Oh yeah, I'll back you up on the prawn business any day! It's funny how it's one thing Australians flatly refuse to conform to over here... we'll say "cell" and "sweater" and change the way we spell words, but don't ask us to call a prawn a shrimp! LOL
Yeah, I think it's coz of that Paul Hogan thing, "Throw another shrimp on the barbie". I'll never forget that campaign because it was the first time I realized that Americans didn't understand us and that they would need a translation. Not to mention, those shrimp you get on pizzas well they really are gross little things!!! :eek: There's just no comparison to a nice big fat juicy king prawn.
Yeah, I think it's coz of that Paul Hogan thing, "Throw another shrimp on the barbie". I'll never forget that campaign because it was the first time I realized that Americans didn't understand us and that they would need a translation. Not to mention, those shrimp you get on pizzas well they really are gross little things!!! :eek: There's just no comparison to a nice big fat juicy king prawn.
Darn tootin'! Sorry, you "realised" or "realized"!? LOL
I tell every American who quotes "throw another shrimp" that we don't call them shrimp! Anyway, blame Tourism Australia, they came up with those bloody ads and 20+ years later, we're still in their shadow.
Oh, you may call this a cultural conundrum... people over here are TERRIFIED of spiders... moreover, they're terrified or OUR snakes and spiders! I've had so many people tell me they'd be terrified to go to Australia cause of the venomous little buggers we have (and let's face it, as Australians we love to freak people out by talking about them). Personally, I think a little perspective is in order... THEY HAVE RUDDY BIG BEARS THAT'LL RIP YOU APART!!! Frankly, bears are waaaay more terrifying than a funnelweb, redback or brown snake... I'm just sayin'
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
Darn tootin'! Sorry, you "realised" or "realized"!? LOL
I tell every American who quotes "throw another shrimp" that we don't call them shrimp! Anyway, blame Tourism Australia, they came up with those bloody ads and 20+ years later, we're still in their shadow.
Oh, you may call this a cultural conundrum... people over here are TERRIFIED of spiders... moreover, they're terrified or OUR snakes and spiders! I've had so many people tell me they'd be terrified to go to Australia cause of the venomous little buggers we have (and let's face it, as Australians we love to freak people out by talking about them). Personally, I think a little perspective is in order... THEY HAVE RUDDY BIG BEARS THAT'LL RIP YOU APART!!! Frankly, bears are waaaay more terrifying than a funnelweb, redback or brown snake... I'm just sayin'
Bears are nothin', it's the cougars you have to watch out for. I mean that in a strictly wildlife-out-in-nature way, not as reference to "older" women on the prowl.
Walking can be a real trip
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Bears are nothin', it's the cougars you have to watch out for. I mean that in a strictly wildlife-out-in-nature way, not as reference to "older" women on the prowl.
LOL, right! I meant to mention cougars (as in "in nature" cougars )
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
I'm actually currently sitting in one of the cities that claims to have held the first ever hockey game!
Spelling: The letter "z" is underused by Americans.... And it's pronounced "zed." The letter "u" is another one that doesn't get used enough... Words like favourite, honour, and colour just look weird with no "u".
As for scary animals, we're just not used to dealing with little animals that can kill you, like snakes and spiders. Bears rarely attack, and are more likely to run away from you when they see you. We had a few bears living on our property growing up, but we never saw them. Wolves are the same, and coyotes... Cougars are scary and intense because you have no way of knowing they're there until they are eating you, but luckily there are very few cougars in the wild where I am.
The scariest animals here where I live are unexpected ones. Don't ever mess with a beaver! 40-60 pounds of anger coming right at you!
Cougars are scary and intense because you have no way of knowing they're there until they are eating you, but luckily there are very few cougars in the wild where I am.
The scariest animals here where I live are unexpected ones. Don't ever mess with a beaver! 40-60 pounds of anger coming right at you!
Cougars and Beavers! :eek: What is this thread turning into?
Walking can be a real trip
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
LOL! I knew someone was going to make that comment....
Damn animal traps!
Walking can be a real trip
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Darn tootin'! Sorry, you "realised" or "realized"!? LOL
I tell every American who quotes "throw another shrimp" that we don't call them shrimp! Anyway, blame Tourism Australia, they came up with those bloody ads and 20+ years later, we're still in their shadow.
Plus! Don't come the raw shrimp with me, mate, just aint got the same ring to it!
Thank goodness, "Where the bloody hell are ya?" didn't take off!
Oh, you may call this a cultural conundrum... people over here are TERRIFIED of spiders... moreover, they're terrified or OUR snakes and spiders! I've had so many people tell me they'd be terrified to go to Australia cause of the venomous little buggers we have (and let's face it, as Australians we love to freak people out by talking about them). Personally, I think a little perspective is in order... THEY HAVE RUDDY BIG BEARS THAT'LL RIP YOU APART!!! Frankly, bears are waaaay more terrifying than a funnelweb, redback or brown snake... I'm just sayin'
Yeah, I guess we can thank Steve Irwin and those World's Most Deadliest docos for that. :rolleyes:
I'm with you!! I keep asking about the bears EVERY time we discuss going to the National Parks. Someone told me to wear bells, but I think they were just shitting me.
