We all know that studying abroad gives us a great opportunity to experience life in another country, but, it can also take a while to adjust.
You’re likely to notice quite a few differences between Australia and your home land, some of which you may have prepared yourself for and some may take you by surprise. Following are a few cultural differences you may experience :
Friendly attitude
It’s unlikely that you’d be used to the level of informality seen in behaviours of Aussies, specially with respect to your studies, it’s common to call lecturers by their first name and while Australians approach most situations in a relaxed and friendly manner, it is still observed as good manners to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and to be punctual. In Australia, all people are treated equally and respectfully, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, background or occupation.
Slang
Even if one has been brought up in an English-speaking country is likely to get confused when talking to Australians, since they use a lot of slang terms, even at a workplace and lecture rooms. The Australian accent can a lot of times be difficult to understand, so if you’re struggling to understand someone, just tell them. Many a times Australians don’t even realise that they’re using slang and won’t be offended if you ask them to explain something in a different way.
Multicultural society
Australia as we all know is a very multicultural society, with approximately 25% of the population born overseas. As a result of the same there is availability of food and traditions from a great variety of cultures, like Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese and a lot more. Australians are allowed to follow any religion they want to, and churches, mosques, synagogues and temples are located in most major cities and centres.
Learning ways
There is one thing that surprises foreign students a lot during their time in Australia and that is the learning experience in Australian classrooms. Here, students are encouraged to critically evaluate ideas put forward in class and to express their views in class discussions, even if their view differs from the lecturer’s. If you are unable to understand a topic, you are allowed to ask questions and request further explanation. You may also find yourself surprised by the number of contact hours you will have as a full-time student, only around 12 hours a week for some courses. Independent learning is encouraged a lot and you will be expected to spend time outside of class reading through course materials and researching topics and ideas.
Entertainment and shopping
Shopping hours in Australia may be less than what you’re used to in your home country, even in city areas. Shops usually open around 9 am and close at 5 pm everyday. Some areas might have late-night shopping where shops stay open until 9 pm or later on Thursday or Friday nights. Major stores, such as supermarkets and department stores, often stay open late each night and some even operate 24 hours a day. In terms of entertainment, Australians love sport, especially Australian Rules Football also known as AFL, rugby league, cricket and tennis, and many Australians, both men and women spend their weekends watching and playing sport. You may also find that people in Australia consume alcohol more regularly than you would be used to in your home country, with bars, pubs and clubs all popular places to spend time with friends.