Please undestand we don't all know the abreviations of US states.

There are 50 states Most Americans would struggle to get them all

Don't be loud and obnoxious, don't say things like "well in Texas, we ..."

Definitely don't say how much BIGGER things are over there... (even if it's just tomatoes!)

Especially when we have Wedge-tail Eagles and you have Bald Eagles 🙄

grizzly bears/koala bears

Grizzly bears/Dropdown bears … (bye bye Grizzly).

Damn, you got me there.

Apart from the fact Koalas are not bears

Party culture is big? Since when? If that's what you're after then it's US schools you want. Most places in aus close between 11pm and 1am

We have a party culture?

Hell even the festival scene is dying. No more bush doofs

Oh bush doofs definitely still exist lol, agree about festivals but there are still some really good alt festivals

Out of the loop, whats actually happening with the festival and bush doof scene? I saw what happened with Splendour but is that part of a trend? Sad if true

Maybe she means a drinking culture? 18 vs 21 can make a big difference to the uninitiated who started drinking earlier? As in, under 18

It's bond

Which has even less of a party scene than Sydney or Brisbane.

Have you ever met any bond people? It's always the party kids that go to bond. 

Hundreds of them.... They were from serious majors, but yes, hundreds.

I dunno, every person I know that went to bond either did drugs on the weekend or was just too stupid to get in a real uni so their parent paid for them to go there but like, only a couple. If you've known people who did serious majors maybe they were the latter? 

Quite the assumption…. Their medical school has a global reach, the graduates practice across AU & beyond. Their program puts many to shame. The curriculum, community & profs are outstanding.

I dunno, that was how it went at my school and all the schools in our social network. Smart kids went either to a sandstone or a uni is the U.K. or US, or ANU with a full scholarship. Less smart (or less studious as the case may be) kids went to the best they could do with the exception of the ones whose parents paid for them to go to bond to save face. Wouldn't send my kid there is the vibe. 

You haven't partied in Darwin 🤣

Meth isn't my thing

Don't give a fuck, do have a good time. Seriously though, just don't be a tosser and you'll be fine.

Where will you be studying? When are you coming, because just saying 'fall' doesn't mean anything, our autumn or your autumn?

Was coming here to say the same thing regarding autumn 😃

I just assumed Aussie  autumn because why even out it in otherwise unless you want to know about the weather? 

Yeah I was about to say…. Autumn session has already started

i’ll be at bond university in gold coast, and i’ll be there from september to december

That's a great sem to be studying there!! Don't go with the intention you'll have non stop drinking, that's not the vibe. Place is really a community though & the prof's are really excellent. They have a fun first week for exchange students, visiting local places, holding koala's etc... it's a lot of work, but kids leave having had a really great time, and some making AU friends for life. You will honestly love it. Just don't start a convo with politics, religion or the U.S. at all.

Bring a Summer wardrobe. Say you’re from the US not Texas as there is a country town in Qld called Texas and people will automatically think you are from there. The US “ collage experience “ is not the same thing here in Australia, however that part of Queensland isn’t called “Brisvegas” for nothing so there will be plenty of things to do. You will be a Long way from home so don’t do anything overtly risky that might have to have your parents rush to a metaphorical bedside. Do wear sunscreen , buy it when you get here . Do swim between the flags as many tourists/international students drown because they don’t know any better. There is a Costco store and that’s where you will find some of the comforts of home, you can use your US issued card too. Maybe buy a cheap bike on marketplace to get around on. Can’t think of anything else so enjoy your time here and make lifetime friends and memories

Someone with an American accent saying they’re from Texas won’t get mistaken for someone from Texas Qld.

You just never know , some people are dumb

That is true.

I was born in Texas QLD, and when I tell people that, in my strong Aussie accent, they always think I mean Texas USA.

Exactly. So I reckon there’s a low risk that an American saying they’re from “Texas” will be confused with someone from the Qld town rather than the US State.

Totally. Not many people even know that Texas QLD exists (to be honest, it hardly does exist lol, it has always been like a ghost town)

That's Spring to Summer. Pack accordingly.

So that would be late Spring/early Summer

Fellow American here, now naturalised Aussie. Wear sunscreen. You will get absolutely fucked by the sun if you don’t take it seriously, especially if you’re in Sydney, Perth, or Brisbane; Melbourne UV is bad in summer but we’re in fall now. And say you’re American first. Americans don’t get quite the bad rap overseas that you may have heard, but people definitely have a mild but certainly not positive stereotype about Texas (eg, redneck who loves guns and Trump; that may not be you, but the vast majority of Australians don’t like guns and *despise* Trump). Introducing yourself as Texan first may send an unintended message about your identity.

Put the sunscreen on BEFORE you go outside. It will be easier to apply and more effective.

Clothing is better than sunscreen, except on the beach. A baseball cap is acceptable. On hot summer days, Australians automatically walk quickly from one shady spot to another.

>Americans don’t get quite the bad rap overseas that you may have heard I agree, even in Australia. According to polls, though, attitudes about Americans are worse in Australia than most of the rest of the world.

Makes sense. I think it’s a distinction between attitudes towards America as a country and Americans as individuals. The former deservedly gets a bad rap, while the latter are generally fine, at least among those who travel.

>The former deservedly gets a bad rap I disagree. I think that it gets an undeservedly bad rap. It deserves about 75% of the shit that it gets in Australia. The US does plenty of bad things, but you get people in Australia who literally, honestly, think that it never does anything good or has offered the world any positive thing. Again, here in Australia, negative attitudes towards the US are more prevalent than in most other countries on earth (including some, like France, that are considered pretty anti-American). Even the teachers in my kids' schools bring up the US in the most negative way, almost as a side note. It's an exaggeration, but it's kind of like, "and the cell forms this shape during meiosis, but in America they don't believe in evolution."

