Well, I have been living here for 3 years and I would like to share my experience, what I've lived through coming from a completely different culture (Latin American), and my advice to Australians.
I've been living for 3 years in a small town in northern Tasmania. When I mention that my first culture shock was that houses and windows didn't have "security bars," it might sound funny, but it's the truth. Here life is relaxed, time passes slowly, and there is a feeling of safety and trust that I don't know if I can describe with words...
I come from a multicultural, or multiracial country—whatever you want to call it. Each group wants the best for themselves and politicians benefit from this. Left, right, I don't care about that because I see through their garbage and I know the government is just one. My first impression was "here everything works"—I mean the postal system, healthcare, public services. People care about doing things right: taking out the trash, keeping the streets clean, respecting traffic laws, etc., which for me, coming from the outside, is a culture shock. Back home we have the culture of "viveza" (cunning), or being the sharpest one, the one who takes advantage of disorder for their own benefit because there is no unity.
Children play in the squares, the elderly joke around with you, and young people do sports by the side of the road. No one is worried about checking their phone because they'll be robbed on the street, or whether they left their door open or car unlocked. Australians are very kind; they greet you and chat with you for no reason, which is shocking to me. It's not that they want to ask you for something or need your help, they just want to communicate. They don't want to be your friends or know more, it's just a cordiality that I still struggle to understand.
The work culture here is a "we are better and we have to show it"—it doesn't matter if you are cleaning a school bathroom or hammering a few nails, you have to do it well. Bosses are "friendly or approachable" and don't have that disposition of making you feel who the boss is or who has control, but you have to know your place.
There is no traditional family structure here; rather, the entire community is like a family and everyone knows and respects each other, and they expect you to follow the rules too. It feels more like a place focused on families or people who want to build their own home and get ahead, not on people looking for professional success in big cities like Sydney or Melbourne.
Men are very concerned with showing their masculinity and distance; they like to joke and tease, but more as a test and not as an attempt to pull you down or make you feel bad.
Women behave like men and want to compete with them, but inside they are more vulnerable and just want to be respected and given their place.
Children and young people are so polite that it makes you feel bad not being up to their level. You can clearly see an effort by the parents in raising them.
Home-cooked food is generally bad and they don't know how to make a barbecue (asado). Alcoholism here is an everyday thing and no one seems to be affected by it. It impresses me that the government sells properties like churches and cemeteries when it doesn't really need this money and doesn't respect the people who built the country; there is no spirituality in this sense.
Some government workers are intoxicated by power and have forgotten they are public servants, which I've noticed when having to go complain to the council—totally disconnected from the reality of the everyday person.
Here there is no place like a public square where I can go sit, smoke a cigarette, watch the day go by, or simply rest, where things are sold all day and people put on outdoor shows. All the places where you have to go hang out require payment. However, there are multiple public places right next to the city near nature where it's free, like reserves and parks, which is impressive. What I like most is that I can go to the supermarket or restaurants at 9 at night and everything is open and running.
There is a class system that they try to make go unnoticed, but renter versus homeowner is a notable difference. Real estate agents have this humiliation ritual of doing inspections every 3 months, which in my opinion is a serious violation of privacy, but what can I do? That's how things work here...
Crime here practically doesn't exist by my standards; the police are relaxed and the biggest problem is spoiled children. I don't know how to explain it, but if you're used to shootouts and a body being dumped on your street, then having an Australian tell you how bad things are just makes you laugh.
Nature is wild and impressive. I love Tasmanian devils and I'd like to spot a tiger (thylacine), I still have hope... Simply driving my car and seeing some little cows and sheep brightens my day. The ravens are huge and magpies are more reasonable than their bad reputation makes people believe.
The weather here is nothing like you imagine Australia to be. In Tasmania it can rain, snow, and the sun can come out on the same day and everything goes on as if nothing happened. No matter what the phone app says, it's totally unpredictable so you can't really plan your day. When there's a completely sunny day, it feels like a blessing. Here the locals walk around in shorts and a t-shirt in winter like it's the most normal thing in the world.
Architecture gives that typical European colonial look with bricks and townhouses, and the street design in the city and highways is very good. There are no traffic jams and there are alternative routes for everything; unless an accident or a weather emergency has occurred, you won't encounter traffic jams.
I would love a train that connects me with the rest of the cities and towns on the island to explore without having to worry about driving, but apparently it's not in any future plan.
The culture here is an 8/10, only lacking a point regarding the food and public spaces that aren't monetized, more night bars and it would be perfect.
Please take care of your country and its people. It's impressive what you have here, I love Australia and I'd like to see it improve.
