For First Time Tourists

For those on an Australian visitor visa, mingling with the locals is going to be a great experience. However, in order to make this one even better, you need to know how to get along with them properly. Here are some tips that you can keep in mind when having your first encounter with a local Australian.

First of all, when meeting an Australian for the first time, a hand shake and a smile is all that it takes to get your meeting going. If you are not yet familiar with each other, you can just say “Hello” when greeted with “G'day” (a common greeting). You might also be a bit surprised to be called using your first name during your first time talking to each other. This is in fact rather normal, as Australians are known for being very casual, even to strangers. You are also free to do the same, so use it to make the meeting lighter.

Conversation is also a big part of your meeting with an Australian. And since you will likely spend a lot of time talking, be sure that you know a lot of things, as Aussies love tackling a wide variety of topics, sports being a perennial favorite. However, you should avoid being too gratifying of yourself, as they tend to take offense of those who are being a bit too boastful, and they might end up not interacting with you at all.

You will also need to watch your words when talking, as some common words that you use on a daily basis might actually turn out as vulgar to many Australians. For instance, looking for a fanny pack (Canadian term for a belt bag) will likely raise an Australian's eyebrow, as the word fanny actually refers to a woman's private parts in the country. Instead, try using a more neutral term, such as pouch bag, in order to avoid an akward situation. Also, read more about the language to be sure what words really mean in its context.

Hand gestures also need to be watched. As it is, some universally recognized gestures actually turns out to be offensive. For example, the peace sign is actually considered as an obscene gesture in the country. On the other hand, the thumbs up (a common gesture signifying everything is alright) is equivalent to “the finger” for many Australians. In case your are not yet familiar with how these are used in the country, it would actually be better to avoid them.

Also you need to be also familiar with the customs that are unique to each state and, to a narrower extent, to each city. For instance, Sydney residents might get a little irritated if you keep on praising Melbourne a lot during a conversation, and this goes the other way around for the city of Melbourne itself. Be sure to ask someone first in the place, in order to learn more about local customs.

PrincipalVisas provides advice and assistance on applying for an Australian Working Holiday Visas and Australian Visitor ETA visa. It also contain general Australia Immigration Information about different types of visa and category of travelers.