A Canadian man has made a ‘poetic’ observation about life in Australia – but not everyone agrees with him.
Expat Josiah Hein is a popular content creator renowned for documenting his amusing finds since moving Down Under.
But a poignant TikTok video shared by the man, who hails from Alberta,has divided fans.
The substitute teacher posted a video that was filmed in Brisbane‘s Eat Street Northshore, a bustling food market decorated with festoon lighting and bright neon signs.
The 55-second video begins with Josiah noting how ‘everything’ in Australia is ‘really pretty and beautiful’ – and that it was almost overlooked and accepted as the standard and norm by locals.
‘Things in Australia are just pretty and beautiful,’ Josiah said in the video, which has already been viewed over 33,000 times.
‘So every place you go has to be pretty and beautiful. Shops are pretty and beautiful. People are pretty and beautiful.
‘You know, like, I feel like the whole culture is like, around aesthetics.’
Canadian manJosiah Hein has become renowned for documenting his amusing finds since moving down under. The content creator’s latest more poignant video observes how ‘pretty and beautiful’ Australian places and spaces are
The video, shared to his to his@josiahhein account, added that Australians were so accustomed to their spaces and surroundings being pleasing to the eye, that it was almost a requisite for success.
‘I think because Australians are so used to how pretty and beautiful things are that it’s almost like when they’re not [that way], they’re not going to do well,’ he noted.
Josiah went on to say how this attitude is entirely different to his home continent of North America – and explained it further by using the example of eateries and restaurants.
‘I feel like North America is just around flavour,’ he said.
‘Some of our best restaurants are holes in the wall. Like, you wouldn’t even realise they make food. It’s this tiny little shack.’
‘Whereas here [in Australia], it’s like, “This looks good”. You know what I’m saying?’
Josiah concluded by stating that it was simply something he’d noticed – and was enjoying – about being Down Under.
‘It’s beautiful to be in Australia, guys. Wow. What is my life right now?’ he said before signing off with his calling card: ‘Jesus loves you baby’.
The viral video quickly caught the attention of Aussies, many of whom admitted to taking attributes of the scenery, spaces and lifestyle for granted
The viral video quickly caught the attention of Aussies, many of whom admitted to taking attributes of the scenery, spaces and lifestyle for granted.
‘I suppose we never appreciate what we have,’ read part of one response.
Another explained that they’d recently returned to Brisbane after 20 years living in the States – and agreed with Josiah’s observation about Australian life as ‘one of the first things’ they’d noticed since being back.
One echoed this, saying that ‘people who haven’t travelled don’t appreciate how amazing the culture is [in Australia]’.
A fellow expat who had lived in Australia for a few years said they ‘couldn’t agree more’ with Josiah’s take.
‘Australia works really hard to protect heritage buildings and wildlife/trees – even when it doesn’t make sense from a “bottom line”,’ she observed.
Explaining what it is about Australia that makes it beautiful, one described it as ‘breathtakingly natural’.
One reply even offered an explanation, saying that Australians have an appreciation for things ‘looking good’ – and that this extended to citizens and communities making the effort to ensure places and spaces appear ‘clean and welcoming’.
Josiah’s viral video was filmed inin Brisbane’s Eat Street Northshore (pictured) – with the Instagram account playfully responding: ‘Did you just call us pretty?’
‘We love our country,’ simply stated another.
Meanwhile, the most liked comment jokingly suggested that Josiah should become ‘our tourism minister’.
Eat Street Northshore’s own Instagram account also playfully responded to Josiah’s video, which was filmed at their market. They wrote: ‘Did you just call us pretty?’.
However, a handful of Australians were dumbfounded by the expat’s assessment.
‘Are you serious? You’re talking about Australia right?’ read one reply.
‘Have you been to Europe?’ chimed in another.
A lengthy Instagram reply noted that while some Australian places ‘like to be aesthetic’ – it wasn’t a requisite.
‘I don’t entirely agree – some of the best food spots around my city are little places tucked away,’ they noted.
‘I think it depends on where you are,’ read another reply.
‘Sometimes yes, cities, jumping pumping places… Backwater country towns, maybe less so?? It varies from place to place.’
