Australian Culture

with Nick Best and Melody Etvs

Public Transport

Australian Tram Trolley

American Trolley Shopping cart

Fauna

http://www.featherdale.com.au Blacktown (Western Sydney)

Pennant Hills (Northern Sydney) http://www.koalaparksanctuary.com.au

Harbour Bridge
$208-$298

Language
We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language. Oscar Wilde Australians speak English but also understand the American language
A large number of synonyms exist in Australia, e.g. lift or elevator A very small number of American words are preferred over the Standard English equivalents, e.g. truck

American spellings are occasionally acceptable but British spellings are always considered correct

Vocabulary
Some slang is uniquely Australian (but dated) Lots of nicknames Some words depend on region http://www.abc.net.au/wordma p/

The British Question

Majority of Australians have some British or Irish ancestry
But we do not identify as part of the Empire any more

An increasingly large minority have no connection Culturally, Australia is between the US and the UK in many ways
With increasing influence from Asia

Schooling
Pre-school is optional, almost always private Primary School: Kindergarten to Year 6 (5-12 years old)
Called e.g. Emu Plains Public School (NSW), Burpengary State School (Queensland), Geelong Primary School (Victoria) Divided administratively (and occasionally physically) into Infants (K-2) and Primary (3-6)

High School: Years 7-12 (12-18 years old) Dont call a university school or college School year is Jan-Dec

School Uniforms

School Lexicon
Australian primary school high/secondary school American elementary school middle and high school

uni
college (ACT and Tasmania) college (private institution) year n mark (noun and verb) pigeon hole bubbler

college
high school junior and senior years (but at separate schools) private high school nth grade grade (noun and verb) cubby hole drinking fountain

full stop
rubber duster

period
pencil eraser chalk eraser

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Australia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Australia

School Architecture

School Canteens
a.k.a. Tuck Shop Just a kiosk, never a cafeteria Hot lunches can be ordered, snacks bought Most primary schools err on the healthy side

Cuisine

Food Lexicon
Australia sultana rock melon America raisin cantaloupe

coriander biscuit
scone rock cake jelly seedless jam capsicum chips lemonade tomato sauce Napolitana sauce marinara

cilantro (or coriander) cookie

~biscuit scone Jello jelly bell pepper fries or chips Sprite ketchup marinara sauce seafood pasta dish

Etiquette
Keep your fork in your left hand! Dont ask for ketchup unless its fast food Sit in the front seat of a taxi (optional) No formal tipping culture
But wait-staff and taxi-drivers will accept tips

Only retailers/waiters use sir and madam

Others might call you mate

High school students use sir and miss (regardless of marital status of female teacher)

Sport

Units
A$1 US$1.03 The Metric System learn it!
Some remnants of the Imperial system remain But not for units of volume, Imperial units are different from US units eg Imperial pint = 20 oz

Beer glasses have funny names, which are different in each state
Volume 285 mL (10 oz) 425 mL (15 oz) 570 mL (20 oz) NSW middy schooner pint (Irish pubs only) pint Victoria pot South Australia Queensland schooner pint imperial pint pot schooner pint

 Australia 240V, 50Hz cf. USA 120V, 60Hz

One Cheap Solution

Jaycar http://jaycar.com.au Dick Smith http://www.dse.com.au Tandy http://www.tandy.com.au

Water
Australia is a very dry continent Most cities are frequently under water restrictions
Keep showers short Use half-flush

Internet is metered too

Australian Attitudes
Humility is a cardinal virtue
Australia is often less formal than America Self-deprecation is preferable to overt pride

Most of the time Australians are

Not often nationalistic Not very religious

Dont discuss politics or religion

Some opinions are considered private

Yet, separation of church and state is weak

Easter and Xmas are public holidays Weekly scripture classes in all public primary schools, chaplains in some Parochial schools receive government funding

Australians are moderate in their emotions

Can be suspicious of excessive enthusiasm, wowserism or anything that smacks of authority

National Identity
Most Australians do like Americans most of the time
But that affection may take the form of teasing

Most Australians will know a lot about American pop-culture from movies and music
a little about American history and nothing about American geography

Remember, disparaging the boot is a bootable offence

Humour