American expat in Queensland uncovers ‘weird’ finds at Coles

As seasoned travellers, we are no strangers to the wonderful array of cultural differences that our world has to offer.

The fascinating disparities in everyday norms from one country to another are something that never fails to excite curiosity and occasionally tickle our funny bones.



In fact, what might seem as ordinary as picking up groceries at Coles for an Aussie, can be a bewildering treasure hunt of perplexing produce names and snack selections for an outsider, as US expat Kendall Wheeler recently discovered!


compressed-FB resize 87.jpeg
American expat Kendall Wheeler resides in Queensland with her Australian boyfriend. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Texas native Kendall, who now calls sunny Queensland home, recently ventured out to Coles and took to the strangest yet most captivating journey of discovery through the aisles of the grocery store.

Her amusing observations, tinged with a healthy dose of culture shock, were shared on a video and have since become quite the sensation.



To begin her tale of cultural conundrums, Kendall expressed her confusion over the Aussie penchant for making all four wheels of our shopping trolleys spin freely—quite unlike the stable 'buggies' back in the US.

'All four wheels spin here, which makes them kind of hard to drive,' she pointed out, echoing a little-known dilemma that many of us who have travelled abroad can chuckle at.

A bit confusing, but it might be a cheeky jab at how trolleys sometimes have that one odd wheel that doesn’t really do anything. Maybe Texas has a lot of those kinds?

Venturing towards the vegetable section, Kendall encountered the first of many ‘alien’ produce names.

Our humble capsicum, which she knows as bell pepper back in Texas, was an unexpected revelation.



As was her introduction to our unique array of chip flavours.

From ‘crispy pork belly with apple sauce’ to ‘Subway meatball sub’, our snack aisle myriad had Kendall raising her eyebrows. Not even our beloved cheese and onion flavour was spared!


compressed-FB resize 88.jpeg
The red Frankfurts puzzled the expat, who referred to them as hotdogs. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Our range of lollies also left the American expat amused.

Staring into the confectionery aisle, she enquired, 'You guys call these lollies? I think that’s cute. I just call it candy.'



The trip took a turn for the colourful when Kendall stumbled across our bright red sizzlers, more commonly recognised as sausages elsewhere.

For many Australians, an outdoor barbie without these isn't quite the same, is it?

This diverse cultural variety goes beyond our country's borders.

For instance, in Japan, it isn't uncommon to find wasabi or seaweed-flavoured chips, and in parts of Europe, horse meat is a regular supermarket offering.



Watch Kendall’s video here:



This lively video, now viewed over 599,000 times, struck a chord with expats and locals alike, sparking playful exchanges in the comments.

One nostalgic local shared, 'It’s interesting when you shop in other countries. I remember being in America, and I couldn’t believe how just about everything is full of sugar.'

Another questioned, ‘“All 4 wheels spin, which makes it kinda hard to drive”, on what planet…?’

A third said, ‘Don’t make fun of our chip flavours without trying them!’



Key Takeaways
  • An American expat, Kendall Wheeler, took to social media to share her observations about perceived 'weird' aspects of Australian supermarkets.
  • Among her comments were Australian trolleys, which she noted had all four wheels spin, the Australian name for bell peppers 'capsicum', and what she found to be unusual chip flavours.
  • Wheeler was amused and confused by some of the everyday foods' names in Australia, like 'lollies' for candy and the bright red Frankfurt sausages referred to as 'hot dogs'.
  • The video, viewed over 599,000 times, drew many reactions from viewers, with some finding humour in Wheeler's observations, while others defended Australian food items or recounted their experiences shopping in different countries.

Shining a light on these unique cultural quirks reminds us that diversity adds flavour to life.

As Kendall uncovers more of the Australian language and peculiarities, it's refreshing to see our country in a new way, and it's a great reminder to embrace a good laugh amidst the occasional confusion.

So, as you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket this week, spare a thought for those unfamiliar with our unique terms, surprising snacks, and colourful vocabulary.



