Reaction To 11 Weird Things I Hadn't Seen Before Moving To Australia

[@harperharper6563]

I’m Australian - grew up inland, 3 hours drive from the nearest river/the ocean. We all learnt to swim from 5 years old at the local pool. It is incredibly rare to meet someone who can’t swim.

[@Rottnwoman]

I am a Queenslander by birth and had the good common sense to leave when I was thirty. Nevertheless, I managed to marry a non swimmer! Australian born, from Manly NSW.

[@Flirkann]

@@Rottnwoman a non-swimmer...from Manly? Next you'll be telling us he doesn't drink or follow NRL/Union...

[@RichardLeslieWhereat]

May not happen anymore with the demise of local pools.

[@chriswatson1698]

While a teenager, I was going out with an Australian of Italian heritage. I kept suggesting that we go to the beach, and he kept avoiding the question or making excuses. Eventually he admitted that he didn't know how to swim. I was shocked. But he had been sent to a Catholic primary school where the kids were taught religion, not sport or manual arts, and his parents didn't swim.

[@th35had0wster]

Probably not as rare as you think. I failed the fully clothed test. Did the 25m underwater thing when I was young, doubt I could do it now.

[@carokat1111]

Sadly it is extremely common for swimming deaths to be foreigners. Very often happens. TAFE is technical skills training (hairdressing, trades etc) and an excellent alternative to university.

[@doubledee9675]

TAFE - Technical And Further Education

[@johnnytower6169]

My tafe education was far more applicable than my university one. The only reason I’m doing uni is I wanna change careers to spend more time with my kids

[@SGW4K]

​@@doubledee967544 years and I'm only now finding this out 😂 whackadoo

[@SGW4K]

​@@johnnytower6169TAFE rules

[@givemespace2742]

I learned to weld at the local TAFE plus got a Management Diploma there. Quality education at an affordable price.

[@debrafrost5264]

I was taught when I was about 5, it’s common for young children and babies to learn how to swim while they’re young. We are water mad in Australia and water safety is taken seriously even in Hobart where our weather isn’t always as hot as the mainland.

[@briancampbell179]

I grew up in a bayside suburb in Melbourne. We learned to swim in Primary School alongside maths and english.

[@bumble-g2j]

When I was a kiddie all primary school students were in the pool for regular lessons, gaining certificates, etc.

[@boota2798]

Our southern coast is riddled with riptides that could pull the physically strongest individual on earth, out to a watery grave if they did not know how to handle the situation. But as an Australian, I still remember my old man teaching me how to catch a rip out to the surf...when I was 6...

[@davestuddert4392]

I dunno why anyone would think it's "weird" (good or bad) to know how to swim when we, Aussies, live on the biggest island on the planet

[@garryrichardson4572]

@@boota2798rips are a surfers best friend. My appreciation of water was white water canoeing, surfing the Launceston gorge in flood with standing waves under the suspension bridge and the swimming pool under a meter of water, also Brady’s lake at 16 was cool too , that was just hold on till you get to the bottom. I didn’t compete that day, I was just a beginner . At 20 I did the goat boat thing at Marrawah, loved those rips , there’s no way you could get out past those 10 meter waves without them.sorry 5 meter, slight exaggeration.

[@merribell]

The sour cream/sweet chilli sauce combo is pretty common with wedges. Don't tend to see it so much with normal chips - these days chips usually come with aioli if the cafe's trying to be fancy. But definitely sour cream and sweet chilli with your wedges.

[@Matty12787]

Ya and also the chicken salt on wedges is not a thing that I've ever seen..

[@Anikoxx]

YES❤

[@kerriefleming6297]

And tomato sauce can’t forget the Tom sauce.

[@wdazza]

In Australia they start young. My grand-daughter is 5 months old. When she turns 6 months old she will start swimming lessons. As part of the lessons her mother will hold her and then submerge both of them and swim a couple of metres underwater. I must admit that when I saw her elder brother doing this at 6 months I was terrified but instinctively he knew to hold his breath and would even be smiling afterwords.

[@justohall]

Our kids started lessons at 3 months - mainly getting used to the water at that stage and not panicking etc.

[@FairnessFobe]

Yep same here, both my kids learned to swim. It's easy when they are young. 1 even got her quals' in scuba diving, she swims like a fish.

[@richardbradshaw696]

Agreed, although the data does indicate swimming lessons before 5 has a statistically significant impact in increasing your risk of drowning, in removing the fear of water before the child is competent in a range of conditions.

[@chriswatson1698]

@@justohall My nephew came home with a fancy document to certify that he could put his head under water and blow bubbles.

[@snittybruh1110]

We have a show “Bondi rescue” in prime time Tele literally based on foreigners getting rescued from the beach. Great television 😅

[@archie1299]

I want to see more people react to it, it's the only reality TV show I can stand- and by far Australia's greatest

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Mostly foreigners that are the ones who sadly drown on the show

[@perthgirlwa2407]

​@@Rusty_Gold85 on the show. But those rescues & drownings obviously aren't the only ones happening all around Australia. A lot of foreigners go to Bondi for some stupid reason. Bondi has really bad rips. They get caught in them. 2+2=4 In WA most drownings are locals who can swim but underestimated how well or how much alcohol or drugs they can consume before they do.

[@triarb5790]

Actually most drownings are Australian men.

[@perthgirlwa2407]

@@triarb5790 yep & full of alcohol, drugs &/or plain stupidity.

[@megamlhcf4281]

There's a dangerous spot on Bondi Beach called "Backpacker's Rip". Because it is constantly full of tourists ignoring the do not swim signs.

[@gregsmith4102]

It's actually called "the backpacker express" and participants in ocean swimming races use it to 'get out the back' quickly. Those people generally know what they are doing and expect to be swimming in deep water - very different from inexperienced tourists.

[@j.kaimori3848]

​@@gregsmith4102kind of sounds like there's two names depending on if you found it intentionally or by accident.

[@vanessaallan7858]

Schools often run swimming programs in summer. It's so important given how closely linked to water our culture is, swimming, rivers, lakes/dams and beaches. And programs for babies as young as 6months are available to families as well

[@lillywildflower]

Yes we have to. It is part of the national curriculum. Part of the sports curriculum includes swimming and is required by the education dept. It is more important now because we have a lot of children from other cultures who have never swam before. I have had to reassure parents that I will supervise swimming teachers because their child has never been in a pool.

