Category Archives: Experience Australia

Australian Slang

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I was listening to a podcast earlier today on Australian slang and in the 11 minutes they (non-Australians) talked, they discussed about NOTHING until at the very end when they listed like 4 slang terms in one minute.  Not super duper impressive.  SOOOooooOOOOooo I decided to list a few quick Australian Words/Slang for you (but I did this quickly so it’s very incomplete) aaannnddd then I added a fun link to a more comprehensive dictionary at the bottom.

Enjoy! or rather, “Cheers!” to stay on theme. :)

  • Arvo = Afternoon
  • Barbie = Barbecue
  • Banger (bang-ah) = barbecue sausage “mystery meat”
  • Bloke = Man
    • ex: he’s a good bloke
  • Bludger (bludg-ah)= lazy person
  • Bogan = derogatory term for someone who is an idiot or kind of a mix between White Trash and Country Bumpkin.
  • Boot = trunk of car
  • Breckie = Breakfast
  • Cheers (chee-as) = Goodbye, Thanks, Toast or Validation
  • Cuppa = Cup of tea
  • Flat = Apartment
  • FlatMate = Someone who lives in your flat with you
  • Footy = Rugby/Football
  • G’Day (gidday) = Good Day
  • Goin’ alright? = doing ok?
  • Heaps = lots, tons, a bunch
  • Indicator = blinker
  • Jumper (jump-ah)= Cardigan/jacket/pullover
  • Mate = Friend
  • Ozzie = Australian
  • Ripper (ripp-ah)= awesome, great
  • Roommate = someone who shares your bedroom with you
  • Speed hump = speed bump
  • VB – Victoria Bitter (kind of beer)

Click on the Dunny to be transferred to a great Australian Slang website!!

 

dunny

 

Orange Sky – Sand Storm – Bondi Beach and Part 5 :)

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Ok – so today is supposed to be my LAST 200 words about online communities but BEFORE we get to it (cuz I know you’re all like SUPER DUPER EXCITED about it) I want to show you what I woke up to this morning.

CRRAAAZZZYYY!  I’ve seen the world glow before.  A bright moonlit night with snow all around makes for a stunning BRIGHT night.  But glowing red, orange and sometimes blood orange?  Today was a first.  Definitely a wow!

Ok so I’ve come to realize that online communities and our identities within online communities are complicated topics!!!  There’s no way we could really have a full blown conversation about it in only 200 words per pop.  But hey – it’s the effort that counts right?  :)  Thanks to the commentors (scoMan, dave, ebonyJewel and MattyMatt) for commenting!!!  It’s always great to hear others’ insight!!

And for those of you who I have no doubt WANTED to comment deep down in your heart (which is everyone else i.e MOM, TIM, ALEXIS, SCOTT and all of my other bloggy friends) thank you ALSO because life is more fun with family and bloggy friends!!!   :)  )  Oh and it’s not too late to throw in your 2 cents because I’ve decided to write my final paper in a different class on this topic.  :)

Down to bizness.

ONLINE COMMUNITIES – You and Me are a CommuniTY – part #5 – wrap up.

(btw anyone notice that I did part NUMBER 5 or part NUMBER 4? LOL I did it just to be silly.  I am fully aware, thank you, that it SHOULD be part 5 or just #5. hee hee)

I’ve decided that I am fascinated by this topic.  100%.  Our world is becoming more and more digital every day.  We move to online communities more and more every day.  Our selves, our identities, and our culture are all being impacted by this change.  And though I suppose our identities, cultures and selves always change, I think it’s important to recognize the significance of online avatars/identities and how this increase in control over image may affect our core definitions.

I took this opportunity to round up some (only 3 because most of them were dumb) quotes on self image.

1“The ”self-image” is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self image and you change the personality and the behavior.”
2“Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become”

Maxwell Maltz quotes (US plastic surgeon, motivational author, and creator of the Psycho-Cybernetics, 1927-2003)
3“If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?”

Chuck Palahniuk quotes (American freelance Journalist, Satirist and Novelist. b.1961)

I suppose one interesting thing about networks and identities is they change with time.  As I meet and become connected with more people, my network grows.  As my connections meet and become connected with more people, my network grows.  As my identity is tried and tested with time, it evolves and takes stronger shape.  I don’t believe we can STOP a network or an identity.  We may take on new layers, new directions and new flavors, but the network around us and our identity (regardless of how many we choose to have) all overlap a bit with each other.  We can’t go backward – only forward.

Slippery as ice!! Sydney’s dangerous sidewalks!!!

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What’s more dangerous than walking on icy snow in wicked tall high heels?

Snow Bootsphoto by John Fraissinet’s under a CC license

Walking on SYDNEY SIDEWALKS in FLIP FLOPS!!!!

photo by Joseph Robertson under a CC license

No joke.  I’m not kidding you.  AT ALL.  Walking down a sidewalk in Sydney’s CBD when it’s raining and you’re wearing normal flippy floppies (or thongs for all you Aussies) is MORE SLIPPERY than walking along an icy sidewalk in heels.  And believe me – I have experience with both.

Normal sidewalks?  No problem.  The rain can’t get ME down.  But a sidewalk in the city? or in the central business district? or just anywhere non-residential?  WATCH OUT FOR YOUR LIFE!!!  If you don’t have kick-A traction on the soles of your shoes – you are going DOWN – flat on your rear.  Or if you have the powers of grace (like me hee hee) you’ll just slide around and look like you’re ice-skating for the first time.

Slippery When Wet Sign

photo by ??Tex Texin?? under a CC license.