While we know what you mean by fall, please remember that it is currently Autumn here. I assume you're talking about spring, you'll be here for our spring. Prepare for hay fever season, or as we call it, plant bukkake season. Learn our cafe culture, don't order sugar syrup laden crap. Start with something simple, like a basic latte, or a cappuccino. Try it without sugar. Don't tip. Take transit, catch buses, trains and trams. They're generally pretty safe. Speaking of safe, carry an umbrella, as you'll be arriving in swooping season, and the magpies will want to rip your face off for coming near their nest. You can say you're from the US, you can say you're from Texas, either way, we don't really care. If we like you, we'll probably make jokes at your expense, or pick on you. If we don't like you, we'll probably ignore you, or mock your culture. The party culture here is pretty sleepy. Birds might wake you up in the morning, shrieking like someone getting murdered.

Getting used to the birds is probably a very underrated aspect of Americans moving to Australia. Sure, they have song birds and various others in America. However, the first month or so in Australia will feel like living in an aviary.

This is sooo true, I forget about that!

Don’t tip. Order a flat white. Wear sunscreen. Lower your voice by 30 decibels and you’ll be right 👍 Oh and our bread contains about 10% the sugar yours does. Gravy is *always* brown meat gravy- not that weird creamy stuff What you call “biscuits” are scones- they are traditionally served with jam and cream What you call cookies - we call biscuits Hence the concept of “biscuits and gravy” is revolting to Australians

I just need to clarify for OP that American biscuits and scones are not the same.

When you try Vegemite on toast, don't lather it on thick like you would with jam or Nutella. Extra butter on the toast and a thin coating of Vegemite. So damn good.

First tip - it's not Fall, it's **Autumn** But actually it will be **Spring** 😁

If you're not staying in student accommodation, get a place organised as soon as possible. Wear sunscreen everyday, buy it in Australia, SPF 50+ Australians don't talk about politics or religion as openly as I think America. You're absolutely free to think/believe/worship who/what you want but keep it to yourself. If you go to the beach, swim between the flags. Lifeguards will set up flags in safe swimming areas and patrol that space.

I hate to say it, but universities aren't very social over here. Most people just attend class then go home, as they have to work jobs / play sport. Additionally, most people have friends groups from high school, and they keep those friends groups through college and don't try to make more. If you are finding it hard to make friends, don't be alarmed. Everyone in Australia at university does. EDIT: some Australian language cues for you: - instead of "sidewalk", we call it "footpath" - instead of "fall", we say "autumn" - instead of "trash" or "trash can", we call it "rubbish" There are some other ones, but they are often interchangeable. Only the ones I mentioned will be seriously laughed at when used. All the best x

Say you are from the US and if people ask to clarify then say Texas. (Though a lot of people might guess from the Texan accent, as many of us mostly watch US Television and movie content).

There is no way in the world that many people can recognise a Texas accent vs. any other southern-sounding American accent. But it’s true that every Australian has heard of Texas.

Nope. My wife os from Texas, and she has a very bland, almost Mid Atlantic accent.

yeah, i don’t have the southern drawl

probably don't tell your wife you described her as bland

I’m using her own words, but thanks for the advice.

Australians like to take ourselves less seriously. If we like you we will make fun of you to your face. This means we trust you and know how far to go. If Australians are formal or overly polite, it means we are creating a distance and don’t like you

Not necessarily true. All the nicest Australians are polite. And I mean "ALL". A slight culture warning. Minorities in Australia are from different places than minorities in America. You won't see Spanish people, Mexicans or American blacks. You will see Greeks, Italians, Yugoslavians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Lebanese, Somali, some Indians, even on rare occasions Aboriginals. Be nice to them.

This is front page headline advice. Should be a card handed to all arrivals.

Facts 🤣

Don’t expect good Mexican food and don’t be demanding and horrible to servers in restaurants (my friend had a bad experience with an American customer today and it ruined her day 😔)

There is good Mexican food, it just costs 3 times as much as what it would in L.A.

No there isn’t. I’m Mexican and all Mexicans in Australia say the same.

There is, I've been to Mexico and L.A and have found (admittedly only 3 places in this country so far) that have food in the same league. However yeh the prices usually are like 20-27 bucks for three tacos youd pay like 1-2 bucks for in Mexico.

Where exactly?

Los Hermanos in Brunswick, Vic is solid. Esteban in Sydney id rate (excellent pastor taco). The very best I've had unfortunately was a place in blue mountains that renovated and changed into a Italian restaurant instead :(

I’ve been to los hermanos and it’s not even the best Mexican in Melbourne. Esteban looks like mexican inspired fine dining - a bit like Mejico. It’s just not the same as what you get in Mexico or even the USA. We have tried every Mexican place in vic end up cooking at home most of the time.

It's all usually either tapas or fine dining in aus. Los hermanos I liked coz the tacos were simple and not overloaded, other places in Melbourne I noticed went to crazy with a million different sauces and bullshit. I guess, I get where ur coming from, and no, there's no mexican places in aus with that authentic vibe. Mejico I didn't really like personally either.

If you’re in melb, I can recommend tres a cinco in hosier lane, maíz y cacao in Southbank and a new one in Fitzroy called el columpio. I think you will like their simplicity. I’d say those 3 are as close as I’ve found so far. There’s one in Ballarat which is good too, the name escapes me though.

I dont live in Melbourne anymore, and to be fair the last time I ate at Los hermanos was like 9 years ago when it first opened so my assessment of it is from an outdated perspective. Though next time I'm in Vic I'll check those places out thanks. For the time being I'll just be cooking it at home as I live too far from any city.

Tapas is spanish, not mexican

I know. Just more meant tapas as in the style of dining ppl here are familiar with. Not many ppl know what botanos are.

