An American On TikTok Wants To Know If Australians “Have August”

Once again, a viral video on TikTok has me asking: “are Americans… okay?” You’ve heard of Americans being shocked to learn kettles exist. You’ve heard their desire to “invade” and “save” us during lockdowns. Now get ready for: their shock at learning we have summer at Christmas time, apparently.

American TikToker Jenna Lu posted a seemingly sincere TikTok (which it looks like she’s now deleted) where she asked Australians to explain how we have winter in August. “Would you say Halloween is a spring holiday?” asks Lu. “Do you guys still have traditional Christmas food for winter time, like, hot chocolate?” She finishes the video musing, “Everything seems to be backward for you guys?”

Despite the lack of clarity on whether Lu’s questioning is serious or satirical, plenty of Aussie TikTokers have stitched Lu’s video. Some graciously explain the difference in seasons and different attitudes Australians have to seasonal holidays.

Other non-Australian TikTokers have bandwagoned on to Lu’s video, explaining they themselves had similar questions. And of course, some have reacted to the video with shock, mocking the general ignorance many Americans seem to have of anything outside of their own experience.

A few days later, Aussie presenter and all-around darling Abbie Chatfield stitched a video of an American discovering that French people put butter on their ham sandwiches. Abbie stitched the video of the American woman remarking that such a practice might seem “strange”, but it is better than mayonnaise. Who knew!

Far be it from me to claim the title of cross-cultural expert. I am sure there are niche elements of American culture that would shock me to my core. However, I am quite shaken to learn there are Americans out there who are wholeheartedly unaware of how seasons work. They also apparently don’t know how to use Google.

In fairness, there’s a good chance this video might be a parody. Lu’s account is chockers with comedy content making fun of influencer and social media user stereotypes. All parody is built on a grain of truth, though. And the fact that so many people responded by sincerely echoing her concerns shows that Lu’s performance was striking on something truer than she realised. Even if she intended the video as a joke, is it any wonder Australians took her seriously when many grown Americans still believe in Drop Bears?