American expat in Queensland uncovers ‘weird’ finds at Coles
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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!
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!
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.
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!’
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!
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!
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!
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!’
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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