This Is What Happened When A Brit And An Aussie Compared Aspects Of Their Culture

Both countries love Kath & Kim, but only one of us likes to put an "x" in our sentences.

Hiya! I'm Isha from BuzzFeed Australia and this here is my friend Sam, who works at BuzzFeed UK.

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As a way to get to know each other better, we thought it could be fun to send each other questions about living in our respective countries. So, that's exactly what we did and here are our answers about Australian and British culture.

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1. First off, why do British people always put an "x" at the end each sentence?

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Sam: I thought the whole world did this and I'm recently finding out that it's just us! It's a "kiss", not dissimilar to the old Gossip Girl sign off we know and love. You can put it in texts, DMs, emails — it can be flirty or just nice. I think we should all be doing it! x

2. And why does the world "pulp", like in reference to pulp-free juice, just not exist in the UK?

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Sam: Ha! We call it "bits", for some reason. Like little bits of gunk! Honestly, I just don't think we’re thinking that much about our fruit juice. I don’t even remember the last time someone asked me what I prefer — I think smooth is the default. But the answer for me is no bits… or "pulp".

Isha: IMAGINE CALLING THEM BITS OR GUNK??!!! I think that would turn me off orange juice, but I'm here to say that I'm team pulp.

3. Does it really rain all the time? And if so, how do you deal with that? I get sad when it's been raining for a couple of days straight in Australia.

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Sam: It does rain often tbf, but apparently no more than in cities like Amsterdam, New York, and even Sydney — I read that recently. Personally, I kind of love it! I enjoy a walk in the rain and I love coming back to a nice warm house, making a cup of tea or having some soup and watching a movie while it's still raining outside. Nothing better!

4. In fact, is summer even a thing? I’ve heard you guys complain about English heatwaves before, but they seem tepid in comparison to Australian temperatures.

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Sam: British summer is spotty af and can start in May and end in September-ish. Outside of that it's usually pretty gloomy — but whatever the weather, a Brit will complain! It’ll either be too hot or too cold, we're never happy! Also, an English heatwave is probably between 28 and 33 degrees celsius — I can't do hotter than that, I’m afraid!

Isha: That's fair and look, managing those temperatures makes you an honorary Australian. Although, if you ever want to live here, be prepared for temps of 40 degrees+ in the summer.

Sam: WTF! Hell no.

5. Why do British people say “WHAAAAAY” when someone trips or drops something? In Australia, we would say “TAXI”, but that’s in reference to calling them a taxi because they’re acting like they’re drunk.

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Sam: Yaaas, we love doing that! It’s just like…a slightly mocking gesture. Mostly it happens in a restaurant or a bar and not everyone would do it — some Brits definitely see it as kinda vulgar. I like "taxi", that makes wayyyy more sense. Ours is totally senseless!

6. What’s the go with soccer, I mean, uh, football?

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Sam: "The go with" means "what’s the deal with", right? Haha. It's a national pastime for sure. I was sort of forced to like it as a kid, cos I'm a boy, but I personally detest football. But A LOT of British people follow the leagues and support teams. I guess you could say there are tiers of fandom — you get the hooligans who are gross, the enthusiastic season-ticket holders, and then casual fans who just come out for the World Cup. But it's definitely a big deal here.

Isha: How did I just realise "the go with" is an Australian expression?!

7. Do you all love the Queen?

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Sam: No, definitely not. There are a lot of people who either can’t stand the royal family or don’t see the point in them. I think the Queen is like the least offensive one — I would say most people respect her as a person, but not as a leader or anything like that. She’s just a cute, old woman with her little gloves! But obv you do get the royal family stans who collect all the plates.

Isha: Ah, yes. Sometimes I see snippets from Diana fan groups on Facebook go viral — I guess it's a hobby for some.

