fun-loving Aussies!

well here I am at another airport, waiting for another flight.

For this blog, I'd like to comment on Aussie hospitality. It is VERY early on Saturday morning, and I was kindly dropped off by Jo, lady of the House. (guess she lost the coin toss).

She and Damien treated me last night to a good 'ol Aussie bbq. What a laugh. I got to meet more of the “locals” lol, had a great time. They have a tendency to “take the piss” of their “mates” and from what I was told by some of the guests, that it is particularly traditional to heavily “take the piss” of the host. So dear Damien really got a few good ribbings. Many were in regards to his “lazy work week” or his favourite “footy” team in Adelaide (who won their match that night thank you very much!)

Everyone was lively, warm and fun. His one mate was from Perth, and so we talked about where I was staying, what I was doing and where I should go and visit. Another friend is a paramedic and was telling us over dinner about the fright her daughter caused, ending up in a coma, and the only reason they could find was that her salt levels in her blood were too low. (don't usually find that to be a problem in Canada). She fully recovered, but it was quite the story.

I've not really met anyone who hasn't been the picture of kindness and hospitality (well, other than the one lady at the hostel in Sydney... but I don't count her.. I think she had a pickle in a very uncomfortable place) Everyone else has been smiles and helpful.

Damien and Jo were fabulous in trying to explain Aussie to me. If you're coming to visit, don't be fooled into thinking that they speak English here. Far from it, mate, they speak Aussie.

It really is a language all on its own. The best way to explain how to speak Aussie is to find the shortest way possible to say anything. All words are shortened. Footy is Football, G'Day is Good Day, Freo is Freemantle, even Aussie is Australian. So if you can find a way to shorten a word, or give it another name altogether, you're well on you way to speaking Aussie. Note: There are regional differences: Take a bathing suit, now I don't remember which region calls them which but they can be called bathers, cossies, or even togs ( where that comes from is a bit of a mystery).

They do have a few sayings that are similar to those in Britain (though don't tell the aussies that they have something similar to the “poms”) First is Taking the Piss, other, they have lifts, not elevators, they have boots and not trunks in their cars. If anyone can tell me why brits are called Poms, that would be quite helpful.

Speaking of finding out the meaning behind words, I taught the bbq group the meaning behind “flipping someone the bird” (which of course comes from excellent archers having their first two fingers cut off when their side lost in battle and the winning side “taking the piss” out of them by showing them their own fingers, still intact.

In any case, I am learning quite a bit about local culture and am having a wonderful time discovering Australia.