Intercultural Communications Down Under

Years ago, my family and I were at Tasmania, Australia. It was a long trip and we had a long day ahead of us, so we decided to go to a fruit store to get some fruit for the journey ahead.

We went to the local fruit store and we saw the fruit packed very neatly in single trays, unlike the local fruit stacked in heaps. So my mother got on her usual way, looking to pick the best fruit. However, these fruit were packed in such a way that the stems were embedded in the foam. So once you pick them out, you would not be able to put it back. My mother suddenly realised that she wasn’t supposed to pick the fruit in her usual manner, so she quickly apologised to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper explained that most fruit stalls in Australia are set up in a similar manner, so as to reduce the likelihood of germs and dirt getting onto the fruit. Even though most people would wash the fruit when they get home, it is also quite rude to touch the fruit and leave it.

This brought me to think of the manner in which Singaporeans choose their fruit. Some would pick it up, look at the skin, feel the texture, smell the fruit and poke for firmness; finally deciding not to buy that fruit. Imagine the dismay of an Australian shopkeeper if we did that!

Although this wasn’t a very serious misunderstanding, it does highlight one of the differences in the culture in Singapore and Australia.

PS: Sorry for late post, it was saved as a draft and I forgot to publish this.