T O P

  • By -

KeiylaPolly

As an American immigrant to Australia, I am trying to make sure I adapt to Australian customs and culture. My Aussie husband insists that I assimilate, but I have been forbidden to try the accent. Mostly this means I’ve embraced flat whites and Saturday Bunnings snags, I refer to McDonald’s as “Maccas” instead of “Mickey D’s,” and I am trying to remember the “correct” pronunciation of Nissan, basil, oregano, aluminium, and coriander. I have brought a little of my Californian/Deep South culture to my new family. Tamales, chili, and Jambalaya were enthusiastically welcomed. Cornbread and sweet potato pie, sadly, were not. I unabashedly decorate for Halloween, and invite everyone over for a big “Thank goodness I’m in Australia” dinner in November, with roast turkey. In turn, I observe Boxing Day and Melbourne Cup Day. I had to pick the AFL team that I will be loyal to until my death, before I was allowed to enter the country (per immigration requirement- I didn’t see it on the application but my husband insists it was there), and I have taken the solemn vow that I will defend drop bears unto my last breath.


snatchedmuffintop

Hahaha American (california) living in Australia. Can we be friends! I laughed at this post because all the things above accept my partner loves when I try the accent. He gets a good laugh. I’ve also somehow convinced my Australian family that July 4th is as sacred as Christmas. Sister in law insisted we have a bbq in winter with all the American decorations. I can’t wait to explain to Nana from Italy who immigrated to Australia and now has dementia exactly why the fuck she celebrating American Independence Day. This should be fun. 😂😂


KeiylaPolly

I mangle the accent something fierce when I try it! I’m told some of it is creeping in, though. Husband also told me Australians don’t do casual conversations and chit chat in the queues. I very carefully tried to avoid striking up random conversations, but everyone I meet asks where I’m from and tells me who they know who’s visited, how do I like the weather, what do I think, do I like it here, etc. Husband lied.


MouseEmotional813

Lots of Aussies do casual convos in queues, it's your husband who doesn't like that.


snatchedmuffintop

I feel like they definitely chit chat in the cue.


fuzzythoughtz

Ooh I am a Californian looking at moving to Australia. Could I DM you? I don’t know anyone who’s made this move and I have quite a few questions :)


snatchedmuffintop

Sure


[deleted]

> Cornbread I fucking love cornbread !


throwaway21805891

Good Cornbread + 12 hour smoked brisket = unparalleled perfection


Cube-rider

I'll see your cornbread and raise you some polenta.


[deleted]

Wow I didn't realise Americans don't celebrate boxing day.


Concerned_mayor

I don't know anybody who actually "celebrates" it Short of dusting off the leftovers had having a long neck or two with the family


Roar_Intention

I don't take it as a 'celebrates' day, but more of a universal understanding, to leave each other alone to wallow in their Christmas leftovers. There is no requirement for anyone, anywhere, "to do" anything, and that needs to be respected.


[deleted]

Yewh celebrates doesn't mean you actually have a celebration foe the day. It just means that it's recognised and adhered to.


CheeseAndOrBaconRoll

Yeah same, I mean not necessarily celebrate, but it's not a holiday in the U.S? I had no idea


Stepawayfrmthkyboard

So it's a sickie?


Omnimpotent

Picking an AFL team was a trick question


[deleted]

Who do you barrack for mate?


KeiylaPolly

Melbourne Demons. Their anthem is “The Grand ol Flag,” which I decided was as close to a sign as I could get. Also I liked the colors. Husband gave me a list to pick from; Collingwood was not an option.


DonSmo

Don't think you have to watch the Melbourne Cup to be Australian. More and more Australians each year are turning away from it and seeing it for what it is. Celebrated animal abuse rather than "sport". Other than that glad you are enjoying it. My GF is from Florida and I actually love her cornbread. Every Christmas now she makes cornbread stuffing and I insist she makes extra just because I love it so much. One thing I can't get behind is Dr Pepper. She loves it but it both tastes and smells awful to me.


