While studying in Australia the cultural difference that stood out to me the most would probably be the fact that in Australia there is an Acknowledgment of Country. Before presentations, speeches, sporting events and more someone will say give an Acknowledgement of Country. This includes stating that the land that they are on does not belong to them and never has along with recognizing the tribes and clans who lived on that land before colonizers. During this they also ensure to pay respect to the elders of the past, present, and future of all Aboriginal tribes. To experience and see these Acknowledgments of Country was something that I found to be enlightening and educational. Much like the United States, Australia was colonized and considered “discovered” even though people had been living on the land for hundreds of thousands of years prior to Australia’s colonization. Although I had known that Australia was home to Indigenous people, who are also referred to as Aboriginal people, I did not know how many similarities Australia and the United States had when it came to the treatment of the Native population. Just like in the United States, Indigenous people were pushed off of their land, treated as less than, attacked, taken advantage of, forced to work, and in some cases killed just so that colonizers could take the land and feel safe around Indigenous people.
While I saw all of these similarities, it was this Acknowledgement of Country that truly stood out to me as different. To this day in the United States the bloody history of the treatment of Native Americans from colonization and onwards has been whitewashed and watered down. Although Australia’s history was once watered down as much as the United States’ history has been, by constantly acknowledging the people that were here before them Aboriginal rights and issues continue to be discussed and is a topic that is at the forefront of many Australians’ minds. From my observations the majority of Australians were supportive and in favour of these Acknowledgments of Country, including people who don’t necessarily support Aboriginal land rights. When talking with classmates from Australia it was interesting to hear their different reactions and thoughts to discovering how most international students had never heard of an Acknowledgement of Country before. While Australians my age and younger usually reacted in shock to hearing that we didn’t know what these acknowledgments were, older Australians such as teachers could relate to international students when it came to acknowledgments because they didn’t grow up hearing and saying them like younger generations had. Regardless of age, all were willing to help explain how to properly write an acknowledgment and would correct any mistakes that we made in order to help us become better and more aware of how to pay our respects to the Aboriginal People.
Exercises such as this help me to better analyse and process different cultures and recognize their differences, especially when it comes to different cultures within a country. Despite how similar Australian culture and American culture may appear to be from a wider view, taking an in-depth look at their differences and cultural experiences is an invaluable skill and crucial to understanding other cultures. I have already been able to put this skill to use since my time in Australia. While continuing my travels, I have been able to see the subtle but important differences that Asian countries have in regard to culture. This in turn has allowed me to be more aware and respectful of others and have a better experience within these countries.