Learning The Hard Way

For the most part, nothing is that different in Australia than it is in the US. Sure they drive on the wrong side of the road and their mixed drinks are way too weak (that's a whole other post) but there's not much of a culture shock coming here from New York.

Of course, there has to be something. In less than 2 weeks I've been ridiculed for using American sayings that don't have the most appropriate meanings over here. A few of my favorites:

• I was out with some people, and was supposed to meet up with another friend, but they said I should keep partying with them. So I told them "Well, I can't just blow him off." Yeah, not the best choice of words. You can pretty easily imagine what that means here. Not to say I won't be using that phrase at any point, I just need to be a little more careful, that's all.
• You know how you might "root" for someone, or "root" for the home team? Apparently that's slang for sex, so don't tell someone you've just met that you'll be rooting for them, because they'll think you're a perv and stop inviting you to things. So I hear, anyway.
• My personal favourite though is when I was talking about tourists, and said something about them wearing fanny packs. Turns out "fanny" is a word used to describe female genitalia, which I previously knew but managed to forget. Of course I got a bit defensive about this one, and asked someone "But seriously, what do you imagine when I say 'fanny pack'?" The answer? "Oh I don't know...perhaps a bulbous oversized vagina..." Nice.

That's all, just a quick PSA, cause I'm lookin' out for you guys. Anyway it's Friday and it's almost 10am, I need to find a bar. Enjoy the weekend.