The Aussie Barbie

A story about a routine activity
make a new friend

Coming to a foreign country food is always a major concern. Will the food be similar to what I eat at home? What if I don’t like their food? Where will I find my favorite foods? However, coming to Australia, a very westernized country, I was not too worried about getting all my meals. That was until after the first couple of days on our own in our new home we realized that everything on campus closed at 4:30 and finding a good dinner was harder than expected. After a few days of Dominos and PBJ sandwiches, we all decided to start finding better options for dinner.

In the Australia a barbecue, or "barbie" as it is commonly referred to around the world, is more than just a meal of grilled meat and some side dishes. It is a traditional social gathering that bonds people forever. So, in the Australian spirit, we began to barbecue all of our dinners together.

Now almost everyday there is a post in our Facebook group saying, bbq 7:30?, and we all gather around the grill to cook a variety of food. Chicken, veggie burgers, vegetables, and all sorts of steaks line the grill as we stand around chatting about our day, telling funny stories from the previous weekend’s shenanigans, and discussing our plans for future Australian adventures. It has become such a welcomed part of my day that without it the day feels incomplete. 

If we aren’t grilling we often find another way to share a meal. Whether it is a stop at Lord of the Fries in the food court before a movie on a weeknight, a salad and homework in between classes, a drunken KFC or Maccas sandwich in the middle of the night, or a trip to the Chicken Bar for a souvlaki on a hungover Saturday, eating together has bonded this group in ways only a shared love of food can. 

At home our family gathers around the table for dinner every night to share a home cooked meal and each others company; it is one of the things I miss most when I am at school. Being able to share a meal with my companions here in Australia has made them become closer to me than just friends, they are my family here and this adventure would not be the same without them. 

So while it started as an incredible inconvenience that every food place on campus or in the area closes before a standard dinner time, it has led to many memories made standing around the grill enjoying the process of making a meal together.