Here are slang terms to help you understand where to find things and what people are directing you towards when you arrive. Aussies are very friendly and helpful, just like in Canada, but you might confuse them if you don’t know these basic places.
Newsagencies = little paper shops…it’s very British over here…you can get magazines and agendas and white-out here–all your teacher needs!
Bottle shops = the LCBO basically, the place where you can buy (more…)
I previously wrote about the unique pronunciation of Australians. Today I’m going to take a look at words or phrases that will confuse the hell out of you.
1. fairdinkum. I’m not kidding, this is a word. It means ‘authentic’. For example, “was $3.49 really the price of that mango?” “Fairdinkum!”
2. far out. This is not only said by surfers but middle-aged people, too. (Actually those two categories are not mutually exclusive, but you get the point.) This phrase has nothing to do with swimming or life-saving, as in, “did you get to that surfer before the shark?” “no, he was too far out” = incorrect. “Far Out” is said when you really can’t believe something.
3. shocking. This is not usually a good thing. It is (more…)
It’s Day 4 of my three-week Vietnam tour during the September holidays — just one of the four term-break holidays during the school year in Australia. (more…)
