Submitted by Samantha O’Brien on the 2013 summer session study abroad program in Australia sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…
After living in Australia for a few weeks, I realized that I have truly not experienced the slightest bit of culture shock as I had always imagined it. Since this is the first time I have traveled to another country, let alone lived in one, I always viewed culture shock as more of an extreme feeling. One of discomfort, misplacement, confusion, even loneliness. In Australia though, I have not experienced any level of uneasiness. In fact, if anything, I have found that the people here are often more pleasant than any strangers I encounter in the United States. I am meeting new friends everywhere I go whether it is on the train or on the street, in a restaurant or in an art museum. I have not once felt uncomfortable anywhere in the city and find it fascinating that overall the culture here in Australia, on the complete opposite side of the world, is actually very similar to America, simply friendlier.
Like I said, the main cultural difference that I noticed is the difference in the general attitude of the random people, I encounter throughout the city. I found that in comparison to America; the people here are drastically kinder even living in a city. While I feel that their sociable attitudes are pretty comparable to those of people in American suburbs or towns, when compared with the people I have generally come across in cities, it is very surprisingly different in the best possible way. For example, in Australia it is completely illegal to have any weapon from a gun to a knife to pepper spray and because of this, the streets themselves feel much safer at any time of day, whether I am alone or in a group, compared with walking the streets of cities in the United States. At home, I turn on the news and right away the stories always seem to be about someone dying or missing or worse, but here when I turn on the news, they talk about the adorable koala that was rescued from near death or something international. Additionally, I have spoken with several Australians about the topic and found that every one of them was extremely fond of the fact that guns were illegal here and were even confused as to why so many Americans feel so strongly about their right to own a gun. After feeling the comfort of wandering about the city lost and confused, but still feeling safe, I honestly could not explain to them why people argue guns should remain legal in the United States. I did find it humorous though when more than one person asked me if I personally own a gun (which I do not).
Overall, it is not even just the idea of safety due to the lack of weapons that makes Australia seem affable, but really it is the demeanor of all of the people here whom I have met. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is as pleasant as possible. When my friends and I were lost on the bus, random Australians offered to help us without us even having to ask. We did not know our stop and seeing that we were clearly going to miss it, a very pleasant Australian woman walked over, tapped us on the shoulder, and gave us a heads up that we should probably get off before becoming even more lost. Another time, I was walking to the train station late at night and ran into some young Australians who asked where I was from and chatted with me for a bit. When I said I had to dash in order to catch the train, they decided that there was no need for that, hailed a cab, and gave me twenty dollars for the ride home without asking for anything in return. I tried to politely decline the offer, feeling bad excepting money from a complete stranger, but then the Australian opened the cab door and handed the money directly to the driver telling him to give me the change. Additionally, almost every time I have pulled out my map to figure out where to go, an Australian has come over and asked what I was trying to find and told me how to get there without me ever having to ask for aid.
In the past few weeks, I have found that for the most part, Australian culture is extremely similar to American culture. I am living in a city similar to all of the cities I have explored in the United States except for the fact it truly feels much safer here. Everyone is very polite and sweet and always willing to lend a hand which is great forsomeone unaccustomed to living in a city who tends to get lost. I am truly enjoying my stay here in Australia and meeting the local people.