In the following categories…
Language:
Just because it’s English doesn’t mean there’s isn’t a language barrier. The following is a list of phrases that have started to make their way into my vocabulary (against my strong objection):
- Heaps (We’ll have heaps of fun tonight)
- Reckon (Where do you reckon we should go tonight?)
- How you goin? (How’d you go last night?)
I also had a lengthy discussion this morning about inserting s’s where there should be z’s, and u’s and e’s where they otherwise don’t belong. For Example:
Whilst I attempted to finalise my work for the day, I began to realise that my favourite TV programme was on tonight.
Winner: USA. ‘epic,’ ‘dude,’ ‘brodeo,’… solid.
Breakfast:
No joke in in Aussie. Would you like some eggs with your heavy cream? Perhaps a side slab of bacon? Some grilled tomahto?
Also a fan favourite: Bircher Muesli
Winner: Aussie (Brekkie sounds so much cooler than brunch anyway)
Coffee:
Starbucks vs. the world. I have now mastered the art of the coffee press, and have converted to the world of espresso based coffee.
A flat white:
Winner: Aussie. Long gone are the days of grande one pump skinny vanilla lattes
Pedestrian Behaviour:
This category may also be subtitled:
“Pardon me, group of Asian tourists walking 6 across slowly on a narrow sidewalk, I’d like to get by now.”
Points scored for having enough care for pedestrians to include signs like this one on street corners:
…But they’ve really got to start learning how to walk down here. It’s like a permanent walk through an airport terminal.
Television:
Most popular Aussie shows that I have seen thus far include:
Home and Away
Border Security Australia’s Front Line
Other classic ‘Aussie’ gems include:
Two and a Half Men
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Seinfeld
The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons
…and of course:
Winner: USA. (Birthplace of Friends, Lost, and Mad Men)
The Beach:
Chicago’s got vball, and a 5 minute walk to wells on wells.
Sydney has….a real beach. Many.
Winner: Aussie
