Guide to Australian Culture Part 1

Rachel:

As promised, here is my first installment of my Guide to Australian Culture. 

1. Neighbours – this daily soap is filmed in Melbourne on Ramsey Street and has been going for ages.  Big difference between Neighbours and typical soaps is that things happen fast.  In one episode, for example, Rachel decides she will go to London for school on a scholarship, books her flight, has a going away party and leaves...all in one day.  You can’t argue that you are bored with Neighbours plots.  There are also “Neighbours” tours out to the set in Melbourne where you can meet and greet some of the cast. Neighbours is regarded as the Australian gateway to fame.  Almost all famous Australians were on Neighbours for a bit: Kylie Monogue, Russell Crowe, Natalie Imbruglia, etc. 

2.Tim Tams – these famed Australian cookies or “biscuits” as they are called here, are commonly eaten with coffee or tea (see number 7).  Picture a chocolate Peek Freen cookie dipped in chocolate.  I liked them, but I like the chocolate chip cookies that the Tim Tam company makes better.

3. Kath and Kim – along with Neighbours, Kath and Kim is amazingly Australian, but way better quality.  The American version is a terrible representation of something that could have been brought over to the US market as is.  Shot in a similar style to The Office, Kath and Kim is a show about a mother and daughter who are too odd, but in different ways.  Their over exaggerated Victorian accents just add to the “yumour” of the script.  Shot in Melbourne, the references to Melbournian culture and places, paired with the Australian slang, makes it an Australian cultural jewel. 

4. Shortening words – A stereotype about Australians are that they tend to be a little lazy.  This is true in some ways and shortening words is definitely evidence of this.  Almost every word has a short form. Seriously.  Afternoon = avro, university = uni, uncoordinated = unco, breakfast = brekie, Australia = Oz or ‘Stralia, chicken = chook, kindergarden = kindie, mosquito = mozzy, vitamin = vita,  etc etc etc.

5. Nicknames – When you come to Australian, you need to leave your Canadian name at home and get an Australian name. In order to do this, take your name, drop about 2 or 3 letters then add a y, o, ie, oz, or a.  Voila! You have your Australian name! I’ll give you an example.  Say your name is Alexis, just drop the a, i and s and what you have is Lexo. Gary is Gaz, Lauren is Loz, Hudson is Huddo, etc.  BUT don’t give yourself this name! This is important.  Others must always give you a nickname.  If you introduce yourself as you nickname, you come off as a wanker.

Australian word of the day: I'm pretty sure I just gave you about 10. Pick the one you like best.