We Americans are known for our tendency to chit-chat with almost anyone. The more introverted among us might not love it, but in the United States, it’s perfectly normal to make small talk with strangers on a bus or while waiting in line, and we take that friendly chatter with us when we travel.

But in many cultures, shooting the breeze with whoever happens to be nearby isn’t the norm. In fact, as an Australian named Michael shared, it feels downright odd. Michael, who shares his experiences on his From Down Under to Down South YouTube channel, said the biggest cultural difference that struck him after moving from Australia to the southern U.S. was simply “standing in line.”

Australians have an unspoken agreement about not speaking

“Standing in line was where I first realized Australians and Americans often read the same situation very differently,” Michael shared.

“In Australia, if you’re standing in line at the supermarket and a stranger is next to you, there’s a pretty good chance absolutely nothing will happen. You stand there. They stand there…No one says anything. And nobody thinks it’s weird either. In fact, if someone suddenly turned to you and said, ‘Good day, mate. How’s your day going?’ there would be a small moment of panic. You’d immediately start running through possibilities. Do I know this guy? Have we met before? Did I accidentally make eye contact for too long?“

Michael explains that Australians see silence as respectful. “We’re giving each other space. It’s our way of saying, ‘Go, mate. I see you. Carry on.’ That’s the unspoken agreement. You know, we’re both here. We’re both just waiting to pay and leave.”

Australians don’t see standing in line and not speaking as awkward. It’s........

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