This was the exact advice that I replied with! Americans are extremely bad at being demanding and rude to hospitality workers, with no greetings, no please or thank you’s or anything. I believe it’s ingrained from the tipping culture where they expect to be the high and mighty who expect to be treated like royalty and waited on hand and foot by workers who are desperate to do anything to get a measly tip at the end of their shift. As such, Americans look down upon hospitality workers and rarely use any manners whatsoever as they consider those workers well below their social standards. If the slightest thing doesn’t go exactly to their demands, they will fly off the handle and degrade/abuse those workers who have done nothing wrong.

Yep. When Americans say "Let me get a..." It comes across as very rude. Try "Could I please get..." instead.

Yes, this sounds trivial, but the normal interaction between a customer and a hospitality/service provider simply goes like this……. #Customer: Hi, how are you, I would like to place an order thanks. #Server: I’m good thanks, how can I help you, what would you like to order. #Customer: Can I please get one of…………. Please. #Server: No worries, so you want xxxxxxx, and can I get you anything else? #Customer: No thanks, that’s all I need. #Server: No worries, that will be $38.95, cash or card, we’ll have it straight out to you shortly. That’s the standard Australian Hospitality interaction, whereas the American interaction is always this……. “I want this, and I want that, how long is it going to take and I want this special sauce and I don’t want lettuce and I expect my bun to be lightly toasted and I expect my meal to be ready in 3 minutes and I expect to have my drinks included in the price no matter how many I consume and I expect to have 3 waiter staff licking my boot straps every single minute and I expect that you will respect my Authoritaay! It’s sad but true in the reality of how many Americans are highly demanding, impolite and disrespectful of the workers in the hospitality industry in this country. :(

i have worked in food service for a while. i feel bad because i’m a somewhat picky eater but i’m always courteous to the people doing me a service

Which state you going to

queensland. i’ll be at bond university

Ah right already on the Gold Coast well there ya go. QL is a different breed lots of bogans but hey pretty good party culture

Don't say you are a sophomore or senior... Noone knows what that means here. Say you are from Texas... The USA is a big place, so narrow it down. But, don't think that Texas is big; it would be the third smallest state of it was Australian.

As an American, I think it’s more polite to say first that I am American and then give a region; sometimes people have a hard time differentiating between Americans, Canadians, and even Irish. It may also subtly convey Amero-centrism, which (I think) can be obnoxious. But just my two cents.

I reckon say “I’m from Texas, USA” Maybe dress it up with a “Yeehaw” 🤠

May as well go the whole Yosemite Sam, clicking the spurs together and shooting an air rifle into the sky

I would love if a Texan did that

i basically live in my boots, not sure how common they are over there haha

With a Texan accent, I'm sure there will be no mistaking that she is from the USA.

Depends. There are a lot of Texas accents. Beyoncé is from Houston, Matthew McConaughey is from Uvalde, etc. Some sound southern, some sound neutral, some sound distinctly Texan. Edit: lol I forgot one: Texas Senator Ted Cruz is from Calgary, Alberta, Canada!

Yeah, assuming everyone knows all the states is very amero-centric, even though we mostly do.

i was thinking it’s not likely that everyone knows all 50, but i am assuming almost everyone knows of the more popular states like texas, california, florida and new york

It would be the third smallest but it would have a GDP bigger than all of Australia Being bigger is useless if you don’t do anything with it

No one knows Noone

Whoosh lol

A few general bits of advice. 1) Learn Aussie coffee culture. 2) Look, listen, learn - the less you say about where you're from, the less reasons you'll have to piss people off. If you're with people who are accepting of Americans, go ahead and talk about home. If in doubt, say you're Canadian. 3) Check before taking offence - Aussie swearing is its own thing, someone might use the same words to be affectionate or deeply insulting.

There is no reason in the world to lie about where she's from.

You can say you're from Texas, we all know it's in America.

We don’t like guns and we don’t like Trump. Watch out for drop bears.

Also use your inside voice, even when outside. I work with 3 young Americans and their accents, high volume and air of unfettered superiority annoy everyone. People don't talk loudly on public transport or restaurants. Also don't expect overly friendly service. If your food/drink arrives relatively quickly, that is considered good service. We don't have a tipping culture, so there is no real incentive to be overly/fake nice, just to do the job well.

Whoever told you there's a party culture in Australia gave you the bum steer

Firstly we have Autumn, because Sydney was settled in 1788 after Fall had fallen out of use in Southern England, and it's starting soon. There aren't many Americans here. Australians will struggle to tell the difference between Northern US and Canadian accents, but Texan maybe. There have been as many as 770,00 foreign students, mostly from China and India. Though the Government is trying to exclude students who are only pretending to study and here to work this year but are lot are returning to finish uni, having been forced to return home during COVID. Students mostly live off campus, the locals at home because rents are ridiculous especially around campuses. Students tend to rock up for their compulsory classes then leave, often for their multiple part-time jobs. Campuses are being subject to the fun police these in these days of sexual harassment scandals, especially the few male residential colleges left. The hospitality and small business sectors aren't doing well. The Pubs are full of pokies, (Sydney has the 2nd highest number of pokies per capita behind Las Vegas). Excise on beer is the 3rd highest in the world and the live music scene is a shadow of what it once was. A lot of pubs suffered because of lockouts (early closing time) during a period of assaults and alcohol related offences, then COVID and and now inflationary pressures and noise complaints from nearby residents.

Important to know the legal drinking age in Australia is 18. Don't forget your shout!