8. Is Skins a realistic interpretation of what teenage life is like in the UK?

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Sam: Loooool. I kind of feel like…yes. For me, anyway. Being a teen here can be messy af! Before I could go to clubs, I definitely went to a fair few Skins style parties, but tbf, they weren’t quite as wild as on the show. Also, not every British teen’s life is as filled with trauma as theirs were!

Isha: Um, WHAT! WHAAAAAT!!!! I was definitely not partying this hard as a teenager, in fact I don't think anyone was that I knew. I do have to remember that I was the sort of kid who asked if they could borrow extra books from the school library for the holidays, so perhaps I just missed out.

Sam: Haha, that is brilliant! Books are COOL!

9. If I go to England, how likely am I to meet an IRL Hugh Grant-esque poet type?

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Sam: I want to say, pretty likely. I’ve met a few in my time! It depends where you go I suppose, because our accents vary around the country. London you would for sure and I think in most places around the UK you could run into a Hugh Grant type — if you’re lucky! ;)

Isha: *Starts packing bags immediately.*

10. Do you all have bad teeth and avoid the dentist or is that just another outdated stereotype?

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Sam: I mean, I know personally speaking my teeth are far from Hollywood perfect, but there are definitely British people with beautiful sparkling white nashers! You get people with bad teeth all over the globe but we’ve unfortunately inherited that stereotype from old TV and movies, I think.

11. Why are British people obsessed with queuing for things?

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Sam: We do bloody love to queue but really, is there any other way? You can't just have people shoving in front of others all the time, it would be chaos! Queuing etiquette is VERY weird and innate here. If you dodge a queue, people will make INCREDIBLY pass-agg comments or stare you down like you've never been stared down before! And yes, often British people queue for no reason at all — we just join because we think it’s what is right.

12. What’s the deal with saying "sorry" all the time? (Sam, calling you out here — I remember you apologising on our virtual call when we met!)

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Sam: Look, I’m sorry! Haha. I don't know, it's polite. I guess it’s not always necessarily an apology, sometimes it’s more like — excuse my poor manners but I'm not gonna change anything about myself. I'm just owning it by saying "sorry" and now you have to forgive me. I don’t know… this one is hard to answer! Sorry.

Isha: I will always forgive Sam because my first impression after meeting him was: "He's so nice! We need to be best friends." So it's either you become my BFF or I reject your apology, mate.

Sam: Ishaaaa! Same. <3

13. I, for one, love English accents — but does it ever get annoying hearing the entire world try to imitate one?

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Sam: No, it’s hilarious! I want to hear yours! NGL, they’re rarely ever good — even in actors. I think it’s a hard accent to do and I find most people get really into using the glottal stop, which is a way more subtle thing than people think. But no, I love it. I mean, I could definitely say the same to you because I am OBSESSED with doing an Aussie accent.

Isha: Well, well, well — it's time for a showdown of the accents, perhaps.

14. Why are you all obsessed with watching other British people buy, sell, build and decorate houses on reality TV shows?

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Sam: I do love shows like that – might I recommend Interior Design Masters. If you’re thinking of things like Escape to the Country or Homes Under the Hammer, those are daytime shows that probably 50% of Brits never watch. But Changing Rooms, DIY SOS etc. are huge shows. I think we like watching the process unfold – don’t you???

Isha: I think the thing is that SO many exist in the UK. We only have a couple here, although I will say that I used to be a devout Better Homes And Gardens fan, which is like a renovating, lifestyle, DIY-esque show.

Sam: I've honestly never really thought about how many we have. I'm learning so much about how weird the UK is right now!

15. And finally, how popular is Nando’s in the UK? We all know you love having a cheeky Nando’s, but is it the go-to place to get food?

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Sam: Nando's SLAPS, but I think it’s a bit of a millennial thing tbh. My parents wouldn’t choose to go there, for instance. There are also lots of chains that are just as popular — Pizza Express, Wagamama, Greggs. I think Nando’s marketing team may be realllllly on it. Also, you can customise stuff and people get really into that. But yes, it is great, people do love it a lot and you should definitely try it.

