9 Mistakes You're Probably Making If You're An Aussie Visiting America

No matter how many times I've flow back and forth, I get hit with reverse culture shock. Every. Damn. Time.

As an American living in Australia for the past decade, I’ve made a lot of trips back and forth. And every time I’ve landed in the US, I’ve been hit by reverse culture shock. Every. Single. Time.

Wirestock / Getty Images, Instagram @sangeetatatiana / Via Instagram: @sangeetatatiana

How can one street have so many Starbucks? Why are there so many American flags? And when did it become allowed to buy vodka at…Walmart?

It’s a lot to take in. And even more so for Aussies who didn’t grow up in the States. Which is why I decided I was authority enough to list all the mistakes you’ll potentially make on your next US visit in the hopes that you, well, won’t.

Australia for Americans
by u/TheDigitalPig in memes

Reddit u/TheDigitalPig / Via reddit.com

1. First up, expecting Aussie-grade coffee

Instagram @tnb_cafe / Via instagram.com, Pexels/Andrew Neel

But first, coffee. While both countries love it equally, their coffee cultures are totally different. Americans live on drip coffee (essentially long blacks) and, as mentioned, Starbucks. You can get decent flat whites at a few places and there are cute coffee shops (yep, just like Friends’ Central Perk), but for the most part, coffee in America is less of an art and more of a legal drug.

2. Only hitting the hotspots

Instagram: @visitneworleans / Via instagram.com

You know the route: LA, New York and either San Fran, Miami or Vegas. Nearly every Aussie who’s been to the US has visited those cities. And it’s understandable. They’re great cities. 

But New Orleans, Louisiana; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and Anchorage, Alaska are as well (I can’t vouch for that last one but it seems incredible). These spots have less ex-pats, so, they offer more of the quintessential Americana experience. Think super friendly locals, $2 shots and American diners.

3. Not considering a road trip

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The US has amazing highways. They’re perfectly planned out, beautifully maintained and have all the country’s best chain restaurants along the way. Most highways even have two versions: The get-me-there-quick road and the scenic route. So take advantage, and either rent a car or hop on a coach bus. 

Bonus: Driving through small towns, passing farmland and stopping at truck stops along the way will let you see another fascinating side of the US. 

4. Tipping the wrong amount

Miodrag Ignjatovic / Getty Images

Tipping is awkward. Do you tip a waiter even if they didn’t do a good job? How much do you tip for massages and haircuts? And what about Uber? 

Some answers: If the waiter wasn’t great, only tip 15 per cent, but never lower as tips are the bulk of their pay check; tip around 20 per cent for pamper services; and, according to my American friends, no, you don’t have to tip Uber. 

5. Over-ordering

Pexels/Aleksey Bystrov

I once read in an American magazine: "To avoid over-eating, tell your waiter to put half your meal as take-away, before serving it to you." Because American portions are that big. One American dinner is roughly the size of two Aussie breakfasts (give or take a halloumi slice), and, depending on the restaurant, can be half the price too. Don’t be fooled by the $12 price tag of a fettuccine Alfredo main (or "entrée" in American). It’ll be 'uuuge.

6. Thinking Aussie slang will be understood

i’ve been saying ehpowt out loud for the past hour n a half pic.twitter.com/LhNQEhCwWQ

— HYUKA BIRTH (@keuromee) February 12, 2023

Twitter: @keuromee

Americans won’t get Aussie slang. Words like arvo, bludger and clucky — though I don’t know why that last one would ever come up in casual conversation with a local — will fly over their head. They’ll nod and pretend like they understand, but they won’t. I know, because I used to. I remember once getting a text from an Aussie saying, “we’re at Macca's” and then looking around everywhere for a club called Macca's (for context, it was 1am).

7. Not learning American expressions

Iiievgeniy / Getty Images

So earlier, I lied. The American mag offering weird diet advice didn’t actually write ‘take-away’, they said ‘to-go’ — because that’s what Americans call it. As in, “Can I get that deep dish pizza and bucket of hot wings to-go?”. ‘Laying out’ (used like “I laid out in the sun”), ‘strip malls’ (open air shopping centre) and ‘mom-and-pop’ (the opposite of chain stores and restaurants) are other American expressions to familiarise yourself with. 

8. Assuming Americans know about Australia

Thom E. / Getty Images/500px

Before I came to Australia, I had just three associations with it: 1) Koalas and kangaroos, 2) Steve Irwin, and 3) a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie filmed in Sydney and big in the US. These days, with Chris Lilley’s shows and Aussie Insta-influencers having made it over, Americans now know a lot more about Australia. But still not much. Don’t be surprised if someone asks you if you’re British. Or hasn’t heard of Melbourne. 

9. And finally, trying to cram too much in

Erosera / Getty Images

While I recommend you see other parts of the US on your trip, avoid trying to get to too many places. There’s so much to experience in different parts of the country – you could spend a month exploring California alone. Try to stick to one coast or area and really take the time to soak it in. Trust me — you'll be back.

Got any more tips and tricks for travelling through America? Share them in the comments below.