Aussie Lingo

I haven't written much about the difference in language here, partly because I have limited exposure to it- mostly through salesclerks and waitresses- but also because it's much more subtle than going to a non-English speaking country. Yet it is different, so here ya go...some of the main words I've learned since living in Melbourne:

brekkie (breakfast), chips (fries), bloke (guy), sheila (woman), to book (to make reservations), boot (trunk of car), tucker (food), bush tucker (Aboriginal food), bushwalking (hiking), busker (street performer/musician), daggy (unfashionable or goofy), dodgy (sketchy), donna (comforter or bedspread), "how're you going?" or "owyergoin" (how are you), "give it a go" (try it), "good onya" (good for you), "ta" (thank you), lollies (candies), hire (to rent), jumper (sweater), mobile (cell phone), nappy (diaper), beanie (hat), wanker (jerk), uni (university), drink driving (drunk driving), petrol (gasoline), winge (whine or complain).

We occasionally have trouble understanding people here, and surprisingly, people sometimes have trouble understanding us. I saw a film recently called "Paris, j'taime", a compilation of 18 shorter stories linked together by the themes 'love' and 'Paris'. It was lovely, and full of various unexpected situations. The stories represent all different kinds of love (love for child, love for substances, love for partner, love for drama, love of conflict, love at first sight, etc). Some of them are about cultural misunderstandings. One of the stories has a young man having an entire conversation in French with an English speaking peer who hardly understands a word. Another story, starring Margo Martindale, is of a middle-aged American woman (fanny pack and all) who speaks awkward, basic French and takes a solo trip to Paris. Her narration detailing the trip to her French class back home has a comical effect, as we experience the city from her lonely but endearing perspective. The film was directed by at least seven well-known filmmakers, and has a host of star actors and actresses. I recommend it, especially if you've never seen Paris yourself or just want to live life through some interesting characters for a couple hours.