Today I thought I'd share with you some of the more unexpected results of my move Down Under. Read, laugh, weep, enjoy, and most of all - please don't judge me ....
1. That watching a film - any film - which features England in even the most minor way can bring a little tear to my eyes... For example, watching "One Day" very recently, there were scenes set in grotty parts of London, which (not to sound like a snob, but quite honestly) I'd never ever go to. Now, because I'm in Australia, I watched with a deep sense of appreciation and fondness. I might even have let out a little "Aaawwww". Ahem.
2. This also works for when I cast my mind back to my old commute of an hour and a quarter, 1 train and 2 tubes into central London. In hindsight, I can get quite nostalgic remembering "the good old days" back home. Except the truth was, I hated that commute. Bizarre.
3. A trip to the supermarket - if it involves a British Section - becomes the source of immense excitement. As one ex-pat who I've met described it, "It's not that I'd ever want to have HP Sauce, it's just comforting to see it there".
4. Also on that note, you find yourself trawling the shops to find out who sells the McVities Jaffa Cakes. This information is then excitedly reported back to all ex-pat acquaintances, and before long, you find yourself getting rather competitive. "Just because Heather found out where the PG Tips was being sold, doesn't mean she has to be so stuck-up, the cow. I found the pickled onions, surely that must count for something?? Where's my recognition?!"
5. Hearing a British accent makes your heart swell a bit. "My people" you think, smiling to yourself. (I'm serious - does no-one else get this?)... This extends to Scottish accents too, although the degree of metaphorical heart-swelling is reduced. I mean, it's not the best accent out of all of the British Isles...
6. "Amazeballs" becomes a regular part of your vocab. All of the Aussies are at it. I can resist no longer. For example: "OMG that cake looks totally amazeballs".
7. Ditto "super-fun" or "super exciting". I started off saying it ironically. But the persistent level of enthusiasm here is hard to beat. And I now genuinely do find things "super fun". As I said, please don't judge me.
8. Having packages arrive from the UK becomes the highlight of your week. This week I had 2. That was not only amazeballs, but super-exciting. (You see what I mean? The Aussies have come up with some great words there. I mean, terrible words, but great).
9. The development of a slightly new twang. Except, rather than Australian, mine is South African. In fact, I frequently get very confused as to where I am - and it's only the sight of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the Aussie flag that I actually remember. Australia is full of South Africans and most of my colleagues are "Saffras" (as the South Africans, previously unbeknownst to me, call themselves). This means that for 11 hours per day, I'm being mentally transformed, and am developing a worrying penchant for Saffra phrases and speech patterns. A worrying number of sentances are now being finished with "hey". (As in, "Her dress is really nice, hey". (Note, that is said as a statement, not a question. That's the disconcerting thing.))
10. I have started visiting - and quite liking - Irish pubs. Ok, I should clarify that, before my London Massive collapse with shock - I have visited 1 Irish pub. And I liked it because there were some cute (non-Irish) guys in there. And also because the rugby was on, and it was very funny seeing them all get super-emotional (ahem, vocab), even though I have to admit, that result was pretty stunning. Wallabies - you got told. (And no, I am not a rugby enthusiast. But now that I'm in Australia, I have to pretend...)
Ok, I think I shall stop my public humiliation there. I just thought I'd share.
More news from Down Under coming soon.
Until then,
Yours,
Belle x
1. That watching a film - any film - which features England in even the most minor way can bring a little tear to my eyes... For example, watching "One Day" very recently, there were scenes set in grotty parts of London, which (not to sound like a snob, but quite honestly) I'd never ever go to. Now, because I'm in Australia, I watched with a deep sense of appreciation and fondness. I might even have let out a little "Aaawwww". Ahem.
2. This also works for when I cast my mind back to my old commute of an hour and a quarter, 1 train and 2 tubes into central London. In hindsight, I can get quite nostalgic remembering "the good old days" back home. Except the truth was, I hated that commute. Bizarre.
3. A trip to the supermarket - if it involves a British Section - becomes the source of immense excitement. As one ex-pat who I've met described it, "It's not that I'd ever want to have HP Sauce, it's just comforting to see it there".
4. Also on that note, you find yourself trawling the shops to find out who sells the McVities Jaffa Cakes. This information is then excitedly reported back to all ex-pat acquaintances, and before long, you find yourself getting rather competitive. "Just because Heather found out where the PG Tips was being sold, doesn't mean she has to be so stuck-up, the cow. I found the pickled onions, surely that must count for something?? Where's my recognition?!"
5. Hearing a British accent makes your heart swell a bit. "My people" you think, smiling to yourself. (I'm serious - does no-one else get this?)... This extends to Scottish accents too, although the degree of metaphorical heart-swelling is reduced. I mean, it's not the best accent out of all of the British Isles...
6. "Amazeballs" becomes a regular part of your vocab. All of the Aussies are at it. I can resist no longer. For example: "OMG that cake looks totally amazeballs".
7. Ditto "super-fun" or "super exciting". I started off saying it ironically. But the persistent level of enthusiasm here is hard to beat. And I now genuinely do find things "super fun". As I said, please don't judge me.
8. Having packages arrive from the UK becomes the highlight of your week. This week I had 2. That was not only amazeballs, but super-exciting. (You see what I mean? The Aussies have come up with some great words there. I mean, terrible words, but great).
9. The development of a slightly new twang. Except, rather than Australian, mine is South African. In fact, I frequently get very confused as to where I am - and it's only the sight of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the Aussie flag that I actually remember. Australia is full of South Africans and most of my colleagues are "Saffras" (as the South Africans, previously unbeknownst to me, call themselves). This means that for 11 hours per day, I'm being mentally transformed, and am developing a worrying penchant for Saffra phrases and speech patterns. A worrying number of sentances are now being finished with "hey". (As in, "Her dress is really nice, hey". (Note, that is said as a statement, not a question. That's the disconcerting thing.))
10. I have started visiting - and quite liking - Irish pubs. Ok, I should clarify that, before my London Massive collapse with shock - I have visited 1 Irish pub. And I liked it because there were some cute (non-Irish) guys in there. And also because the rugby was on, and it was very funny seeing them all get super-emotional (ahem, vocab), even though I have to admit, that result was pretty stunning. Wallabies - you got told. (And no, I am not a rugby enthusiast. But now that I'm in Australia, I have to pretend...)
Ok, I think I shall stop my public humiliation there. I just thought I'd share.
More news from Down Under coming soon.
Until then,
Yours,
Belle x
No comments:
Post a Comment