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
Australian Customs That Baffle Americans
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There are certain everyday habits in Australia that feel completely ordinary at home — but quietly puzzle visitors from the United States.
After living in both countries, I’ve come to appreciate how much culture lives in the small things: the way we greet people, how we handle invitations, how we speak to strangers, and the assumptions we don’t realise we’re making.
In this episode, I look at a handful of Australian customs that often catch Americans off guard, and explore what they reveal about how Australians see themselves — and each other.
We’ll touch on:
• Social habits that don’t translate neatly
• The unspoken rules behind everyday behaviour
• Why certain gestures mean more than they appear to
• And how cultural misunderstanding usually comes down to context
It’s not about declaring one way better than another.
It’s about noticing the details that shape daily life — and how easily those details get lost across borders.
If you’ve ever felt slightly out of step in another country, you’ll probably recognise a few of these moments.
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Thanks for listening.
Hoo roo maties.
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