[@RandoMuser-h1o]

all primary schools do swimming lessons, even in SA where i think they don't swim so well (I'm from Qld)

[@lillywildflower]

@@redherring6154 yes that’s right. I used to talk to a lot of parents about how to overcome their own fear of water and preparing their child for swimming lessons. Playing with water in the bath and blowing bubbles in water …. Obviously supervised. We want children to be safe but parents fear can make it difficult. I used to suggest first aid courses too. I’ve had parents who wanted to learn how to swim after they heard their child had fun in the pool. Swimming lessons for everyone!

[@redherring6154]

@@RandoMuser-h1o yeah, even Muslim schools?

[@j.kaimori3848]

​@@redherring6154idk, but I'm pretty sure full wetsuits work.

[@durv13]

btw i was born in england . lived here since i was 5 . im 60 now . wouldnt change places for anything on this planet . weigh it up any way you like , australia is one of the best countries you could ever live .

[@waza987]

Most kids in Australia learn to swim before they can walk. We took my kids to the “mums and bubs” where you get in the pool with them. With twins it was both myself and my wife with the kids, one day my dad came with me instead of the wife, and there was also a different teacher who apologised she had not done the mum class for a long time. I just told her that was OK because there were no mums in the pool despite the name, it was all dads and grandpa’s in the pool with the bubs.

[@Flirkann]

That near universal ability to swim was hard learnt - away from the coast, where swimming wasn't at the forefront of mind, unsupervised kids had a knack of finding their way into ponds/dams and then coming to grief, on top of the swathe of backyard pools in general suburbia. So learning to swim became a core part of the primary school curriculum across the nation to address childhood drownings.

[@kennethdodemaide8678]

Employing a qualified tradesperson guarantees your home insurance can't be denied if anything goes wrong. Sweet chilli dip is very common and available in every supermarket.

[@amandaschaefer6982]

It’s mostly foreigners who are rescued, or drowned. Sadly it’s usually more than one family member who drown. The kids get into trouble in the water, dad goes in to rescue them and they all drown.

[@chriswatson1698]

Statistically, although the drowning rate for foreigners is higher than for locals, the difference isn't as large as you would think.

[@allangoodger969]

TAFE = Technical And Further Education. A government owned tertiary education system based around the trades. There are a couple of videos explaining it.

[@Matty12787]

Depending on the TAFE you go to, they are not all based around trades. Business, secretarial, IT, Teaching, you name it, they pretty much cover..

[@neilt6480]

I think TAFE was largely trades oriented when it started, but these days it covers pretty much anything you're interested in. The main advantage in my mind is that you don't have to do a full course with a bunch of ancillary subjects if you don't want to. Want to improve your photography skills? Take a photography short course. Want to make a career of it? Take a Certificate or Diploma course. Oh, and the courses are relatively inexpensive.

[@suebooth2431]

Sorry I added the same thing because I scrolled down a bit but not far enough to see your entry

[@markshaw5159]

Amused that he said, - "is that a common problem" - that foreigners are the ones who can't swim and have to be rescued. ABSOLUTELY YES, there are regularly news items about people who drown or have to be rescued. They are almost always foreigners.

[@tonyhawkins206]

Strict permanent resident for immigrants is not a bad thing. In the past just anyone could settle here, allowing a poor inexperienced work force increasing strain on tax payers contributions to government unemployment.

[@IamPINKIEDaniels]

I’m an Australian life guard and swim teacher and you are so wrong. Australians drown too

[@taipan801]

Being an ex-Queensland I've not heard the "but", but ending a sentence with "hey" is common.

[@peterfromgw4615]

Mate, a lot of Queenslanders do end sentences with a conjunction…but. Grüße aus Australien.

[@valsyaranamual6853]

Hey, But -basically the same kind of inflection!

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

Pretty standard for a Queenslander......eh?

[@j_edwards6075]

Can't say I've ever heard anyone say this before? I know I sometimes end sentences with "or" cause I'm wanting someone else to finish the sentence for me.

[@ChurchofPirateology]

52 year old nsw guy. Many people I know end sentences with but... myself included...

[@bernadettelanders7306]

Aussie here. We had swimming lessons in primary school yrs. I remember my certificate. Dad used to take us to the beach very often. Lots of fun and laughter and playing in the beach. Mum was left at home lol. Found out later, it was time for mum to spend alone time with the baby. My parents worked that out well between themselves, everyone was happy😊

[@RandoMuser-h1o]

haha, you were certified in swimming in Primary School? hehe, I remember that too! and then we did the pool safety cert where you had to jump in fully clothes, tread water for a minute, and fetch something from the deep end of the pool.

[@bernadettelanders7306]

@@RandoMuser-h1o Glad they didn’t get me to jump in with my clothes on lol. But yes, I do remember some schools having to do that. I’d forgotten all about it that.

[@ironside210]

A distressingly high proportion of sea drownings and rescues seem to involve international visitors, who do not have the surf "nous" that we hope all our Aussie-born kids have by the age of about 8 or 10. I learnt to swim early, in a pool by age 2. By the age of 9 or 10, I got some certificate for swimming 100m, then did the 200m, then 400m on the same day. They said I was too young to do the 800m. I think they just wanted to go home!

[@adrienneclarke3953]

If there is a drowning at a river water hole country wide, its normally a family member who jumps in after another family memeber where none can swim.

[@coraliemoller3896]

Yes, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce is very common. As a dip, as a flavour for potato chips (crisps), as a dressing.

[@littleflick]

I don’t know about drownings in the ocean but I grew up on the Murray River. My Dad was in the State Emergency Service and over summer they would be called out to dredge the river for a body if someone drowned. It would usually happen at least once a year. And it was often a local. People get cocky. But the river is completely opaque and things shift. It can get deeper suddenly or have weird currents and you just can’t see it. Doesn’t really matter how familiar you are with it, always have to be careful.

[@ceeemm1901]

A lot of drownings weren't just cocky. They were pissed as well.

[@Jordy120]

I was taught to swim when I was so young, I can't remember being taught. Cheers from Brisbane.