Isha: Yeah, we have Nando's here, but it's definitely not as popular. I can't even remember the last time I went to one tbh.

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16. Are there huge spiders waiting around every corner for you when you live in Oz? Because I CANNOT.

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Isha: *Laughs in Australian.* 

Yes and no — there are creepy crawlies galore, but I've sort of accepted that it's just part of my life. We mostly get a lot of cockroaches in summer (and yes, I scream at almost every one I see), but as for spiders, you'll mainly see the garden varieties, the daddy long legs (that's an actual spider name), as well as huntsman spiders (the big one in the photo which is terrifying, but actually harmless!).

Sam: I can't even look at this photo of one. If I was in the same room as something like that, I literally don't think I could go on anymore. Are you telling me you've actually seen one of these guys?

Isha: Luckily not in my own house, but I have seen one IRL. If one was to appear in my room, I think I might just consider setting it on fire.

17. And have you ever encountered a venomous snake in the wild? I've heard about snakes coming up through toilets...

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Isha: Snakes showing up in toilets sounds farfetched, but it's absolutely a legitimate thing in Australia. Personally, I've never encountered one in the wild, as I live in a suburban area that's close to the city. I do get a lot of bush turkeys though and one time I saw a fox.

Back to snakes, you do need to be careful if you're trekking through the bush or live in a rural area, as they're out there.

18. Is everyone constantly drinking beer? I have this idea that Ozzy people drink beer like we drink tea.

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Isha: First of all, I love that you spelt "Aussie" as "Ozzy" — that's very cute. As for beer, yeah, it's definitely popular here. If you go to a pub, you'll see a lot of people drinking it. But based on my experiences, wine is just as popular — plus, there's cider too! 

I will say that the concept of drinking is very prevalent in Australia. We love to have a bevvie at any and all events.

Sam: Tbf, we are big drinkers too so I don't know why I'm throwing stones. Wait, so is it  "Aussie" or "Ozzy"?

Isha: Aussie, hehe.

19. Do accents differ around the country, because I really can’t tell but they MUST do, right? I need details on this!

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Isha: Hahaha, look, I don't think they differ as much as they would in the UK — say a posh English accent compared to a Cockney one. Some are definitely more bogan-esque (think Kath & Kim) and Australian states do have different words for things (for example swimwear would be called togs in Queensland while in Victoria they would say bathers and for those in NSW they would call them cossies or swimmers). 

20. Is everyone really friendly and outgoing? I feel like Australians come off as 24/7 party people but there must be some introverted Australians!

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Isha: Like other countries, we've got our fair share of racists and undesirables, but on the whole — Australians are definitely friendly. Most of them will give way to you when driving (or say thanks when you let them into a lane), plus everyone is super helpful when you need directions.

As for the outgoing part, that's true as well! For some that translates to partying (we froth over getting people to drink alcohol out of their shoes), but for others, like introverts, that could be doing a sunset picnic with a close friend or heading to a cosy cafe to read.

21. Are Kath and Kim like national heroes? Because I love them so much.

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Isha: Oh god, absolutely. Even though the show came out years ago, Australians still love to reference and quote these iconic hornbags. In fact, it would be un-Australian not to like them.

Sam: I'm very happy with this answer.

22. And please tell me Kylie is a big deal to you guys because I adore her too.

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Isha: I have to confess that my first concert was going to see Kylie Minogue, so yes, we absolutely love her to bits. She is Australia's queen of pop and both her old and new songs are always getting played at the club.

23. Where do Australians like to go on holiday? You kind of have everything there already — the sun, the beaches.

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Isha: That's a good question! I know Bali is a hot spot, especially for young Australians because it's cheap, close by and a great place to party. Other than that, I think the usual destinations that people travel to are popular as well — like the UK, USA, and Asia. 

I actually haven't visited a lot of Australia and I think that's a thing with other Australians too. When we think "holiday", we imagine overseas destinations! In fact, I think it's a running joke that you'll find at least one Australian in every hostel around the world.