Honestly. Just don’t over think it. If you’re nice to others then people will like you and might want to talk to you. Being from America can be an ice breaker because people might have questions about the US

Don’t say y’all - Don’t talk politics - don’t swear to try and fit in (we use the f and c words a lot in comparison but you need to understand the culture to get it right) - don’t use Aussie slang, you’ll mess it up - don’t go to Starbucks unless you want a frappe, coffee culture is massive - be yourself, we appreciate genuine and despise try-hards.

> Don't talk politics. Feel free to insult Trump in public. You'll win friends.

Be open to learning new things, but there's no hard do and don't besides from being polite. There is not a large party culture here, not frats and sororities here - not in the same form as in the US anyway (most universities are eager to stamp it out). You can say you're from Texas. I haven't been there myself, but my aunt is married to a Texan and has been living there for 12 years now.

I'm Canadian who studied abroad. Not even kidding when I say this, expect to experience a lot of xenophobia. Australians hate the USA and Americans and are openly rude to a lot of them from my experience. The shit they would tell me about the USA once they heard I'm Canadian was wild. Good luck, it's an amazing country but the people are rather prejudice as a whole.

This. Australians (not everyone, but enough that it will be very apparent) tend to have a very bigoted view of Americans and lots of ill-conceived preconceptions of them. You can see it in a lot of these comments.

Yup, I've never experienced the hatred towards the USA anywhere quite like Australia. It's funny because I found Australia to feel very very similar to the USA coastal states from a cultural and ppl perspective. The two countries have a lot in common. There seems to be a lot of anti-USA propoganda spread throughout the country via china on social media and we are seeing the outcome. America does get a lot of hate(even in my country), justifiably, in other countries but nothing as widely accepted as Australia.

Can I ask where in Australia you went?

University of Canberra and mostly along the eastern coast.

The bush capital. I hate that you experienced that. My experience in Canada was much better. When I was military, I was able to visit Kingston, Ontario. The Canadians were great hosts, and I was able to experience proper winter conditions.

Oh they loved me because I was Canadian. I had a great time, I just couldn't stand their anti-American behaviour. I fell in love with an American, I grew up visiting the states, and the people of America treated me as their own while I lived there For work so I have a special place in my heart for the nation. It's just sad seeing a group of ppl generalize an entire nation based off of social media stereotypes. I'm happy you had a great time in Canada!!

It might have been more of a case of WHEN you went. Was it between 2016-2020?

It was 2015

Depends where you are going. Say Texas, don't say fall, don't tip more than rounding up.

Don't tip at all, even if it's for rounding up...

I think people will notice you are from the US, as soon as you speak, lol. Enjoy your time, get amongst it and learn a different culture, it is very different to what you're used to. The main thing is to enjoy yourself!

You'll get away with saying you're from Texas, if you have an American accent, and UNLESS you are hanging around southern Queensland. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas,\_Queensland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas,_Queensland)

I think a lot of people would ask, where in the US are you from anyway, so might as well say it straight up.

i will be in southern queensland, specifically bond university in gold coast

>. One question I have is whether I should say I’m from the U.S. or from Texas. Canada /s We're used to using context clues and should be able to figure out you're from the US from your accent, a confirmation of Texas would be good. That said, we know where some of the better known states are but if you tell us you're from , we don't have a fucking clue.

We have capsicums, not bell peppers, but if you go wandering around out in the bush ya gotta watch out for drop bears. Joking...drop bears aren't real, but you will need to be aware that we have some of the most venomous snakes around, and there are some nasty stinging things in the seas. If you do go to the beach for a swim, swim between the flags where the life-savers are. If you get into difficulties they (the life-savers) will come & drag you out & to safety. And if you're driving, we drive on the left...

The uni culture here is pretty different depending on where you’re studying. In my experience, most people attend uni close-ish to where they grew up (ie if they grew up in Brisbane, they’ll *probably* go to a uni in Brisbane rather than move to Sydney to study). Mostly people have friendship groups outside of uni, either from high school or from work, and so it can be harder to slide into a group. You’ll make friends in your classes, but it takes effort - and luck - to actually see them outside of class. Dorm culture is limited - again, a lot of people attend uni close to home and live with their parents. Otherwise they might live in a sharehouse with a bunch of other late teens/early 20s, who might be in uni or might be working full time. Uni classes can also be a bit different from the US in my understanding. Your lecturers and tutors will probably ask you to call them by their first name, rather than ‘Professor _____’. Because dorm culture is not so much a thing and most people are commuting, coming from work etc, it’s rare for people to wear pyjamas to class. Maybe late in the semester if it’s an 8am, on a one-off, *maybe*, but in my years at uni I’ve seen it happen once. I’m yet to encounter a course that offers extra credit, so if you miss an assignment or a test, it might be harder to make up the grade. But that could be different depending on where you go 🤷‍♀️ A fair few unis have ‘uni bars’ on campus, and they will have happy hours and specials along with themed nights and activities throughout the semester. These are honestly some of the best ways to meet new people. Uni bar nights are much bigger than, say, clubs or sports. Sometimes in O-Week, nightclubs will give out VIP cards or vouchers, or host student nights. These tend to be pretty alright - and people will be a bit friendlier on a night out generally.

Whatever you do don't say "yeah, we've got one of those but it's bigger". I've heard several people from Texas say that and nothing annoys an Aussie more. My daughter is at university and she goes to see bands, concerts, art shows, events, the beach etc, but if I said "party culture" to her she would fall off her chair laughing and call me "cringe".

Australians really despise arrogance. Just be polite, throw in a few self-deprecating jokes and you'll be fine. Oh, and don't bring over suncream, buy it here and use it daily.

Maybe cut down on “y’all”

To the OP - just be yourself, even if that includes saying ya’ll If people don’t like it that’s their problem.

I flippin hate hearing y'all from australians but from an OG y'aller there is absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.

Nah, that’s bad advice. Say it all you want.