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

Yep, Same here mate. My earliest memory of swimming in an Olympic size pool would be from when I wasn't even going to school yet. We used to throw a two cent piece (remember those? lol) into the deep end of the pool, and race to retrieve it. I reckon that most Aussies think they're part Dolphin. I know I did, at least. Cheers from North Sydney.😃

[@danielponiatowski7368]

same, i dont think i was taught i just figured it out with help from other kids. we'd go to the beach near perth or down south, i'd just charge into the water and waves. the washing machine game was fun, getting bowled by a big wave and being tumbled under the water and being spat out at the shore, then repeat.

[@j_edwards6075]

I grew up with a pool for the first 5 years of my life and both my parents made an effort to make sure I could swim before I could walk. I would have only been a couple years old but I can still remember, clearly traumatised by my dad pushing me underwater while I swam the entire length of the pool.

[@ariadnepyanfar1048]

As a Commonwealth country, being from the UK is definitely a leg up. And once you’re here, you personally might not notice it because you’re used to being Scottish, but Aussies really vibe with Scottish humour and lingo. It’s worth looking up the wanted careers list. It may include things you don’t expect. The clearest path is getting hired by an Aussie company/institution and getting your employer to sponsor you on a working visa. It’s a very clear path, though it can be slow, to go from working visor to residential visa to citizenship. Right NOW is not the time to immigrate with rents/house prices so outrageous, with the government starting to try to get that down. Later will probably better. Although housing prices might just go on hold for two decades instead of crashing. But with Working From Home now a settled phenomenon, it’s never been easier to interview from overseas and get a job in Australia. We were born here, but my partner has had a steady job working from Australia for a company operating in the USA for a few years now. I’m older, so I didn’t start swimming lessons until primary school, so maybe 5 to 7 years old? Baby/toddler swim lessons are more recent to the last two decades. Learning to swim in surf is the important thing, which my parents took care of when I was 7/8. It’s SUPER fun learning to body surf. Drownings are seen as such a tragedy in Australia, and often reported on the news, especially if it’s a tourist or immigrants. We should always keep in mind to remind tourists to swim between the flags at beaches. And if we meet an immigrant to ask if they can swim, if their kids have had lessons yet. But people in my own circles have no issues with migrations, and are big supporters of refugees, especially ‘boat people’ fleeing conflict. So it’s something I might forget in the midst of being welcoming. Recentishly two men drowned in a swimming pool, trying and succeeding in rescuing a drowning child. It feels like the entire nation was grief stricken and gobsmacked. Two men. Drowned. In a *swimming pool*. It’s unthinkable for us for an adult to drown in a swimming pool. Usually if adults drown, 9 out of 10 it’s a man that misjudged how dangerous a rocky area of a beach was. Soon after the two men drowning in the swimming pool, a young adult tourist drowned at a beach and we were so sad again. Especially for their parents losing their child here on holiday.

[@danielponiatowski7368]

"boat people" were mostly economic migrants who couldnt migrate legally due to their records or just not meeting the criteria, its why they would ditch their paperwork as soon as one of our ships approached and why we put them on some island for years while they were checked out or waited their turn like everyone else. some poor sod sitting in a refugee camp waiting his turn could get bumped down the list because he didnt have a plane ticket to indonesia and the 10 to 20 thousand dollars a head the smugglers charged.

[@GeeEee75]

​@@danielponiatowski7368Did you get all your information about refugees from watching Sky News?

[@danielponiatowski7368]

@@GeeEee75 i got a bit from an X soldier i worked with, a couple of his friends worked at one of the places the boat people were kept. alot of them made no secret as to why they came and the way they did. theres nothing unusual about somebody wanting to move to a country with better oppurtunities or posing as an asylum seeker to do it if they dont wish to wait for the time it takes and meet all the criteria to do so as a migrant. if you leave your country as a refugee or asylum seeker then pass several countries that have refugee camps that will take you in and process you then from that point your a traveller trying to enter this country illegaly. i also worked with a number of migrants from the same countries the boat people came from and was surprised at their attitude towards their fellow country men who got in via boats or just flying straight here then claiming asylum. theres nothing wrong with us wanting to know who a person is when they apply to come here or just show up or determine if they're just economic migrants making false claims. look what happend in europe, hordes of people, thousands turning up and now thousands more landing in england. its not cool.

[@EyepopTheSailorMan]

​@@danielponiatowski7368 Nonsense. What even prompted this weird tangent? There has never been an orderly queue in which refugees are supposed to wait and it's never been illegal to cross borders with the intention of claiming asylum in a country signed up the refugee convention. Arrivals have overwhelmingly had compelling claims for asylum (look it up!) and this 'economic migrant' jibber-jabber is a laughable post-Howard fiction you should be embarrassed to still be parroting.

[@BasementRuthie]

Aussie here. We have special swim schools that have classes that start basically from newborn. Parents are obviously in the water with the babies and the first things they learn are holding their breath underwater, floating on their back and other skills that could save their lives. We do have a lot of bodies of water and kids can drown in a few inches, so, I'm really glad we have these classes.

[@Whitewingdevil]

Yeah I was taught how to swim along with the rest of my class in primary school. There's also a focus on teaching kids the dangers of swimming at beaches, things like how to spot a rip and how to get out of them safely (swim SIDEWAYS, not directly back to the beach, get out of the rip FIRST then ride the waves back to the shore), and an EXTREME emphasis on swimming at beaches with lifeguards who have already identified dangerous areas and marked safe ones. A common story (that may or may not be pure legend) is of the tourist who arrived in Australia, went directly to the beach, was pulled out to sea and drowned, having lasted less than a couple hours in the country. Whether it's true or not it illustrates just how dangerous beaches can be and how cautiously most aussies approach them. As a pale vampire myself (scottish ancestry) I avoid the beach like the plague, I don't want to put myself through the pain of sunburn for the fun of maybe dying in the ocean, personally, I'm more of a hiker.

[@fridaytax]

It is so desperately sad when I see these stories, not just beaches but even swimming pools, where tourists are not familiar with swimming safely

[@jaidedragon4646]

That was a true story unfortunately and just not a one off either

[@helenmckeetaylor9409]

AUSSIE schools have swim programmes. In Qld some primary & high schools have their own pools. Those that don't bus their pupils to them - a day is set so us parents send swimming gear with kids that day & the school takes care of the rest. IN 1960's I was in a very small NSW primary school, we didn't have it then but at high school in the 70's Yes, same deal. But mum had me in swim classes as a little kid .

