Wednesday Wanderlust – Asia Pacific: 10 values and attitudes of the world down under

Asia Pacific – now’s the time to bite the bullet and plan the trip you have always dreamed of. Below are ten interesting insights you may not already know (and ten more incentives to book your trip ASAP)…

1. Australians adopt a ‘work to live’ attitude and do not readily give up their living time – weather, beaches, sports and socialising contribute to the core motivations of Australian living.

2. In Indonesia the strong sense of family and community means that individual interests are subordinated to the collective, producing a higher degree of conformity than in Western societies. ‘What’s mine is yours’ most certainly applies here – and don’t be offended if items are borrowed, the favour will definitely be returned.

3. For Filipino’s emotions as well as objects are shared communally – ‘their success is my success, my shame is their shame’.

4. You aren’t a true New Zealander if you haven’t tried the ‘hokey-pokey’ ice cream, a butterscotch offering unique to the islands and something most islanders are incredibly proud of.

5. For a Filipino the ultimate curse is “to be alone”: children reside at the family home until they marry whilst elders are always invited in to be cared for.

6. Pride for their pubs runs deep through Australian veins – it is deemed ‘un-Australian’ to leave the pub before you have bought a ‘shout’ (round) of drinks.

7. Utang na loob (debt of gratitude) runs deep in Philippine society, implying loyalty and recognition of a favour. This debt between families can be held for generations and, rather than inciting anger, provides the foundation for a strong and lasting bond.

8. Humour is rife between Aussie’s and New Zealander’s with the jokes passed between one another often circling the same theme: sheep! ‘Ewe-phemisms’ are in abundance and pop-culture reflects on this whenever possible (a budding example being ‘I’ll never find another you/ewe’!).

9. Indonesians value ‘flexible time’ prioritising personal relationships above punctuality. A friend never needs to make an appointment, nor should a meeting ever be brought to an end hastily. A common tourist joke when, for example, a taxi is booked is to enquire ‘is that Indonesian or British time’.

10. Following in similar footsteps, when invited to a Filipino household one should never be punctual. The host and hostess would be aghast if their guests arrived on time!

With thanks to our wonderful authors Graham & Yvonne Collin-Jones (Culture Smart Philippines), Graham Saunders (Culture Smart Indonesia), Barry Penney & Gina Teague (Culture Smart Australia) and Sue Butler & Ljiljana Ortolja-Baird (Culture Smart New Zealand) for their fascinating insights to life in the Asia Pacific region.

Looking to learn more? You know where to go…