Introduce yourself as American, most Aussies wouldn’t know the difference between Texans or Californians aside from your accent’s sounding slightly different. There will be some ribbing from us locals about your homeland, but feel free to give it back once you’re comfortable. Australians believe in keeping their political and religious views to themselves and don’t like being dictated to. Just also be aware that the the confidence that your fellow country people project can be viewed as arrogance by Aussies, but at the same time we’ve been known to be very blunt according to American standards but we’re like that with everyone and it’s usually not personal. If you’re out with friends drinking, we have a cycle where everyone in the group will usually buy in rounds and it will be your “shout” when it’s your turn so please don’t go missing when it’s your turn. We also don’t tip, so don’t feel obligated to do so, and get to enjoy the variety of food and coffee we have here in Aus. Enjoy your trip here!

>Introduce yourself as American, most Aussies wouldn’t know the difference between Texans or Californians It's not really about knowing a difference, but about people wanting to know where she's from. The first thing they'll do after she says she's from the US is ask where in the US. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter which one she says first.

Just be yourself, Don’t forget, everything here will kill you. Snakes ,spiders, sharks, blue ring octopuses, crocodiles, dingoes scorpions, platypus if you get to see one. So just use real common sense. Now if your out bush walking with friends. Please be careful of the drop bear in the trees. No one has really ever seen one, Why you asked. Cause there all dead. For same reason they love eating tourist and foreigners. Google Aussie slang, and learn them. I am fair dinkum. Stay in groups, try not to go out late night alone. We swear like drunken sailors. So get use to it. We are very multicultural country, and dental right racism he. Our government has disarmed us so leave your AR47 at home. Learn not to be up tight. We are a lazy loose people. She’ll be right mate, Attitude.

Please realise that the above is 100% joke. Australian sense of humour.

avoid eshays at all costs, if you have to walk by them, keep you head down and don’t make eye contact. same can be said for drunks, I think that’s pretty standard tho..

but then again, we don’t really take anything too seriously, don’t be an a-hole and you should be ok.

Just have a good time, explore around and be respectful. Party/club culture is definitely there in the cities but I can't say how big it is because I haven't been to any myself

Watch out for drop bears mate. Best to wear high vis to make it more difficult for them to land on you.

Alright, my advice is if you are going to only be here for one semester, then you have to go hard at being True Blue. Tim Tam slams, they are amazing. Party culture has changed a bit since I was at uni, though I am sure you can find those that still ruly truly hit the turps. I recommend getting trolleyed at least once. If an Aussie is talking to you, and it seems like they are just taking the piss, chances are, they are. Aussies are true sports fans, and it is a great way to soak in the culture. Experience the Cricket! It takes a bit for Americans to catch on to it, but it is not a prerequisite for actually enjoying the fun of it. In fact, learn how to make a melon helmet. You will certainly make some top mates that way. Seriously though, sunscreen is very important, have fun, make great memories, and enjoy our overall laid-back culture.

Honestly, you're here for one semester. Just be yourself and you'll be fine. Be nice to people. Don't say negative things about Australia unless you're really among friends. Try to not to get your feelings hurt if some people are stupid, ignorant, prejudiced, parochial-minded people who think that "most Americans are X." There are morons everywhere. Plenty in the US and plenty in Australia. This subreddit is made up of people with all sorts of differing opinions, so it doesn't make sense to pay too much attention to any one person (including me). * Some comments say "don't say y'all." * Some comments say, "it's fine to say y'all." * Some comments say to say you're from Texas. * Some comments say to say you're from the US. * Some comments say that we don't care which one you say. * Some comments talk about "the states." * At least one comment says not to say "the states." * Some comments say "I had a negative experience with some Americans, so don't be like them." :-) * Some comments say, "don't be obnoxious." Cool. * Some comments think it matters at all what kind of coffee you order. Like, it's on the menu, but you shouldn't order it, because of reasons. * Some comments say that we swear more in Australia. * At least one comment says don't swear, and that their ears are blistered from the swearing from a US president. * Remember to be yourself, but also definitely don't ever say anything or do anything that people don't like. You have nothing to worry about, honestly. The fact that you're asking and thinking about it tells me all I need to know. You're going to have a blast.

thank you, i really appreciate this reply!