[@SpookFilthy]

Learning how to swim is crucial in Australia. Little kids drowning in swimming pools (when parents aren't watching) is common and tragic. This can easily be avoided with lessons. The other thing is the laws around swimming pools having kid-proof fences are taking very seriously. With respect to the ocean. You must learn to fear and respect that.

[@neil2402]

Depends on where you are. When I grew up, swimming pools were only for the rich, and we lived a long way from the coast. Swimming was for recreation, and not really a critical skill.

[@kerrydoutch5104]

@@neil2402Yes if you have that lifestyle near water have a pool etc learning to swim is a must. But My view is also that learning to swim much like any other safety skills is for that one circumstance ie falling in a pool or river saving others rescuing your dog or kid or getting yourself out of trouble. It only takes once. Where s the harm? Do the mums and bubs class or the toddlers water safety. So your kids know what to do. Even better if your afraid. Knock that on the head . So it wont be you standing by helplessly. You dont have to be an Olympian. Just safe.

[@neil2402]

@@kerrydoutch5104 I agree its important, and we all learnt in school (if not before). I'm just saying that where I lived, it was not as important as for someone on the coast. I'm a poor swimmer due to lack of practice (getting too old for that anyway). Cheers,

[@SpookFilthy]

@@neil2402 Drowning is not a class issue and plenty of normal families had pools - we had a cheap above-ground one. I also live inland and rivers are treacherous.

[@neil2402]

Wow, chill people! I didn't say it wasn't important and I'm just going on my own experience. I didn't know anyone with a pool, inground or above. Water restrictions put a stop to that. The river was very shallow, and nobody ever swam in it. I should know better than to comment online...

[@dystar112]

Wedges sour cream and sweet chilli sauce - we love it here 🇦🇺 ❤

[@jacquiedwards160]

Is there any other way to eat wedges????😂😂 seriously they are the best!

[@RandoMuser-h1o]

mmm, i'm in SA, I prefer an artichoke dip, or simple aioli. sweet chilli sauce is mostly sugar.... it's VERY common in Qld, for sure.

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

You should TOTALLY do some "Bondi Rescue" reactions. Loads of clueless foreigners getting caught in the rips at "Backpackers". Just moments from certain death and then the boys in blue step in. I can't remember when I learnt to swim, and I can't remember not ever knowing how not to. Actually, thinking about it for a tick, it would've been around the age of four or five when I was already swimming at the deep end.

[@heatherrowles9930]

Plenty of Australians get caught in rips too......just to be fair. Moral of the story is that everyone should learn how to swim and how to recognize a rip, or failing that swim between the flags and obey signs posted on the beach.

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

@@heatherrowles9930 Oh, for sure, mate. The problem is that it's mostly tourists with zero surf knowledge who often take one look at the crashing waves and then they see a spot where the waves aren't as scary and think that that's a good place to have their first swim in the Pacific Ocean. They then wade into the rip and find themselves in trouble, with zero experience or any inkling of how to escape it. It is called "Backpackers" for a reason, afterall.

[@Paul77ozee]

I had a plumber come recently. It cost $85 for just showing up and then $45 every 15 minutes. The good thing is they sent 2 people to fix the problem which took less time to complete.

[@aleclamberton6071]

Sweet chilli and sour cream on wedges is the bomb!

[@givemespace2742]

And in kebabs!

[@PatriciaAnneSmith-x2e]

I am 76 years old. My 3 children all started swimming lessons at 6 months old. In the 70’s this idea was almost unheard of. Thankfully I found a teacher for babies swimming in the Lake Macquarie area. My kids were all able to swim the length of the pool by 3yrs old. Their father was a Lifesaver for years so we were almost living at the beach and although I kept a keen eye on them, they were very competent at the beach as well.

[@Hochspitz]

I am 72 years old and lived in Kalamunda on the outskirts of Perth where the local swimming pool did have classes for parents (usually mothers) and their babies. So yes, both my children were quite proficient swimmers long before they started primary school where swimming remained part of the sports curriculum and safety on beaches.

[@kengray8088]

I am from Glasgow too and live in Melbourne......I love this place..........took a while to get used to oz though........but would not live anywhere else now.........actually you are a redhead so people would call you bluey.........everybody calls me laddie........nicknames for everybody...yes too many immigrants...........and too many pollies..........but people in oz people are very fair here and you would have a great life for your kids...........really recommend this place

[@richardbradshaw696]

Too many immigrants???!!! You're an immigrant, in case you've forgotten😂. Australia has the highest percentage of its permanent population (citizens and permanent residents) born in other countries, close to a third nationally and close to half in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. It's a great strength on many levels, particularly with the focus on skilled migration in areas of skills demand. It not only culturally enriches Australia in terms of diversity and traditions, it has tangible benefits to the economy, and is a counter to the impacts of low birth rates, such as an aging population and shrinking percentage of working and therefore tax paying adults that most other advanced economies are struggling with. And I'm not going to suggest Australia is a utopia free of any discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or religion (no country is), but I think we've done a remarkable job of creating a fairly harmonious and diverse community given it's only a little over 50 years since the repeal of the infamous White Australia Policy.

[@chardibinx]

Glad you’re loving Melbourne…just realise it’s now probably the worst pick of all the capital cities

[@karenl8837]

@chardibinx Always has been the least pleasant, not just now.

[@GrimGriefer5]

As someone who was born in Australia, raised and still lives there… i’ve never heard anyone say “but” at the end of a sentence Edit: btw i AM a Queenslander and i haven’t heard it

[@renb6133]

I have but it’s a certain demographic & younger people don’t tend to say it. They say like instead, lol!

[@hapidaze]

It used to be more prominent 10 or 20 years ago. Living in Qld, it was pretty common.

[@ChowdiusPupperMemusII]

I think it’s a Queensland thing

[@JimCullen]

Dude says it's a Queensland thing, but I'm a Queenslander and honestly I'd have associated that with being a _British_ thing to do. Like a Scouser thing maybe.

[@ChowdiusPupperMemusII]

@@JimCullen As an SA resident, I've heard a lot of people from my state say queenskabders go up at the end of the sentence, or maybe it's NSW but I think it's Queensland idk

[@demidron.]

