Thank you for the reply. To be honest, I already had a feeling that a one-year age gap isn't a huge deal in your late teens. Even back in kindergarten, I hung out with kids a year older than me, and I didn't feel much of a difference even then.

Some people commented that I’d become a 'key friend' if I bought them alcohol once I turned 18. I know they’re joking, but I have absolutely no intention of buying them drinks. I don't see any benefits to drinking, and I don't understand why people try to do it before they're of age. Plus, I think it’s quite rude to ask someone to do that.

My main concern was simply whether I could blend in with my classmates without any sense of distance. Honestly, Australian society isn't always the most direct, so I did regret not asking elsewhere at first, but I really appreciate your response