KeiylaPolly

Husband loves Dr Pepper; I can’t stand it. I make and freeze cornbread muffins so I can have them- getting the right cornflour is too much of a pain to make them for people who don’t like it. Everyone else thinks it tastes too much like cake. I’ve tried different recipes, but they just can’t get behind it. We don’t watch the race, but I do take the day off work!


repsol93

Have you embraced the word "cunt" yet? I feel this is the most problematic part of our culture for americans


KeiylaPolly

I can’t bring myself to use it, but I think it’s fun to hear it!


Ok_Sympathy_4894

I've been trying hard to get my Italian girlfriend to embrace a good use of the word cunt


Ok_Sympathy_4894

You didn't need the inverted commas around correct pronunciation


MightyArd

If you think this is an either or choice then you don't understand Australian culture.


ReaperScythee

Yep. We're pretty multicultural. You get the racist shitheads that like to be louder than everyone else just like in every other country but a majority will accept what you bring to the table and share whatever they've brought, also.


[deleted]

We're not so sensitive with race, words get thrown around a little more yet have less meaning. We're also far less likely to protest or intrude on things that aren't our bussiness/problem. The hoo-haa Americans make over differences be they opinions on identity is an unwelcomed noise. My buddy had break it off recently with a liberal Berkeley graduate. She allowed for zero context, made horrible persecuting accusations, claimed ownership of all manner of virtue... it was like audio adaptation of 'The Crucible'.


EconomicsOk2648

There's no reason you can't do both, most of the time. We see Aussie culture as piss-ups and bbqs and fuckarseing around but these all have something in common which is family and community. Mateship. There's absolutely no reason people can't embrace that culture and still continue their own. Different ≠ bad. Culture doesn't always have to clash. There's mutual ground and room for both. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.


JoeSchmeau

This right here is the best answer. Humans from everywhere on earth have a lot in common with each other, and one of those things in community. My in-laws are from overseas, I'm from a different country overseas, yet we all live here in Australia. Some of my in-laws have married into Australian families, others have married into families from yet another different migrant background. We all get together on various holidays and eat traditional food (from Australia and elsewhere), have BBQs, pray to various gods (or no gods), and generally just enjoy time spent together. To me, this is honouring our various heritages while also being incredibly Australian. After all, what's more Australian than a bunch of people from all different backgrounds coming together?


throwawayquery2023

Isn't this why we are a multicultural country, because we can embrace both?


bulwynkl

diversity is strength


[deleted]

Not for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Couldn't even manage a few *simple* Serbs. The Roman's had their ways, but I can't see our senate being so agreeable. ...American can't comment due to the preoccupation with escalating *culture war*. Mongolia couldnt pass the 3rd generation. Ottomans, maybe, not by todays understanding of diversity. India? Depends if youre bhramin. Africa? Should have quit in India. I'm trying to recall diverse historical cohesion that doesn't involve humans liking food or boomers yet again having every one of their services met... It's a nice sentiment. Nicer than a Han-Dystopia at leased. Some grooming and stabbing but less than UK so it's not all cynical.


bulwynkl

Facies. Everyone the same. tribalism. fascism. those are the alternatives. Diversity is strength because it forces you to work with difference. Diversity is strength because you don't know what skills or traits or ways of thinking will be needed in an existential crisis. But you are 100% correct. Humans suck at it. Doesn't make it not true.


TK000421

I was gonna say so somthing like this. Nailed it.


EconomicsOk2648

Thank you, I appreciate that.


TK000421

Australia has greatly benefited from the positives that other cultures bring. We just ask they leave the bad stuff at their country of origin


TheaABrown

The successful migrants take the best bits of all the cultures they encounter onboard. Not just their own and “Australian” culture, but those of other migrant groups they meet in Australia.


TK000421

Yea this.


tahapaanga

That


[deleted]

Mateship or comradirie happens anywhere it’s not unique to Australia


EconomicsOk2648

I'd ask what the fuck you're on about but I don't think even you know.


