One of the first things I noticed about the people and culture since arriving in Australia is that people here have a much more positive and easygoing outlook on life. I have heard it from both my program staff who have lived here for many years and Australian friends that the Australian outlook is well encapsulated by the common turn of phrase, “she’ll be right.” This is their optimistic response to nearly any setback, obstacle, or uncertainty they are faced with. Because of this strong belief that everything will turn out ok, there is less societal pressure to pursue the fabled standard of perfection and people focus instead on enjoying their lives. This attitude is reflected in aspects of Australian culture that I have encountered everyday socially and in academics. Classroom settings are less competitive, titles such as Mister, Miss, Doctor, Sir, or Ma’am are never used, and professors will even offer extensions to everyone if they feel the class is stressed by a deadline. The United States, on the other hand, has a culture that tends to put professional success and perfectionism on a pedestal far above enjoyment. There is a resounding finality to the concept of failure in the minds of so many Americans and we are rarely told that everything is going to be ok. The culture in which I was raised, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, falls somewhere in the middle; we also have the values of optimism and enjoying the moment, yet strict social rules remain in place. I am very grateful that I have gotten to learn about this different cultural viewpoint firsthand and for the perspective it has given me on my own values. I hope that I can bring some of this Australian optimism home with me and incorporate it into my life going forward.