I don't get why people freak out so much over spiders and snakes, they mostly leave you alone. But if a roo decides it doesn't like the look of you, you're in big trouble, not to mention how bloody feral wombats can be on a bad day, or tassie devils. I've always been nervous of emus and the odd cassowary myself. They can rip you open if you look at them wrong. And the drop bears are lethal!
I'm actually currently sitting in one of the cities that claims to have held the first ever hockey game!
Spelling: The letter "z" is underused by Americans.... And it's pronounced "zed." The letter "u" is another one that doesn't get used enough... Words like favourite, honour, and colour just look weird with no "u".
As for scary animals, we're just not used to dealing with little animals that can kill you, like snakes and spiders. Bears rarely attack, and are more likely to run away from you when they see you. We had a few bears living on our property growing up, but we never saw them. Wolves are the same, and coyotes... Cougars are scary and intense because you have no way of knowing they're there until they are eating you, but luckily there are very few cougars in the wild where I am.
The scariest animals here where I live are unexpected ones. Don't ever mess with a beaver! 40-60 pounds of anger coming right at you!
Sounds like a wombat!!! Those things can knock you off your feet if they decide to charge and their claws are sharp!!! Cranky too!
:eek: i was just about to ask about this! we have Marmite at a grocery store here in the U.S. but i can't find Vegemite! i want to try them both. and how should i eat Marmite since that's my only choice?
good luck getting your hands on vegemite. Apparently it's on list of items to sieze at the border, it's got something to do with the levels of folate in it.
Very tasty though, best spread on toast or in a cheese and vegemite sandwhich. Yummm!!! I have one for lunch every day
Marmite isn't much of a competitor over here, I think there are some technical differences, vegemite is a yeast extract [trust our favourite sandwhich spread to be made from beer!!!] while marmite may be vegetable extract. At a guess I'd say they're served the same way... on bread. Don't spread too think first time around, it can be strong taste.
Don't try promite whatever you do... yuck!!!
waiting for the great leap forward
12 people may make the one decision but that doesn't make it right.
good luck getting your hands on vegemite. Apparently it's on list of items to sieze at the border, it's got something to do with the levels of folate in it....
:( Where did you hear this?
I wanna take some with me when I go over. It'll be sealed, what's the problem? :( I cannot live a whole month without it!!!! :(
Marmite is yeast and vegetable extract should anyone care.
As with a lot of the language differences us Brits agree with the Aussies. they're prawns and hockey is played on a field. Ice hockey is well ice hockey.
Differences I noticed in the US:
"Do you need a ride?" (which SOOOO means something different over here :eek: ) v "Do you need a lift?"
Eraser v Rubber
Cookie, Egg Plant, Zucchini v Biscuit, Aubergine, Courgette
Learning not to use our unending slang terms for a 'bathroom' (which doesn't contain a bath )
Sneakers v Trainers
Pumps v Heels
Pants v Trousers
Underwear v Pants
Could care less v Couldn't care less
... and well fanny pack
I'm sure I'll think of some more
So are we strangers now? Like rock and roll and the radio?
The first time I came across this was way back in High School when I was The Lion in a production of The Wiz. The script called for The Tinman to hit The Lion on the fanny with the axe!!!! :eek: The Director had to do quite a bit of fast talking to convince me!!!
I don't get why people freak out so much over spiders and snakes, they mostly leave you alone. But if a roo decides it doesn't like the look of you, you're in big trouble, not to mention how bloody feral wombats can be on a bad day, or tassie devils. I've always been nervous of emus and the odd cassowary myself. They can rip you open if you look at them wrong. And the drop bears are lethal!
LMFAO! That just made me snort. Yes, the most deadly animal in Australia is most definitely the drop bears, you really have to watch out for them, they'll take you right out! BTW, wearing bells is fairly good advice (when it comes to bears), you gotta make noise (or so I'm told, personally I refuse to go camping here, too scary!).
"Do you need a ride?" (which SOOOO means something different over here ) v "Do you need a lift?"
