I fell in love with Australia during a semester abroad in college, and I moved back almost as soon as I graduated. It's been a really great experience, and I think my favorite thing about the land down under is the unique Australian culture. For me, it was comforting knowing that Australia has a culture very similar to many Western countries, but there are still many quirks and customs that make it unique. If you want to fit in when you visit, I've found a few dos and don'ts when it comes to Australian culture.

First and foremost, people in Sydney and around the country are very receptive to visitors, and they'll greet you warmly. It's important to know the little things, though. If you're a male hailing a taxi by yourself, sit in the front seat. Women shouldn't be surprised to be greeted by other women with an occasional kiss on the cheek. Australian culture also has a quirky upside-down sense of humor. I'm fairly tall, and it took me a little while for me to put together while people would jokingly call me 'Shorty'. It's knowing the little details like these that can prevent you from getting weird looks, or from having to deal with awkward situations caused by misunderstandings.

I also recommend that you avoid overusing the Australian slang terms that you've probably picked up from movies. Don't walk around greeting everyone you meet with a cheery G'day, mate! Nor should you tell someone to throw another shrimp on the barbie. That shrimp might be you. It makes you look like an obnoxious dag (That's slang for socially inept person...see what I did there?) and you run the risk of ruining what could have otherwise been a pleasant interaction. Australian culture is obviously cherished here, so be respectful.

Here's a tip for business travelers that I picked up the hard way. When I showed up to work on my first day in a navy suit, I realized that every guy, and I mean every guy, was wearing a charcoal gray suit. Apparently it's a holdover from the British influence here. Regardless of the reason, I stuck out like even more of a sore thumb than I already did being a new employee. Right after work it was off to buy 10 charcoal gray suits.

While I think that this is far from an exhaustive overview of Australian culture, it's a good start. I'm sure as I spend more time here I'll pick up more pointers to pass on to fellow travelers.