15. Don’t Ask the Locals if They’re Related to Convicts
Most people know that, historically, Australia was once a penal colony to which Britain deported some 160,000 convicts back in the 18th and 19th century. But that doesn’t mean the majority of locals stem from these early unsavory inhabitants. It is estimated that 22% of the population can trace their ancestry back to these settlers, so that means the vast majority do not. Furthermore, only 2% of these convicts were guilty of serious crimes like murder or assault, while 98% were simply poor folks caught for petty theft and other minor infractions during tough economic times. For example, the first woman convict to set foot in Oz had stolen five handkerchiefs. Some Aussies are proud of their rough and tumble heritage, but others prefer to move beyond this backstory. You probably won’t endear yourself to the locals if you constantly bring up the topic, especially if you’re a “Pom”.
16. Don’t Be Offended by Local Sarcasm or Slang
That being said, Aussies are known for their sarcasm, dry-wit and self-deprecating sense of humor. They like to “take the piss” out of each other and exchange good-natured ribbings. Don’t be offended by this banter, as it’s mostly meant to be a lighthearted sign of friendship. If you can dish it as good as you take it, they’ll respect you for it. Try to open your ears up to the colorful local slang down under so you can keep up with the conversations. However, peppering your own chat with Aussie-isms like g’day, mate and sheila sounds silly and should definitely be on your list of things not to do in Australia.