Eraser v Rubber
Cookie, Egg Plant, Zucchini v Biscuit, Aubergine, Courgette
Learning not to use our unending slang terms for a 'bathroom' (which doesn't contain a bath )
Sneakers v Trainers
Pumps v Heels
Pants v Trousers
Underwear v Pants
Could care less v Couldn't care less
... and well fanny pack
AAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Fanny pack is just so, so, so, so, so, so, soooooooooooooo WRONG!!! OMG, I have a physical reaction whenever anyone says it, the only thing I can say (to Americans) is, it's like saying "Beaver bag" *shudders*
A couple more:
Queue becomes line
Cheque becomes check (sorry, I just can't do that one either)
Bill becomes check (as in "can I have the bill please")
Tissues become kleenex
Photocopier becomes xerox
Scone becomes biscuit
Croissant becomes crescent
Taxi becomes cab
Barrack becomes root (is in barracking for a team, root means something quite different... lol)
Also, one thing that I can't stop myself from saying is "are you right?". Americans and Canadians are very confused by that, they look at you as if to say: "was I wrong?" but it's just one of those things that still flies out of my mouth... that and "how's it going?" again, I get puzzled looks cause many people take it literally... "I'm not going anywhere".
Also, Americans say "excuse me" alot where Aussies would say "sorry". "Excuse me", used in many contexts in Australia, is quite rude and sarcastic. It threw me a few times over here cause when people bump into you they say "excuse me" (which is very polite) but if someone in Australia said that to you it would be in a semi-aggressive, sarcastic way like "you just bumped into me, how dare you!".
ALSO, you can buy vegemite over here. It's in some grocery stores and in the UK/pommie stores like Myers of Keswick on Hudson
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
ok, i call a scone a scone....a biscuit is something else for us
i always say croissant.....crescent rolls are those things made by Pillsbury and i never eat them
we don't take taxis or cabs where i live so i think i use both words....i'm not sure
and i say "how's it goin'?" all the time, and people know what i mean. if i met someone that didn't get it, i would be shocked too
oh, and what do you mean by "are you right?" i've never heard that before. that one would confuse me.
Yeah, you're right, people use croissant and scone here, but what we perceive as a scone (as opposed to the bloody big ones sold in Starbucks) are quite different... I thnk we'd call the big "scones" at Starbucks rock cakes (or something).
The whole "how's it going" is funny, cause people do use it over here, so I am a little taken aback when people looked perplexed, maybe it's my accent (which isn't that strong, I don't think). It wasn't something I noticed, particularly, until some friends pointed in out. That was in Canada, so maybe it just isn't used up there so much.
"Are you right" is used as in "are you okay, have you been looked after, are you alright". An example would be, I'm waiting in line to order something at Starbucks and the person behind the counter asks me my order, I say the person in front of me "are you right?" or "you right?" as in "have you been served already?". Am I making sense? It's one of those funny ones that I just can't stop myself from saying... it just flies out of my mouth constantly and I get quizzical looks.
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
Yeah, you're right, people use croissant and scone here, but what we perceive as a scone (as opposed to the bloody big ones sold in Starbucks) are quite different... I thnk we'd call the big "scones" at Starbucks rock cakes (or something).
The whole "how's it going" is funny, cause people do use it over here, so I am a little taken aback when people looked perplexed, maybe it's my accent (which isn't that strong, I don't think). It wasn't something I noticed, particularly, until some friends pointed in out. That was in Canada, so maybe it just isn't used up there so much.
"Are you right" is used as in "are you okay, have you been looked after, are you alright". An example would be, I'm waiting in line to order something at Starbucks and the person behind the counter asks me my order, I say the person in front of me "are you right?" or "you right?" as in "have you been served already?". Am I making sense? It's one of those funny ones that I just can't stop myself from saying... it just flies out of my mouth constantly and I get quizzical looks.
OK, so a scone is something different for you.....i don't like those things, but the only ones i know of are at Starbucks - they are rock cakes
maybe it is Canada. if i ever go there, i'm going to try that and see how people respond
and yes, the "are you right" makes sense now that you've explained it. i almost want to start saying that now
No need to be void, or save up on life...
You got to spend it all
"Are you right" is used as in "are you okay, have you been looked after, are you alright". An example would be, I'm waiting in line to order something at Starbucks and the person behind the counter asks me my order, I say the person in front of me "are you right?" or "you right?" as in "have you been served already?". Am I making sense? It's one of those funny ones that I just can't stop myself from saying... it just flies out of my mouth constantly and I get quizzical looks.
We would say the same thing here.
Others
crosswalk v pedestrian crossing
subway (which here means subterranean walkway) v tube/underground
oh one that would confuse people is I would say pop for put eg I'll pop the book down over there ... they understood it more to mean hit
About accents ... when I was in the US I got asked a few times if I was from Oz. I think how it can be hard for us to decipher a Canadian/American accent (depending on where it's from) it can be hard for them to decipher a British/Aussie/Kiwi accent.
Things I missed ... having an electric kettle, LOTS of food things as we didn't have a British shop, people not getting when I was being sarcastic etc ... I didn't realise how often we say the exact opposite of what we mean just knowing that everyone would understand what we really meant ... would often get shocked looks or 'no really?!?" responses (don't know if I explained that very well) ...