We would love to hear about your quirky shopping experiences either at home or abroad. Have you spotted any ‘alien’ items or baffling snack varieties? Share them with us!
 
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Reactions: Leodalion63
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As seasoned travellers, we are no strangers to the wonderful array of cultural differences that our world has to offer.

The fascinating disparities in everyday norms from one country to another are something that never fails to excite curiosity and occasionally tickle our funny bones.



In fact, what might seem as ordinary as picking up groceries at Coles for an Aussie, can be a bewildering treasure hunt of perplexing produce names and snack selections for an outsider, as US expat Kendall Wheeler recently discovered!


View attachment 26095
American expat Kendall Wheeler resides in Queensland with her Australian boyfriend. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Texas native Kendall, who now calls sunny Queensland home, recently ventured out to Coles and took to the strangest yet most captivating journey of discovery through the aisles of the grocery store.

Her amusing observations, tinged with a healthy dose of culture shock, were shared on a video and have since become quite the sensation.



To begin her tale of cultural conundrums, Kendall expressed her confusion over the Aussie penchant for making all four wheels of our shopping trolleys spin freely—quite unlike the stable 'buggies' back in the US.

'All four wheels spin here, which makes them kind of hard to drive,' she pointed out, echoing a little-known dilemma that many of us who have travelled abroad can chuckle at.

A bit confusing, but it might be a cheeky jab at how trolleys sometimes have that one odd wheel that doesn’t really do anything. Maybe Texas has a lot of those kinds?

Venturing towards the vegetable section, Kendall encountered the first of many ‘alien’ produce names.

Our humble capsicum, which she knows as bell pepper back in Texas, was an unexpected revelation.



As was her introduction to our unique array of chip flavours.

From ‘crispy pork belly with apple sauce’ to ‘Subway meatball sub’, our snack aisle myriad had Kendall raising her eyebrows. Not even our beloved cheese and onion flavour was spared!


View attachment 26096
The red Frankfurts puzzled the expat, who referred to them as hotdogs. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Our range of lollies also left the American expat amused.

Staring into the confectionery aisle, she enquired, 'You guys call these lollies? I think that’s cute. I just call it candy.'



The trip took a turn for the colourful when Kendall stumbled across our bright red sizzlers, more commonly recognised as sausages elsewhere.

For many Australians, an outdoor barbie without these isn't quite the same, is it?

This diverse cultural variety goes beyond our country's borders.

For instance, in Japan, it isn't uncommon to find wasabi or seaweed-flavoured chips, and in parts of Europe, horse meat is a regular supermarket offering.



Watch Kendall’s video here:



This lively video, now viewed over 599,000 times, struck a chord with expats and locals alike, sparking playful exchanges in the comments.

One nostalgic local shared, 'It’s interesting when you shop in other countries. I remember being in America, and I couldn’t believe how just about everything is full of sugar.'

Another questioned, ‘“All 4 wheels spin, which makes it kinda hard to drive”, on what planet…?’

A third said, ‘Don’t make fun of our chip flavours without trying them!’



Key Takeaways

  • An American expat, Kendall Wheeler, took to social media to share her observations about perceived 'weird' aspects of Australian supermarkets.
  • Among her comments were Australian trolleys, which she noted had all four wheels spin, the Australian name for bell peppers 'capsicum', and what she found to be unusual chip flavours.
  • Wheeler was amused and confused by some of the everyday foods' names in Australia, like 'lollies' for candy and the bright red Frankfurt sausages referred to as 'hot dogs'.
  • The video, viewed over 599,000 times, drew many reactions from viewers, with some finding humour in Wheeler's observations, while others defended Australian food items or recounted their experiences shopping in different countries.

Shining a light on these unique cultural quirks reminds us that diversity adds flavour to life.

As Kendall uncovers more of the Australian language and peculiarities, it's refreshing to see our country in a new way, and it's a great reminder to embrace a good laugh amidst the occasional confusion.

