From Down Under to Down South
From Down Under to Down South is a twice-weekly reflection from an Australian making a life in the American South.
After moving from Australia to Tennessee in 2018, I began noticing the subtle cultural differences most people miss — the way politeness sounds different, the way goodbyes stretch longer, the way everyday moments quietly reveal what’s different.
Some episodes explore those contrasts directly. Others are quiet stories from the week — conversations and small moments that say something bigger.
It’s not outrage or culture wars. And it’s not a travel diary. It’s simply one Australian perspective on life between two countries.
If you’ve ever lived overseas, loved two places at once, or found yourself caught between familiar and foreign — you’ll feel at home here.
New episodes are released twice weekly as part of the broader From Down Under to Down South series across podcast and YouTube.
From Down Under to Down South
Weird Australian Habits Americans Find Bizarre
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Living in the United States has made me more aware of the everyday habits I grew up with in Australia — the ones that feel completely ordinary at home but prompt a puzzled look overseas.
In this episode, I explore some Australian customs that often surprise Americans, not because they’re dramatic, but because they’re different in tone and history.
We’ll look at:
• The Australian instinct to abbreviate almost everything
• Coffee culture and why it doesn’t always translate
• The hills hoist and our relationship with clothes dryers
• Dual-flush toilets and water awareness
• The loyalty to chicken salt
• Light switches, power points, and other small practical details
• And even the long-running joke about Australian internet speeds
It’s less about what’s “bizarre” and more about how habits quietly reflect climate, infrastructure, humour, and social values.
When you live abroad, the small things stand out most clearly.
And sometimes, what feels strange from the outside simply makes sense once you understand where it came from.
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Thanks for watching.
Hoo roo maties.
Check out additional content on our YouTube page!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw
