Australians are usually humble, quite welcoming, polite and contact seeking when meeting strangers. Do not be surprised that strangers greet you, look you in the eyes and start a conversation with you in situations that you perhaps never had expected someone to do in your home country.
Australian stereotypical characters always use expressions like "Crikey!", "G'day, mate" and "Put another shrimp [sic] on the barbie." They are often represented as being unsophisticated and obsessed with beer and surfing, boomarangs and kangaroos. Australian men are often shown as being macho, misogynistic brutes.
Australia has a unique history that has shaped the diversity of its peoples, their cultures and lifestyles today. Three major contributors to Australia's demographic make-up are a diverse Indigenous population, a British colonial past and extensive immigration from many different countries and cultures.
In trying to articulate Australia's identity, words and phrases and values like mateship, a fair go, the Aussie battler, egalitarianism, multiculturalism, larrikinism, and the lucky country are often cited, but do they all really apply today?
Australians place high value on friendships and are usually relaxed, casual and informal when greeting someone. There are no laws regarding friendships or dating. Friendships and social events with both sexes are common. The Aussie students have all been kind and welcoming in all of my classes.
So, being Australian means that you accept and respect our nation's laws and institutions, you land on our shores legally, and you have a good grasp of the English language.
The tough conditions of settler times also played a part in Australians' dry, self-deprecating and sarcastic sense of humour. While in many countries it's considered poor taste to find humour in difficult circumstances, Australians tend to look at the lighter side.
Australian customs & etiquette basics
Communication: Australians are very casual, direct and humorous when communicating. Honesty is appreciated and arrogance is looked down on. Punctuality: Always be on time in business settings. In social settings, it's okay to be a little bit late (~15 minutes).
All Australians are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity. Australians reject conflict and violence. Everyone is given a 'fair go' by respecting equal rights and opportunities. All Australians are equal under the law.
As you probably know, “Aussie” is slang for “Australian”.
Sheila = Girl
Yes, that is the Australian slang for girl.
Many Australians also have a 'middle name', which is a secondary personal name written between the person's first name and their family name. For example, Emily Claire TAYLOR's middle name is 'Claire'. Middle names are optional and are rarely used in daily life. However, most Australians have one or multiple.
The most common verbal greeting is a simple “Hey”, “Hello”, or “Hi”. Some people may use Australian slang and say “G'day” or “G'day mate”. However, this is less common in cities. Many Australians greet by saying “Hey, how are you?”.
Australia is known for many things, including swathes of tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas, rolling wine country, and lush rainforests.
Australians traditionally had a national identity that developed during the 19th and early 20th century that was complemented by a British identity to form a larger identity. 2. The 'end of empire' disrupted the British identity and created a vacuum in the wider Australian identity.
As Australia has developed, its people have fostered values such as freedom, equality, compassion, inclusion, responsibility and giving people 'a fair go'. These values are reflected by our laws, and the ideals of the majority of people within our society, allowing us to live in harmony.
“Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the ...