So, as you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket this week, spare a thought for those unfamiliar with our unique terms, surprising snacks, and colourful vocabulary.



We would love to hear about your quirky shopping experiences either at home or abroad. Have you spotted any ‘alien’ items or baffling snack varieties? Share them with us!

not to worry lollies will soon be dropped by cancel culture. interferring buggers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kayjay37
really? Lollies/candy- no difference. 4 wheels that turn- well of course would a car or any other vehicle not have all 4 wheels turn. I'm perplexed. How strange. We could all the same for her home or anywhere else. Every country/culture has different things that are not common to us. And of course things have different names. What is the big deal? I just don't get it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KaraJenna
As seasoned travellers, we are no strangers to the wonderful array of cultural differences that our world has to offer.

The fascinating disparities in everyday norms from one country to another are something that never fails to excite curiosity and occasionally tickle our funny bones.



In fact, what might seem as ordinary as picking up groceries at Coles for an Aussie, can be a bewildering treasure hunt of perplexing produce names and snack selections for an outsider, as US expat Kendall Wheeler recently discovered!


View attachment 26095
American expat Kendall Wheeler resides in Queensland with her Australian boyfriend. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Texas native Kendall, who now calls sunny Queensland home, recently ventured out to Coles and took to the strangest yet most captivating journey of discovery through the aisles of the grocery store.

Her amusing observations, tinged with a healthy dose of culture shock, were shared on a video and have since become quite the sensation.



To begin her tale of cultural conundrums, Kendall expressed her confusion over the Aussie penchant for making all four wheels of our shopping trolleys spin freely—quite unlike the stable 'buggies' back in the US.

'All four wheels spin here, which makes them kind of hard to drive,' she pointed out, echoing a little-known dilemma that many of us who have travelled abroad can chuckle at.

A bit confusing, but it might be a cheeky jab at how trolleys sometimes have that one odd wheel that doesn’t really do anything. Maybe Texas has a lot of those kinds?

Venturing towards the vegetable section, Kendall encountered the first of many ‘alien’ produce names.

Our humble capsicum, which she knows as bell pepper back in Texas, was an unexpected revelation.



As was her introduction to our unique array of chip flavours.

From ‘crispy pork belly with apple sauce’ to ‘Subway meatball sub’, our snack aisle myriad had Kendall raising her eyebrows. Not even our beloved cheese and onion flavour was spared!


View attachment 26096
The red Frankfurts puzzled the expat, who referred to them as hotdogs. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Our range of lollies also left the American expat amused.

Staring into the confectionery aisle, she enquired, 'You guys call these lollies? I think that’s cute. I just call it candy.'



The trip took a turn for the colourful when Kendall stumbled across our bright red sizzlers, more commonly recognised as sausages elsewhere.

For many Australians, an outdoor barbie without these isn't quite the same, is it?

This diverse cultural variety goes beyond our country's borders.

For instance, in Japan, it isn't uncommon to find wasabi or seaweed-flavoured chips, and in parts of Europe, horse meat is a regular supermarket offering.



Watch Kendall’s video here:



This lively video, now viewed over 599,000 times, struck a chord with expats and locals alike, sparking playful exchanges in the comments.

One nostalgic local shared, 'It’s interesting when you shop in other countries. I remember being in America, and I couldn’t believe how just about everything is full of sugar.'

Another questioned, ‘“All 4 wheels spin, which makes it kinda hard to drive”, on what planet…?’

A third said, ‘Don’t make fun of our chip flavours without trying them!’



Key Takeaways

  • An American expat, Kendall Wheeler, took to social media to share her observations about perceived 'weird' aspects of Australian supermarkets.
  • Among her comments were Australian trolleys, which she noted had all four wheels spin, the Australian name for bell peppers 'capsicum', and what she found to be unusual chip flavours.
  • Wheeler was amused and confused by some of the everyday foods' names in Australia, like 'lollies' for candy and the bright red Frankfurt sausages referred to as 'hot dogs'.
  • The video, viewed over 599,000 times, drew many reactions from viewers, with some finding humour in Wheeler's observations, while others defended Australian food items or recounted their experiences shopping in different countries.

