An American woman who has made Sydney her home has fully adopted a cherished local courtesy and successfully passed it on to her visiting mother, in a delightful exchange that has captured hearts online.
The Lesson in Aussie Etiquette
Brooke, a 32-year-old originally from Minnesota, has lived in Australia for three years. During a bus ride with her mother, Missy, who was visiting from the United States, Brooke decided it was time for a crucial lesson in Australian public transport etiquette. She explained that before alighting, her mum needed to perform one very Australian act: calling out a loud and cheerful 'thank you' to the driver.
"Are you ready to be Australian?" Brooke asked her mum in a video she later shared. She gave clear instructions, telling Missy to "say a big 'Thank you' when you get off the bus." Initially hesitant about the volume required, Missy questioned, "Well, I can't be too loud, yeah?" Brooke was quick to correct her: "Yeah, you can!"
Embracing an Unspoken Rule
Brooke told the Daily Mail she discovered this unspoken rule just a few months after moving to Sydney, noting it was unlike any custom she had encountered in her travels. After observing it repeatedly on her frequent bus journeys, she eventually gathered the courage to join in.
"I felt a little embarrassed the first time I did it - and so did my mum because it brings attention to you in public," Brooke explained. "But after doing it a few times it feels more normal and you feel good for telling the driver thanks."
A Viral Moment of Cross-Cultural Connection
The video, shared on her Instagram account @brooke.alison.laven, concludes with Missy tentatively following the ritual. After tapping off her Opal card, she delivers a slightly loud, if not entirely confident, "Thank you!" to the driver. The post, light-heartedly captioned "Making sure my mum does things the Aussie way", has been viewed over 455,000 times.
The clip quickly filled with approving comments from amused Australians. "She nailed it," declared one, while another agreed, "Perfect. Spot on." Others praised Brooke for initiating her mother into a beloved cultural moment, with one person calling her "a good egg."
Many local viewers were surprised to learn the practice isn't universal. "I wonder why we do this, apart from common courtesy," one Australian mused. Others shared stories of overseas trips where their habit stood out, like one commenter whose American friend found it odd, or another whose children caused "quite a stir" by thanking London bus drivers one by one.
Howard Collins, Transport for NSW's coordinator general, expressed his appreciation for the gesture. "I have always been impressed by 'the simple decency of people saying "thank you" as they step off a bus'," he said. "It might seem small, but it says a lot. It shows respect for the people who keep our city moving every day."
The consensus among respondents was that this simple act of gratitude is a positive tradition worth keeping. "Someone's just driven you safely to your destination. They very much deserve a thank you," reasoned one person. Another added, "It makes the drivers feel appreciated and it just brightens up people's days."
