Taboos to avoid while traveling.?

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Texas Cowboy

Hi, I'm from Texas and I love Australia. Those guys are very much like us. You will not have anything to worry about because they are as nice and laid back as any group of people that you will ever meet....except a Texan of course!!!!!!!!! Have a great time. I envy you.

An interesting note: They poke fun at Brits over there. They call them Pome Bastards or Pome's. It means "Prisoner of Old Mother England" and is a friendly joke but a little poke as well.

The Native Australians were mistreated by the whites in the 1970's. Some may have a little bit of an attitude so you may be careful there. But, during my two week stay, I visited 4 cities and loved every city and enjoyed everyone I met. People would walk through Perth all hours of the night in perfect safety and visit with you. It is really such a great place. Kind of like Austin with an accent!!!!!

Some misconceptions:
1. Shrimp are prawns. So, it would be "Prawns on the barby."
2. No one I met drank Fosters. "Coldies" or cans of beer were normally served in pints and Ausies can drink.
3. G'Day is used by almost everyone as is Mate.
4. They are very nice people in general with great senses of humor.
5. Don't wear one of those hats. I never saw anyone from Australia wear one. They pretty much dress like us.
6. Adalaid has a great night life and Sidney was cleaned up for the Olympics. I still like Perth the best but all of the cities were fun.
7. Buy a didgery doo or a "Didge" made by Native Australians.

idontlike_idiots

be yourself don't talk bullshit & you will get on fine somebody says g'day mate say the same back so come on downunder have a good feed a good beer & a good time

ps they are prawns here not shrimp
pps just noticed the post above me I have drank fosters it is OK if brewed in melbourne the home of foster's

Fuzzy Wuzzy

The only thing I'd ask is that you don't call femailes "Sheila's".

My friend from Seattle thinks it's really funny to call me that and I've stopped trying to educate her otherwise, but it's not good.

Be prepared that most of us do not make the distinction between the North and South. You are all Yanks to us. It's not something I'd say (see above paragraph!) but just so you can be prepared, the person who calls you that will not mean to insult you.

To the man above, the term is POM, or Pommy. It does mean prisioner or motherland, but it's all in fun. Don't american's call them Limey's for some odd reason?

Kat

Don't worry, they'll get the message that you're a tourist.

christnumber

Be yourself... Christ... everyone is so uptight to travel these days... just go and enjoy yourself... CHEERS MATE.

night_flight35

Keep your mouth shut and your hands in your pockets. lol

pencilredpen

Why don't you get a guide book. They sell travel books at most book stores, or you could find one at the library. Just check the contents and make sure that the book you choose has the info you want. (then you can also find out about some cool places to visit, that you may not have found without the guide book!) have fun on your trip, and be safe.

Oh, I did hear that Australian people don't really say thing slike "G'day" and "a shrimp on the barby".

Amanda

the *okay* sign for americans (making an o with your index finger and thumb, with the other 3 splayed) means i'm gonna kill you in one culture, and showing the bottom of your foot to a muslim is a rude gesture.

mannu_hz

dont wake up the australians while they are having their siesta they get real angry. americans are well liked so u wont have any problems one suggestions unlike stereotypes nobody drinks fosers in australia

silverdragonn

lol, how ironic. I'm an Australian in Texas.

I'd say the worst thing you could do is complain. There is a stereotype of the American tourist as being a couple who are fat and do nothing but complain that Australia is nothing like the United States.

Don't do that!

I'd also suggest refraining from saying that the US is better than Australia. We get touchy if someone says that because we think that we're actually better and the US is full of fat loudmouths who think they're better than everyone else :P

but generally, Australia has been heavily exposed to American culture through television and movies, so we know what to expect and trust me, you won't step wrong if you just don't complain and don't say you're better than us!

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