Cultural difference - is it just me???
Aug 3rd 2010, 2:29 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: South Australia
Posts: 2
Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hello all.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
Aug 3rd 2010, 2:38 am
#2
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hello all.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
Aug 3rd 2010, 2:45 am
#3
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hello all.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
In fact, it's one of the reasons I like the place, if you want to hear what someone thinks then they don't tend to pussy foot around the issue
Aug 3rd 2010, 3:21 am
#4
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hello all.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
Even though I don't live in Australia...I understand what you mean...I sometimes find the same here in the US.
Here's the link to BE's Australia Forums. We have a great bunch of folk posting in the Oz forums and I'm sure you'll find many more outspoken Brits in there.
Should you need any assistance finding your way around BE's many forums one of our Concierge Team will be pleased help you. As their name suggests they will act as your tour guides around our many forums. You can find a list of our concierge's at the bottom right hand side of this forum's index page...their names are printed in standard font.
Any problems or concerns should be addressed to a moderator. Every BE forum has at least one moderator dedicated to that forum...Australia has 4...Cresta57, Monneypenny20, Sonlymewalter and Centurion.
I hope you enjoy your stay with us.
Aug 4th 2010, 1:24 am
#5
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,680
Re: Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hi Yazzie
Welcome to BE.
I see you have already been pointed in the right direction and I would think you will find some like minded folks on the Australia forum.
I am sure there are people experiencing the same thing so at least you won't feel alone in this.
Enjoy the forum and good luck
Dread - x
Welcome to BE.
I see you have already been pointed in the right direction and I would think you will find some like minded folks on the Australia forum.
I am sure there are people experiencing the same thing so at least you won't feel alone in this.
Enjoy the forum and good luck
Dread - x
Aug 4th 2010, 1:28 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Cultural difference - is it just me???
Hello all.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I came to Australia decades ago as a 12 yr old. I'm now 54yrs. Despite this, I still feel like a fish out of water when it comes to certain Australian ways. Don't get me wrong - I love it here. Even married an Australian. Yet there are many times I don't understand the Australian way of not saying what they really mean. My directness has often gotten me into trouble. It's like there's an unspoken rule to NOT say what you really mean. When I was reared, not saying what you really meant equalled lying (!). Hence, I trip over this confusion and end up feeling like I'm on the wrong planet.
This is my first post, so greetings to everyone. I've been thinking about joining for a while as I would dearly value the opinions of other expatriate Brits. Cheers & thanks.
I suspect that what you are feeling is more to do with your personality. You sound exactly like my born & bred Australian father
