Many Chinese come to Australia with a problem: it's hard to blend into Australian circles.
Sometimes when communicating with Australians, you accidentally step on the red line.
Of course, Australians will not point out to you the problem in person, and your communication will still end in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
And when it's over, it's really over.
Because you have left an impression of impoliteness without even being aware of it.
This, of course, is not because we are really rude, but because cultural differences make many of the practices we are accustomed to at home become very rude when we arrive in Australia.
Sometimes we also feel aggrieved: I have been doing this for decades, but I lost a friend here!
So you need to learn more about these Australian etiquette so that you can leave a good impression on your Australian friends and better fit into their circle.
1. Pay attention to keeping private space for others
Australians pay great attention to private space and safe distance. When you go to the bank to collect money, you will find that Australians keep a certain distance from the people in front of them when they line up, especially with those who are withdrawing money.
In fact, not only in the bank, in stations, supermarkets, cash machines and other places need to queue, Australians will also feel safe distance from the people in front of them.
In face-to-face conversations with others, Australians will also keep their distance within a reasonable range, without being too close to each other.
And in the domestic queue, the order is often chaotic. Before getting on the bus, most of the time people crowded up, regardless of other people's feelings, and Australia's public transport orderly boarding the scene formed a sharp contrast.
2. Don't touch others, especially children.
When many Chinese are in the mainland, when they meet lovely children, they will go and touch their heads and show their love. This also makes many Chinese feel loving in their hearts when they see beautiful Australian children, and they naturally extend their hands. There was no sign of embarrassment on the part of the parents behind the child.
In Australia, parents must be asked for permission to contact unfamiliar children.
If you meet a lovely child, smile at him, but don't stare at the child or focus all your attention on the child.
Even if the parents know you have no malice, such behavior is very rude.
The Australian government is very strict with the protection of children. One of my roommates had accidentally photographed a kindergarten while taking a picture and was found by an eye-pointed child and reported it to the teacher and even alerted the police.
There has also been an incident in Australia: an Asian-American elderly caterer touched the privacy of the boy who delivered the takeout, and defendant went straight to court!
So, don't do anything you want to do to your children that we Chinese think of as an expression of love.
And not only children, touching others in Australia is a very serious matter. Even if someone needs first aid in an emergency, they need permission to touch someone if they are conscious.
If a man shakes hands or hugs with a woman, he must wait for the woman to do something. It is impolite to shake hands or hug voluntarily. Even eye contact should be noted. In Australia, it is very rude to blink at a woman, so the domestic "flirting masters" need to rein in the glitter in their eyes.
Don't think it's red tape. It's all Australian etiquette.
3. Pay attention to words and deeds in public
Be careful about your behavior in public and don't make a bad impression on others.
Many Chinese have become accustomed to being self-centered at home, even in public, doing whatever they want and bringing it to Australia. However, such an approach here will also make you lose friends minute by minute.
Don't take a nap on your desk when you're at work, because it makes people think you're not feeling well. If you are really not feeling well, it is best to ask for leave of absence.
Hanging on to work doesn't give Australians a good impression of being committed to work, but it's considered impolite if it infects others.
Many Chinese will blow their noses loudly in public, which will also lead to revulsion from others. Finding a place where there is no one to wipe with paper is the right thing to do.
When you pay for shopping at the supermarket, you have to hand it over to the cashier, rather than some supermarkets in the country, where many people throw money at the counter.
4. Be careful to be a guest at someone else's house
Most Australians are warm and easygoing, and be sure to be punctual when invited to other people's homes. Because Australians have a strong sense of time, be sure to contact you in advance and be on time for your appointment.
When visiting other people's homes, it is best to bring a small gift with you. It doesn't need to be expensive. It can be a bottle of wine for the master, or a bouquet of flowers for the hostess to show friendship.
However, if the other side of the family pregnant women, do not bring Tira Misu cake or mayonnaise and other foods containing egg yolk, because it is very likely to carry Listeria, not good for pregnant women.
Never be polite when eating. In other people's enthusiasm to bring out plate after plate of delicious food, the traditional education from small to large told us: to be reserved! So many Chinese, even if they are already very hungry, will subconsciously say, "Thank you, I will not eat for the time being, you should eat first!" as a token of their courtesy.
But this traditional virtue, which we Chinese see as "comity, modesty," and what Australians see as "hypocrisy, picky, or unwilling to eat the hard work of others", is impolite.
So this kind of "push" won't let you get other people's smile praise, the greater possibility is to get a white eye.
The cultural differences between China and Australia cause us to make some inadvertent mistakes in the process of getting along with Australians.
When I was a child, I was taught to be a polite person, but I offended others unwittingly.
Clearly there is no malice, but because of some misunderstanding to leave a bad impression, it is not worth losing.
I also hope that every Chinese can make their own intimate Australian friends and truly integrate into Australia's inclusive society.