10 things that might surprise you about Australia

1. you can say or write anything you want as long as it is true and does not incite violence and hatred, so if you don’t like the prime minister, you can say so and you won’t be arrested or threatened.
2. littering is NOT acceptable – put everything in the bin (we have bins everywhere)
3. in many schools children may wear jewellery, makeup (high school) and wear their hair long, short or dyed
4. revealing clothing is very common and does not (usually) mean the wearer wants to have sex with you – it’s just our culture
5. if you make an appointment or a date you are expected to be there at that time
6. when someone invites you out for dinner, both of you are expected to share the bill (unless clearly stated otherwise)
7. trying to bribe public officials – police, government and also businesses – is against the law and will get you in big trouble
8. we have tough equal opportunity laws so women, men, children, disabled, different ethnic groups, gays and lesbians, etc., have (almost always) the same rights as everyone else
9. we often tell strangers and associates lots of stuff about our families, personal life and issues that you may never share where you come from.  And it’s not only the good stuff…
10. age or seniority do not automatically gain you respect in Australia. We actually tend to favour working class people and often look down on people who think they are important as being arrogant.  This is commonly known as the  ‘tall poppy syndrome‘.
    

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