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Kaymie Wuerfel relocated from Florida to Sydney after getting married to her Australian partner and has been learning to live in the Land Down Under.

To pass the extra free time that came with the pandemic, she began documenting the differences between life in the US and Australia in a series of TikTok videos which have grown her audience to 242.8K followers.

In a recent clip, for example, Wuerfel admitted that she realized garbage disposals and ranch dressing were quintessential American symbols only after she moved abroad and saw that other places don't really care about them. Who could've known!

Continue scrolling to check out what other cultural nuances the TikToker has noticed.

More info: TikTok | Instagram

Kaymie Wuerfel left her home in Clearwater, Florida for Sydney to be with her Australian husband

Image credits: kayywuerf

She adjusted to Aussie life quite well and is now working on a TikTok series, naming all the things she realized are super American

@kayywuerf

Come Say Hi On IG: kayywuerf 🌸 #fyp #american #america #usa #cultureshock #travel #australia #straya #expat #traveltiktok #learnontiktok

♬ Castaways - The Backyardigans

#1

Pharmaceutical Ads Everywhere

Pharmaceutical Ads Everywhere

Especially the ones where people look super happy while they list the 25 ways it might kill you

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Leo Domitrix
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! "Live a better life while (and the voice goes into super-speed) risking coma, oily discharge and death. Consult your doctor if you suffer one of those side effects." OK, I'm dead. Do I ouija board the doctor or what?

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"I moved to Australia in November 2019 and I've adapted quite well," Wuerfel told Bored Panda. "The first six months or so were a huge adjustment period as you can tell from my comedic skits. Now it feels like home to me."

The content creator came up with the idea for the series in Spring 2020. "I had just canceled a trip that had been scheduled for that March to visit my family in America (due to Covid) and I was really down and missing home. I decided to make a [sketch] about what it's like being an American in Australia to make light out of the situation. It was my first viral video!"

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Interestingly, Kaymie almost didn't post it because she thought it was silly. But now she's glad she did!

#2

Buying Cigarettes At The Pharmacy

Buying Cigarettes At The Pharmacy

"Hi! I'm here to pick up my medication & the cigarettes I shouldn't be smoking while I'm taking it..."

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#3

Doing Math At Check Out To Calculate Sales Tax

Doing Math At Check Out To Calculate Sales Tax

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Vicky Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so annoying honestly and pointless! Just put the tax on the price!!!!

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#4

The Ice Obsession

The Ice Obsession

We put TONS of ice in practically everything. We probably get away with this because we have free refills. But before I moved abroad I literally wouldn't drink something unless it had lots of ice

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Robert T
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You get free refills because you can get next to none of the drink in the cup with all the ice. McDonalds do this here and we think it is a right rip off.

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Of course, Australia and the USA have many things in common, too. Both are large land masses, both predominantly English speaking, both with an ancient native population, and both relatively recently settled by European cultures. Both are democracies and both are meritocracies. Both cultures tend to be fairly materialistic and both tend to be open to new ideas and risk in business. Besides, Australians, like Americans, are usually hard-working and results-orientated.

But as you can see from Wuerfel's videos, there are also differences between the two. (It's important to note, however, that they don't make one better or worse than the other.)

"Australians can have a dry and perverse sense of humor and will often deliberately say the exact opposite of what they actually mean," Sue Bryant, a writer and editor specializing in global business culture and travel, wrote in Country Navigator. "Americans, on the other hand, have a very explicit communication style and irony can fall flat on its face. Each side should bear these differences in mind."

#5

Halloween

Halloween

"For Halloween!!! It's in 43 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes"
".. are you being serious?"
"Yes. 100%"
"Halloween is for kids.."

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#6

Bathroom Stall Gaps. (We Are The Only Country This Silly)

Bathroom Stall Gaps. (We Are The Only Country This Silly)

I have literally been conditioned to look down the entire time I'm inside

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Robert T
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It wouldn't susprise me if someone in the US has been prosecuted for exposing themselves whilst INSIDE a bathroom stall!

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#7

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte

And pumpkin flavored everything...

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"Australians believe firmly in 'mateship', showing loyalty to friends, family and colleagues," Bryant explained.

