US expat Adam Foskey lists things he had NEVER heard of before moving to Australia from America

An American expat living in Australia has listed the unusual things he never heard of before moving Down Under – including capsicum, the Australian date format and four weeks paid annual leave.

Adam Foskey shared a now-viral TikTok video listing the four things he discovered that are different to his home country – including the name of a vegetable.

‘Capsicum, which is just the name for a bell pepper. I’ve never heard of someone saying that before moving here,’ the traveller said.

Mr Foskey said another term he found confusing was ‘fortnightly’ referencing every two weeks. 

‘We have the term “fortnightly” which means once every two weeks. So in America, I would just use “bi-weekly” but I actually think it means something else here,’ he said.

Another thing he struggled at first to get his head around was Australia’s date format, which is ‘dd-mm-yyyy’. While the US is one of the few countries that use ‘mm-dd-yyyy’ as their date format.

‘Australia’s date format, which is day, month, year. Having the day before the month really throws me for a loop, especially when the day is 12 or under,’ he said. 

Finally, Mr Foskey said he enjoyed taking four weeks of paid annual leave. In Australia, employees accumulate a minimum of four weeks paid annual leave every year of service with an employer.

‘Four weeks annual leave which is unheard of in America… Yes we do get annual leave but not four weeks. I’ve only ever heard of two weeks in the US,’ he said.

‘[Australia’s annual leave] is 100 per cent something I can get behind.’

American expat Adam Foskey living in Australia has listed the unusual things he never heard of before moving Down Under – including capsicum, date format and four weeks annual leave

His video has since been viewed more than 190,000 times, with many insisting Australia’s date format ‘makes more sense’ than America’s version.

Mr Foskey’s list comes just weeks after he revealed he had ‘never heard’ of Blu Tack, doonas, ‘servos’ and the phrase ‘can’t be bothered’ before moving to Australia. 

First he admitted to not being aware of the Blu Tack – a putty-like adhesive that can be used to mount photos, posters and paper onto walls and surfaces.

The removable product can be reused several times without leaving residue behind.

Next, he explained how Australians use the term ‘can’t be bothered’ when ‘they don’t really feel like doing something’.

As Australians have a tendency to shorten words, Mr Foskey said he has never previously heard of the term ‘servo’, which refers to a petrol station.

‘I would call it a gas station, but servo is short, sweet and easier to say,’ he said.

Mr Foskey’s list comes just weeks after he revealed he had ‘never heard’ of Blu Tack, doonas, ‘servos’ and the phrase ‘can’t be bothered’ before moving to Australia 

‘Lastly we have a doona, which I would call a bed spread of comforter, but it’s just something to keep you warm on those cold winter nights,’ he said. 

Earlier this week he shared another video he said he was unfamiliar with the concept of degustation until he relocated from his native Georgia.

Degustation menus, also known as tasting menus, see diners being served multiple small portions of the chef’s signature dishes in one sitting – a trend Mr Foskey called ‘amazing’.

He said he was also surprised by how Australians sing ‘happy birthday’, noting that Aussies often end the celebratory tune by chanting ‘hip hip hooray’ which is something Americans never do.