Australian sounds (including pronunciations) and an orange bug

Loud sounds

Last weekend was the Australian Grand Prix. It takes place in Albert Park, which is just northwest of us. We didn't go see it, but we could heard it... clearly. The afternoon sounded like this:

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Also, for no clear reason, they also had jets doing low fly-bys. The ground shook.

No Melbourne residents seem to like the Grand Prix, which is weird... given how competitive sports are otherwise universally loved here.

The Australian accent/idioms

For a while now, we've been trying to figure out the Australian accent and idioms. They're recognizable enough, but if we could figure out the basic principles, we'd probably be able to blend in better. There are probably real linguists who have done this properly... but we'll look that up later.

Like anywhere, there isn't just one accent or set of idioms (one person told us the differences are more socioeconomic than regional). But below are a few things we've run into frequently.

We'll give (1) an American phrase, (2) the corresponding Australian phrase, and (3) the phrase an American should say if they're trying to pronounce the Australian version:

American: "Thanks, man."

Australian: "Cheers, mate."

Pronounced: "Cheese, might."

American: "No problem."

Australian: "No worries."

Pronounced: "New wearies."

American: "I don't eat cheese."

Australian: "I don't eat cheese." (Very rarely heard.)

Pronounced: "Oi dune ate Che's."

American: "I don't eat meat."

Australian: "I don't eat meat." (Rarely heard, outside of academic circles.)

Pronounced: "Oi don't ate mate."

American: "My father keeps some chickens."

Australian: "My father keeps some chooks."

Pronounced: "Moi fah the gapes some chooks."

American: "tweet, tweet"

Australian: "KHRWAWWW!!! KHRWAAAAAAWWW!!!"

Pronounced: [as written]

American English: "It is 55 degrees outside."

Australian English: "It's 13 degrees outside."

Pronounced: "Eat's *#%!ing frayzing huts oid, might!"

American: "You making fun of how I talk? That's it, let's go outside, #*&$."

Australian: "No worries!"

Pronounced: "New wearies!"

[No harm to actual Australians was intended in the production of this blog post.]

A weird bug

These orange and black beetles have been crawling all over our back yard for the past couple months. This one is hanging out on our sage plant. Weird.

A month sort of like New York

It's been a month since our last post - yikes! It's surprising that it's surprising that time goes by so quickly, since time almost always goes by so quickly.

Anyway, the past month has been filled with events like the events of our New York era... sort of.

Work (not pictured)

Like our last year in NYC, Colin has been busy teaching and writing, and Naomi has been busy doing social work.

Unlike New York, Colin now lectures to bigger groups (sometimes 200+), and is able to get laughs just by being American. And unlike New York, Naomi's job is (fairly) low-stress and low-paperwork.

Jon and Heather and Outdoor Concerts

Like New York, we got to spend some time with our friends Jon and Heather. Here they are with some flying plants in Federation Square:

Unlike the last time we were all together in New York, we've all gotten married, and learned what 'Super' means in Australian.

Like New York, there are free summer concerts in a nearby park:

Also like New York in summer, it was pretty hot. We had to get there early to get a decent spot (the concert was great, but the sitting in sun beforehand was not the highlight of J&H's visit).

Unlike New York concerts, the view includes the sunset over the downtown skyline:

They also had gates to limit how many people could be there (only 10,000).

A Neighborhood Festival

Like New York, Melbourne features frequent outdoor festivals/fairs in different areas. Here is one in St. Kilda:

Unlike New York, there were no stands selling papusas (cornmeal-cheese cakes). There was, however, a good Afghan stand (among others).

And a silent disco:

People were handed headphones as they went in. We watched them all dance silently a bit.

Cooking for friends

As we did in New York, one of our main ways of relaxing has been cooking for our friends. Here are some biscuits for Jon and Heather's last morning in the city:

Unlike any biscuits we made in New York, these are wattleseed-flavoured. (Wattleseed is a native Australian spice.)

Also unlike our apartment in New York, we have space for four people to simultaneously sit at a table and eat. Here are Adam and Tamar, with some risotto in the foreground:

Brighton Beach

Like New York, Melbourne features a beach called 'Brighton Beach.'

Unlike New York, there are no Russian restaurants (unfortunately... we were sort of in the mood for some). There is also almost no garbage, and very few people.

There are, however, cute painted bathing boxes (famous from Melbourne guide books). Here's Colin in front of some:

And Naomi in front of others:

And a big stretch with no people, garbage or Russian restaurants:

Now that we've written it, this all sounds a bit like a 6th grade compare/contrast essay. Oh well... good to know that skill had some application later in life.