I'm Australian and I lived in Germany for a decade and realised the Aldi way of just beep-beep-beep and the customer throwing everything into a bag as quickly as possible is just the norm in German supermarkets ... along with the aisle of totally random specials. (Like, can't find a biro, a notebook, shoelaces, lightbulbs or anything that I actually need, but I just picked up a set of talking scales, a minature greenhouse, a keyboard 🎹 or a keyboard ⌨ ... one of those kitsch water features with a dragon curled around a ball that spins, lit up by LEDs ...) ... when I came back to Australia, it took me ages not to feel awkward about the employees bagging my stuff.

[@littlecatfeet9064]

They don’t do it at ALDI in Brisbane and the random shelving is the same.

[@jenimcniven8704]

My son was 6 months old when he had his first swimming lesson and could swim 25m at 3 years old. We went to Mallorca on holidays and all the Brits in our hotel were amazed at the little Aussie kid swimming around by himself.

[@caltravels9454]

TAFE is technical and further education where you get qualifications to enter trades etc is not quite like a uni.

[@markturner4020]

I met a colleague recently that was going for swimming lessons after work. I couldn't wrap my head around it. She was black African but regarded her as a mentor and pinnacle of intelligence. It's like meeting someone w who can't read.

[@littlecatfeet9064]

Just because she can’t swim doesn’t mean she’s not intelligent 🤦‍♀️. Besides, she’s taking lessons, which a lot of adults don’t bother to do.

[@daisybelle3]

Just because someone can't read also doesn't make them not intelligent. It's just extremely uncommon.

[@markturner4020]

@@littlecatfeet9064 totally agree. I just always thought swimming was something humans did. Never realised it was something to learn. I wouldn't think of learning if I didn't know how

[@littlecatfeet9064]

@@markturner4020 I learned as an adult moving here from Canada. I could skate and ski but not swim 😂.

[@RandoMuser-h1o]

yes, I have an airbnb with a pool and it concerns me greatly when I see immigrant asians or arabs get into the pool and then tell me they can't swim! I tell them all to please, please get lessons.

[@leahlapham5634]

Both my daughters were in the pool for lessons as babies. My brother and I were taught by my parents as toddlers. Knowing how to swim is taken seriously as we are water lovers.

[@chriskelly9476]

Swimming lessons are mandatory at many Aussie primary schools, and if the school doesn't have its own pool (most public schools don't) they bus the kids to the local public pool. We used to walk because the pool was literally down the road from my school. We'd walk in two lines, one teacher at the front and one at the back, each child carrying a beach bag containing swimmers, towel, and change of clothes.

[@SueNicholls-95]

My boys and granddaughters all started learning to swim at 6 months of age. As for problems in the surf. Watch the show, Bondi Rescue, great show😊

[@fabiacooney9378]

13:49 Sour cream and sweet chilli is always an accompaniment to potato wedges whether you order them at a pub or cafe heck I use this dip at home if I cook a serve of wedges.

[@tameelah3839]

My Parents and Grand Parents taught us show to swim in the ocean before we even got to school. But part of Primary school is you had to pass a swimming test 25 to 50 meters depending on grade also including rescue/surf life saving techniques.

[@gailmcwhinnie9796]

When I went to school our summer sport days were swimming lessons, when I was in high school I continued an got my bronze medal. Which was being able to save people as well.

[@Anna-Travels]

My son started private structured pool “lessons” at 6 months, to get them used to the feel of the water. It’s compulsory once a child starts school in Oz, so from age 5.

[@personofearth5076]

I'm 66 and I remember at 5 years old a friend and I were at the pool and the owners asked if we wanted to go for our Herald certificate because they saw us swimming. Of course we said yes and passed and we were so excited to take it home and show our parents. Times were safe then and going to the pool alone at 5 was not uncommon. Most Aussies also taught themselves to swim.

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

It's pretty wild isn't it? I'm 10 years your junior, but I can remember going to the local pool in Junee on my tricycle all by myself before I was even going to school yet. There's no way that would happen these days.

[@wilsonperez2668]

Old school parenting 🎉💪🏼 Natural selection at its best 😂🎉

[@beverleyjones4179]

Yes it’s mainly foreigner that we had to rescue when I was a surf lifesaving, my children was in the water from 6 months, and started learn to swim at 18 months. As I taught learn to swim.

[@CatherinePhillipssapphire]

We in Darwin which is hot all year long and swimming pools are a normal background accessory regardless of which suburb you live in - my kids started swimming classes when they were 6 weeks old! Water safe is the number one reason. Never heard of ‘but’ at the end of sentences - must be a Queensland thing - used to be ‘hay’ at the end of every sentence in Queensland. TAFE = Technical and Further Education. Coffee and tea served at all coffee shops.

[@mylesdickenson9060]

I've lived in QLD for over 35 years and I've never heard anyone end a sentence with but, although there's plenty of umms, arrs and uknows. A large number of children drowned in backyard pools during the 60s and 70s that resulted in a requirement to fence backyard pools and a national campaign to teach children to swim, encourage adult supervision and to keep the pool fence gate locked when the pool is not being used.

[@margueritedilosa2944]

My grandson is 2years and is already learning to swim .Schools have swimming carnivals , even Kindergarten are involved , so school organise swim lessons as a part of their PE program .Usually most kids can swim , so many backyard pools too , which are drowning hazards , so we all need to swim .

[@zeus7740]

Being born and growing up in Australia my parents took myself and my siblings to many country music festivals and when I was 8 years old I was lucky enough to meet my dad's favourite singer Slim Dusty.

[@NaomiB-zq4dt]

I heard recently (reported on ABC, Australia) that some people with English as a second language are drowning because of a misinterpretation of the signage. "Swim between the flags" has been taken to mean that if you cant swim or are just playing in the water, you shouldn't be between the flags....instead of the exact opposite. I believe this may be being investigated further.

[@emilymorris9753]

I started swimming lessons when I was two years old. My partner had surfing and ocean swimming studies in his curriculum in WA Australia. Our daughter started swimming lessons (water familiarisation) at 4 months at a specific baby swim school which are becoming more and more common here.

[@TheSamleigh]

Yeahh! Course I love Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream Chips or that Combo as a dipping sauce.

[@sezkihope]

Australian here, a little late but I grew up walking distance from the coast. Private lessons could happen as early as you want, but school had us in the water learning to swim by 4-5 years

[@bumble-g2j]

Try Country? Try Kasey Chambers. Try Kasey Chambers covering Eminem. Try Kasey Chambers covering Lose Yourself reaction videos. Try understanding that a country artist can cross so many genres and has such a huge range of fans.

