I get pleasure from assembly Australians after I journey. I don’t need to solely meet Australians, and I don’t exit in search of them. But when I meet compatriots on the market on the street, it’s nearly all the time a very good expertise.
Australians are nice travellers, I’m satisfied of it. Not each Australian, however most. Australians see the world in methods which are open and curious and beneficiant. We sport a wholesome sense of journey. We will roll with the punches. We get our fingers soiled. We search experiences with an open coronary heart and a pleasant smile.
Most of us depart Australia with the intention of assembly folks from different locations. That’s the entire level of journey, absolutely. And but I discover it solely takes a number of weeks earlier than you’re very happy to listen to an Australian accent, to speak to somebody who instantly understands you, who shares your sense of humour, who is aware of the footy scores (regardless that, I’ve received to let you know, I actually don’t care concerning the footy scores) and who, extra typically than, not shares your basic angle to this enterprise of seeing the world.
I’ve made superb buddies throughout the globe, with Swedes and Scots, Argentinians and Austrians. However I’m additionally nonetheless in contact with so many Australians, nice folks with superb tales, enjoyable travellers, the kind of folks you actually need to have round you.
Chances are you’ll discover a special look to the Traveller web site this week. We’ve had somewhat spruce up, somewhat refresh.
It appeared to me the right time to sit down again and take into consideration who we, the Traveller neighborhood, are as folks, as travellers. What can we characterize? What makes us who we’re?
None of us is ideal. However we’re united by a real love of journey. Not only a want to go on holidays however to see the world, to go locations we’ve by no means been earlier than, to attach with communities and cultures and be taught, expertise, get pleasure from.
And we’re pleasant. That’s not one thing to take calmly, not one thing you’ll be able to say of everybody. Australians are inclined to need to meet folks after they’re travelling. They’re well mannered and so they’re sort. They’ll supply recommendation. They’ll share tales.
That’s largely why I’ve no drawback in any respect listening to an Australian accent on a tour bus or in a shared hostel area or wherever else, actually. In the event you really feel like assembly somebody and having an off-the-cuff chat, swapping a number of suggestions and tales, perhaps even going someplace for a beer, then you definately’re in luck my good friend, as a result of there’s an Australian right here, and you already know they’ll be up for it.
We don’t give ourselves sufficient credit score for this affable nature. It’s not shared by each traveller, not one thing you discover in each a part of the world.
I don’t suppose we’re distinctive in our spirit or we’re something just like the “world’s best travellers”. This isn’t a contest – and even when it was, I’m certain we wouldn’t win. We’re only a respectable bunch who you’ll be able to depend on for a pleasant welcome and a very good time. Individuals who have good tales, individuals who make buddies, individuals who dive in and take a number of dangers.
We’re the Daves of the world, basically. And that’s a very good factor.
E-mail: b.groundwater@traveller.com.au
Instagram: instagram.com/bengroundwater
Twitter: twitter.com/bengroundwater
