By and large, English is not widely spoken in Australia and you’ll need to know a few convenient local phrases to get by in most Australian towns and cities. And the mere act of making an effort is much appreciated by the locals. Below is a primer which is by no means, exhaustive.
“Gud-day” is Australian for “Good Day”. It may be used as a greeting and then subsequently upon parting. It can also be given when passing a stranger on the street. It is a versatile salutation. If you are feeling adventurous, add the word “mate” after gud’day. For heaven’s sake, loosen up and have fun when mingling with the locals!! Maybe they’ll think you’re Crocodile Dundee or Nicole Kidman.
“How are YOU going” loosely translated into English means “how is IT going”? This is typically the next phrase spoken after “gud-day” and so reminiscent of the Australian culture in that YOU is substituted for IT. You are not an IT… you are a YOU. We in english speaking countries can sometimes overlook how words can make a difference and sometimes, hurt.
“Trakie”, “Barbie”, “Sammy”…Australians don’t like to say the whole word if they can shorten it by adding an “ie or “y”. Studies have shown that in doing so, Australians gain an extra 8 minutes per year by employing this custom. So in the previous examples, “trakie” means a tracksuit, “barbie” means barbecue “sammy” refers to a sandwich. Try creating some on your own. It’s a hoot and maybe you will buy some time while you’re at it. We have so much to learn and gain from embracing other cultures and anyone who knows me, knows how important these things are to me.
Armed with these handy phrases, we made our way to Freemantle (home of an historical jail, birthplace of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, and the inspiration to the rock and roll anthem “Highway to Hell”), Busselton (home of an historic jail) and Albany (home of an historic jail). By the way, the “al” in albany is pronounced like the “al” in albert…so it’s al-bany
Three days at sea and we land on Kangaroo Island where we get to see kangaroos, pet them and then eat one in a burger
PS: all kidding aside, susan and I really loved Freemantle, which is a suburb of Perth. It is an artsy/ foodie place that has a friendly coastal vibe. Friendly people, fantastic produce, independent shops and picturesque waterfront. What’s not to love.