Dating is hard no matter what country you’re living in, but an expat has noticed that dating in Australia can be extra difficult because blokes there don’t put “much effort in.”
Kate Beckitt, 28, originally from the UK, works in marketing and as a fitness instructor and she’s been surprised by the casual approach Australian men take to dating.
Beckitt said that while she’s sure some Aussie men “definitely do” put effort into modern romance, her experience has been a more low-effort approach.
“I do wonder if it is just me? But I’ve spoken to quite a few girls who all feel the same,” she told news.com.au.
So what does low-effort dating look like? Well, it’s all about the general approach — there’s a lack of planning.
“Just being a bit unorganized with planning dates and leaving things to the last minute and then wanting to keep it casual for a long time,” she explained.
She’s noticed Australian men are less keen on getting into relationships and far more into “situation-ships,” a modern dating term coined to describe when you’re dating someone regularly but in that gray area of not being in a monogamous relationship — but also definitely being more than friends.
Beckitt said that back home, it is normal for first dates to involve, well, an actual date. You pick a location, dress up a bit, and usually share a meal. Down Under, it is more of a hangout scenario, she believes.
“In the UK, dates are typically for going for drinks or dinner, whereas here it’s quite common to have coffee or ice cream or a walk. Something more chill to see if you actually vibe,” she said.
“Nice as an idea but I quite like a bit of liquid courage to help.”
The fitness instructor said Australia’s “laid-back” approach to dating often leaves her unsure if a guy likes her.
“It can be a bit tricky to know where you stand,” she admitted.
The 28-year-old imagined moving to Australia could involve the whole stereotype of securing a suffer-tanned boyfriend, but she’s found that the reality is more about trying to find the single men.
“I’ve noticed that so many people are in relationships that they’ve been in for years. People seem to stick to the same area with people they’ve known for years — lots of childhood sweethearts. Everyone seems to be in a couple. Makes it hard to find single people.”
While she’s still adjusting to the different dating styles, Beckitt still has plenty of hope that she might meet someone in Australia.
“I know there are lots of lovely Aussie men out there and lots of my friends have wonderful boyfriends.”
