Aussi Facts

Me again, trying to avoid working on econ and philosophy this time... just thought I would share some fun terms and things I have learned living here thus far!

• They spell it Aussi, not Aussie as I thought.
• If one shouts "Aussi, Aussi, Aussi!" the response is "Oi, Oi, Oi!"
• There are at least 3 drinking songs that everyone knows and sings while riding the bus to bars. One is about Yogi Bear.
• In the spring, residents here where ice cream buckets on their heads with eyes drawn on them so that the Mag-pie birds won't swoop down and (literally) take a chunk of their head off (protecting their eggs).
• Want to sound Australian? Just shorten everything and add a "y"
• They eat spaghetti on toast for breakfast
• Easter is a huge deal, carnivals and wine festivals are thrown in the towns
• Haviannas (sp?) are the rainbows of Australia. Everyone has them.
• When making drinks, bartenders are required to measure the liquor in a shot glass before pouring it in.
• You will not find a can or bottle of coke for less than $2.50
• There is not an Australian equivalent to the Cheez-It
• They have very odd potato chip flavors such as Honey Chicken and Sweet-Chili/Lime
• The chips used for dipping in salsa (tortilla chips) are called nachos and Doritos makes them, plain Doritos?
• They have a very limited amount of frozen pizza products at the store. My friend wants to visit America just to try a "Bagel Bite"
• The toilets have 2 options. Half Flush and Whole Flush. To save water.
• They say to eat vegemite with toast, butter, and cheese. I do not advise it.
• There is Rugby Union, Rugby League, and AFL (Australian Football League), all with their own different rules. None of them like American Football.
• They do not know where SC is in relation to other states.
• There are no college sporting teams like at home. But, many support the local rugby team.
• Surf past the blue flags, swim between the red and yellow.
• Beer is around $40 a case. expensive.
• You can go to "uni" for 4 years and be a lawyer. The usual is 3 years.
• There are very few intersections and tons of roundabouts.
• Terms:
• budgie smuggler- speedo
• septo- derogatory term for Americans (like septic tank)
• Abbo- aboriginal, can be derogatory
• wanker- pronounced wanka, a fool/idiot
• mate- friend boy or girl
• brekky- breakfast
• goon- cheap boxed wine, the choice of students.
• grog- any type of alcohol
• chips- both french fries and potato chips
• magnum- a very popular brand of ice cream/popsicle
• toilet- bathroom
• sunnies- sunglasses
• Uni- college
• heaps- large amount. Used without "of" as in, "That will be heaps fun!"
• Ute- truck
• Cheers- thank you
• Arvo- afternoon
• mozzies- mosquitoes
• bottle shop- liquor store
• Woolies- grocery store called Woolworth's
• schooner- glass of beer
• kook- surfer who doesn't know how to surf
• bin- trashcan
• stubby holder- koozie
• esky- cooler
• Uni- college
• first year- freshman (2nd- sophomore, etc)