Shining a light on these unique cultural quirks reminds us that diversity adds flavour to life.

As Kendall uncovers more of the Australian language and peculiarities, it's refreshing to see our country in a new way, and it's a great reminder to embrace a good laugh amidst the occasional confusion.

So, as you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket this week, spare a thought for those unfamiliar with our unique terms, surprising snacks, and colourful vocabulary.



We would love to hear about your quirky shopping experiences either at home or abroad. Have you spotted any ‘alien’ items or baffling snack varieties? Share them with us!

Think it was an observation rather than a criticism. My husband and I loved trawling the American supermarket, never saw so many chips two whole aisles
 
As seasoned travellers, we are no strangers to the wonderful array of cultural differences that our world has to offer.

The fascinating disparities in everyday norms from one country to another are something that never fails to excite curiosity and occasionally tickle our funny bones.



In fact, what might seem as ordinary as picking up groceries at Coles for an Aussie, can be a bewildering treasure hunt of perplexing produce names and snack selections for an outsider, as US expat Kendall Wheeler recently discovered!


View attachment 26095
American expat Kendall Wheeler resides in Queensland with her Australian boyfriend. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Texas native Kendall, who now calls sunny Queensland home, recently ventured out to Coles and took to the strangest yet most captivating journey of discovery through the aisles of the grocery store.

Her amusing observations, tinged with a healthy dose of culture shock, were shared on a video and have since become quite the sensation.



To begin her tale of cultural conundrums, Kendall expressed her confusion over the Aussie penchant for making all four wheels of our shopping trolleys spin freely—quite unlike the stable 'buggies' back in the US.

'All four wheels spin here, which makes them kind of hard to drive,' she pointed out, echoing a little-known dilemma that many of us who have travelled abroad can chuckle at.

A bit confusing, but it might be a cheeky jab at how trolleys sometimes have that one odd wheel that doesn’t really do anything. Maybe Texas has a lot of those kinds?

Venturing towards the vegetable section, Kendall encountered the first of many ‘alien’ produce names.

Our humble capsicum, which she knows as bell pepper back in Texas, was an unexpected revelation.



As was her introduction to our unique array of chip flavours.

From ‘crispy pork belly with apple sauce’ to ‘Subway meatball sub’, our snack aisle myriad had Kendall raising her eyebrows. Not even our beloved cheese and onion flavour was spared!


View attachment 26096
The red Frankfurts puzzled the expat, who referred to them as hotdogs. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Our range of lollies also left the American expat amused.

Staring into the confectionery aisle, she enquired, 'You guys call these lollies? I think that’s cute. I just call it candy.'



The trip took a turn for the colourful when Kendall stumbled across our bright red sizzlers, more commonly recognised as sausages elsewhere.

For many Australians, an outdoor barbie without these isn't quite the same, is it?

This diverse cultural variety goes beyond our country's borders.

For instance, in Japan, it isn't uncommon to find wasabi or seaweed-flavoured chips, and in parts of Europe, horse meat is a regular supermarket offering.



Watch Kendall’s video here:



This lively video, now viewed over 599,000 times, struck a chord with expats and locals alike, sparking playful exchanges in the comments.

One nostalgic local shared, 'It’s interesting when you shop in other countries. I remember being in America, and I couldn’t believe how just about everything is full of sugar.'

Another questioned, ‘“All 4 wheels spin, which makes it kinda hard to drive”, on what planet…?’

A third said, ‘Don’t make fun of our chip flavours without trying them!’