24. How do certain Australians feel about coming from a former British penal colony? (I feel like I’m really starting something here, but it’s definitely a part of cultural consciousness in the UK!)

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Isha: It's definitely part of cultural consciousness in Australia as well — especially in regards to January 26, which has long been known as Australia Day, but has also been called Survival Day or Invasion Day. This references the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet and the beginning of Britain's colonisation of Australia.

While January 26 used to be viewed as a day of celebration, more and more Australians are learning about the oppression, racism and injustices that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have faced — and continue to struggle with — as a result of colonisation. This has led to Change The Date protests, as well as a call to acknowledge January 26 as a day of mourning. 

There's a lot more to talk about, but to keep this short, I would say that attitudes towards this topic are changing every day. The Black Lives Matter movement gave Australians the kick they needed to start educating themselves.

Sam: This is really interesting — thanks for sharing. I'm glad that this is finally being called out. Britain has a lot to answer for! We like to joke about sending our convicts over to Australia and I think many people have no idea about what actually happened. I'm definitely guilty of that myself. I'm not sure if they're teaching kids about British colonisation in UK schools nowadays, but they certainly should be!

25. Is it cool being so "close" to South East Asia and have you ever travelled there?

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Isha: It's definitely convenient, but at the same time we're SO far away from the US and UK. In terms of travelling to South East Asia, my family would head to Singapore a lot when I was younger as my dad grew up there. We would do a couple weeks in Singapore, then head to India to see family.

I haven't travelled to anywhere else in South East Asia though, but it's on my bucket list!

26. How do you guys not riot over your internet? I couldn't put up with it.

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Isha: I guess it's because we haven't experienced anything different to the same rubbish internet we've always had. But when we hear about how fast and efficient it is in other countries, damn...it hurts. All in all, it's a daily struggle that's just part of life here. Maybe that's why we like going outdoors so much lol. 

27. Do you all learn to surf in school? Is it like a compulsory class?

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Isha: HAHAHAHA oh my gosh, I'm so glad this isn't true. I'm sure if I was to ever try surfing, I would get knocked off my feet so fast. But to answer your question, nup — it's not compulsory! It would be difficult to do that as not everyone is located in close proximity to a beach.

Sam: To quote Target Lady, "Stereotype BUSTED!"

28. Do you guys have beef with New Zealanders?

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Isha: Nah, we love New Zealanders. They're super chill and cool — we even have a Kiwi working in the BuzzFeed Oz office. Plus, everyone loves (cough PREFERS cough) NZ prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Although, I will say that Australia has a history of, uh, stealing things from New Zealand and claiming them as our own, which does lead to some spirited arguments.

29. If Sydney is your most famous city and Melbourne and Brisbane are big too, why is your capital city Canberra – which is like the Luke Hemsworth of Australian cities?

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Isha: I'm screaming at your description of Canberra — this is why I love Brits. I've got no clue though, so I did some research. Basically, after Australia's federation in 1901, there was a lot of debate about where the capital city should be. Sydney and Melbourne were thrown around, but nothing could be decided. As a compromise, it was decreed in the constitution that parliament must choose a site at least one hundred miles (160km) from Sydney, hence Canberra becoming the Australian capital. The city needed to be built though, so until 1927 Melbourne was the unofficial meeting place for parliament.

Sam: I love that — Canberra was built on a compromise.

30. And lastly, why do people in Aus love P!nk so much? I mean, she’s great, but why her?

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Isha: You know what, I've wondered the exact same thing. I even thought P!nk was Australian for a short while because she has so many fans here. But no, she's very much American. 

It might just boil down to the fact that she has toured a lot in Australia and loves us as much as we love her. Plus, she seems super genuine and down to Earth — which is a trait Australians love! Also, her songs SLAP. 

Still have questions about Australian and British culture? Drop them in the comments below and we'll try to answer them.