Pre-Acculturation

So, I'm trying to get a feel for Aussie culture before actually being in Oz so that maybe I won't feel so rudderless on arrival. I 've been reading websites about Australian slang and idiom: some makes sense and some really, well, there's going to be a steep learning curve. Australia even has its own standard dictionary. We've got Webster's, the Britons have Oxford, and the Australians have the Macquarrie Dictionary. I'm going to have to learn to spell again. Australian English seems to switch back and forth between British and American spellings: "color", "honor" and "favor" are sometimes "colour", "honour", and "favour". I've already forgotten the other "irregularities" in spelling, but they're there.

I've also been trying to watch some Aussie TV shows, starting with "Kath and Kim." It's funny, I guess, but not like really laugh out loud funny, just mildly quirky and awkward funny. I guess that's really the only show I've tried to watch (I don't think The Crocodile Hunter counts). I don't know why I expect their TV shows to be possibly amusing or entertaining; so very few of ours are.

Mellini doesn't think going to Outback Steakhouse and gorging ourselves on Bloomin' Onions while quizzing the servers on their knowledge of Australia is a good idea. But what does she know? She's listening to Vangelis! Those servers do have to learn a lot abut Australia and I think Bloomin' Onions would soak up a lot of beer.