I guess the good news is I get to feel like I’m dancing in the rain – a nice slippery smooth dance.   and really … if it weren’t for my flailing arms trying to keep balance – I’d probably be mistaken for a fairytale ballerina.

slipperyphoto by ME :)

Song by Tegan and Sara “Back in your head” (Tiesto remix)

Big Bloggy Meet and Greet!

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Want to know what I did today?  Besides watch Pandemic the greatest most terrible made-for-TV-movie since that really crap one about locusts while I was trying to do homework … I HAD A BLOGGY MEET AND GREET!  YAY!  Oh and I made a very important decision that will result in my voluntarily instigating a DTR – WHAT?? Later – you’ll hear about that later.

RIGHT NOW it’s time to hear about the Big Bloggy Meet and Greet!  YAY!!!  First I met AussieErin, LMCHugh and her friend Emily for lunch.

a

Then Erin had to go back to work and we caught up with Elsja.

b

We walked around the Botanical Gardens where TONS AND TONS of orange hairy bats live and squawk.

f

And trees like this drop branches without warning (that’s what the sign said.)

d

c

e

And I’m tired and going to bed so I won’t tell you about how some weirdo guy stopped us and asked if we would step on his back so he could take a picture of travelers stepping on him.  Yeah.  You can read about it on Elsja’s Blog HERE.

Good night!  I’ll come up with something more tomorrow.  :)

Experience Australia – The Little Things – Fancy Dress Parties

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What do you think of when you hear the phrase “Fancy Dress Party” ??  Do you think of long gowns and tuxedos?  Maybe you think of cocktail dresses and suits?  In AUSTRALIA a fancy dress party is a fancy way of saying HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY.  Oh yeah!  It’s Halloween any day, any month, any time of the year.  Australians LUV their fancy dress parties.

To mention just a few of the Fancy Dress Parties I’ve been invited to since arriving… there was a “Country Party” which wasn’t like hickville no-no you were supposed to dress up AS a country.  A “Carnivale Party” where I attached sequins to my jungle green bra, glued pearls and beads all over my body and TA DA! I was ready, set, GO!  An “Anything goes” party which really truly was no different than Halloween.  And then of course I was invited to an actual Halloween party which was ALSO no different than Halloween.  In addition there have been James Bond parties, Disco parties, Beach parties, Santa’s Naughty Helper parties – you get the picture.  This past weekend’s fancy dress party was a “Uniform Party.”  I went as a school girl.  :) YAY!  That’s because I AM a school girl.  :)

Anyway … here’s a little video of the party – enjoy!!

Experience Australia – The Little Things – A Little Bit of Bondi Beach

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Have you heard of Bondi Beach?   I hope you said YES because it’s where I live. And if you’ve been reading this blog – you should know that.  ;) But Bondi Schmondi right?  Who cares?  I DO! Wikipedia has this to say about it:

“Bondi Beach is a popular beach.”

[roll my eyes]  No really?  Wikipedia failed this time. So I’ll just spout off some stuff I know. It’s the most popular beach in Sydney (and probably all of Australia) – it gets super crowded in the Summer – we had a shark attack this past month – the water is UNBELIEVABLY CLEAR and blue and pretty :) :) oh and it’s also where they hosted some of the Summer Olympic Games.  AND OMGOSH!!! I almost forgot – Bondi is home to the television series Bondi Vet AND Bondi Rescue.  I can’t stand to watch either show but hey – at least we have them! ;)

I think I should also tell you I have a baby crush on the dude from Bondi Vet.  He lives down the road from us and only seems to go to the beach on the days I’m not there.  My FM makes sure to rub it in every time.  “Guess who we were laying out next to at the beach?”  RUDE!

Well anyway – I loaded tons of pics of Bondi into the following video.  Enjoy!

Experience Australia – The Little Things #1 – Tim Tams and The Tim Tam Slam Video

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Experience Australia – The Little Things

This Week’s “Experience Australia – The Little Things” (oh btw – did I mention this is going to be a new weekend segment on my blog? :)) is probably the reason why Australia is a more obese than the U.S.  [gasp!  Daisy - you didn't just say that!!!  Oh yes I did.  :) Snap!]  ;) What am I talking about?  The Tim Tam.

tim-tams-original

Tim Tams, an Australian iconic “biscuit” (aka cookie) is a little fattening devil which is absolutely delightful.  And I believe it’s safe to say you absolutely cannot have an TRUE Australian Experience unless you learn about and TASTE a Tim Tam.  Mmmm.  They even have their own aisle in the supermarket.  No seriously – they do. But they have to!  There are like a bazillion different flavors and each flavor is in high demand.  Who wouldn’t want a Tim Tam?

tim-tam-crush

My favorite flavor is the Tim Tam Crush Toffee Nut flavor.  I Heart 2 them the best. :) And as you can see in the picture above, the Tim Tam Crush biscuits are a little different.  Instead of having creamy goodness sandwiched between two chocolate biscuits, the crush only has its indulgent taste of heaven on top of ONE biscuit.  Darn my gluten intolerance!  I could have set a world record for gaining the most weight due to a Tim Tam Crush addiction.  ;)

NOW ONTO THE SLAM!!! It’s like WHAT YOU DO with Tim Tams if you’re cool.

Australians feel it is their duty to tell all foreigners about the Tim Tam Slam. From the clerk in the grocery store, to the attendant at the airport who sees you’re taking home Tim Tam souvenirs – EVERYONE stops to tell you about the Tim Tam Slam. Which is why I posted a HOW TO DO THE TIM TAM SLAM video.  :) And lol on the video – can you tell this was taken REALLY seriously?? ;) And no he wasn’t trying to sound Australian – that’s his “This is dumb and I can’t believe you’re making me do this” voice. :)