EDIT all this talk of scones makes me want one with clotted cream and strawberry jam ... yum
So are we strangers now? Like rock and roll and the radio?
The importing marmite question: An Aussie friend of mine sent an American friend some marmite through the regular mail, and it made it...
Yeah? Last time I tried to send Vegemite and Tim Tams to America I was told no food stuffs. :rolleyes:
So confusing because I've heard that other people have got stuff through in the post and taken it with them when they've travelled and got through customs ok and other people have said they haven't been able to send or take with them, so I really have no idea. Won't stop me from trying to take Vegemite with me though. If I can't have it, they can take it off me when I get there.
*shudders* that one was just plain embarrassing!!!
LMFAO! That just made me snort. Yes, the most deadly animal in Australia is most definitely the drop bears, you really have to watch out for them, they'll take you right out! BTW, wearing bells is fairly good advice (when it comes to bears), you gotta make noise (or so I'm told, personally I refuse to go camping here, too scary!).
AAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Fanny pack is just so, so, so, so, so, so, soooooooooooooo WRONG!!! OMG, I have a physical reaction whenever anyone says it, the only thing I can say (to Americans) is, it's like saying "Beaver bag" *shudders*
A couple more:
Queue becomes line
Cheque becomes check (sorry, I just can't do that one either)
Bill becomes check (as in "can I have the bill please")
Tissues become kleenex
Photocopier becomes xerox
Scone becomes biscuit
Croissant becomes crescent
Taxi becomes cab
Barrack becomes root (is in barracking for a team, root means something quite different... lol)
Also, one thing that I can't stop myself from saying is "are you right?". Americans and Canadians are very confused by that, they look at you as if to say: "was I wrong?" but it's just one of those things that still flies out of my mouth... that and "how's it going?" again, I get puzzled looks cause many people take it literally... "I'm not going anywhere".
Also, Americans say "excuse me" alot where Aussies would say "sorry". "Excuse me", used in many contexts in Australia, is quite rude and sarcastic. It threw me a few times over here cause when people bump into you they say "excuse me" (which is very polite) but if someone in Australia said that to you it would be in a semi-aggressive, sarcastic way like "you just bumped into me, how dare you!".
ALSO, you can buy vegemite over here. It's in some grocery stores and in the UK/pommie stores like Myers of Keswick on Hudson
There's a Myers in England?
Another great list Tone!
Serious on the bells? Not that I'll be camping either but when I was booking this real nice B & B where the room had its own private verandah looking out on the forest I was thinking, well that's lovely, I can lie out there on the hammock and watch the forest and relax with nature and then it hit me, "WHAT ABOUT THE BEARS??" :eek: I don't wanna be sitting there looking all enticing like a some kind of giant human burrito!
Yeah, you're right, people use croissant and scone here, but what we perceive as a scone (as opposed to the bloody big ones sold in Starbucks) are quite different... I thnk we'd call the big "scones" at Starbucks rock cakes (or something).
The whole "how's it going" is funny, cause people do use it over here, so I am a little taken aback when people looked perplexed, maybe it's my accent (which isn't that strong, I don't think). It wasn't something I noticed, particularly, until some friends pointed in out. That was in Canada, so maybe it just isn't used up there so much.
Well, I'm Canadian and I say "how's it going?" all the time. . . AND I just had a scone with raspberry jam and clotted creme this aftenoon. These things may be regional however. I'm from Western Canada, so maybe that's the reason.
Cheers
"What the CANUCK happened?!? - Esquimalt Barber Shop
Nah Jeanie, you can send food stuffs from Australia to America no problem whatsoever... I've had stuff FedEx'd to me over here (Tim Tams, Cheezles, Cadbury Chocolate & Twisties) and brought it over with me... even muesli. Customs aren't concerned about stuff from Australia cause we have such strict customs laws and the food's not going to be dodgy.
Re: Myers
No, there's no Myers in England (as far as I'm aware) but there's this little Pommie store in NYC called "Myers of Keswick" and you can buy English chocolates and food stuffs there etc. They have vegemite too and another store/restaurant called Tea & Sympathy has English sweets and food as well as Violet Crumble!!! I'm very excited about the Violet Crumble
When are you coming over to the US?
Oh yeah and my boss was talking about "bear bells" again today... she's Canadian and she's quite serious about it! LOL.
About accents ... when I was in the US I got asked a few times if I was from Oz. I think how it can be hard for us to decipher a Canadian/American accent (depending on where it's from) it can be hard for them to decipher a British/Aussie/Kiwi accent.
