I moved to Australia hoping I'd be eating bloomin' onions and Alice Springs Chicken regularly. Turns out Alice Springs is 2,500km from Perth, and Australians don't deep fry with the same frequency as Americans. My mistake.
In many ways, Dubai was more similar to America than Perth. Dubai came to host all the American joints ranging from Johnny Rockets to Applebee's. I hear there is now an Outback Steakhouse in Dubai Festival City. On a good day, Spinney's would carry grits. In contrast, Perth is an alternate universe, where it's not "Burger King," it's "Hungry Jack". And K-mart is a legitimate place to shop.
Some changes have taken getting used to, and some continue to elude me. An example is the Ute. Can't make up your mind? Half car, half pick-up. Brightly colored. For the bogans.
Speaking of cars- driving on the left started off a little hazardous and slowly became semi-natural. I've found that if the streets are empty, and I'm tired or remembering the days before Australia, my car sometimes ends up on the right... Other car-related things are ingrained. I walk to the wrong side of the car, look the wrong way before crossing the street, and I still am surprised to see a small child or dog driving the car.
Not only driving, but learning the language has been a new thing. There's typical slang:
in the arvo = in the afternoon
bogan = redneck (mullet, flannel, wear black and love AC/DC)
a ripper of a time = an excellent time
no worries / no dramas = ok
partner = mate
mate = partner
my battery carked it = my battery died
brekky = breakfast
rego = vehicle registration
on the dole = on unemployment / welfare
dole bludger = someone who abuses the dole
he's crook = he's sick
and "heaps" more.
Aussies shorten most words or add an -o to the end, but if the word is already short, then you may lengthen it then shorten it again (rhyming slang):
hit the road -> hit the frog and toad -> hit the frog
Yankee / American -> Yank -> Septic Tank -> Seppo
answer the phone -> answer the dog and bone -> answer the dog
There are several more but i'm not sure which ones reamin in circulation. Then there is just bad pronunciation:
-Haitch = H
-Day-boo = debut
-Ku-doss = kudos
-mass-ahge = massage
-duoDEEnum = duodenum
-intestine (rhymes with wine)
bad examples, I have friends in medicine here...
d instead of t:
-cardoons
-thirdeen
sh instead of s:
-purshuit
-capshule
-shtudent
While I only hope to introduce bloomin onions and grits, I have latched on to the local favorite drinks- Ginger Beer, Lemon Lime with Bitters, Agrum Blood Orange... and man I am a fan of the meat pies! 2010 Australian Citizenship test
1. Do you understand the meaning, but are unable to explain the origin of, the term 'died in the arse'?
2. What is a "bloody little beauty"?
3. Are these terms related: chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?
4. Explain the following passage: 'In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney and a bit of biffo.'
5. Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to Surfers in their Torana. If they are travelling at 100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca Dacca, how many slabs will each person on average consume between flashing a brown eye and having a slash?
6. Complete the following sentences:
a) 'If the van's rockin' don't bother ?
b) You're going home in the back of a ?
c) Fair crack of the ?
7. I've had a gutful and I can't be fagged. Discuss
8. Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
9. Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their front yard 'up on blocks'? Is his name Bruce and does he have a wife called Cheryl?
10. Does your family regularly eat a dish involving mincemeat, cabbage, curry powder and a packet of chicken noodle soup called either chow mein, chop suey or kai see ming?
11. What are the ingredients in a rissole?
12. Demonstrate the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.
13. Do you have an Aunty Irene who smokes 30 cigarettes a day and sounds like a bloke?
14. In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean salad, a chop and two serves of pav washed down with someone else's beer that has been flogged from a bath full of ice?
15. When you go to a bring- your-own-meat barbie can you eat other people's meat or are you only allowed to eat your own?
16. What purple root vegetable beginning with the letter 'b' is required by law to be included in a hamburger with the lot?
17. Do you own or have you ever owned a lawn mower, a pair of thongs, an Esky or Ugg boots?
18. Is it possible to 'prang a car' while doing 'circle work'?
19. Who would you like to crack on to?
20. Who is the most Australian: Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson, John 'True Blue' Williamson, Kylie Minogue or Warnie?
21. Is there someone you are only mates with because they own a trailer or have a pool?
22. What does "sinkin piss at a mates joint" and "getten para" mean?
23. How far would you wear your mockies?
Inside only?
Back yard only?
To the letter box?
To the milk bar for a packed of winni blues?
To the movies?
To the pub?
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