Ya, I'll admit those two things have nothing to do with each other. Other than the fact that they're on my mind, anyway.
It's rained enough in the past two months to make me think that I moved to Seattle. Seriously, it's mindboggling how much it has rained. Today seemed to take it to a new level though. I love that living in Sydney means I walk nearly an hour a day, but I don't love that walking so much when it's pouring. By the time I got home tonight, my slacks were completely soaked, my socks were soggy, and my shoes appeared that they'd never be dry again... and this all happened despite my huge umbrella and trench coat. Sigh. Well, at least I'm all snuggly on my couch in my rubber ducky blanket (Thanks Karen!) and Oxy sweatpants as I write this. Sidenote - next person to go to the Oxy bookstore and pick me up a pair of black sweatpants with "Occidental" running down the leg wins my undying love!
Anyway, on to more interesting topics. The more time I spend with Aussies at work, the more I realize that certain language differences are really confusing and yet amusing. I present here a list of differences between US and Aussie language that I've heard during my first 3.5 months here (at least what I can remember at 11:30pm anyway):
-The letter H is pronounced "hay-ch" here instead of "ay-ch"
-The letter Z is pronounced "zed" instead of "zee"
-People are more likely to have "mates" than "friends"
-If all else fails, include a U, S, or L in a word: behaviour, organise, traveller
-One doesn't take a vacation, one takes a holiday
-Those things that float in the ocean are pronounced "boys" (this one seems to make Aussies laugh a lot... they can't get over Americans calling them bu-ees")
-A lady's last evening of singledom is celebrated with a hen's night, not a bachelorette party
-"Arvo" means afternoon
-Few things are beautiful... they're more likely to just be a "beaut"
-Cookies are "biscuits"
-French fries are "chips"
-Your mom is really your "mum"
-Instead of saying "a lot," you say "heaps"
-A cooler is an "esky" (short for eskimo)
-After a long run, you could very well be "knackered"
-You might grab a burger at "Macca's," not Mickey D's
-I'm more likely to buy sheets from a manchester store than Linens n' Things
-No matter the size, they are never shrimp, always "prawns"
-At a meal, you wouldn't put a napkin in your lap, you'd put a "serviette" there. And for the record, "nappy" is the word for diaper
-Snap, Crackle, and Pop might be sad to hear they're called "Rice Bubbles" here
-Your beer comes as in a "schooner," not a pint.
-Speedos are quaintly referred to as "budgie smugglers"
-People don't whine, they "whinge"
Please keep in mind I haven't been able to bring myself to say these things or even sign off my emails with "cheers."
Also, our conference rooms at Google have Aussie themed names. I've found these names pretty educational since I've literally had to go Google most of them out of curiosity. Some of my favorites:
-Iced Vo Vo: a type of cookie
-Jumbuck: Sheep
-Chiko Roll : A snack resembling an egg roll that has Shawn's name written all over it
-Scribbly Gum: A type of eucalyptus tree
-Mozzies: Mosquitoes
-Barramundi: A type of fish
-Corroboree: A meeting for aborigines
-Daintree, Kakadu: Regions of Australia
-Cassowary: A type of bird
-Nippers: Toddler
-Rissole: Meat patty
That's it for now. I'll update as I think of more! :)
P.S. - My LAT friends will laugh to hear that because EVERYONE gets a nickname in Australia, all kinds of people have already taken to calling me "Hails," without knowing the backstory. haha
It's rained enough in the past two months to make me think that I moved to Seattle. Seriously, it's mindboggling how much it has rained. Today seemed to take it to a new level though. I love that living in Sydney means I walk nearly an hour a day, but I don't love that walking so much when it's pouring. By the time I got home tonight, my slacks were completely soaked, my socks were soggy, and my shoes appeared that they'd never be dry again... and this all happened despite my huge umbrella and trench coat. Sigh. Well, at least I'm all snuggly on my couch in my rubber ducky blanket (Thanks Karen!) and Oxy sweatpants as I write this. Sidenote - next person to go to the Oxy bookstore and pick me up a pair of black sweatpants with "Occidental" running down the leg wins my undying love!
Anyway, on to more interesting topics. The more time I spend with Aussies at work, the more I realize that certain language differences are really confusing and yet amusing. I present here a list of differences between US and Aussie language that I've heard during my first 3.5 months here (at least what I can remember at 11:30pm anyway):
-The letter H is pronounced "hay-ch" here instead of "ay-ch"
-The letter Z is pronounced "zed" instead of "zee"
-People are more likely to have "mates" than "friends"
-If all else fails, include a U, S, or L in a word: behaviour, organise, traveller
-One doesn't take a vacation, one takes a holiday
-Those things that float in the ocean are pronounced "boys" (this one seems to make Aussies laugh a lot... they can't get over Americans calling them bu-ees")
-A lady's last evening of singledom is celebrated with a hen's night, not a bachelorette party
-"Arvo" means afternoon
-Few things are beautiful... they're more likely to just be a "beaut"
-Cookies are "biscuits"
-French fries are "chips"
-Your mom is really your "mum"
-Instead of saying "a lot," you say "heaps"
-A cooler is an "esky" (short for eskimo)
-After a long run, you could very well be "knackered"
-You might grab a burger at "Macca's," not Mickey D's
-I'm more likely to buy sheets from a manchester store than Linens n' Things
-No matter the size, they are never shrimp, always "prawns"
-At a meal, you wouldn't put a napkin in your lap, you'd put a "serviette" there. And for the record, "nappy" is the word for diaper
-Snap, Crackle, and Pop might be sad to hear they're called "Rice Bubbles" here
-Your beer comes as in a "schooner," not a pint.
-Speedos are quaintly referred to as "budgie smugglers"
-People don't whine, they "whinge"
Please keep in mind I haven't been able to bring myself to say these things or even sign off my emails with "cheers."
Also, our conference rooms at Google have Aussie themed names. I've found these names pretty educational since I've literally had to go Google most of them out of curiosity. Some of my favorites:
-Iced Vo Vo: a type of cookie
-Jumbuck: Sheep
-Chiko Roll : A snack resembling an egg roll that has Shawn's name written all over it
-Scribbly Gum: A type of eucalyptus tree
-Mozzies: Mosquitoes
-Barramundi: A type of fish
-Corroboree: A meeting for aborigines
-Daintree, Kakadu: Regions of Australia
-Cassowary: A type of bird
-Nippers: Toddler
-Rissole: Meat patty
That's it for now. I'll update as I think of more! :)
P.S. - My LAT friends will laugh to hear that because EVERYONE gets a nickname in Australia, all kinds of people have already taken to calling me "Hails," without knowing the backstory. haha
