Category: Australia: TEAN at Newcastle

An aspect of U.S. culture is tipping workers after they assist you, whether it be a food service worker or uber driver, tipping is a common etiquette apart of U.S. culture. Tipping allows workers to have a reward for their service, but it isn’t required. Many workers who receive tips are paid below minimum wage…

JDRAKE — The first interaction I had with a uniquely Aussie experience happened before I had even landed in Sydney. After the pilot had given their pre-landing speech, I was met with the now familiar acknowledgment of country. Paying homage to the traditional custodians of the land that the Sydney airport now rests on and…

I think one experience that will stick with me is a conversation I had with an Australian friend about the American news channel that is really popular in Australia that most people view and keep up to date on. We were discussing politics and she brought up some events I had no idea people abroad…

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…

One of the significant differences between America and Australia that I saw while abroad is the culture surrounding our respective Indigenous peoples. I observed this firsthand and was also fortunate to have learned a lot about this in an Aboriginal studies class that I took where we focused on the history of Australia’s Indigenous peoples,…

One cultural experience that stands out to me now that I am back in the USA is the prevalence of acknowledging country in relation to indigenous Australians. An acknowledgement of country essentially involves paying respect to the indigenous people who inhabited the land prior to colonization. These acknowledgments focus on the specific community that occupied…

JDRAKE Something that has excited me about living in Australia for a semester is the opportunity to learn how modern society interacts with penal colony infrastructure. Engaging with europeans back home in Florida, a common observation was how young the U.S feels. After living in Australia for a while I can see what they mean….

One thing of many things I’ve noticed while in Australia is the difference in the way they perceive and utilise their time here. The first example of this I see in restaurants, stores, bars, and clubs too. Coffee shops usually close from 1 to 3 pm. Other stores, like pharmacies or big box stores, close…

One thing that I have found to be very different are invitations. In the US someone may invite you to join them in an activity that they are planning to do, for example they might say “Do you want to go to the store with Carl and I?” However, while studying over here in Australia…

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…