spread

It is interesting to note some Australian customs. For instance, when Australians first meet someone, they don't like to be asked questions about their age, marital status, or financial position. They normally simply shake hands upon meeting someone and consider looking directly into someone's eyes when he or she is speaking as a sign of common respect.

Though casual is the order of the day in most instances, sometimes in Australia, a certain "dress" is expected. Like America, in Australia there are adherences to safety (safety boots, hard hats) and uniforms (for police) for Aussies "on the job." However, in clubs and movie theatres, Australia requires neat, clean clothing and appropriate footwear (no thongs or flip flops). In addition, some Australians tend to wear the clothing of their native backgrounds, such as robes, hijabs (headscarves), and turbans.

Australians are known for being a very polite group of people with well-bred manners. They take offense when someone does not appropriately say "please" and "thank you" for public service in restaurants, etc., and when appropriate manners are not observed at all times. It is against the law in Australia to push in front of people in a line or queue and to swear in public.

An interesting note considering Australian television is that when one is watching Aboriginal movies or cultural programs, a message will sometimes come on the screen that states, "We wish to warn viewers that the scenes you will see may be offensive to some viewers," or "May contain images of people who are now deceased." The reason for this is that in the Aboriginal society, it is forbidden to ever mention the name of or see a photograph of anyone who has died.