[@ibanezlaney]

Don't say that - You'll put them off Aussie music forever. At least you didn't recommend Slim Dusty. The dude from the bush who was really from the east coast.

[@pixiedust7659]

@@ibanezlaney Chad Morgan any day!

[@micheleaohanlon9330]

Aussie here, born in the 74’, my parents took my older sister for her first swim lesson at 2yrs, I was 6 mths old, they convinced my parents to give me lessons as well, grew up swimming in school comps, club comps, my coach wanted me to start rep training/comps but I’d had enough by age 16 and went on to dance - still swim though with a backyard pool!

[@amandab1064]

I can't shop at Aldi in Australia because you have to bag your own stuff after you catch it in the air while it's flying at your head! Too stressful!

[@roxydownunder]

Kids learn to swim early here in Oz, ( my daughter as soon as she could crawl because they can get themselves into a pool and if they can dog paddle or float it could save their life) kids have school swimming lessons from kindergarten, there are always swimming competitions between school houses, yep we are a competitive bunch plus waterpolo teams .. and nippers down at the beaches run by surf life saving and surf clubs…

[@Greg-r5h]

I learnt to swim when I was 4yo I'm now 59

[@2jesiri]

TAFE - technical and further education. It’s not university but more like an adult community education institution. It’s where apprentices go to do their theory and workshop stuff, where chefs go to school, where you can do nationally recognised trade qualifications and courses.

[@janmeyer3129]

The “but” at the end of a sentence can signal “I know we weren’t talking about this……” or it can mean “on the other hand, would you like to consider…” or “this mightn’t be what you would expect (eg “he can tap dance but” when speaking about a very young or apparently talentless kid) . Not really ‘proper’ and wouldn’t use it in written work. Can’t imagine life without it, but

[@ggmiethe]

G’day. Geoff from Fremantle, Western Australia here. Chips and sweet chilli and sour cream is fairly common pub or cafe fair. Not every place does it.

[@JB-lx8cw]

Never use “but” at the end of a sentence. Must be Queenslanders. With swimming, I took my daughter to swimming lessons from 6-8 months of age, so she “grew” into liking swimming rather than being fearful when starting in primary school.

[@MrElBatto]

I've lived in Brisbane most my life and I have never heard anyone use but at the end of a sentence commonly in my life. This video is the first I've heard of it.

[@brushe8025]

I find it's more of a country thing . Not based on states but regional rural . And I know I've used it .

[@gregorywildie37]

Not a country thing. Must be very regional

[@brushe8025]

@@gregorywildie37 I grew up in Broken Hill and Menindee . Travelled around far West NSW western Queensland and eastern SA . If that ain't country I don't know what is . . But it could still be regional . Boundaries don't mean much out here .

[@IssyKew]

The 'but' thing never happened and doesn't happen now. Not in the cities or in regional Qld. Someone's having him on.

[@leeshhart]

I live in Australia and my 9 month old daughter started free swimming lessons at 12 weeks old. Lots of learning to instinctively float and safety things with nursery rhythms. She loves it! Lots of kids are independent swimmers by 2 years old depending on their individual development 😊

[@Whitewingdevil]

As far as groceries go, I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of a big market in Preston, Melbourne. Dozens of butchers and fishmongers, dozens of greengrocers, all in one big space competing with one another, some of the best and freshest groceries I've ever eaten, at prices that are at least comparable to woolies and aldi, if not outright better, and you have a chance to get to know your favourite butcher and grocer over time, not to mention all the weird and wonderful ingredients you'll never find in a supermarket. It's not exactly common, I'm pretty lucky to have that right on my doorstep, but there are markets all over if you're willing to travel a bit.

[@caylem00]

man, preston's getting worse and worse over the last few years. what the developers are trying to do to the site/ stall owners is just monstrous.

[@Whitewingdevil]

@@caylem00 Agreed, but at least the community is in agreement that we don't want to lose the market and are fighting to keep it, hopefully if enough people kick up enough of a fuss we can hold onto it.

[@crowaust]

Aussie here, was taught to swim pretty much as soon as I could Walk/Run(prior to pre-school age) Schools have Swimming competitions/carnivals in the same type of day as Athletic competitions/carnivals, pretty much everyone has to do at least 1 race, the 50m freestyle(in the Athletic everyone has to do the 100m running). There are other competitive events in both, and also novelty/fun events. It is pretty weird to find an Aussie over the age of 10 that can't swim. Australia cities and towns are mostly within 100km of the coast and even shorter distances to creeks/rivers, so it is pretty common for kids to play in the water, even if they don't have a pool at home. Pretty much every second or third house north of the Tropic of Capricorn has a pool, in some places its even more common than that. As for the Sweet Chili/Cream with wedges, I tend to avoid the cream, I prefer melted cheese on wedges with Sweet Chili over the top, have never really liked the cream option.

[@NaturingIFindNatural-august73]

i started swimming classes at six months. i’ve represented zone regional and state for swimming. we are an island country / continent. for peace of mind all learn to swim. the water / ocean is in our veins. ☺️😊😃 ✌🏻🇦🇺🌏🤘🏻

[@jourdainhiini6548]

We are an island nation, surrounded by water. Most kids learn to swim very young in Australia. In Queensland where I'm from a lot of schools have their own pool for kids to learn to swim. We have the best beaches as well so swimming is part of aussie culture.

[@Moppedfloors]

For those who don’t know, TAFE is a education program that is ran all across Australia, you can attend tafe during years 11-12 ( or if your in year 10 but the age of year 11’s), at TAFE you study a preferred education, it can be machinery, arts, music, science, so on. TAFE (depending the courses you take) can be from 1 year to 5 years of studying, and can be accessed through apprenticeship, certification, or for extra curriculum in school. During year 10 I took a tafe course for a few weeks, I took a digital media and design course, in an essence TAFE is very similar to college or university, but instead of having intense study, it’s more practical. Hands on work. For my course, I did a lot of digital designs, learned to create professional websites, and learnt how to market online. By the end of the course I received my Certificate III in media and design. TAFE runs on a certificate system, depending on what certifications you are after will depend how much time you spend at TAFE, you can go for Cert I, II, or III. It’s the easiest way to gain a qualification, as it’s a experience that gives you a first hand interaction with what your studying, unlike university where you write and study about the topic, with the occasional activity of interacting with what your learning. Another thing that TAFE does is for students and apprentices, TAFE is made accessible for 16 and above, allowing people still in school to engulf themselves with preferred areas of learning, or for apprenticeships to allow them to gain the qualifications set by their mentors.