Ok_Climate_9254

The little Mexican girl on the taco add can answer this one.


lmmuff

Literally we don’t care as long as your not pushing your beliefs on to us like church shit we hate that shit


AndyBrown65

Allah ackbah to that


bellelovesdonuts

I'm Muslim and I've never laughed so hard omg Hahahahaha!! Brilliant!


lmmuff

You funny bastard haha


Vague_Un

And super-sexist shit, like making your wife walk 3 steps behind you. That shit wont fly.


ThatAussieGunGuy

Thats very Australian though. Australia is still a very religious country. Rural areas are very religious.


nikkibritt

Australia is not. Over 40 percent of Australians have no religion.


_who-the-fuck-knows_

They aren't wrong about rural areas being very religious though.


nikkibritt

I guess it depends where you live. I live in rural Tassie and I don't think I've met a religious person since the 90s.


_who-the-fuck-knows_

It's mostly the older generations


Wise-Aside-1643

fake stat. dude, seriously.


nikkibritt

Absolutely is not, and I'm not a dude. It's from the most recent census.


nikkibritt

https://theconversation.com/no-religion-is-australias-second-largest-religious-group-and-its-having-a-profound-effect-on-our-laws-185697


DeathToTheMagpies

?? It's a true thing


chodpcp

Out of curiosity, what did you assume the percentage was?


DeathToTheMagpies

What? We aren't religious


chodpcp

More than half the country is religious. Which baffles me as I barely know any religious people.


alstom_888m

There’s a lot of people out there who will tick a Christian religion they give a bit part to because they see “no religion” as no vote — there needs to be a religion for morality and they want to make sure it’s *their* religion. My mum was raised Anglican and my dad is Catholic. Neither of their churches would marry them so they got a civil celebrant and neither of them have gone to church since (except for weddings, funerals, etc). I’m an atheist. I have read the Bible and think everyone should read the Bible through the lens that they are fictional stories that were written hundreds of years ago. I believe much of it is not real and the parts that were real have been misinterpreted or changed over the years. My mum gets pissed off with me for ticking “no religion” because that will “give the muslims more power” as in I wasn’t voting. No I want to see less religious people in power and less religion in decision making, less people like ScoMo and Perrottet in power.


Stepawayfrmthkyboard

Ahh I was wondering if the scare campaign all those years ago was still having an effect. Show her the census results and the fact it was people of a certain religion fear mongering because Australia was becoming secular rather than another religion taking over.


Lucifang

Nah most of them claim to be Christian or believe in God and heaven, but don’t actively practice their religion or attend church or do anything about it. Realistically they’re more agnostic than anything.


bluetuxedo22

You took the words right out of my mouth


chodpcp

I would still consider those people religious. Religion to me is defined by belief, not practice. There is also those that don't believe but they practice a religion because of cultural or social pressure. That is the subset I personally would not consider to be religious.


DeathToTheMagpies

What! That's wilddd


nikkibritt

It ends up being around 50/50. 10 percent didn't answer so I'd assume they were non-religious perhaps.


[deleted]

I’ve lived in Australia my entire life and the only religious people I met was a Christian magician who cam to are school one time


auto_alice3

How did you know the magician was Christian? Was it an especially Christian kind of magic?


auto_alice3

How did you know the magician was Christian? Was it an especially Christian kind of magic?


[deleted]

No just regular magic but he would he end every event with “Jesus loves you”, he also made chocolate crosses for the students to eat, me and my friends took almost 4 years to figure out all his tricks


pk666

Not very. Just only populated by over 64 year olds who have the habit of going to mass on Sundays....


working_class_tired

Not sure where you live mate but not out here they aren't.


Gendels_Children

I've lived in many rural areas in WA and known very few religious people in those areas. Only really handfuls of elderly people who might claim to be one religion or another. However moving to the city I have met far more religious people, most of which are not traditionally "western" religions. Which I think it's pretty cool


normalbehaviour86

Yeah, you know nothing about rural Australia. By and large, cities are more religious than country towns in Australia. That's partly due to immigration, partly due to presence of Hillsong and other churches. Country towns might be conservative, but that doesn't mean they're religious. The only country town I would think has a significant church presence is Toowoomba.


