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Australia
Barbecues ('barbies') are a big part of Australian culture. If invited to a barbecue in Australia, you'll find that they're a fun and popular social gathering. In Australia, people will typically bring their own beer or wine for their own consumption, or at very informal barbecues, you may even be asked to bring your own meat for the grill.
So, as the old commercial said, "Slip an extra shrimp on the barbie!" and learn a bit about Australian etiquette, including barbecue etiquette. Below you'll find a list of some typical Australian etiquette for your trip.
1. What to wear
- DO wear casual clothing if you're not going to a business function.
- DO wear the following attire for business functions: a dark business suit and tie for men or a skirt and blouse or a dress if you are a woman.
- DO expect more casual attire to be worn even for business meetings in cities like Brisbane or other tropical areas. You will see that in some of those areas, men will wear shirts, ties, and a pair of Bermuda shorts.
2. Food/Drinks
- DON'T put your elbows on the table when eating.
- DO indicate that you are full by putting your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the utensil handles facing right.
- DO bring your own beer at a restaurant. This is often shorted to BYOG, or bring your own grog. Except for more upscale restaurants, bringing your own beer is acceptable and cheaper. You will likely just have to pay a corking fee.
3. Tipping
- DO tip if you enjoyed the service, but a gratuity is usually included in your bill and tips are not expected.
4. Greetings
- DO greet with a smile and a handshake.
- DO feel comfortable being addressed by your first name, even right after meeting someone.
- DO expect a greeting such as "G'day" or "G'day mate!"
5. Visiting someone's home
- DO expect a barbecue ("barbie") if invited to someone's home for a meal.
- DO bring your own wine or beer for yourself if going to a barbecue. Also, at more informal barbecues, you might be told to bring your own meat.
- DON'T be late if invited to dinner, and don't be more than fifteen minutes late if invited to a barbecue or a big party.
- DO call your host ahead to see if you should bring any food.
- DO offer to help with setting up or cleaning up.
You will find that people in Australia are very open-minded and understanding when it comes to people visiting from other countries. Over one-fifth of Australians were born to immigrant parents, making the country somewhat of a melting pot. Because of this, Australians are generally accepting of different cultures visiting their country. Do keep the above etiquette guidelines in mind, and enjoy the exotic animals, barbecues, and the sights on your trip to Australia!
