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@seekjustice Yes, I was considering asking you about that. I’ve heard they don’t tip in Europe, but I wasn’t sure about Australia.
In America waiters are paid very little, and nearly their entire wages consist of what tips the patrons are generous enough to leave. I believe a 15-20% tip is considered reasonable most places, and a lot of times they even automatically add it to your bill because it’s expected. A lot of people give even more than that if the waiter is good at his job and polite. I hear it’s a big culture shock to people from other countries! 😛
Oh yeah, that would be a great cultural difference to put in your novel! 😉 Of course it would depend on whether your American character was new to Australia or if he’d been there for a while.
A cultural difference I’ve actually experienced is the “personal space” culture of America versus the way people from other countries interact. Do you have “bubbles” of personal space in Australia? In America there’s this basic knowledge that you don’t get too close to someone unless you know them really really well, and even then there are times to stay at a polite distance of a foot or so. Asian visitors really don’t have any concept of this and will hang on to us and sit or stand very close even if we just met that day. Also when my mom and brother went to Germany to hear the Berlin Philharmonic they noticed that Germans must not find it impolite to stare at someone, because they were stared at a lot. Not just stared at from behind hands or out of the corners of people’s eyes, but blatantly stared at, like, “We’re looking at you, because we want to see what you’re like, even though we’ve never met.” 😀 That’s something you don’t do in America.
Have you heard of those things in your studies?
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
@rochellaine AH! How was it? 😀
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com@valtmy And now it’s the dead of night for me… 😛
Thanks! I did enjoy Newsies very much!
Yes, that makes sense. Actually the paramedics scene was very easy for me, but it’s the longer bridge sections that are harder. I’m pretty much having the problem you just described: I have to have some things happen between the important scenes, with a little bit of information that I don’t give in the other scenes. Things like one of Chara’s personality traits I was trying to convey, but it’s kind of a boring trait to describe, and Chara talking to her mom, which explains a few other things. I guess it’ll just take a lot of editing, and a lot of practice. 😉
Ah, so you love your characters for what they do, rather than for who they are. I’m just the opposite. Like I said, I loved Raelyn before she even did anything. 😛 I don’t look forward to writing her because she’s going to do a lot of cool things, but just because she’s herself, and I like her that way.
Your book sounds hilarious, and I’d love to read it when you want betas. (Please? 😉 )
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
Yes, that’s what I read. We have a much higher minimum wage here, but if you go to a nice restaurant, particularly an Asian one, there’s usually a bowl for tips on the counter. But tips are usually an indication of “You went above and beyond expected service so you deserve a little extra” and also its more like tipping the whole staff, rather than a waiter or waitress in particular.
I think that we definitely do have “personal spaces”, but that varies person to person. But between friends and family, its pretty none existent and mostly just applies to strangers or acquaintances. I’m quite a non-touch person so maybe I just notice people trying to touch me more.
And yes, there’s an aversion to staring at people here too. its considered rude, but then, it’s also considered rude not to make eye contact when talking to people.
I think one of the biggest differences I found was the patriotism in America. From the way it was portrayed, America seems to be very patriotic towards the country and the flag (correct me if I’m wrong), but here we don’t even use the word patriot. We’re much more about “Mateship”.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@jenwriter17 It was wonderful! As I was telling SeekJustice, we had the guy who played Mr. Pulitzer as our waiter, and my dad joked about not tipping him if he had realized he was the bad guy beforehand. 😛
@seekjustice Oh, okay. I know it’s an Asian thing, and I’ve heard that it’s European too, but what you’re describing in Australia seems pretty similar to America’s type of personal space.Oh my goodness, yes! I actually didn’t realize how patriotic we are until we had visitors from Canada who commented on it, and now I see apparently we’re more patriotic than a lot of other countries. We sing/play the National Anthem before every sports game and a lot of other things, you can’t go more than a few miles, usually, before you spot a flag, and often there are several between as well. We complain about what the government does, and how terrible our country is, and wonder what’s the matter with the country today, but we’re Americans, and Americans always, so the reason we complain is only because we want the best for our country, and not because we don’t like our country. I don’t really know if there’s anything else that makes us patriotic, because I’ve never experienced the differences. 😛
Oh, oh! Something else you’ve got to know is the American men’s handshake hug. Do you do that in Australia? American men – not so much women, but sometimes – have a greeting which is used by anyone from business friends to close family. It would definitely be something your American character is used to. They go in for a handshake with their right hand, and then step closer with their hands still held and pat each other on the back or hug with their left hands. It was hilarious when we had visitors from Canada, and the dad tried to do this with us, but he totally didn’t get it and did a handshake, then backed off, then came in for a completely separate hug. We laughed at him…after he left! 😀 😛
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
@rochellaine Ha, that’s hilarious! Sounds like you had a great time 😉
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.comI saw a meme on Pinterest the other day about Aussies singing the national anthem and it was so accurate. Basically, we’re usually only asked to sing the anthem during Anzac Day or other military commemorations. We’re asked to take off our hats and stand, then we hesitantly begin to sing “Australians, let us all we rejoice for we are young and free *mumbles the next three verses because we can’t remember it*” And we all hastily sit down again before its even done, clamp Akubras back on heads and wipe sweat off forehead.