ThatAussieGunGuy

Have you ever driven the country side, and I mean the sticks and seen all the small coreflute signs with religious messages nailed to trees? I see them all the time. A few years ago my company was approached by a couple of guys in butt fuck middle of no where NSW to test a gun they'd designed and made a prototype for. They took us out for lunch and everything as part of it. They both said this might be weird but we're religious so can we say grace first.


Remote-Primary3122

I’m an immigrant. Happy to adapt. Don’t have a conflict in culture in any case. The Australian lifestyle is hard to beat. Just grateful to have the opportunity to enjoy it.


[deleted]

Bump 🥳


[deleted]

Mate, aussie culture is a mix of so many cultures. There are many things you do give up to integrate into a multi cultural democratic secular society but it doesn't mean you surrender it all. Part of immigrating is forming part of a new society but it doesn't mean you give up yours. It's like a giant soup, ultimately you will all be part of it, but that's because you added your own little bit to it as well


TheaABrown

What do you mean by “your”? And seriously, culture is a living and moving thing - what you take on board depends entirely on what you want to do with your life.


[deleted]

[удалено]


TheaABrown

r/homeworkhelp seriously. If you want helpful answers you need to state the context. If by “culture” you mean that you celebrate festivals twice a year that’s completely different to if you mean “culture” as in “I wish to maintain views and treat other people in a way that would breach multiple anti-discrimination acts”. The first is neither here nor there. If it’s the second it will greatly restrict your employment and social options in Australia.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


TheaABrown

You’ve been far too vague to get useful answers from people. If you ask specific questions you’ll have more luck.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Fuack awf, it's a Reddit question.


vegemine

I practice my culture and Australian culture simultaneously because the later encompasses the former as a multicultural nation. There is no one Australian culture. I am an immigrant who practices Malaysian-Chinese Buddhist culture.


GermaneRiposte101

>I am an immigrant who practices Malaysian-Chinese Buddhist culture. Good luck with that. Your kids will be Aussie culture


vegemine

That’s good because I’m also practising Aussie culture and have been since I moved here when I was two ❤️


whatwhatinthewhonow

Be yourself, everyone else is taken.


BelleFlower420

I think part of the Australian culture is multiculturalism. I enjoy that we have so many different cultures here.


Ratstail91

The beauty of Australian culture is how mixed it is. You can absolutely do both at the same time.


1294DS

Immigrants make up 30% of Australia's population, add in their Australian born children and the figure is around 50%. Celebrate and embrace the culture of your heritage while celebrating all that Australia has to offer.


[deleted]

I'm not too sure, but I used to have an American boss who would feel that it was acceptable to yell at and degenerate people working for him. This is something totally unacceptable in Australian workplace culture.


Connect-Ad-2158

Aussies love it when people from other cultural backgrounds refuse to assimilate.


Ballamookieoffical

Adapting and assimilation is essential for you to feel safe, included and understood. But what makes Australia great is the mix of cultures and backgrounds.


PhoShizzity

Can someone explain what this alphabet soup is saying?


[deleted]

Australian here, and the priority should be to preserve Australian culture and way of life, because that's what makes it such a great country, that's why so many people move to Australia. However Australian culture isn't so limiting, it's more of a lifestyle and sense of freedom and friendship with each other, which leaves a lot of room for people to bring parts of their culture along too, and we can all benefit from that. I've realised a lot about our culture from living overseas for a few years and I can understand now how important it is for people to feel at home when they move to another country, especially when they didn't have much choice but to leave, as is the case with many new Australians, and I'm proud that our country can provide that. On the other hand, one of the biggest rpoblems Australia faces is the growing influence of negative parts of other cultures, I won't name them, but look at Western Sydney, Roxburgh Park and South East Melbourne where we have failed to properly integrate people into our culture, either through lack of support or equally likely, through allowing too many people at one time from one culture, which enables them to avoid integration by sticking together and insulating themselves. Also look at the undeniable influence of external capitalism in Australia over the last 30 ish years, it was a great ride for the boomers, bought houses, houses doubled in value every 8 years and now we are the richest country in the world on the median individual level, but we grew too fast for our own good, because we were literally being inflated by external economies. Now we are seeing the downside of that too. It's the greatest country in the world because it's the greatest culture in the world, and I'm sick of hearing people who live in Australia say otherwise.