Key Takeaways

  • An American expat, Kendall Wheeler, took to social media to share her observations about perceived 'weird' aspects of Australian supermarkets.
  • Among her comments were Australian trolleys, which she noted had all four wheels spin, the Australian name for bell peppers 'capsicum', and what she found to be unusual chip flavours.
  • Wheeler was amused and confused by some of the everyday foods' names in Australia, like 'lollies' for candy and the bright red Frankfurt sausages referred to as 'hot dogs'.
  • The video, viewed over 599,000 times, drew many reactions from viewers, with some finding humour in Wheeler's observations, while others defended Australian food items or recounted their experiences shopping in different countries.

Shining a light on these unique cultural quirks reminds us that diversity adds flavour to life.

As Kendall uncovers more of the Australian language and peculiarities, it's refreshing to see our country in a new way, and it's a great reminder to embrace a good laugh amidst the occasional confusion.

So, as you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket this week, spare a thought for those unfamiliar with our unique terms, surprising snacks, and colourful vocabulary.



We would love to hear about your quirky shopping experiences either at home or abroad. Have you spotted any ‘alien’ items or baffling snack varieties? Share them with us!
 
I moved from NZ to Australia in 1996 and the 4 wheels of the shopping trolley swivelling was one of first things l noticed when shopping in NZ the rear wheels only went straight.
Frankfurters were called savaloys and battereed on a stick were hotdogs.
The variety of potato chips in NZ used to be a whole isle twice or 3 times the flavours' we found when we came here .
 
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really? Lollies/candy- no difference. 4 wheels that turn- well of course would a car or any other vehicle not have all 4 wheels turn. I'm perplexed. How strange. We could all the same for her home or anywhere else. Every country/culture has different things that are not common to us. And of course things have different names. What is the big deal? I just don't get it.
I was about to say the same thing about different cultures and the names they give things - then I scrolled down to your reply. What's the big deal with her? She is now in a different country.
 
I moved from NZ to Australia in 1996 and the 4 wheels of the shopping trolley swivelling was one of first things l noticed when shopping in NZ the rear wheels only went straight.
Frankfurters were called savaloys and battereed on a stick were hotdogs.
The variety of potato chips in NZ used to be a whole isle twice or 3 times the flavours' we found when we came here .
Years ago here in South Australia (ie, back in the 1950s), the red ones were called savaloys and the orange ones were frankfurters. This might have had something to do with the strong German influence in SA. A hot dog was a savaloy in a roll and could often be purchased at the local footy match for about 1/- (10 cents in today's prices).
Both savaloys and frankfurters were cooked by immersing them in simmering water and there was usually a copper of hot simmering water behind the sstall run by the local CWA or the football club volunteers. They were never cooked over a grill as they were already partly cooked. The small orange ones were cocktail frankfurts (very popular at kid's birthday parties) and we didn't have small red savaloys (I only dicovered the small red ones in Tasmania in the late 90s). Nether frankfurts nor savaloys were consumed at a barbecue.
 
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Reactions: SandyM
As seasoned travellers, we are no strangers to the wonderful array of cultural differences that our world has to offer.

The fascinating disparities in everyday norms from one country to another are something that never fails to excite curiosity and occasionally tickle our funny bones.



In fact, what might seem as ordinary as picking up groceries at Coles for an Aussie, can be a bewildering treasure hunt of perplexing produce names and snack selections for an outsider, as US expat Kendall Wheeler recently discovered!


View attachment 26095
American expat Kendall Wheeler resides in Queensland with her Australian boyfriend. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Texas native Kendall, who now calls sunny Queensland home, recently ventured out to Coles and took to the strangest yet most captivating journey of discovery through the aisles of the grocery store.

Her amusing observations, tinged with a healthy dose of culture shock, were shared on a video and have since become quite the sensation.



To begin her tale of cultural conundrums, Kendall expressed her confusion over the Aussie penchant for making all four wheels of our shopping trolleys spin freely—quite unlike the stable 'buggies' back in the US.

'All four wheels spin here, which makes them kind of hard to drive,' she pointed out, echoing a little-known dilemma that many of us who have travelled abroad can chuckle at.