That’s the weirdest thing I’ve heard since Sobbin’ Women.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
I understand that feeling. It’s so easy for us writers to become besotted, isn’t it? 😉
I guess the way I love my characters stems from my desire to maintain objectivity in my writing. As evil overlordish as this sounds, my characters are, ultimately, tools. Since I personally know so much about my characters, it is easy for me to fall in love with them but I can’t really expect that from other people, can I? Thus my favourites are usually those I think have the potential to be interesting or entertaining even if they may not be liked. If I enjoyed writing them, chances are readers would enjoy them as well.
And yes, I’m planning on putting up the first three chapters or so of my WIP for review on this site. But, as mentioned, there are some stubborn scenes I need to get through first. 😐
@seekjustice Most Americans only know the first verse of the National Anthem, but it’s a very long verse. The second verse talks about God, so Christians sing it in church or when we get together for hymn sings, but regular people don’t know it. Have you ever heard the American National Anthem? It’s famous for being an extremely complicated song to sing.
The handshake hug weird?!
😛 Haha! I actually find it weird that no one else does it, since it seems a very reasonable way to greet someone…but that’s probably just because I’ve been watching my dad do it since I was a little girl.
But, just because you think it’s weird, let me get some back up. Any Americans here, will you confirm the handshake hug thing? @jenwriter17 @ariel-ashira @catwing
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
Our anthem is quite long too, and we usually only sing the first two verses.
Well I guess its not weird…I’ve just never seen anyone do it. It just sounds awkward, trying to handshake and hug at the same time.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice It’s about the least awkward greeting I can imagine, for men. They won’t go in for a hug usually, but a handshake is never awkward. Then they can show they’re a bit more friendly by adding a half hug on to the end of it.
Women do it sometimes, but it’s mostly a guy thing. And a guy greeting a woman will usually either shake her hand or hug her separately, not do the handshake hug. Two women greeting each other are pretty much like any other country, I think. If they don’t know each other very well, probably a handshake, if better, a hug, and if well, a fake kiss on the cheek. You know, where you hug someone and kiss the air next to their cheek? So it’s just men basically that do our weird American greeting which mixes up the handshake and the hug. 😛
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
@rochellaine @seekjustice I confirm the handshake hug thing. At least, I know it happens in Alaska, Kansas, and Missouri, and maybe New Mexico. I think that there has to be a level of friendship already established for them to do it, since its more friendly and less formal than a handshake.
"In a mask, was he?"
Well those other greetings are pretty standard here, particularly the fake kissing when it comes to older people. I often shake older peoples hands and hug my female friends and do some kind of awkward head nodding thing with male friends.
Um…hmm…I was wondering if I would be able to ask a favour of you?
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice Oh my goodness! The awkward head nodding thing with male friends! 😛 Sometimes the guy is confident and just goes out to shake your hand, but if he’s not sure if you want to and you’re too shy to initiate the handshake, it’s kind of awkward. Especially if you just hugged his sister or something… 😉
Um…hmm…of course! 😀 What can I do? (Please don’t ask me to fly to the moon, though, because I positively won’t do that.)
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
@ariel-ashira Thank you! 😀 I was so sure, but then, trying as one American to state a fact about our huge country was kind of intimidating and I wanted to make certain. 😛 @seekjustice needs to come to America to see just how normal and not-awkward the handshake hug really is. 😉
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
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