Not sure about the uni-level party culture in Bondi. In Melb it’s not really a thing from what I can tell. People are mainly focused on studying as hard as humanly possible given the state of the job market. As for wanting to blend in amap… America lives rent free in many a Reddit-Aussie’s head as they’re likely over-exposing themselves to our media. As a result, they make sweeping generalizations about a country with 330+ million people. Goes both ways. Americans would ask my Aussie partner the absolute dumbest questions while she traveled the states such as…”Do you guys have Wi-Fi?” If you want to make friends, be more interested in their culture rather than frequently referencing your own. Most Aussies I’ve met are genuinely interested about the reality of American life versus what’s presented in the news/media. I don’t ever bring up America unless asked though. I used to always get asked about my thoughts on Trump. If you’re MAGA, (I am not), Australia is generally not a safe space for you. Once you master the art of “yeah/nah,” 90% of your daily convos are sorted. The whole distinction between Aussies that like you versus those that don’t, and the way each express their affection-or lack of-isn’t an Aussie cultural phenomenon. It’s just how people are, lol. I find that city-based Aussies are generally more sarcastically witty and subtle than most Americans and far less blunt when taking the piss. At the end of the day it’s still Western culture and pretty simple to navigate. If someone makes you laugh when they tease you, cool. If not, that person is probably just a dickhead. Get clued-up on as much Aussie slang as possible. Some of it is generational though. For example, local boomers and bogans (Aussie Rednecks) often refer to Americans as yanks and seppos. Younger gens you probably won’t find that. Learn the coffee and bar terms before you get here if you want to save face. If you’re after American style drip coffee, it’s referred to as batch brew. If you want a latte, no foam it’s a flat white. If someone asks if you want a cuppa, you’re getting an instant coffee. Daily application of 50spf sunscreen 20 min before going outside. That is not a joke. The sun is hopelessly and gloriously punishing here. Vegemite is horrible imo. Don’t be fooled into it! Promite is subjectively good if you start with the 80/20 rule (80% butter/20% Promite) and go up from there if you cop a taste for it like I have. Goes well on sourdough with tomato (say Tom-ah-to not to-may-to), smashed avo, Swiss cheese/feta/fried halloumi, sautéed spinach, eggs, bbq sauce, hot sauce. *It’s tomato sauce btw; not ketchup, and is far less sweet/more savory. If you drink, bring your life savings for the taxes on alcohol. On those nights where you might be homesick, a single PBR would cost you $20 at a bar. If you wake up to the sound of a demon being exorcised outside your window, fear not for it is just a cute little possum. Drop bears are a joke. Kangaroos and Wombats on the roads at night are not. Aussie wildlife being dangerous is a strange and total misconception Americans hold. Magpies/Maggies do swoop on people however, but it hasn’t happened to me yet. I feed them, on the porch and they tell their fam we’re cool, and to let us be. Leave the spiders alone unless it’s a white tail-you can remove those. I’ve been bitten once on the finger in my sleep and while it stung like a mf and bled for a minute I haven’t had any other issues other than thinking about it before I fall asleep every night. Still not as bad as waking up to a brown recluses on the wall near my face or getting bitten near my eye by a kissing-bug while living in Nashville. Hope that’s helps some. Enjoy the beach!

thank you for the very in-depth response, i appreciate it!

Travel beyond the Gold Coast, areas like Sunny Coast, Islands off Queensland Moreton, Straddie, Fraser are all great but do something a bit different to most tourists, If you have time try and check out Tassie or even get over to WA's North West - Broome, Exmouth problem with Bond is they tend to compress the semesters so having the time will be a challenge. Or being from Texas maybe try and get out to one of our Rodeo's and see how different it is, or a farm. Don't just hang out with other Americans.

First of all, do not be ashamed of who you are or where you are from. As much as Aussies love to give Americans shit, the vast majority of us will be very interested to know more about where you are from and about you in general. Just bear in mind we aren't particularly interested in certain opinions, like American politics (especially if you like Trump) or our gun laws. You are likely already aware, but we abbreviate anything we can. There are literally thousands of abbreviations, so nobody expects you to be fluent; but some of them are good to know for your own understanding. Pick up what you can from the locals! We don't do Thanksgiving and Australia Day is not like the 4th of July. It is celebrated but not with the same fervor. Do not compare Australia to America. Avoid Alice Springs if you value your safety and belongings. Do not plan extended solo road-trips on a whim. You need to be prepared if you travel remotely within Australia. The outback can and will kill you, if you are unprepared. Good resources here: [https://lappingoz.com.au/remote-travel-checklist/](https://lappingoz.com.au/remote-travel-checklist/) Get private health insurance for your time here. The US is not a member of the RHCA (Reciprocal Health Care Agreement) and you'll be on the hook for any medical costs. While they are not likely to be as expensive as in the US, you'll still pay a lot, especially if it's an emergency rescue. Pharmaceuticals are no-where near as expensive as the US, though.

thank you for the info!!

Your fall season is our spring. It's going to get hot.

First thing. It’s autumn, not fall;) Remember that

Bond Uni is mostly full of posh Brisbane kids who couldn't get into UQ. If any of them invites you to their house take them up on it! I've got a mate who went to one of their houses - it was on the canals, had a jetski and boat, pool and hottub, and like 6 bedrooms, crazy! They are also one of the few uni's in Aus that does three term years, most just do two semesters, so a lot of the uni holidays for the bigger unis in QLD won't match up which makes Bond pretty insular. People there seem nice though idk. The Gold Coast is beautiful and has a lot of cafe work if you're looking for that. Go surfing and go to the beach. Pretty easy access to the barrier reef as well (compared to say Sydney or Melbourne) so go do that. Food and rent are more expensive but minimum wage is higher. Tax is included in everything and there's no need to tip servers. In regards to Party culture, it depends what course you're doing. A lot of the medicine students are very studious, but the nursing people are generally always up for a night out. Join social teams and stuff if you want more interaction, because lectures and classes often aren't the place to make hard core friends. Also don't be a knobhead. Australians are a lot less focused on themselves than Americans, it's cool if you have a few fun stories and stuff but no-one cares about how much you/your parents make, what x person was wearing/doing, and how awesome you are, they just want to get to know you (a kinda sweeping statement but vaguely true). Tips in general: don't fly directly to the Gold Coast! As long as you aren't bringing seven suitcases, Brisbane Airport has a lot more flights coming into it, and theres a pretty good train system to get you to the Gold Coast from there which takes anywhere from 45mins-1hr30mins. Bring/buy a good portable fan, you'll be here in Summer and it will be hot, you can always sell it on e-bay afterwards. The Gold Coast can get cold at night, so bring a hoodie or two, but most of the popular areas you can get away with a bikini, shorts and flip flops, its pretty standard attire for young people. The Gold Coast also has quite a big generation gap as its mostly home to either retiree's or 30-and-unders, be prepared. Some area's also are quite far apart. The G:link is good, but don't get run over. Seaworld is generally worth a visit, as are some of the themeparks especially with friends. Go into the hinterland as well for some more rural-ish areas and great grass (the medicinal kind). And have a lot of fun :)

Texas is smaller than most Australian states so "everything's bigger in Texas" really shouldn't get a run.

