How Living in Australia Changed My Life

At this very moment I have taken time out of my day to drink black tea with cream and sugar. If only I knew how to make scones...but alas! I've been back in the States for almost a year now, but I have not given up drinking tea at four in the afternoon, and any other time I get the inclination, really. But that's just one little thing about me that Australia has changed.

Upon my arrival to begin my first year of college, I felt like I had more up close and personal information about its people than the average American. My grandpa grew up in Queensland, and from when he married my grandma to this very day, he's retained his strong accent to the ears of those around him. He used to tell me what life was like back in Australia, and I grew up hearing stories of Vegemite and kangaroos. I liked to think, therefore, that I had a pretty good perspective of what it would be like to live there. Many Americans have terrible misconceptions about Australia, propogated and exacerbated by the fact that many people's sole impression of the massive country are taken from movies like Crocodile Dundee and TV shows like the Crocodile Hunter. I couldn't believe the questions I was asked, so just for the sake of sanity, I will dispel some rumors to begin.

1. Kangaroos are NOT everywhere. They are not seen hopping around the city. People most certainly do not ride them to work. That's just silly.

2. Nobody thinks it's funny to hear an American say ridiculous things like "Crikey" and "Let's throw another shrimp on the barbie!" First of all, most Australians call shrimp prawns. Second of all, Americans cannot do Australian accents, and vice versa. Most Aussies aren't walking around saying, "Let's all go get fat at McDonald's!" in a ridiculous American accent, because they know better. It's time we caught up.

3. Sydney is NOT the capital of Australia. Look it up, please.

4. It's pronounced "Ozzie". You sound like a tool when you pronounce Aussie with a blatant "S" sound.