This British expat was SHOCKED by these 5 things she experienced in Australia
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Relocating to Australia can be pretty overwhelming for a lot of folks, and for British expat Robyn Turner, it’s been no different.
Ms Turner has been living in Melbourne for the past five years and has encountered plenty of changes in her lifestyle.
To share her experience as a 'newbie' to this part of the world, she took to TikTok to list the five most shocking things she's come across thus far - which we think are all really quite funny.
To begin with, Ms Turner said she was taken aback to find that people in Australia often go barefoot, even in public places, something she wasn't used to in the UK.
'People walking around the supermarket or any other store in bare feet shocked me,' she said.
'You would never catch anyone that wasn't on a beach with bare feet in the UK. It doesn't appeal to me, but I mean, you do you; I just won't look at the floor.'
Not only that, but Ms Turner also noted that the alcohol sold in Australian supermarkets is slightly different to what she was used to back home, as it isn't located in a separate section.
'I had no idea this wasn't a thing,' she said. 'I was first like, “Where do I go and buy some wine from?” and someone was like, “the bottle-O”, and I was like, “What's a bottle-O?”'
'I had no idea, and it shocked me to the bones.'
Filtering through her list, Ms Turner - who is currently working as a personal trainer - also expressed shock at some of the scorching temperatures she's endured in Australia (we know all too well what that feels like!).
'When I first lived here, I lived in Sydney, and it wiped me out,' she said. 'Absolutely killed me.'
And despite the surprises and shocks, there was one thing she absolutely loved: the iconic lemon lime and bitters.
'This surprise was in the best way possible,' she said.
'Thank you for introducing me to lemon lime bitters. That is amazing stuff; it's like liquid gold. You (Aussies) are the ultimate gatekeepers, not letting the rest of the world know about it.'
Ms Turner also mentioned that she had acquired a particular taste for espresso martinis, a delectable cocktail she says she never encountered back in the UK.
'It's so good,' she said.
'I'm pretty sure you can get espresso martinis in the UK, but I'm from a small coastal town, okay. I had never seen them before I came here over five years ago.'
Robyn's video has been viewed over 600,000 times - and it's not hard to see why. Even if you're not an expat, it's a great reminder of how different cultures can be and the importance of embracing each country and its unique customs.
Members, it seems there are plenty of aspects of Australian culture that stand apart from the rest of the world. Did any of the points made by Ms Turner ring true for you as well? If so, let us know in the comments below!
Ms Turner has been living in Melbourne for the past five years and has encountered plenty of changes in her lifestyle.
To share her experience as a 'newbie' to this part of the world, she took to TikTok to list the five most shocking things she's come across thus far - which we think are all really quite funny.
A Brit who's lived in Australia for five years reveals some of the unexpected aspects of life Down Under. Credit: Pexels/Hugo Heimendinger.
To begin with, Ms Turner said she was taken aback to find that people in Australia often go barefoot, even in public places, something she wasn't used to in the UK.
'People walking around the supermarket or any other store in bare feet shocked me,' she said.
'You would never catch anyone that wasn't on a beach with bare feet in the UK. It doesn't appeal to me, but I mean, you do you; I just won't look at the floor.'
Not only that, but Ms Turner also noted that the alcohol sold in Australian supermarkets is slightly different to what she was used to back home, as it isn't located in a separate section.
'I had no idea this wasn't a thing,' she said. 'I was first like, “Where do I go and buy some wine from?” and someone was like, “the bottle-O”, and I was like, “What's a bottle-O?”'
'I had no idea, and it shocked me to the bones.'
According to Ms Turner, she was taken aback by how scorching the temperature can get in Australia. Credit: Pexels/Lukas.
Filtering through her list, Ms Turner - who is currently working as a personal trainer - also expressed shock at some of the scorching temperatures she's endured in Australia (we know all too well what that feels like!).
'When I first lived here, I lived in Sydney, and it wiped me out,' she said. 'Absolutely killed me.'
And despite the surprises and shocks, there was one thing she absolutely loved: the iconic lemon lime and bitters.
'This surprise was in the best way possible,' she said.
'Thank you for introducing me to lemon lime bitters. That is amazing stuff; it's like liquid gold. You (Aussies) are the ultimate gatekeepers, not letting the rest of the world know about it.'
Ms Turner also mentioned that she had acquired a particular taste for espresso martinis, a delectable cocktail she says she never encountered back in the UK.
'It's so good,' she said.
'I'm pretty sure you can get espresso martinis in the UK, but I'm from a small coastal town, okay. I had never seen them before I came here over five years ago.'
Members, it seems there are plenty of aspects of Australian culture that stand apart from the rest of the world. Did any of the points made by Ms Turner ring true for you as well? If so, let us know in the comments below!
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