*aussie aussie aussie, oy oy oy !* having been here for a bit of time, it has been easy to adapt into the culture and way of life. aside from work (i am still working so damn hard but i'm glad to see that it is a myth that ALL aussies are laid-back and lazy - i have some pretty hardworking colleagues and management) , it's been a breeze getting into the lifestyle here. while i don't have the accent (and i doubt i ever will get it thank god) , i have noticed that part of getting into the way of life here is the usage of aussie-words creeping into my vocabulary. some of them words aren't exactly uniquely aussie - i have had sparing usage of them , but some are uniquely aussie, and in a way , it's much like singlish , cutting corners on what is said and how it is said. so just how aussie has my language become ? here're some of the words that have infiltrated my day to day vocab....... heaps – lots , loads , very many. hey? - I use this in two ways: one as an end to a sentence (quite like the way sgeans use “lah/meh/eh”) e.g. this beer is really good hey? ; the second way is when I didn’t hear what the other party was saying and I’m indicating that I didn’t understand/hear (quite like the way sgeans use “huh??”) arvo – afternoon. Even the news on tv use this term. how are you? – I resisted using the token “how are you” when I was back in the US , believing it totally uncalled for when it isn’t genuine. However, during the course of my work, I actually communicate with heaps of strangers , both external and internal parties , and as a courtesy, I do the “how are you? I’m good thanks, and you? Good. That’s good.” routine. However, when it’s a colleague whom I actually I know, I do answer “I’m alright” or “not too good” when things are rough. It amuses me sometimes when they are abit shocked at my answer. bloke – male, guy whinger / whinge – complain / someone who keeps complaining footy – aussie-rules football bloody – very. I remember my family members using this when I was young , so I don’t know how aussie-influenced this is. bogan – crude, working-class, poor education etc… you get the drift. daggy – unstylish ; ratty ute – utility vehicle/truck flat out – extremely busy lollie - sweets hotpot - steamboat Maccas – McDonald’s rego – registration (vehicle, aircraft) shout – treat / pay for e.g. I’ll shout drinks. under the pump – under pressure stoked – exhilarated reckon – sparing usage all my life, just using it much more here. e.g I reckon that we should do some shopping in the arvo tomorrow. e.g someone says “he’s gonna be late for sure”. I go “you reckon?” ta – thanks again / thanks for smaller things. Extremely sparingly used previously , much more now esp in emails. but – before I left, Mr GTR was telling warning me not to learn how to talk like the aussies (uh oh he’s not going to like talking to me much from now on). One thing he couldn’t stand was the usage of “but” to end sentences. I had never heard it before and told him so. Having been here, I noticed that only the younger ones (like those 21 – 23 yos) using it. Even so , not too many people do that (I have 2 colleagues who did that). It’s hard to describe how to use it , but I have decided against using it anymore. Initially it started as an experiment to see if I can get away with using it, then I got too used to it and I just didn’t want to sound like that. When I go back to Sg though and I meet MR GTR, I’m so gonna use it to annoy the hell out of him. LOL. for sure , i will NOT start using the cliche "Gidday" or even "mate". and yes, the header of this entry is uniquely aussie - it's the aussie cheer used in many sporting events: aussie aussie aussie oy oy oy aussie aussie aussie oy oy oy aussie oy aussie oy aussie aussie ausse oy oy oy !!!!!!! | 
