By: Alissa Oates
History of Australia
The first modern settlement in Australia was January 1788 by Captain Arthur Phillip of England (Australia).
Immigrants have heavily influenced the diets of today's Australians (Australia).
Australian people have depended on the import of foods to survive since farming is so difficult (Australia).
January 26th has been named National Day to remember the settlement of 1788 (Life in Australia).
There are 2 sets of people who are indigenous to Australian land the Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders have lived on the island since before it was settled on in 1788 (Indigenous Australians).
Lands and Water of Australia
Australia is the smallest continent in the world it is surrounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans (Australia).
The island is dry and has little rain fall on average about 17 inches a year (Australia). The dry climate and scarce rainfall contributes to there being only about 6% of the land being suitable for agriculture (Life in Australia).
Australia's population is approximately 21 Million (Life in Australia).
Capitol is Canberra (Life in Australia)
Surface area is 7.74 Million Square Kilometers which is said to be about the size of the US without Alaska (Life in Australia).
The National language is English (Life in Australia).
The major trade partners are Japan, China, US, Singapore, UK, and Korea (Life in Australia).
Culture of Australia
Meeting Etiquette
. Australians are not very formal so greetings are casual and relaxed. . A handshake and smile suffices. . While an Australian may say, 'G'day' or 'G'day, mate', this may sound patronizing from a foreigner. Visitors should simply say, 'Hello' or 'Hello, how are you?' . Aussies prefer to use first names, even at the initial meeting
Gift Giving Etiquette
. Small gifts are commonly exchanged with family members, close friends, and neighbours on birthdays and Christmas. . Trades people such as sanitation workers may be given a small amount of cash, or more likely, a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer! . If invited to someone's home for dinner, it is polite to bring a box of chocolates or flowers to the hostess. A good quality bottle of wine is always appreciated. . Gifts are opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
. Many invitations to an Aussies home will be for a 'barbie' (BBQ). . Guests to a barbeque typically bring wine or beer for their personal consumption. In some cases, very informal barbecues may suggest that you bring your own meat! . Arrive on time if invited to dinner; no more than 15 minutes late if invited to a barbeque or a large party. . Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish. . Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served.
Watch your table manners!
. Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. . Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles facing to the right. . Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating.
All retrieved from (Australia-Culture, Customs and Etiquette).
Recipes from Australia
Native Plants and Animals of Australia
Refrences
"Australia" Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World. Ed. Karen L. Hanson. Vol. 1. Detroit: U*X*L, 2002. 19-28. 4 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. WNCLN. 19 Mar. 2009
“Life in Australia” Australian Government: Department of Immigration and Citizenship. http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_full.pdf
“Indigenous Australians” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians
http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian-wildlife.html
I like how guest have to bring wine or beer for their personal consumption to a BBQ.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that they don't have much land suitable for farming. Their etiquette doesn't sound much different than we would expect. we have gatherings a lot with our church and bring whatever meat your family wishes to eat.
ReplyDeleteAustralia is the only continent i'm not familiar with. Thanks for giving us some informtions about australia.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize the lack of of farming they had. I know most of their land the "outback" is uninhabitable but it is good to see that they get along great without it.
ReplyDeleteI like how laid back the culture of Australia seems to be. Simply smiling and shaking the hand of another is a great greeting to me, and I also like the fact that the use each other's first names when speaking.
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting article. I liked how you went into detail about the continents available farming land. I did not know this information. The culture part of the paper was very interesting; I realized that some of the serotypes that we hear about Australia are true and that some are not. It was a good paper.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard of people giving bottles of wine as gifts. But I have never knew of people giving six packs of beer this was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteHave they been working on new ways to possibly cultivate their land?
ReplyDeleteIt was very intersting to read that Australia only gets about 17 inches of rain each year.
ReplyDeleteAustralia has always been a place I have wanted to visit. I did not know much about it though, only scenery. Thanks for the information! It makes me want to go there even more now.
ReplyDeleteI love Australia and I'm glad to know that their cuisine is not just "shrimps on the barbie."
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting article. so....If they dont have much farm land does that mean they eat less veges, fruits, etc.? Or do they have to rely on importing these items?
ReplyDeletei really like how you added the greeting culture of the australian people, like the handshakes and smiles. it explained the informality of their meal process.
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