Driving Differently
The drivers seat and the indictors are on the left and of course the whole car is on the right.
I seriously was petrified about this. I was certain I would be veering into the left lanes (although luckily the freeways have large cement dividers so I'm safe, perhaps they've dealt with Australian drivers before?). But, at the risk of patting myself of the back, I am actually pretty good at this driving thing. First time I sat in the seat and turned the key it seemed normal. I think because the seat is on the left, it seems natural to drive on the right. Every time I turn my head is saying "right is tight" "left is long". Luckily I haven't yet had to go through any round-abouts (which I feel will be confusing) and I haven't had to speed race against the taxis in Manhattan (those taxi drivers love the sound of their own horn). Driving the speed limit has been a challenge, besides the lack of signs, converting miles into kms to try and guess what the reasonable limit might be in tricky. I'm finding at the moment it's either 25 miles or 35 miles through the streets and 50/55 on the Freeway. They also have 4 way intersection, with no give-way signs. Basically you arrive at the intersection and if 4 of you are stopped, it's whoever arrived first and so on. Another thing is that people don't use the handbrake.... the car I drive I am not allowed to put the handbrake on because when the next person gets in and drives it'll get left on. Surprisingly doesn't make a difference (until I park on a mountain).
Speaking Differently
One of the first things I was told about Australians is that we shorten everything. An expert on Australian language at the University of Queensland, who has compiled a dictionary or about 5,000 diminutives says, "we have more of them than anybody else and use them more than anybody else - but exactly what the psychological motivation is, is difficult to say." To be honest I never realised it. But perhaps we do.
undies for underwear
barbie (barbecue)
arvo (afternoon)
footy (football)
sunnies (sunglasses)
rego (registration)
servo (service station)
brekkie (breakfast)
cuppa (cup of tea)
sanga (sandwich)
Maccas
Woollies
Blunnies (Blundstone boots)
Subie (Subaru)
Suzy (Suzuki)
cardi (cardigan)
lippy (lipstick)
rellies (relatives)
From here we move to things and objects, such as:
boot —trunk
bin — trash
Autumn — fall
Bedside cabinet, cupboard or table — nightstand
Carrybag — tote
CBD — downtown
Chemist shop — drug store
Clever — neat
Guinea pigs — hamsters
Holiday — vacation
Jokes — gags
Jug - pitcher
Lift — elevator
Lucerne - alfalfa
Medicine — drugs
Newsagency — newsstand
Noticeboard — bulletin board
Foxtel — cable
Pegs — clothes pins
Pissed - drunk
Primary school — elementary school
Prime mover (semi-trailer) - tractor
Postcode — zipcode
Powerpoint — wall plug
Sandpit — sandbox
Sent — shipped
Shopping trolley — shopping cart
Teatowel - dish towel
Track — trail
Spa — jacuzzi
Tap — faucet
Torch — flashlight
Verandah — porch
Wardrobe — closet
G-string (bum floss) — thong
Jumper, pullover — sweater
Nappy - diaper
Stockings - nylons
Alcohol — liquor
Biscuits (sweet) or biccies — cookies
Beetroot - round beets
Bottleshop — liquor store
Cafe — diner
Capsicum - bell pepper
Coriander - cilantro
Cornflour - corn starch
Cutlery — flatware
Fairyfloss — cotton candy
Full-cream milk - whole milk
Gherkin - pickle
Icing — frosting (as on top of cakes)
Jam (on bread) — jelly
Jelly (with icecream) — jell-o
Lollies or sweets — candy
Mince — ground meat
Peanut butter — peanut paste (although 'peanut paste' is also commonly used in Qld, 'peanut butter' is the term used by most Australians elsewhere)
Plain flour - all purpose flour
Potato cakes — hash browns (not the same, but similar)
Prawns — shrimp
Sauce (tomato sauce) — ketchup
Scones — biscuits (not the same, but similar)
Smoko or morning tea — coffee (or tea) break
Soft drinks - soda
Spring onion or shallots - scallion
Freeway — expressway
Four wheel drive (4WD) — Sports utility vehicle (SUV)
Parkbrake or handbrake — emergency brake
Petrol — gasoline
Roadhouse — diner
Underground railway — subway
Ute — pickup
Windscreen — windshield
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