"Australians working in teams may be more loyal to the team than to their employer. Americans, on the other hand, may be more loyal to the concept of performance and profit and for many, covering their own back, in a culture where hiring and firing can be extremely rapid."

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Bryant said the differences between Australians and Americans are visible even in the way they talk. The former, for instance, "are great lovers of abbreviation and informality in speech; much more so than Americans."

The traveler said Australians tend to shorten words wherever possible and some regional accents, combined with this, can make people difficult to understand at first.

#8

Root Beer & Dr. Pepper

Root Beer & Dr. Pepper

"Sorry we don't have that"
"Dr.Pepper then?"
"We don't have that either"

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Robert T
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They've started selling root beer in the UK, and we've had Dr. Pepper for as long as I can remember.

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#9

Ranch Dressing. Because It's A Salad Dressing.. But We Put It On Everything

Ranch Dressing. Because It's A Salad Dressing.. But We Put It On Everything

We flavor chips with it. Put it on potatoes. Use it as a veggie dip. Chicken wing dip. Some people even put it on pizza

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Scagsy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm really desperate to try this North American delicacy. Coming from the UK we don't have it and I feel like I badly need to try it. It's even on my bucket list: try ranch. What does it taste like please? I need to know.

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#10

Currency That's Pretty Much All The Same Color

Currency That's Pretty Much All The Same Color

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AnnaBanana
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Much better to have different coloured money - especially when it's dark and you're drunk!

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But even if you get something wrong, an Aussie will probably just say "no worries, mate."

Maybe it's all the sunshine, the miles of beaches, or the excellent quality of life, but nothing much seems to get under their skin. Even when something does go awry, there's another phrase you'll hear Australians say that keeps things nice and chill: "she'll be right, mate."

#11

Sorority Girls + College Parties/Sports

Sorority Girls + College Parties/Sports

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Leo Domitrix
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I *am* American and have never understood the sorority/fraternity/parties thing.

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#12

Garbage Disposals(Other Countries Just Don't Usually Have Them)

Garbage Disposals(Other Countries Just Don't Usually Have Them)

They will never be terrorized by the sound a spoon makes when it's left inside when you turn it on

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Robert T
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have enough trouble with fatbergs in our sewers. Add in some rotting food and we could probably solve the current gas crisis with the methane produced. No thank you.

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#13

24 Hours Diners

24 Hours Diners

I could really go for some 2AM pancakes. "Yeah, which of the ten 24 hours places nearby do you want to go to?"

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Leo Domitrix
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where in the US did she live? B/c I can't get 2 AM pancakes anywhere I've lived unless I make 'em. :-(

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#14

Red Solo Cups

Red Solo Cups

It's not just a thing in the movies.. You'll see these at almost an American party

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#15

College Sports Being A Huge Deal

College Sports Being A Huge Deal

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

College sport is a way for colleges to earn loads of money and attract more students who will also bring in loads of money. Everything in the US is about money, from religion via education via charity to health care.

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#16

Putting Cheese On Everything

Putting Cheese On Everything

Broccoli, potattoes, salads, eggs, fries

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#17

The 7-Eleven Big Gulp

The 7-Eleven Big Gulp

The big gulp is 3.785 ML (McDonald's Large in Australia is 650ML) And we still get free refills

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Robert T
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's either 3.785 litres or 3,785 ml. 3.785 ml is less than a spoon of cough medicine! (US uses the same separators as the UK - decimal point is a dot - Europe is reversed, so Europeans will wonder what I'm moaning about).

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#18

Calling Everyone Mr. & Mrs.

Calling Everyone Mr. & Mrs.

family, friends, teachers, neighbors,

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Vicky Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

?? It's the polite thing to do! Don't everyone do that? OK not to friends but I'm not gonna say to teachers neighbours or older people in family "Hey bro what's up".

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#19

Grocery Shopping At Target

Grocery Shopping At Target

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Vicky Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If other countries don't have target it's normal that we cannot do that

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#20

Cheap Breakfast Combos

Cheap Breakfast Combos

That's not to say other places don't have breakfast combos... But in America you'd get all of this for like $12

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Pat Bond
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$12 for breakfast doesn't strike me as cheap. I can get more than that in my local cafe in the UK for about £7 and that would be considered expensive if bought daily.

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#21

Canned Whipped Cream

Canned Whipped Cream

And canned anything actually

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