10 things I have learned about Australasians

Ted. Here are some sweeping generalizations that are based on an extremely limited four-week tour:

1. Australasia is an acceptable word to use when speaking collectively of Australia and New Zealand. Technically, it also includes other places like Papua New Guinea but this is so much easier to say than “Australia and New Zealand” that I recommend its use.  

2. Australians and New Zealanders are a bit different and shouldn’t be lumped together.  The two accents are pretty distinctive. An Aussie would call me “Ted” but a Kiwi would say “Teed.” Also, New Zealanders seem to be a bit more soft-spoken - very friendly but only after you initiate a conversation. The Australians seem to be a bit more brash and inclined to initiate a chat (you are right, Tom).

3. Australians love nicknames! Salvation Army is “Salvos,” McDonalds is “Mackers” and avocados are “avos.” 

4. The citizens of both countries appear to devote more energy to outdoor activities than Americans. Their newspapers are filled with sports that I don’t know. Rugby and cricket are kings in New Zealand but in Australia, it seems to vary by state with Aussie rules football predominant in Victoria (where Melbourne is). Quite a few folks in both countries are really into water sports, especially surfing and sailing.

5. There are a LOT of white people here. We did see a number of Maori on the North Island of NZ but very few blacks, Hispanics or South Asians anywhere in either country. While walking with an Eritrean acquaintance in Melbourne we got a couple of sideways glances.

6. There is one exception to no. 5. There is a TON of Chinese people in Australasia. Some have been here for two hundred years but many have moved here recently or are simply tourists. Also, Chinese individuals are investing billions in real estate in both countries.

7. People of faith, be they Christians, Moslems, Hindus or something else, seem to be regarded as a bit of a curiosity. It’s sort of how Americans would regard the Amish; we respect their right to live that way but don’t understand why they would want to.

8. The Aussies and Kiwis that we have met over the past month have been uniformly warm and welcoming. This includes people with whom we have stayed as well as folks we have met on shuttles, at bus stops and in groceries. We have had a few frank conversations about our politics but have never heard the slightest hint of an anti-American sentiment. They appear to assume that Americans are good people unless they prove otherwise.

9. All of the New Zealanders and Australians we have met seem to be keen travelers; either within their own countries or to other places. Many people we have spoken with have been to far more places than we have.

10. My sense is that the influence of the internet and the entertainment industry is causing Australasians to lose some of their unique traits so hurry up and visit these countries before they become indistinguishable from North Americans!