[@kevo6190]

There is a famous 'Rip' at Bondi called 'Backpackers rip'.... For obvious reasons 🌊

[@libbypeace68]

My youngest (who just turned 18) started swimming lessons before 1 year old. My older two (now 25 and 30) started at 3. And my brother and I were under 5 when we learned to swim in the 1970s. The majority of the year is warm enough to swim so there are many family visits to the beach or pools which means we really need to learn to swim early. Sadly there are still drownings of toddlers and young kids in household pools. The fact that even at age 1 your baby can get their head above water and make their way to the edge once they start swimming lessons is of a great relief as a parent.

[@Jonathan-Sund]

My dad threw me in the swimming pool at about 3 years old. We also have too much US content in the news and TV in general (As do all the Vassal States of the USA) I've never said "But" at the end of a sentence (NSW). I always fix my own leaking taps and simple electrical jobs, switches, lights, also carpentry, welding jobs etc. Saves yourself a lot of money. But I do have a trade (Mechanical Fitter). Don't like country music or Taylor Swift. Sweet Chili and sour cream is the business! Chicken Salt also good 😋

[@geraldinegaynor1360]

A stupid father.

[@donnafurlonger3750]

Learning to swim is very important here in Australia and I am extremely grateful for getting my children swimming lessons when they were babies. My son fell into a pool when he was 16 months old and though he's father was in the pool and I was standing beside the pool, we weren't quick enough to get to him when he surfaced. He automatically rolled over to his back and started to float, turned his head to find the side of the pool and then proceeded to swim to the side and with my encouragement got out. Letting him do it himself was the hardest thing I have ever done but I was so very glad he could. There is also a difference in learning water safety and beach safety. At the beach there are very strong currents that can take even good swimmers and cause them to drown if they don't know what to do. Our Surf Life Savers rescue many people caught in rifts every day. I like that our immigration policy wants to allow people who benefit the country but do feel that in today's political and cultural environment we should maybe be more open. Sweet chili and sour cream with your wedges are a must. lol

[@ravenfeader]

A red headed Scott , either Blue or Jock or Scotty as a nickname . Possibly a more inventive one once they get to know you better .

[@dontbeasheeple5883]

Fit like Jimmy?

[@pixiedust7659]

Or Ginger

[@teatalk6682]

I'm Australian and our baby started swimming lessons at three months old. Lessons were free up to four months old. Most places start from as young as four months

[@newmageo9179]

Putting but at the end of a sentence must be a queensland thing - not seen down south.

[@nattles4397]

I was in swimming lessons from the time I could walk. Mum put me with swim instructors at the age of 2 and I took to it so well I never wanted to get out and would be upset when it was time to go home. I ended up staying in swim practice til I was 16 and I competed on a state level :) I love swimming so much.

[@unoriginalsyn]

Swim lessons start at 6mths old 👍

[@peytageo4432]

We had a pool in my back yard and I started to be taught from age 3-4 due to my asthma. I was competitive swimming by age 7. 1 hour of swimming training in the morning before school and some times an hour in the afternoon. I used to do swimming club every Tuesday night and was in competitions most weekends during summer. Still love swimming now in my 40’s.

[@linux49er]

Putting "but" at the end of a sentence is really only a Queensland thing.

[@whitemanpooch2381]

Guarantee they're saying bud

[@dresdyn100]

I remember being tossed in a pool at about age 3. We were a family of beach goers so mum taught us early and into Nippers at age 5 I think - Junior beach safety/lifesaving training and other activities. Where I was in primary school, for two weeks everyone from 3rd grade up was marched off to the local swimming pool and given swimming lessons, then water safety/lifesaving certification up to Bronze Star if they advanced quickly enough (formal water safety and rescue qualification). That was back in the 70's though in NSW, not sure if it's still a thing. I know my kids went through a similar program in the late 90's in the ACT (Canberra). My first job out of high school was as a council lifeguard on the local beach and yes, the majority of our rescues were from foreigners and those Aussies from the bush that finished school before the schools learn to swim programs started in the 70s.

[@lesleycollis7520]

I arrived in Australia in 1965 after 4 yrs in RAF got a job before my demob leave finished my first boss a Credit manager of large store always called me POMMY BASTARD ha ha but treated me excellent actions speak louder than words loved the guy was ex army in WW2 had been stationed in England glad I'm not in England now I believe I would join some kind of resistancegroup

[@infin8ee]

I bet as a term of endearment/mateship because if they don't like you, you'd get some other choice names 😂 Glad you made the move but you're Aussie now!

[@lesleycollis7520]

@infin8ee bloody oath I practice saying Fi ne day in May with Aussie accent however believe I had relatives come on a schooner traders

[@infin8ee]

@@lesleycollis7520 you ever go back to the UK and laugh at them! We really are lucky here, despite the room and gloom of the world.

[@lesleycollis7520]

@@infin8ee I have been on 6 visits over the years last time 11 yrs ago unable to do the flight but no I didn't laugh at them it's sad

[@elphieanne]

I’m an Aussie and we have put our daughter in swimming lessons and she is 8 months. We are told to do it as soon as possible and will do it as quickly as 3 months

[@stefanbach7652]

Australia used to be strict on who they let in but now they allow anyone from a certain region with a particular religious bent and it is not Christian. There is a big stink going on about it.

[@edenphillips644]

the swimming one was interesting. i was born in aussie, about two hours from any beach, and they did teach me how to swim... but when i moved to new zealand at 7 years old, i was behind compared to everyone else. nz has a lot of rivers and also has a lot of beaches, so they seem to find it even more important to be a strong swimmer

[@bev419]

We have more than enough American and UK politics as well. However, a majority focus on Australian news and current affairs. Luv your work!

[@barnowl.]

TAFE is an acronym for Technical and Further Education. It comes under the umbrella of VET, Vocational Education and Training. It's mainly run by the Australian Government. It has colleges. It offers practical combined with theory courses of a very broad range of all kinds of specific skills for workplaces and certification.at a post secondary school level. The choice of courses is huge. This is why certain tradespeople in Australia are so well paid.