Yeah, I get asked if I'm English all the time, but alot of New Yorkers are well travelled and guess Australian immediately (plus there are so many Australians in New York now). I got quite perturbed, originally, but I understand why they get the accents confused, in fact I sometimes have trouble distinguishing them now! It's quite bizarre that when you're surrounded by an accent quite different to your own that when you hear something similar it can take me a while to figure out if they're English or Australian. We pronounce our vowels the same way and use alot of the same slang. The accents aren't dissimilar (just don't ask me if I'm a Kiwi or South African!!! LOL). I also hang out with alot of English friends over here and watch predominantly English TV and BBC America, so I understand why they get us confused I think my accent gets quite mixed up with trying to pronounce my "R's" and then being influenced by my English friends, lol.
people not getting when I was being sarcastic etc ... I didn't realise how often we say the exact opposite of what we mean just knowing that everyone would understand what we really meant ... would often get shocked looks or 'no really?!?" responses (don't know if I explained that very well) ...
EDIT all this talk of scones makes me want one with clotted cream and strawberry jam ... yum
Yeah, Americans are more literal than the English/Australians/Kiwis etc... we're all very sarcastic (and much ruder! LOL). I think as people get to know you, they start to understand your sarcasm but it can take a while
I WANT A DEVONSHIRE TEA NOW TOO!!!
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
Well, I'm Canadian and I say "how's it going?" all the time. . . AND I just had a scone with raspberry jam and clotted creme this aftenoon. These things may be regional however. I'm from Western Canada, so maybe that's the reason.
Cheers
How far west!? Cowtown west or further I was living in Toronto... like I said, I didn't particularly notice people weren't understanding me until some of my Canadian friends pointed out that I kept saying "how're you goin'?"
And cheers, right back atcha
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
Nah Jeanie, you can send food stuffs from Australia to America no problem whatsoever... I've had stuff FedEx'd to me over here (Tim Tams, Cheezles, Cadbury Chocolate & Twisties) and brought it over with me... even muesli. Customs aren't concerned about stuff from Australia cause we have such strict customs laws and the food's not going to be dodgy.
See that's what I don't get I tried to send a bunch of sealed food items, vegemite, tim tams, twisties, furry friends, golden syrup and the like to the US at Christmas time. I had about 5 packages all written up and ready to go and when the guy went through the book to see that it was ok to send it, basically the answer was no, so I couldn't send. :( But since then people have said that they've been able to and others have said they haven't. Some people have been able to get into the country with stuff in their luggage no worries and others haven't. Maybe I should try Fed Ex?
Re: Myers
No, there's no Myers in England (as far as I'm aware) but there's this little Pommie store in NYC called "Myers of Keswick" and you can buy English chocolates and food stuffs there etc. They have vegemite too and another store/restaurant called Tea & Sympathy has English sweets and food as well as Violet Crumble!!! I'm very excited about the Violet Crumble
Oh!!! I'd be excited about the Violet Crumble too! I wonder if they have Pollywaffles?
Yeah, Americans are more literal than the English/Australians/Kiwis etc... we're all very sarcastic (and much ruder! LOL). I think as people get to know you, they start to understand your sarcasm but it can take a while.
I've landed myself in all kinds of trouble offending people because they just don't get the sarcasm or the "larrikin humour". Lot of 'splainin' to do.
How far west!? Cowtown west or further I was living in Toronto... like I said, I didn't particularly notice people weren't understanding me until some of my Canadian friends pointed out that I kept saying "how're you goin'?"
And cheers, right back atcha
Born and raised in Calgary, four years in Fredericton, NB, four years in Edmonton and finally seven years in Heaven (aka Victoria, BC). I've been in the UK for the last ten months though - definitley some strange cultural differences.
Cheers
"What the CANUCK happened?!? - Esquimalt Barber Shop
Regarding bringing foodstuffs to the US/Canada . . .
I think it's a lot like going through airport security . . . it all depends on the person/airport/whatever. Some places make you take off your shoes no matter what, others confiscate your lighters, others make you turn on all of your electronic items (but you can go through three different airports in a day and not one of them makes you do thee same stuff at security) It's very confusing. As you say, just bring your stuff with you and if they confiscate it then they confiscate it. Usually the only problem is fresh produce.
Good luck and hopefully we can meet up at some point.
Cheers
"What the CANUCK happened?!? - Esquimalt Barber Shop
See that's what I don't get. I tried to send a bunch of sealed food items, vegemite, tim tams, twisties, furry friends, golden syrup and the like to the US at Christmas time. I had about 5 packages all written up and ready to go and when the guy went through the book to see that it was ok to send it, basically the answer was no, so I couldn't send. But since then people have said that they've been able to and others have said they haven't. Some people have been able to get into the country with stuff in their luggage no worries and others haven't. Maybe I should try Fed Ex?
Well that's just weird, I've never known anyone to not be able to bring or send food here before... :S You can bring stuff with you, don't worry about it. Make sure you declare it and notice the customs guy when they ask you what you have and you answer: "Australian chocolate" and they'll just wave you through without even looking.
Oh!!! I'd be excited about the Violet Crumble too! I wonder if they have Pollywaffles?