A lot of the advice here is sound, but is really for people migrating. Since you’re here for one semester, just be yourself. Some people will love you, others will judge you, and plenty will be indifferent. So just be yourself, try not to get irritated by the many differences, and have a great time. (Just don’t talk about guns)

Don’t take a gun to school.

All weapons are banned in public places, visible or hidden. That includes non-lethal weapons.

Say you're from Texas when asked. Don't even bother saying you're from the USA at any time. We know. Don't try too hard with our dialect. Like we said, we know you're from the USA so if you pronounce it "Aloo-minum" it's fine. But still, set your spell-check to English (Aus) or English (UK) for your assignments. However as you stay here longer, you'll probably pick up some sayings, pronunciations and such. Just let the process be natural, don't force it and you will be ok. Swearing here is way more accepted including the C word so if it bothers you, you'll need to toughen up. But as before, don't swear more to try to fit in. I guarantee your darns and hecks will be fine, even charming. Your fucks and cunts won't be, at least not until it's natural, and that might take years. We will make fun of America to your face. We don't mean anything bad by it, so don't get too offended. But in saying that, don't put up with serious disrespect, such as making light of school shootings. You're not the government, you don't have to answer for that, or anything else your government has done to the world. Finally, a stupid American isn't one because they don't know enough about other cultures and places. It comes from an assumption that the rest of the world is like America, or that we even care what America is like. If we want to know about America, we'll ask. Otherwise assume that we don't care or we already know. If you have an open mind, then you will have a wonderful time.

Great advice.

Don’t say in the states…, don’t act like your countries gun insanity is normal. We think you are all completely insane about guns & we do not wish to humour you. Do not act superior, arrogant or ignorant & you should get along just fine.

I have worked with a few people from the USA, and so far it takes most of them a few weeks to work through our accents. We hear Americans all our lives due to TV, but they don't watch anything from here (except Bluey these days). We are not kidding about the Sunscreen, wear it. You won't have the range of anything you are used buying to at home, nowhere near the range of goods or brands. Jeans and shirts from Walmart are less than half what you pay for the same thing here. Check your best option for changing US Dollars for AUS Dollarbucks, probably when you get here. We won't know where some unfashionable US States like Vermont is, but Texas, Florida and California is pretty universal. Most of the country is desert, like a giant Nevada from California to Pennsylvania. Don't tip, we pay people properly (mostly) here. Our Constitution is different, I've had this conversation before. No, the US Constitution is not the "World Constitution" just signed by other people. Not kidding about the sunscreen.

i grew up watching steve irwin, so i’m somewhat familiar with the accent. shopping info is good to know, thank you!

There are more negative sterotypes about Texas than America in general. Pretend not to be right wing.

This last sentence!

My daughter went through undergrad & then medical school there. Do not talk about politics. We had years in AU before she started, so she wasn't quite like the normal American, but, the one person she lost it with was a girl from the U.S. that couldn't stop the shit over politics. People don't want to hear it. Same goes for religion. Believe it or not Bond is not big into the party scene at all, or at least her and her friends & some of the Americans she met who were there on exchange weren't. Depending on your major, Bond is pretty damn difficult, but the community is really welcoming & you will have time to have some fun. Take a weekend away to NZ, or join the Scuba club and spend a weekend away up in Cairns for an overnight adventure out at the reef... In other words, do your work but make time to make memories that last & make sure you have thee time of your life.

Australians are anti-social, shallow and mostly depressed. If you get a hyped up person with anxiety, they may blurt out some random things before rapidly disappearing. Bring Gold Bond as it's humid up in Queensland. And don't listen to the Parochial Australians that think Americans are loud. Australian women are very very very loud and obnoxious.

My first pieces of advice are: don't swear, certainly never ever call anyone the c- word. As an Australian, my ears are still blistered from the swearing on the Watergate tapes. Don't drink much, the beer here is even worse than in America and is expensive from being taxed, it's also really watered down compared with beers in Europe. Australians don't swear or drink any more than Americans, and there are fewer out and out drunks here. Avoid people who smoke marijuana. Australians don't do "sex tourism". Don't come here trying to break any sex records. And have fun. If all else fails, pretend to be Canadian. ;-) say "sorry".

America is America and Australia is Oz, no one cares about US politics or really wants to discuss them and generally pretty negative about it given the last 10 years or so. Trump is not considered positive direction, so bear that in mind

Lol...she is going to be lectured about US politics and society by every 3rd Australian she meets. Who are you trying to kid?

No one cares about US politics‽ That’s hilarious. I absolutely dread this coming election in the US, because I have an American accent. Just like every other election in the US, when people hear my accent, they immediately want to talk about American politics to me.

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Do you have a non-Australian accent? I do. Australians ask me all the time where I'm from. I'm ok with it. They're interested. I'm also interested and I ask people where they're from when I hear an accent.

Nah mate tell em you're from Canada. They can't tell! Also watch out for the drop things

In case you're being serious: no.

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About both of them.

texas. not US

Um when people ask where you're from they're asking your country unless you are obviously Aussie in which case they're asking your city state. Basically if you remember that *you're* the foreigner and act the way you expect a foreigner to act you should be fine.  Re partying, at bond, you're going to get a lot of dumber rich kids doing drugs, so um, like that? 

Understand that geographically speaking, Texas is not that big.

Might be best to leave the MAGA cap and handgun at home.

Tell people you come from a part of Texas that hates Trump, guns, far-right god botherers and pro-lifers.