A bit confusing, but it might be a cheeky jab at how trolleys sometimes have that one odd wheel that doesn’t really do anything. Maybe Texas has a lot of those kinds?

Venturing towards the vegetable section, Kendall encountered the first of many ‘alien’ produce names.

Our humble capsicum, which she knows as bell pepper back in Texas, was an unexpected revelation.



As was her introduction to our unique array of chip flavours.

From ‘crispy pork belly with apple sauce’ to ‘Subway meatball sub’, our snack aisle myriad had Kendall raising her eyebrows. Not even our beloved cheese and onion flavour was spared!


View attachment 26096
The red Frankfurts puzzled the expat, who referred to them as hotdogs. Source: TikTok/@kendallwheeler11



Our range of lollies also left the American expat amused.

Staring into the confectionery aisle, she enquired, 'You guys call these lollies? I think that’s cute. I just call it candy.'



The trip took a turn for the colourful when Kendall stumbled across our bright red sizzlers, more commonly recognised as sausages elsewhere.

For many Australians, an outdoor barbie without these isn't quite the same, is it?

This diverse cultural variety goes beyond our country's borders.

For instance, in Japan, it isn't uncommon to find wasabi or seaweed-flavoured chips, and in parts of Europe, horse meat is a regular supermarket offering.



Watch Kendall’s video here:



This lively video, now viewed over 599,000 times, struck a chord with expats and locals alike, sparking playful exchanges in the comments.

One nostalgic local shared, 'It’s interesting when you shop in other countries. I remember being in America, and I couldn’t believe how just about everything is full of sugar.'

Another questioned, ‘“All 4 wheels spin, which makes it kinda hard to drive”, on what planet…?’

A third said, ‘Don’t make fun of our chip flavours without trying them!’



Key Takeaways

  • An American expat, Kendall Wheeler, took to social media to share her observations about perceived 'weird' aspects of Australian supermarkets.
  • Among her comments were Australian trolleys, which she noted had all four wheels spin, the Australian name for bell peppers 'capsicum', and what she found to be unusual chip flavours.
  • Wheeler was amused and confused by some of the everyday foods' names in Australia, like 'lollies' for candy and the bright red Frankfurt sausages referred to as 'hot dogs'.
  • The video, viewed over 599,000 times, drew many reactions from viewers, with some finding humour in Wheeler's observations, while others defended Australian food items or recounted their experiences shopping in different countries.

Shining a light on these unique cultural quirks reminds us that diversity adds flavour to life.

As Kendall uncovers more of the Australian language and peculiarities, it's refreshing to see our country in a new way, and it's a great reminder to embrace a good laugh amidst the occasional confusion.

So, as you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket this week, spare a thought for those unfamiliar with our unique terms, surprising snacks, and colourful vocabulary.



We would love to hear about your quirky shopping experiences either at home or abroad. Have you spotted any ‘alien’ items or baffling snack varieties? Share them with us!

Hell fire. I’m over all these foreigners knocking us. Don’t knock other cultures. It makes them interesting and unique. I’ve travelled extensively and across many cultures and foods. It’s an adventure and v satisfying experience. No one insists you go somewhere or stay. It’s your choice. You can always leave.
 
Hell fire. I’m over all these foreigners knocking us. Don’t knock other cultures. It makes them interesting and unique. I’ve travelled extensively and across many cultures and foods. It’s an adventure and v satisfying experience. No one insists you go somewhere or stay. It’s your choice. You can always leave.
I didn't really get the impression that she was criticizing us, just making an observation
Even when moving from different states in our own country, we have different names for things, e.g.
rockmelon/cantelope, polony/fritz.I was born in Vic, moved to WA when I was.27and have also lived in SA on a couple of occasions.
Things are different everywhere, no big deal.
 
It's a long time since I visited the US but I remember finding what I thought was the weirdest thing in the supermarket, that was aerosol cheese. Yep. A spray-can with cheese in it. Didn't buy it, but I still think it's the strangest thing I've ever seen in a supermarket.
 

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