Don't think so. I had a go at them (you know, the way Aussies do with poms) about not having Australian stuff cause it's so much better, they made the usual remarks about Australians, lol, but now I hear they have Violet Crumble! So very happy
Born and raised in Calgary, four years in Fredericton, NB, four years in Edmonton and finally seven years in Heaven (aka Victoria, BC). I've been in the UK for the last ten months though - definitley some strange cultural differences.
Cheers
So, you've been all over... Cowtown to "down east" and now Pomgolia... good times. I bet you are experiences some cultural differences, those poms are a strange bunch, lol
Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.
Regarding bringing foodstuffs to the US/Canada . . .
I think it's a lot like going through airport security . . . it all depends on the person/airport/whatever. Some places make you take off your shoes no matter what, others confiscate your lighters, others make you turn on all of your electronic items (but you can go through three different airports in a day and not one of them makes you do thee same stuff at security) It's very confusing. As you say, just bring your stuff with you and if they confiscate it then they confiscate it. Usually the only problem is fresh produce.
Good luck and hopefully we can meet up at some point.
Cheers
Thanks fifth. That's my plan, I'm just nervous is all. I have to bring some complicated medications with me that require all kinds of fancy paperwork and I figure they'll be going over me and my luggage with a fine tooth comb at LAX because of that, so I just don't wanna piss anybody off is all, you know by "needing" to bring Vegemite and tim tams.
I wish you could just give em a list before you leave and they say yay or nay. But yeah, I guess I'll just try my luck and see how I go and hopefully I won't end up in a little room somewhere having to be subjected to all kinds of cavity searches! :eek:
Be cool to meet up. Are you on the west coast? I'm having trouble remembering where everybody is.
Comments
Yeah, I think it's coz of that Paul Hogan thing, "Throw another shrimp on the barbie". I'll never forget that campaign because it was the first time I realized that Americans didn't understand us and that they would need a translation. Not to mention, those shrimp you get on pizzas well they really are gross little things!!! :eek: There's just no comparison to a nice big fat juicy king prawn.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Darn tootin'! Sorry, you "realised" or "realized"!? LOL
I tell every American who quotes "throw another shrimp" that we don't call them shrimp! Anyway, blame Tourism Australia, they came up with those bloody ads and 20+ years later, we're still in their shadow.
Oh, you may call this a cultural conundrum... people over here are TERRIFIED of spiders... moreover, they're terrified or OUR snakes and spiders! I've had so many people tell me they'd be terrified to go to Australia cause of the venomous little buggers we have (and let's face it, as Australians we love to freak people out by talking about them). Personally, I think a little perspective is in order... THEY HAVE RUDDY BIG BEARS THAT'LL RIP YOU APART!!! Frankly, bears are waaaay more terrifying than a funnelweb, redback or brown snake... I'm just sayin'
Bears are nothin', it's the cougars you have to watch out for. I mean that in a strictly wildlife-out-in-nature way, not as reference to "older" women on the prowl.
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"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
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Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
LOL, right! I meant to mention cougars (as in "in nature" cougars
Spelling: The letter "z" is underused by Americans....
As for scary animals, we're just not used to dealing with little animals that can kill you, like snakes and spiders. Bears rarely attack, and are more likely to run away from you when they see you. We had a few bears living on our property growing up, but we never saw them. Wolves are the same, and coyotes... Cougars are scary and intense because you have no way of knowing they're there until they are eating you, but luckily there are very few cougars in the wild where I am.
The scariest animals here where I live are unexpected ones. Don't ever mess with a beaver! 40-60 pounds of anger coming right at you!
Cougars and Beavers! :eek: What is this thread turning into?
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"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
LOL! I knew someone was going to make that comment....
Damn animal traps!
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Plus! Don't come the raw shrimp with me, mate, just aint got the same ring to it!
Thank goodness, "Where the bloody hell are ya?" didn't take off!
Yeah, I guess we can thank Steve Irwin and those World's Most Deadliest docos for that. :rolleyes:
I'm with you!! I keep asking about the bears EVERY time we discuss going to the National Parks. Someone told me to wear bells, but I think they were just shitting me.
I don't get why people freak out so much over spiders and snakes, they mostly leave you alone. But if a roo decides it doesn't like the look of you, you're in big trouble, not to mention how bloody feral wombats can be on a bad day, or tassie devils. I've always been nervous of emus and the odd cassowary myself. They can rip you open if you look at them wrong. And the drop bears are lethal!
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Sounds like a wombat!!! Those things can knock you off your feet if they decide to charge and their claws are sharp!!! Cranky too!
Yeah, I never got x, y, zee.
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good luck getting your hands on vegemite. Apparently it's on list of items to sieze at the border, it's got something to do with the levels of folate in it.
