We’ve heard it all before – American moves to Australia, American is confused by literally everything we do here, American makes video about it all. However this one fellow from across the pond has shared his surprise at the fact that we sing ‘hip hip hooray’ after Happy Birthday and use Blu Tack, and even I’m fkn shocked.
TikTok user @amfoskey (Adam Foskey) is an American who has moved to Australia, and is now sharing his culture shocks online. There are a few obvious ones like ‘servo’ and ‘ute’, which often catch people from overseas by surprise, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about.
In his first video in the series, Foskey raises some questions about ‘hip hip hooray’, which he claims is something only us Aussies do. That’s news to me, that’s for sure.
“I’m gonna run through some things that I had never heard of before moving to Australia,” says Foskey in a TikTok video.
“I had never heard ‘hip hip hooray’ after singing Happy Birthday to someone, but this is definitely something I can get behind, as it adds to the whole birthday vibe.”
The term isn’t exactly just exclusive to us, but it has absolutely been popularised by us. It has some roots in 19th century England, and some people propose that it also has a much darker history too.
But I had no idea that Americans didn’t know a thing about it?
@amfoskey Things I had never heard of before moving to Aus 🇦🇺🇺🇸 #usa #australia #fyp
“First birthday of an American friend celebrated in USA I yelled that and everyone just looked at me like a crazy person,” wrote one commenter.
“Wait… hip hip hooray isn’t universal?” wrote another.
I am truly fucked up from this information. What do Americans DO after Happy Birthday? Just dive into their cake like animals?
The next thing he claims is that Americans don’t have Blu Tack. I have many questions about how they stick things to walls.
“First up we have blu tack. It’s blue, and it’s an adhesive that sticks things to the wall. Never heard of it, but brilliant.
“Next up, we have one of my favourites and it’s the term ‘can’t be bothered’, which means you don’t really feel like doing something. It’s flexible and works in most occasions.”
I’m honestly shook that Americans don’t say “can’t be bothered”. It doesn’t feel exclusively Aussie, but apparently it is.
@amfoskey Things I had never heard of before moving to Aus 🇺🇸🇦🇺 #usa #australia #fyp
And don’t worry, Foskey has explained how he puts things on walls without having Blu Tack.
@amfoskey Reply to @sarahdaught Blu Tack is a game changer 😋
Honestly, I think I’m the one experiencing culture shock over here.
TikTok is constantly teaching me new things about Americans in Australia, and for that I am eternally grateful.