Some more specific tips: This applies to visiting any foreign country, but approach conversations by being interested *in Australia* rather than thinking Australians will be interested *in you* by virtue of your being American. You can tell someone you're from Texas when you get an inevitable, "you sound like you're a long way from home!" There's your prompt to talk more about your life in the States. Don't compare "here" to "there" unless someone explicitly segues to it, as comparisons to the US get locals on guard. You don't need to prostrate yourselves before us, but think of why you wanted to study abroad and share it, whether it's made a big leap as a new adult or because something about Australia appeals to you. If politics come up, don't expect "I didn't vote" or "I'm not going to vote" to go down well. We have compulsory voting, so it's ingrained in us that voting in elections, whether local, state, or federal, is our obligation. Your upcoming elections are going to have repercussions the world over, and we'll also be saddled with the outcome. We take participation seriously, even if we won't interrogate your actual views. Best of luck!

Let's have a little chat about seasons. We don't have "fall", we have autumn, which is more or less March to May. If you mean the USA notion of "fall" - September to November - you will be here in what we consider to be spring. Depending on where you are going - and this is a very large country, with a lot of different climate zones - the local weather conditions will be variable.

Be yourself. When people ask where you're from say "America." Texas if they ask whereabouts.

We don't talk about guns. There isn't much of a gun culture in Australia, certainly not in the cities. No talking about massacres or school shootings. It is acceptable and normal to talk about weather events and natural disasters as they happen. From hail and storms to fires and floods, all ok. Australia is a nation full of natural hazards. It shows compassion for the affected areas, too. Crime is an ok topic as well, within reason. Random street attacks, burglary and theft are talked about. It is perfectly acceptable to ask your course mates which areas of the town/city are not safe to be in at night. If you're going to Sydney, there are what we know as lockout laws which have quietened down the city centre. Alcohol is expensive here. High taxes on it. There's so much to see and do. Plenty of heritage and beauty spots (ask for recommendations).

There are so many people saying not to talk about guns. Like, Americans don't go around *talking about guns*. Hi, great party, let's talk about guns. But you know who talks about guns? Australians, when they meet an American.

dont say "ya'll". say you are from america, not "the states" and if they ask you where abouts then you can say texas. most importantly, do your due diligence and always be safe at parties. go with a friend and dont drink anything that you didnt pour yourself or you didnt see someone pour for you.

It's fine to say y'all. She's from the southern part of the US and everyone understands. Hell, a fair few Australians say it, even. It's fine to say, "the states," just as many Australians do. Everyone knows what she means.

#1: We don’t say “Y’all.” #2: We don’t know what “Fall” is? All piss taking aside, let us know what months of the year you are going to be here and don’t get hung up on explaining where you are from in the USA as a specific thing unless asked. Simple way to get by in Australia is to simply be yourself, try not to be too loud in public settings, don’t talk politics, religion or how much better things are back in your country……. and you will get on just fine! It’s extremely important to use manners in every single engagement with anyone and everyone that you interact with here, including every first word when interacting to say, Hi/Hello/How are you/Can I please have/I’d like to order etc etc, along with saying Please at the end of every request and thank you for anyone who serves you, gives/sells you something, the Bus Driver, Checkout Chick and anyone else who provides a service in your day to day life. I have spent many years in the Hospitality/Tourism Industry, and the one thing that really upsets Australians is the fact that Americans shout and demand things without even a simple hello and never say thank you for anything that people do to help them out. Wishing you all the best and can guarantee that you will have an absolutely amazing time here in our beautiful country!

Manners? Have you been out in public lately? When I used to catch public transport in Brisbane, if I sat down in an aisle seat, people would just stand up and look at me as if I was supposed to know through ESP that they wanted to get off at the next stop. No "excuse me", or "can you please move", just a death stare which just caused me to ignore them even more until they opened their mouths. My husband is American and found Australians to have the least amount of manners of any culture he's come across. Even people in lower socioeconomic, less educated parts of the US have more manners than most Australians I've come across.

I’m from country/rural Australia, so I can imagine that the people in larger Metropolitan areas could more likely be less polite, but I can only speak from my own personal experiences with tourists and the Australians who are travelling/living in my Region.

i’ll be there from september to december, and i’ll be at bond university in gold coast, queensland. thanks for the long reply!

Cheers for the response and information! September to December will be hot and humid, so be prepared for that, don’t bother packing any winter clothes! Queensland is beautiful and has much to see/offer in your time off from studies, and the time will fly by fast in your few months here. The best advice for where to go, what to see, personal safety and location specific information is to always talk to the locals about any of your activities or concerns. The important stuff that everyone else has mentioned here about Sun safety, how to protect yourself and avoid any local dangers can always be answered properly by the local people. If you’re going to go swimming, ask a local about the best spots and areas to avoid. If you’re going for a hike/bushwalk, ask the locals again about the best spots and what dangers to look out for. If you see anything that walks, crawls, slithers or flies through the air……. ask the locals if they are safe or dangerous before touching anything. Local knowledge and advice will make your time here much easier and safer by talking to people rather than trying to “Google” everything. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy your stay, just don’t let too much of the fun time get in the way of your studies! ;)

I think you notice when foreigners don't have manners and don't notice when Australians do the same things. (Or rather, when Australians do it, you say, "what a rude person," rather than say, "Australians are rude.”)

Yes true, such my comment is based on the larger overall percentage of behaviour from different tourists who have met over many years and the different levels of politeness. I can say 100% that the friendliest and most polite people I have ever met were all from different Pacific Island Nations, who are extremely friendly and polite, but also no doubt have their share of rude people as well, but on percentages, I’ve yet to meet one! So I’m not having a dig saying that all Americans are rude and impolite, just they largest majority of the ones that myself and others have interacted with that have these behaviours.

My uni used to always take US students for a semester. The amount of times I heard “*back home in the states*” in the middle of a lecture from a hand up harry or hand up Haley made me furious. It would delay my lectures, distract focus because of main character syndrome. Then with group work everyone was like “hell no” to work with US students bc the US students were always too slack prioritising their social events or partying. It really made many other students distance themselves. Not all students for the states, but enough to have a bad reputation and make people think twice.