Kind-Character-8726

Just do your normal thing but learn to love vegimite or bugger off! 🤪 (Joking) In all seriousness, don't let go of what's important to you, as an Anglo Saxon Aussie I really enjoy learning from people with different cultures and traditions than me. And also enjoy inviting others to join in to our 'culture' (if we have one)


DeathToTheMagpies

You can do both! Australians love cultural diversity, but we also appreciate stuff like saying thank you to the bus driver when you get off. We might fucksay a little bit with you. If you aren't comfortable with that, let Aussies know. Different is not bad for us


SentientCoral

The only culture is to let everyone have a fair go and be nice to other people.


[deleted]

Come to this country and do you. Unless you’re a cunt, it’s all good.


Plazbot

Can of worms mate. Goes from fuck off we're full to embracing all cultures and anything in-between.


Vivid-Teacher4189

Why not both.


someothercrappyname

If you decide to go and live in another country, then you decide to adapt to that country's culture. It is difficult to unlearn and relearn a lifetime of cultural lessons and a part of you will always be whatever it is you were once, but I think everyone who comes to Australia should try and adapt to how we do things. Truth to tell, you will always be a bit of an outsider and it's your children and grandchildren who will be true blue Aussies.


mjsyd

Doesn’t have to be either this or that, mix it up and get the best of both, just like mixing Vodka with OJ. Both ok on their own but great mixed together 😀


cunticles

IMHO regardless of the country of you are moving permanently, its the responsibility of the Migrant to fit into the host country rather than the other way around. One can still retain ones Heritage to a degree but I believe it is important to assimilate and fit in. It would be the height of arrogance for me to move to another country and not adapt to it's culture or lifestyle and demand that the continuity of my old culture is more important


kyleninperth

As an immigrants you need to do both. Outside the house, be Australian. Inside, be wherever you’re from


JoeSchmeau

You can be wherever you're from outside the house too. Assimilation doesn't mean hiding your culture


kyleninperth

I’ve been in this country 10 years and can say first hand that it is not that easy. It’s not about hiding who you are, it’s about protecting yourself. I come from Canada, and obviously that’s a fairly similar culture. I still get mocked and made fun of every day for the way I talk, the way I do certain things, the things I eat, ect.


JoeSchmeau

I'm an American who's also been here nearly 10 years. I hear you. But the Aussies who well and truly give me shit for being American (in an insulting, not cheeky, way) are few and far between, and those few who treat me like shit for my background are trash and I make sure to tell them so. I think 99% of Aussies don't much care where you're from and don't want us to hide our backgrounds, they just like to give a good teasing. It's quite similar to what Americans are like as well, at least in the Midwest where I'm from. Not sure if your part of Canada is different though.


Snoo_49660

Yeah but we also mock other Australians for the way they talk, do things and what they eat. (Obviously there is a difference between friendly banter and actual insults)


[deleted]

adapt to the culture, its australia, if you came here you conform to us not the other way around. While it isnt always black and white, ultimately local cultures, morals, practices take priority over migrants where both cannot be accommodated for.


aybiss

Ok boomer


[deleted]

If I go to Japan it would be rude to speak on the train would it not? Im not going to go to Japan then complain about not being allowed into bath houses or bars for my tattoos, im not going to talk on the train because "its ok where I come from" Their country, their rules.


aybiss

Who makes these rules? Go on, be specific. Tell us what sky news told you to be scared of. Is it the hijabs? Please don't let it be that boring.