Very tasty though, best spread on toast or in a cheese and vegemite sandwhich. Yummm!!! I have one for lunch every day
Marmite isn't much of a competitor over here, I think there are some technical differences, vegemite is a yeast extract [trust our favourite sandwhich spread to be made from beer!!!] while marmite may be vegetable extract. At a guess I'd say they're served the same way... on bread. Don't spread too think first time around, it can be strong taste.
Don't try promite whatever you do... yuck!!!
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:( Where did you hear this?
I wanna take some with me when I go over. It'll be sealed, what's the problem? :( I cannot live a whole month without it!!!! :(
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As with a lot of the language differences us Brits agree with the Aussies. they're prawns and hockey is played on a field. Ice hockey is well ice hockey.
Differences I noticed in the US:
"Do you need a ride?" (which SOOOO means something different over here :eek: ) v "Do you need a lift?"
Eraser v Rubber
Cookie, Egg Plant, Zucchini v Biscuit, Aubergine, Courgette
Learning not to use our unending slang terms for a 'bathroom' (which doesn't contain a bath
Sneakers v Trainers
Pumps v Heels
Pants v Trousers
Underwear v Pants
Could care less v Couldn't care less
... and well fanny pack
I'm sure I'll think of some more
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*shudders* that one was just plain embarrassing!!!
LMFAO! That just made me snort. Yes, the most deadly animal in Australia is most definitely the drop bears, you really have to watch out for them, they'll take you right out!
AAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Fanny pack is just so, so, so, so, so, so, soooooooooooooo WRONG!!! OMG, I have a physical reaction whenever anyone says it, the only thing I can say (to Americans) is, it's like saying "Beaver bag" *shudders*
A couple more:
Queue becomes line
Cheque becomes check (sorry, I just can't do that one either)
Bill becomes check (as in "can I have the bill please")
Tissues become kleenex
Photocopier becomes xerox
Scone becomes biscuit
Croissant becomes crescent
Taxi becomes cab
Barrack becomes root (is in barracking for a team, root means something quite different... lol)
Also, one thing that I can't stop myself from saying is "are you right?". Americans and Canadians are very confused by that, they look at you as if to say: "was I wrong?" but it's just one of those things that still flies out of my mouth... that and "how's it going?" again, I get puzzled looks cause many people take it literally... "I'm not going anywhere".
Also, Americans say "excuse me" alot where Aussies would say "sorry". "Excuse me", used in many contexts in Australia, is quite rude and sarcastic. It threw me a few times over here cause when people bump into you they say "excuse me" (which is very polite) but if someone in Australia said that to you it would be in a semi-aggressive, sarcastic way like "you just bumped into me, how dare you!".
ALSO, you can buy vegemite over here. It's in some grocery stores and in the UK/pommie stores like Myers of Keswick on Hudson
ok, i call a scone a scone....a biscuit is something else for us
i always say croissant.....crescent rolls are those things made by Pillsbury and i never eat them
we don't take taxis or cabs where i live so i think i use both words....i'm not sure
and i say "how's it goin'?" all the time, and people know what i mean. if i met someone that didn't get it, i would be shocked too
oh, and what do you mean by "are you right?" i've never heard that before. that one would confuse me.
You got to spend it all
Yeah, you're right, people use croissant and scone here, but what we perceive as a scone (as opposed to the bloody big ones sold in Starbucks) are quite different... I thnk we'd call the big "scones" at Starbucks rock cakes (or something).
The whole "how's it going" is funny, cause people do use it over here, so I am a little taken aback when people looked perplexed, maybe it's my accent (which isn't that strong, I don't think). It wasn't something I noticed, particularly, until some friends pointed in out. That was in Canada, so maybe it just isn't used up there so much.
"Are you right" is used as in "are you okay, have you been looked after, are you alright". An example would be, I'm waiting in line to order something at Starbucks and the person behind the counter asks me my order, I say the person in front of me "are you right?" or "you right?" as in "have you been served already?". Am I making sense? It's one of those funny ones that I just can't stop myself from saying... it just flies out of my mouth constantly and I get quizzical looks.
OK, so a scone is something different for you.....i don't like those things, but the only ones i know of are at Starbucks - they are rock cakes
maybe it is Canada. if i ever go there, i'm going to try that and see how people respond
and yes, the "are you right" makes sense now that you've explained it. i almost want to start saying that now
You got to spend it all
We would say the same thing here.
Others
crosswalk v pedestrian crossing
subway (which here means subterranean walkway) v tube/underground
oh one that would confuse people is I would say pop for put eg I'll pop the book down over there ... they understood it more to mean hit
About accents ... when I was in the US I got asked a few times if I was from Oz. I think how it can be hard for us to decipher a Canadian/American accent (depending on where it's from) it can be hard for them to decipher a British/Aussie/Kiwi accent.
