Australian Stereotypes

Truth be told, we don’t hear a whole lot about the Land Down Under in the United States.

“No,” you argue, “I just saw that Outback Steakhouse commercial for the 5^th time today alone, and Finding Nemo is my favorite movie. I know all about Australian culture! We grew up watching the Crocodile Hunter, right? I expect Australia will be granting me citizenship at any time. Now can we ‘throw some shrimp on the barbie?’”

"Shreeemp on the baaaaaabie" Thanks, Outback Steakhouse. (quality television, culturally accurate)

When it boils down to it, what do we really know about the sunny country? Even I--at the risk of sounding all high and mighty--a geography major in college, have not once studied Australia in school that I can remember. My only understanding of the culture is based on vague stereotypes, a few movies, my uncle’s foreign exchange student Oliver, stories of my family’s travels (lots of opossums, Vegemite, it’s like California in the 1950s, Vegemite, really long semi trucks, Vegemite, and an overall better quality of life) and doing my own research based on personal interest. That limited knowledge is probably more exposure than the average person gets.

Because of the lack of Australian cultural education we have here, I decided that prior to leaving on my trip, I should make a list of things that are undeniably Australian to the American people. A few of them may be true, many of them I know are not, and some of them I have no idea either way. This is in no way a comprehensive list, just a few funny things that popped into my head.

The question that I think is the most important of all, however, is if the toilets really flush the other way. I could Google it, but I’d rather wait and see for myself. I’ll report back to you all. I expect you will be waiting with baited breath. Here goes:

Australian Stereotypes/Perceptions 

• ·      P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sidney
• Just keep swimming.

• ·      “Shrimp on the barbie.”
•  Anyone up for a Bloomin’ Onion?

• ·      They drink a lot and party hard
• ·      Steve Irwin
• I still tear up thinking about him, not going to lie.

• ·      Crocodile Dundee
• I remember being slightly scarred by these movies.

• ·      Sunshine, tan skin
• ·      Surfing, oceans, reefs
• ·      Tough men
• ·      Overall a generally attractive bunch
• ·      Poisonous things lurking EVERYWHERE
• Please don’t let me run into a snake…pleaseeee.

• ·      Uluru/Ayers Rock
• ·      Aboriginal people
• ·      British/Colonial influence
•  A bunch of convicts on a giant island

• ·      They eat weird meat
• Kangaroo, Crocodile and God knows what else.

• ·      The bush/outback
• ·      The Man from Snowy River
• Please say this is true, and that Jim Craig is a real person living right now, but not because then he wouldn’t be THE Jim Craig and…oh, I’m rambling.

• ·      Everyone wears epic looking hats, preferably with a crock tooth hatband.
• ·      Lifeguards wear funny hats.
•  No one cares what their hats look like, because everyone’s too busy trying purposely to get rescued.

• ·      Koalas
• ‘nuff said

• ·      Kangaroos
•  I fully expect that I will shriek with delight the first time I see one in the wild. Yes, I understand that they are to Australians what deer are to us. Sorry in advance, host family! J

• ·      “no worries” attitude.
•  Hakuna Matada 

Participating in snake phobia therapy. (thanks Kelsey) That's my "I'm so terrified it's actually funny" face.

Uh, yeah, that is a super hot "Aussie" barbie with a KOALA HUGGING HER ARM. I just can't compete with that.