‘Shock’: Traveller reveals everything wrong with Australia
An Australian traveller has revealed her culture “shock” since returning home after living abroad, exposing everything we’re doing wrong.
If you’re like me and you’ve returned from Ho Chi Minh City after weeks of seeing “Open 24 hours” signs plastered on every establishment and you’re now wondering why you can’t get a late-night feed that’s not a McDonald’s burger – you’re not alone.
After spending a year soaking up the fast-paced, late-night energy of some of Asia’s busiest cities, Sydney woman Fiona Wang thought she’d feel comforted coming home.
Instead, she found herself wandering empty footpaths after 5.30pm and not being able to get in to see the doctor on a weekend.
“How do Australians do this?” she said in a social media clip.
The 29-year-old business owner and self-proclaimed “travel-addict” recently returned to Australia after living in Bali, and says the adjustment back to Aussie life has been a culture shock in ways she didn’t expect.
“If you’re working 9-5, everything is closed by 5.30pm and doctors aren't open on Sundays.
“In Asia you can still contact the banks after 5pm, you can go to the mall ‘till 10pm – you can do anything you need to,” she said.
Like Fiona, I too had grown used to the 24-hour pharmacies, late-night bar spots and restaurants buzzing well into the early hours.
But even mundane errands have now become a mission.
“Back here, I can’t even send things by post unless I go during lunchtime,” she added.
Amen, Fiona.
Though she still loves to call Australia home, the 29-year-old admits she “needs half-half.”
A quick Google search returns results of like-minded night-owls all in pursuit of the answer to this very same question.
“Why does everything in Australia close so early?”
In a very brutal Reddit take, one user questioned: “Does no one like making money in Australia? Or do they just close early to go home and complain about the cost of living? Trying to get food after 9pm is impossible, and don’t even get me started on AusPost opening hours.”
“Cafes closing at 1pm needs to be studied,” replied one user.
Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder told news.com.au: “We need to be more than a nation of coffee shops at 2pm to deserve the label of a top cultural destination.”
“There’s a clear tension between the desire for a vibrant, attractive night-life that draws tourists and boosts local economies, and concerns about public safety and noise,” he said.
“Australian cities absolutely can have both safe and peaceful, while vibrant and world famous entertainment districts, but it requires genuine financial support for venues to make accommodations, protections from noise complaints, and good city planning to get people home safely.
“It also requires an acceptance from residents, especially in existing entertainment districts, that this is part and parcel of living in the inner cities.”
Whether Australia is a nation with a rumbling night-life underbelly that’s waiting to emerge or one that’s permanently transfixed by early morning run clubs and matcha is yet to be seen – but until then, Ho Chi Minh is always ready for a good time.
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