A young businesswoman who lives and works in Europe has revealed the culture shock she experienced when she travelled to Australia.
Finance company director and life coach Dafne Sartorio was taken aback by the country seeming ’empty’, the early bird culture, the availability of public toilets – and the cost of living.
In a post to Threads, Ms Sartorio said: ‘I just got back from Australia and I was not ready for the experience.
‘There were the ten things that had me laughing, wondering if I was in a different universe, and definitely rethinking life back in Europe.’
1. Where are the people?
The Brazilian national, who is currently based in Belgium, said the first thing she noticed about Australia was that it seemed ’empty’ because of the lower population and larger size, when compared to many South American and European countries.
‘We spent a whole day kayaking in the [Noosa] Everglades, and I swear, there wasn’t a single soul around in about 70km.
‘If this were Europe, you’d be elbowing strangers just to take a decent photo.’
Dafne Sartorio said she was surprised by how different life in Australia is (pictured with her husband)
Coffee culture
She said the next most prominent observation to strike her was that Australians seemed to absolutely love coffee.
‘Australia’s coffee game is strong. And I mean, strong. I thought I loved coffee, but these guys drink an average of 14 cups a week. I’m still recovering.’
The Aussie attitude
Ms Sartorio noticed that ‘people are so nice’ in Australia.
‘Staff actually smile and talk to you. It’s like I’d been living in a European customer service wasteland all this time,’ she said.
‘Australians are friendly in a way that makes you question what’s wrong with everyone else.’
However, not everyone was convinced, with some commenters saying it depended on which city you were in.
‘As an Australian I’ve found European and American waiting staff much more polite and friendly than here,’ one local said.
‘It’s just cultural, I’m not complaining it is just different, way more low key, so I don’t know where you actually went.
‘I’d avoid making such broad statements, but look I’m pleased you had a good time in Australia.’
Another commenter said they had the same experience.
‘The best part is they ask you how your day is going and are actually happy and excited if it’s going well.
‘It’s not just being polite, they actually seem to care.’
Ms Sartorio runs a life and career coaching business and is also the director of a finance firm
IChilled’ vibe
‘Life is so chill in Australia,’ Ms Sartorio said. ‘No one seems in a rush. People just seem … Calmer. Slower.
‘Meanwhile, I’m walking around like I’ve got 17 places to be. Do they know something we don’t?’
Ms Sartorio and her husband spent most of their time in Queensland, with some commenters suggesting that could be the reason.
‘Sydney and Perth are much faster paced than elsewhere in Australia,’ the person claimed.
‘Even Melbourne.’
How Australians are paid
Ms Sartorio said most Australians she met were paid weekly, which was very different from Europe.
‘They also pay subscriptions and rent weekly. I asked why, and people just shrugged.
‘Maybe it’s because people quit jobs like they’re changing socks? Either way, I’m lowkey jealous.’
Some locals pointed out that retail and hospitality jobs often paid wages weekly but that corporate jobs usually paid salaries monthly or fortnightly.
The cost of living
‘Activities are amazing… but so are the prices.
‘Want to go snorkeling? Surfing? Even just book an Airbnb? Then be ready to drop serious $$$.
‘Australia has some of the best experiences in the world, but they’ll have your wallet screaming by day two.’
Most commenters agreed with this observation.
‘Yeah sorry about that. They have always been pricey and even more so lately.
‘But, of course, it depends on where you are.’
Another raged about the cost of living Down Under.
‘It teases with beaches and nature and being (an) English speaking nation of immigrants, but when people move to live here they soon find themselves working only to sustain their lifestyle and not having time or ability to do anything else.
‘Surrounded by materialistic, segregated society of unambitious cowards who believe they can’t change anything.’
Ms Sartorio said she would love to return to Australia ‘once her wallet has recovered’.
She said one of the biggest things she noticed about Australia was the cost of living
The diet
‘Everything is so sweet!
‘Bread, snacks, even the butter had sugar in it. I don’t know if it’s a vibe or a conspiracy, but I came back with a serious sugar high.’
Some commenters said they found that surprising as they didn’t consider Australians to have a sweet tooth in the same way Americans do.
Belgium, where Ms Sartorio is currently based, is famous for its chocolate industry, a major pillar of its economy.
Most cocoa is produced in Central and South America and Africa but Belgians, along with the Swiss, were instrumental in popularising commercial chocolate in the 19th century.
‘I’m not sure what bread and butter you are eating but it’s not sweet here,’ one commenter said.
‘The butter part was a joke,’ Ms Sartorio said.
‘The butter was indeed very good, actually all dairy products were super tasty.’
Early birds
Ms Sartorio said that in her time in Australia ‘5am was the new 8am’.
‘You think I’m kidding? The places are buzzing. Coffee shops? Full. People running? Everywhere.
‘Meanwhile, back in Europe, coffee places open at 8am and wonder why no one is awake.
‘I can’t even get a coffee before getting to work, and there’s a business idea!’
Some Aussie said this was definitely not their experience of the culture.
‘Clearly this was not Sydney,’ one person said.
‘That made me laugh. I don’t think it was Melbourne either,’ another said.
‘Who gets up at 5am? Queenslanders? There is no daylight savings so it’s light earlier and then it gets hot by the afternoon,’ agreed a third.
‘Most decent cafes don’t open until 7 or 8am. There are early morning cafes, sure, but they usually aren’t the best and it’s people trying to maximise the day before a long work day, not because they naturally want to get up at 5am,’ another argued.
‘You were in Qld.. that’s not really Australia… more like Texas… they do things early. The rest of the country is waking up at 6 or 8.’
The outdoor lifestyle
Ms Sartorio said she noticed ‘people are fit’.
‘Like, very fit. Jogging, surfing, Pilates, everywhere you look.’
But she added there was also ‘the other extreme’ which tended to not be as prominent in Europe.
‘It’s like two extremes living side by side,’ she said.
Uncomplicated
‘Everything is clean and ran smoothly,’ Ms Sartorio said.
‘Bathrooms. Water fountains. Clean streets? They are everywhere. I felt like I was in a public restroom utopia.
‘Also, things just worked. Even renting a car was not a struggle. Europe, take notes.’
Some commenters said her impressions of Australia summed up the country quite accurately but some pointed out that ‘the grass is always greener’.
‘Ironically, got back from Europe (Australia is home) and I absolutely loved it over there, in particular Denmark, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Maybe cause the mornings are a bit later and the food has less, less sugar.’
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