down under and back asswards

Well everyone knows that this is Australia is the land Downunder, but I dont think people really realize/realise how backwards little things can be. I've been trying to take note of all these little things. Some of them are obvious, some just different, and some very annoying.

1. light switches - to turn on the lights in my apartment, you flick the switches down instead of up.

2. locks - to lock lock the door, you turn the key opposite of the way you want the lock to go. hard to explain, but very annoying.

3. cab - in a cab, you get in the front seat, not the back. apparently people don't rob cab drivers down under.

4. table - If you table something, instead of that meaning that you put it off, you do it right away.

5. fanny - a big one. Down under, fanny does not mean butt. it means...well i would never type something like that on my blog, but the word contains these letters - yssup - and rhymes with pussy.

6. Instead of chasing someone down, you chase them up. (eg "Try and chase up Susan from HR - she'll know the answer.") weird.

7. The first floor - is actually the US second floor. I walk into the building, walk up a flight of stairs and I think I'm on the second floor. Well if you ask the IT guys to bring you a new computer, and that you're on the 2nd floor, they take a really long time. And arrive kinda mad.

8. Of course there is the driving on the wrong side of the road. And the driver's side being on the right... I still notice people on the left side of the car asleep or texting and have a mild panic attack thinking they're about to steer into the sidewalk and run over me.

9. You hail a bus, but you are not allowed to hail a cab. weird, huh?

And FYI - I have witnessed water going down the drain counterclockwise. I actually filled a sink to check. And I don't think that is allowed under the current LEVEL 5 water restrictions. Shhh...Don't tell the authorities.

City Pictures

The Aussie Salute

"The Aussie Salute" is a phrase for swatting flies away from your face. I had no idea there would be flies so annoying here. They're just like regular house flies in the US, but these things fly at your face and they're everywhere. And they don't stop flying at your face once you give them the good old salute. They just keep coming back for more. I have a theory about the flies. I think this country is too clean. Perhaps if there was more dog shit and trash laying around, they'd have somewhere else to go. I guess for a fly the next best place after trash and dog shit is the human face.

A TACKY TALLY!!

Homeless People = 3
Black People = 7
Pickup Trucks = 2
Indian People = 14
Little People = 1
Cowboy Hats = 0
Kangaroos = 3

hilarity and health together at last.

November is known as "Movember" here, Australia's month to raise prostate cancer awareness (apparently they are starting it in the US as well). And instead of everyone just shelling out cash and wearing a stupid ribbon on their sweater, people enlist in MUSTACHE growing contests at work! I couldn't be more excited to celebrate and promote healthy junk...pun intended.


http://www.movember.com/

don't do it America!

So I know this is not something actually on America's current ToDo list, but every once in a while I hear people talk about how the drinking age should be lowered to 18. because if youre old enough to fight for your country, you should be old enough to drink and blah blah blah. well America, Don't do it!! there is nothing more annoying that a herd of 18year old pimply faced kids at a bar. or running around in the streets wasted. they're idiots. Maybe deep down I'm just afraid that one day I'd have too much to drink and start flirting with a teenager. the horror. In fact, I think they should RAISE the drinking age. or maybe anyone under, say 25, has to wear a little pin or badge. you know, little "pieces of flair".

i have an accent??

I am always asked "where are you from? canada?" I always figured that there were perhaps there more more Canadians in the area. Or perhaps Australians expect Americans to sound like "yyyyeeeeee-haaaaawwwwww!....gawd bless the eww ess aye!" But I found out the REAL reason today, and actually heard it from two different and independent sources. CANADIANS GET REALLY OFFENDED IF YOU THINK THEY'RE AMERICANS!!! so people always ask if youre Canadian first. i love you canada, i know you have national health care and all, but just let me remind you - you are the home of avril lavigne, shania twian, and celine dion. gawd bless teh ewww ess aye!