The baffling saga of Americans abroad continues as one woman has described her frustration and confusion over the Australian dating scene.
American expat Tate, who recently moved to Melbourne in the Land Down Under, shared that she's used to having strangers offer to buy her drinks in bars in the US but has had no such luck in Australia.
"Australian men just sit back, and I think it's so weird," she said in a now-viral TikTok video. "At first, I felt like I was so ugly, and I couldn't understand why lots of men weren't approaching me." Have a listen:
She went on to reveal that the difference in culture left her feeling rejected.
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"One of the first nights I went out in Australia, I left the bar feeling so defeated," she explained. "In America, it is very common for men to approach you and offer to buy you a drink. Sometimes, it's too aggressive.
"I've been out in Arizona and Los Angeles where men will come up to you, grab your arm, and tell you they're buying you a drink."
She continued: "It's so different here. Men kind of sit back, let you approach them more, and they're not as aggressive with it," she said.
"After one of the first few times I went out, I felt like I was so ugly, I was like 'Why are these guys not approaching me?'
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"That sounds very conceited, but going from what I know, I just thought it was so weird that guys weren't approaching any girls."
Tate said an Australian friend explained that Aussie men rarely offer to buy drinks for women they don't know, which left her 'shocked' by the behaviour, having not been accustomed to paying for her own drinks back in the States.
"There were times I'd go out in America and wouldn't even bring my wallet or card or anything because we would scheme, scam, and look for men," she joked.
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"Everyone would do this, it was such a cultural norm. The guys wouldn't expect anything for it - most of the time you wouldn't get guys who were berating you for not giving them something afterwards."
But some Australian commentators were bewildered by the American's dating standards, with one asking: "Why would anyone buy a stranger a drink without at least expecting a conversation?"
"Cost of living is through the roof," another said. "Drinks are way too expensive for that."
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Tate's video is the latest in a long string of confusing experiences documented by American travellers.
Earlier this month, Americans visiting Europe caused controversy over claims that Europeans simply 'don't drink water.'
One user posted, “I feel like my organs are turning into beef jerky [because] they’re so dry. I can drink a whole bottle of water before my first course even comes at a restaurant.”
It's safe to say that many Europeans were less than impressed, highlighting the many ways one can procure water while out and about.
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One replied: "Water from the tap works perfectly fine, fill your own water bottle for free. Sincerely Sweden."
Another simply said, "Why are these people so dramatic for no reason?"
Topics: US News, Australia, Sex and Relationships
Bec Oakes