Shoutbox

1. What is your gender? Male
   
2. (Optional) Your age and what do you do by occupation? 17, I work in a delicatessen, Going to uni next year after finishing school this year
   
3. Where are you from (country and where in the country)? Perth, Western Australia (metropolitan area of the state)
   
4. What is/are your native language(s)? English (although some Australian slang is far from uncommon)
   
   
5. When you are talking, how far away do you usually stand (or sit) from people? Please give your answers for
   1. family members 1-2 metres
      
   2. intimate friends 1-2 metres
      
   3. normal acquaintances 1-2 meters
      
   4. strangers 1-2 metres
   respectively.
   
6. When you are talking, do you (consciously) touch the people you are talking to? If yes, how frequently? Please give your answers for
   1. family members never
      
   2. intimate friends Very rarely
      
   3. normal acquaintances very rarely
      
   4. strangers Never
   respectively.
   
7. Continued: If people touch more frequently (than the answer you gave in the last question), how do you feel? It's uncommon that somebody would do this but they would most likely be a close friend and/or somebody I could trust. Therefore, I am not bothered by it
   
   
8. In your culture, do people usually look at others when in an elevator? Not for an extended time, although a little nod or a quick hi is not uncommon (unless the person is known then yes)
   
9. In your culture, do people try hard not to touch others when in an moderately-to-much-crowded elevator? Generally, yes
   
   
10. Do you look people in the eyes when you are talking to them? Yes, Whether I know the person or not I try to keep a good level of eye contact (without staring). I heard somewhere that the person should have around 70% eye contact and that is a quite average amount for me I guess. Also I think guys would get a little less eye contact from me, I dont know why but I do that.
    
11. In your culture, do people maintain frequent (yet not excessive) eye contact when talking to others? Yes, I like to think that generally people in my 'culture' are quite confident and happy to make eye contact
    
    
12. In your culture, what do people do non-verbally, when they first meet someone new? Handshake is it is a formal introduction (for an informal meeting can be a nod, or just verbal). It is generally accepted in Australia that the handshake should be firm (without squeezing) and hands should be as level as possible (when somebody is angling their hand down during a handshake it is usually an indication of power). For a formal meeting between a man and a woman, or two women, a cheek to cheek kiss (one) is also normal
    
    
13. Give your ideas about the special meanings (if any) of the following hand/body gestures and facial expressions in your culture:
    1. The OK sign: forefinger and the tumb joining a circle Rarely used but an indication of 'good' or 'ok'
       
    2. Crossing your fingers [b]Hoping something will happen (for younger children it can also be used while telling a white lie)
       
    3. Shurgging your shoulders Unsure, also can accompany Can't be bothered on some occations
       
    4. Winking Can be a sign of a good job or can be used as a secret indicator between two people if they dont want a 3rd person to know about something. Also can represent a personal joke between two people

I completed it, even there have already been a few Australians, I tried to be as detailed as possible with the questions also