General
Anything that doesn't fit elsewhere.
Anyone else find Australian small talk weirdly intimate?
Coming from a culture where "how are you?" is basically "hello", I keep getting blindsided by Aussies who actually want a real answer. Had a tradie at the door tell me about his dog's surgery within 4 minutes of meeting him. Not complaining — it's lovely actually — just trying to figure out the script. What's the polite Australian reply when someone asks how you're going? "Yeah, not bad" seems to work but feels formulaic.
Anonymous Friendly Dingo · 3 replies · 0 reactions
What's one thing you wish someone had told you in your first month?
Throwing the question out. Pick anything — practical, emotional, weird cultural thing. Will compile a list and send the best ones to a friend who arrives in July. I'll start: take photos of every single document you've ever filed with immigration. The 100-point ID requirement comes up in places you don't expect (bank, phone, NRMA membership).
Anonymous Resourceful Currawong · 3 replies · 0 reactions
What's the actual difference between Coles, Woolies, Aldi and IGA?
Genuine question. They're all supermarkets. They all sell similar stuff. The prices look similar. Why do people have such strong opinions? I've been alternating randomly for two months and I genuinely can't tell. Is there a "Woolies is better for fresh, Coles for snacks, Aldi for everything else" rule? Or is it pure tribalism?
Anonymous Grateful Brushtail · 3 replies · 0 reactions