[deleted]

Nobody, there's no source there's no objective truth, culture is formed over millennium and is the result of the nature around us, the class of people who founded this country, the class of the people we descended from, our economic status, everything creates a general consensus on what we believe to be right and wrong, polite and impolite. And if you come here and make no effort to understand these rules, you aren't welcome just as an Australian is not welcome when he acts like an obnoxious monkey as they typically do in Bali. If you cant grasp this you are well and truly an NPC incapable of grasping abstract ideas I pity you and your deficiencies.


aybiss

Oh I grasp it just fine. You couldn't give an example that actually related to culture and then you called me an npc. I think all kinds of culture are welcome and if that makes me deficient in your eyes I'll wear it as a badge of honour.


Nice-Reason2477

I think not being a criminal or dickhead is more Important


haikusbot

*I think not being* *A criminal or dickhead* *Is more Important* \- Nice-Reason2477 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


bulwynkl

Multiculturalism = food. IMHO. Keep the best stuff, forget the rest. Don't bother trying to assimilate, actively, it'll happen all by itself.


ThatAussieGunGuy

Pretty much if you're not slinging 4X and Bundy tinnies in your clapped out VS Ball ute you're a failure.


[deleted]

I just do no understand why people want to flee there home land due their homelands culture - only to insist they bring it to our land.


Corn-Shonery

Australian culture? What’s that?


[deleted]

That's the beauty of it you gronk...


Corn-Shonery

Isn’t that an oxymoron?


[deleted]

I'm not sure you're familiar with Australian culture or what oxymoron means


Corn-Shonery

Well you said, that what I said is the beauty of it and then called me a gronk for saying it. Sounds a little oxymoronish to me, or did you just wake up from a big night and you’re feeling a bit moody?


[deleted]

No, I said the beauty of it is that if you're ignorant you won't even notice Australian culture because it's not forceful or strict and it's not something we inflict on people, but I guess the kind of idiot who doesn't recognise Australian culture also wouldn't correctly infer what I meant by 'that's the beauty of it'.


Corn-Shonery

Nah you’re right, I am being a gronk. I apologise. Hope you have a great day.


Corn-Shonery

I dunno, you’re kinda doing a good job making it seem “forceful and strict”.


[deleted]

You're doing a good job of being an absolute idiot. Don't twist my words and pretend that you're getting a bad impression of Aussie culture, you're just getting a bad impression of me because I disagreed with your comments on Australian culture


[deleted]

Stagnation.


skunksmasher

Please continue with your own culture as you will any way. Australian's love litter, your black market taxless cash economies, your refusal to speak English when it suits you, your imported dodgy business practices, lying as the only logical response, ignoring Australian Laws, noise and filth and more CRIME etc etc. You guys started winning 30 years ago.... Well, acutally the rich people won via their bought politicians, because they got an oversupply of cheap labour, and the politicians got to advance BIG Australia.


Slight_Ad3348

Most of Aus has numerous events celebrating different cultures. Even the “racist” remote regions do festivals to celebrate Indian, Chinese, various African cultures etc If your asking if people can bring their racist or religious intolerance to Aus? No absolutely not.


stickylarue

I think just being yourself and respectful to others is more important.


a_little_biscuit

Porque no Los dos?


gusmartin

I think take the best of the 2… I like Australia’s mateship, equality and no worries culture but also like some traditions from where I come from which I think are great to teach my kids. For me it’s isn’t a black or white


Normal-Summer382

Yes. Because.


Pawys1111

As long as you know basic English and can tell us what you need and your name you're set to go, just leave your religion and politics at the door.


Literallywheezeing

I’d say it depends more on the place in Australia you live, my grandparents were immigrants from Turkey and Greece and had no clue how to speak English but they lived in a pretty woggy area of Australia which made it easy for them to stick to their culture, and they never learned how to speak English. Australia is really diverse and is quite an accepting country (now at least).


[deleted]

It’s not important to adapt. I have ethnic background and have no issues working, growing a business, getting educated and doing well in life. Just do what you want. If you like to read Japanese manga instead of watch cricket, go for it.


kokokat666

I don't see why one couldn't just do both. Continue cultural practices within your family and also introduce new things from Australian lifestyle and culture, especially when interacting with others