Things I missed ... having an electric kettle, LOTS of food things as we didn't have a British shop, people not getting when I was being sarcastic etc ... I didn't realise how often we say the exact opposite of what we mean just knowing that everyone would understand what we really meant ... would often get shocked looks or 'no really?!?" responses (don't know if I explained that very well) ...
EDIT
Yeah? Last time I tried to send Vegemite and Tim Tams to America I was told no food stuffs. :rolleyes:
So confusing because I've heard that other people have got stuff through in the post and taken it with them when they've travelled and got through customs ok and other people have said they haven't been able to send or take with them, so I really have no idea. Won't stop me from trying to take Vegemite with me though. If I can't have it, they can take it off me when I get there.
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There's a Myers in England?
Another great list Tone!
Serious on the bells? Not that I'll be camping either but when I was booking this real nice B & B where the room had its own private verandah looking out on the forest I was thinking, well that's lovely, I can lie out there on the hammock and watch the forest and relax with nature and then it hit me, "WHAT ABOUT THE BEARS??" :eek: I don't wanna be sitting there looking all enticing like a some kind of giant human burrito!
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Well, I'm Canadian and I say "how's it going?" all the time. . . AND I just had a scone with raspberry jam and clotted creme this aftenoon. These things may be regional however. I'm from Western Canada, so maybe that's the reason.
Cheers
Re: Myers
No, there's no Myers in England (as far as I'm aware) but there's this little Pommie store in NYC called "Myers of Keswick" and you can buy English chocolates and food stuffs there etc. They have vegemite too and another store/restaurant called Tea & Sympathy has English sweets and food as well as Violet Crumble!!! I'm very excited about the Violet Crumble
When are you coming over to the US?
Oh yeah and my boss was talking about "bear bells" again today... she's Canadian and she's quite serious about it! LOL.
Yeah, I get asked if I'm English all the time, but alot of New Yorkers are well travelled and guess Australian immediately (plus there are so many Australians in New York now). I got quite perturbed, originally, but I understand why they get the accents confused, in fact I sometimes have trouble distinguishing them now! It's quite bizarre that when you're surrounded by an accent quite different to your own that when you hear something similar it can take me a while to figure out if they're English or Australian. We pronounce our vowels the same way and use alot of the same slang. The accents aren't dissimilar (just don't ask me if I'm a Kiwi or South African!!! LOL). I also hang out with alot of English friends over here and watch predominantly English TV and BBC America, so I understand why they get us confused
Yeah, Americans are more literal than the English/Australians/Kiwis etc... we're all very sarcastic (and much ruder! LOL). I think as people get to know you, they start to understand your sarcasm but it can take a while
I WANT A DEVONSHIRE TEA NOW TOO!!!
How far west!? Cowtown west or further
And cheers, right back atcha
See that's what I don't get
Oh!!! I'd be excited about the Violet Crumble too! I wonder if they have Pollywaffles?
September. West coast tour!
Looks like I'll be getting some bells. I wonder if they dislike whistles? I've already got one of them.
I've landed myself in all kinds of trouble offending people because they just don't get the sarcasm or the "larrikin humour".
Man all this talk of Devonshire teas has me hankering now too!
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Born and raised in Calgary, four years in Fredericton, NB, four years in Edmonton and finally seven years in Heaven (aka Victoria, BC). I've been in the UK for the last ten months though - definitley some strange cultural differences.
Cheers
Regarding bringing foodstuffs to the US/Canada . . .
I think it's a lot like going through airport security . . . it all depends on the person/airport/whatever. Some places make you take off your shoes no matter what, others confiscate your lighters, others make you turn on all of your electronic items (but you can go through three different airports in a day and not one of them makes you do thee same stuff at security) It's very confusing. As you say, just bring your stuff with you and if they confiscate it then they confiscate it. Usually the only problem is fresh produce.
Good luck and hopefully we can meet up at some point.
Cheers
Well that's just weird, I've never known anyone to not be able to bring or send food here before... :S You can bring stuff with you, don't worry about it. Make sure you declare it and notice the customs guy when they ask you what you have and you answer: "Australian chocolate" and they'll just wave you through without even looking.
Don't think so. I had a go at them (you know, the way Aussies do with poms) about not having Australian stuff cause it's so much better, they made the usual remarks about Australians, lol, but now I hear they have Violet Crumble! So very happy
Oh, you should come east too, if you're coming this far... NYC baby!
Dunno, but give it a burl
Well, I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm starving right now! Definitely need me some food
So, you've been all over... Cowtown to "down east" and now Pomgolia... good times. I bet you are experiences some cultural differences, those poms are a strange bunch, lol
Thanks fifth.
I wish you could just give em a list before you leave and they say yay or nay. But yeah, I guess I'll just try my luck and see how I go and hopefully I won't end up in a little room somewhere having to be subjected to all kinds of cavity searches! :eek:
Be cool to meet up. Are you on the west coast? I'm having trouble remembering where everybody is.
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