Queenslander Leah Stevens participated in a cultural exchange with Jamaican Sheldon Spencer. Picture: Supplied

If you’ve just stepped off a plane into the bustling metropolis of Brisbane from the tiny Caribbean island of Jamaica, it’s an especially rude shock.

Bartender Sheldon Spencer recently visited Queensland as part of an exchange program sponsored by Appleton Estate rum, to learn about our culture.

Despite the culture shock, he told news.com.au the game was “pretty awesome”.

What on earth could a Jamaican and a Queenslander have in common? Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

“What I loved about the game was the passion of everyone who was there, through the game from start to finish, it was very infectious and lovely,” he said.

“I feel like a Queenslander now because of the passion, it felt like a big family”.

He spent a few days swapping ideas with local bartender Leah Stevens, from Brisbane, who in turn visited Sheldon at his hometown in Jamaica.

“I think (culture shock) was a little bit worse for him than me. He didn’t bring a jumper — I think he thought it would be the desert, but it was winter,” she laughed.

Sheldon couldn’t believe Australians drink rum in pre-mixed tinnies. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

According to a recent survey of 1000 people, 62 per cent of Australians feel ours is becoming a culturally divided nation, and 45 per cent of people think we’re becoming more closed-minded.

That’s something both Sheldon and Leah want to fix.

At first glance, the two nationalities don’t have much in common — well, aside from the fact that if you send a person from either nation to the snow, they’ll probably act the same way as the Jamaican bobsled team when they arrived at the Calgary Winter Olympics in the hit 1993 film Cool Runnings.

“Something to keep in mind if that you have to respect everyone’s views and perspectives on things,” Sheldon observed.

Leah was blown away by the beauty of Jamaica’s lush sugarcane fields. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

“It’s important to remember that not everyone will appreciate something as much as you do. For example in Australia they really love their rum and cola, and I said they should try cocktails. I think they thought I was looking down on their rum and cola, even though that’s not the case.”

That said, he’s still not sure about pre-mixed tinnies.

“I was shocked. We don’t have anything like that in Jamaica,” he admitted.

“But it’s good to be exposed to Australian culture.”

The pair bonded over their mutual love of rum, and even made a cocktail together combining flavours from both cultures: lime juice, sugarcane and lemon myrtle.

Leah told news.com.au it was love at first sight when she experienced Jamaica’s lush countryside and spectacular sugarcane fields, which she said is its “heartland”.

Getting to know the people was slightly more difficult, however, because she noticed she spoke really, really quickly compared to everyone she met.

Sheldon said he had a ‘total appreciation of the whole cross-cultural experience’. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

“They have all the time in the world for you. When they tell a story, there’s no rush to get to the punchline,” she laughed.

“At first I thought everyone was a little bit quiet and stand-offish, but they’re really welcoming. Once you get them chatting, they’ll share their heart.”

Following the exchange, Leah considers the pair to be “good mates”.

“We’re so different, but bartenders — we’re the same. We’re like a house on fire.

“The most important thing is just to keep an open mind. We get so caught up in our lives, it’s easy to forget there’s a big wide world out there.”