From the time we arrived in "Oz" on Dec 6, our intro to Aussie's Merryne and Dave and their "rele's" to this, our final week, it has been a bonzer adventure! The ribbing we have taken, initially by them and then other Aussie's, in our mispronunciation of cities like "Melbun" (Melbourne), "Brizbin" (Brisbane), "Canns" (Cairns), "Ayley Beach" (Airlie Beach), "Monkey My-a" (Monkey Mia) has been an hilarious education! The feeling of being a right "dill" (idiot) at having to ask a clerk at a "servo" (service station) to please repeat ....THREE TIMES..the question "yerroyt?" (are you all right/do you need assistance?) and the response to my Canadian "sorry" once I got it....."yaberoyt/she'll beroyt" (you're all right/no worries/no problem/no drama) put Bob and me into a state of hysterical laughter once we were in the privacy of our van where we practised the language for hours as we drove.
Christmas in Tassie (Tasmania) was a "little ripper" (extremely good thing) with -5C temperatures causing us to rug up and haul out the doona (comforter) at night. Spotting a skiff of snow on top of Cradle Mountain on Boxing Day reminded us of home.
We got out of bed each morning in time for the sparrow's fart (dawn) and witnessed the most fabulous sunsets, especially on the west coast where there is nothing between here and there.
It is difficult to describe the feelings we had when we spotted our first: roo, cassowary, emu, lorikeet, Major Mitchell, Ibis, salty and freshy (crocs), snake, koala and kookaburra (spelled differently depending on which part of Oz you are visiting).
We watched shark biscuits (inexperienced surfers) and pro's as they tackled the surf on all but northern beaches. We donned our bathers/cozzies (swimsuits) plus our stingy suits and revelled in the snorkelling on the Ningaloo Reef on the west coast and the Great Barrier on the east coast.
We acquired new mates; some Poms (English) and some Aussies....who will remain our friends forever.
We sampled bush tucker (native food) as we rode a camel in Broome.
In five months we have experienced the extreme kindness of strangers, like the truckie yesterday who was going the other way but sensing we were lost, stopped, got out of his truck and gave us detailed directions then raved on about his love for Canada and how he will come back once he's "mustered" up the funds. We met very few "ockers" (boorish Australians) or "hoons" (idiots) although we did feel a bit unsafe in "Hell's Crack" (Hall's Creek) and discovered much later that we should probably have avoided that particular overnighter.
We learned that a "snag" is a sausage and a "larrikin" is a hooligan; that "dob-in" is to snitch on someone; "kindo" is kindergarten and "crack a mental" is to lose your temper. "Chook" is chicken or women; a "tinny" is an aluminum boat or a can of beer and a "wowser" is a spoilsport. A "two-pot screamer" is a person unable to hold their liquor; a "sticky beak" is a nosy person and a popular affectionate nickname "Dozer" (as in bulldozer) is given to children and pets alike.
We are about to pack up our sunnies, our bathers, thongs (flip flops...NOT the other kind!!!) and sun "slop" for a couple of months until the Canadian boating season begins.
Finally, best of all was the Aussie Bob chatted with at the pool one afternoon. He exclaimed that he "LOVES Canadians!" and when asked why, he replied "I love the way they talk!"
Fair dinkum!!!
It has all been magic!!!
Rule 10: Memorize the meaning of the word "irony".
See ya!
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