[@helenredmond2742]

Growing up in Queensland..im nearly 80 but spent all teen yrs at the beach..In 1960_62 my mum had a swimming pool built in backyard and due to the tropical climate my kids learn to swim from birth as well as nieces and nephews and right through to 1990 and so had included all my grand children so here its A MUST to learn to swim easy as possible..even as teens my kids were allowed to have pool parties to going out ?..where we didnt know where...

[@TheJhinkaQueen]

I unfortunately moved around too much as a child and never actually learned to swim propperly, but its definitely encouraged!

[@bethkoning3685]

My granddaughter had her first swimming lesson this morning. She is 7 months old. She won’t be strokes of course but they do learn to put their head under water and also to float.

[@ozzietad666]

Aussie here- from the colder parts- but we had intensive swimming lessons from age 5- right through til age 11. Every summer we would be bussed to the pool a couple days a week. 20 years later and my kids went to a different school - which was In a tiny town- so the kids walked over to the pool 3 days a week for lessons during summer. Plus if they were keen the school principal did swimming training before school for anyone wanting to do more. It’s definitely unusual to meet a person born here who can’t swim. However yea Bondi rescue is often pulling people from Asian and middle eastern countries out of the water. I think because they see everyone in there including small kids, they assume it’s not so dangerous. But they don’t realise even the little people are pretty good at handling being in the water. Or not panicking if they get caught in a rip etc I dated a Pom who was in his 50s and couldn’t swim. ( he came here in his teens and would’ve missed the lessons most primary schools have) It meant he had a phobia of water - which isolated him socially. Going to the beach or swimming in a river is such a part of our culture- especially those of us in the country. My youngest was diving and swimming by three when he could hardly speak. All 3 could swim under water under age 4. We could get a seasons family ticket to the pool for $90 a year so could just go whenever we wanted. Weather permitting lol

[@rosalynmoyle3766]

Yes, it tends to be foreigners that get into trouble in the surf. They can learn to swim as babies now and pool drownings now are very rare, thankfully. TAFE is Technical and Further Education. Focuses more around trades. So you have the but bit sorted :).Sour cream goes well with sweet chilli, so reasonably common.

[@kerrydoutch5104]

Aussie here. Yes we had compulsory swimming lessons from aearly age school. We had to use the closeby public pool. Learned 3 basic strokes and how to float. Basic water safety to get your self out of trouble and others too. You could extend that getting gold silver bronze rescue certificates or learn levels ofvdiving. So holidays near water werent stressful for the parents. You could also repeat annual lessons if you had a genuine reason for not having completed last years. I asked mum to put me down the following year cos I hadnt done well. So did that. Then we were talking about years later cos she caught me out somehow and asked why if I had passed the first time. Cos I liked messing around in the water and it was 1/2 a day out of the classroom outside in the sun. Much more fun 😄

[@spasmmcspasm]

Im not sure about the rest of OZ but in my coastal town in circa mid 1980's every High Schooler had to get their Bronze Medallion surf lifesaving certificate if they wanted to do any water sports. Being that the yearly swimming competition was mandatory and involved swimming in the ocean pool then you may as well say every kid was a qualified life saver. We also did surfing, waterskiing and aqua aerobics as optional weekly sports activities.

[@michellewilkes6329]

In Australia the news broadcasts on TV vary depending on which station you're watching. The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) seems to think that a human interest story means a politician getting married or having a baby. They love their politics, both local and overseas, as they're basically owned and operated by the Australian government (despite what the government might say). SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) mainly focusses on things that effect people who are first generation Australians, who may not even speak English, with a lot of overseas stories. The three commercial stations (7, 9 and 10) are generally divided into sections - local news from within that state, news from other states, then news from other countries. If you want to find out anything important that's happening locally, they're the ones to watch (accidents, house fires, good news stories) but they also cover big stories developing elsewhere. The city where I live is known as the murder capital of Australia. I never realised until I moved out of my parents' house as all they watch is the ABC (to make themselves feel superior) but when I started watching my own TV in my own house I watched Channel 9. Suddenly it seemed like murders were happening all over the place. Sadly these days they are almost always the result of domestic violence with multiple women killed every week by people known to them.

[@lynettelillyman68]

Yes. Foreigners are always being rescued at Bondi. My grandchildren could swim underwater before they were 2 years old. They love it. Lyn

[@ticheyne]

Foreigners are the largest group who get into trouble on our beaches and our children start learning swimming when they start school if not before. We have private swimming lessons that start as babies, my daughter started at 9 weeks old and she swam every week until she was 16 years old. She is now 30 and swimming is a favourite sport for both of us. In school every year the schools PE lessons included a whole block of swimming lessons and in upper primary there is a block of water activity that teaches safety around open water. As well as sailing, fishing, snorkeling, surfing, sailboarding and canoeing. I learned scuba in high school as part of my PE class as well as sailing catamarans. So for us total normal for activity in school PE lessons to revolve around water.

[@mfanwelikeit3760]

We learnt swimming from babyhood or at least at school. We also learnt the meaning of flags on the beach and how to spot a rip. Very important. The problem is, a rip often looks like a calm spot amidst the waves. This makes it look better to bad swimmers. Then once they get pulled out, they fight to get back instead of going to the side.

[@alisonshanahan1237]

Definitely! Waves means no rips, always swim between the flags where lifesavers keep watch.

[@Aqua0276]

I'm a swimming teacher and my main students are children whose parents didn't grow up in Australia, and their parents. Most people who grow up here, learn before they are 5. It is drilled into us how important water safety is here. There is a pool in so many backyards here.

[@SGW4K]

Earnt yourself a sub from the first video I watched jimmy, nice! Cool content. I don't know why but lately I've been watching a few different KZbinrs that do these sorts of Australia reaction videos. Maybe try for a working holiday or just a holiday here in Oz first. At least you'll know if it somewhere you'd like to immigrate to, my parents did back in the 60s from Wales and Scotland respectively, two £10 poms as they used to be called way back.

[@Silvermouse27]

My kids started swimming at 6 months but were introduced to water around 4 months. Swimming lessons are pretty much universal in schools

[@martinpye549]

Was born in Stoke, grew up in Australia, and we actually were all taught to swim at school. I love the water, surfed daily , and enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle. I'm back here in Stoke now , and I'm not here for the surf. But I love my Sharon, so here now in the Midlands.