“If we walk far enough," says Dorothy, "we shall sometime come to someplace.”

Today's title is from the movie, "The Wizard of Oz".

 

Why am I starting this blog with a quote?  I mean, typically there is usually a quote thrown into a blog entry.  But as a post title?

 

Let me explain.  When I was a kid, my favourite movie was "The Wizard of Oz".  I would watch it over, and over, and over.  It drove my dad nuts.  Fast forward to 15.. ok, around 28 some odd years later (you people really won't let me stay in my 20's will ya?)  my parents made their first trip to Australia.  One day, my dad and I were alone waiting for mom... I think she was buying something, using the bathroom... regardless, it was just us.  Something made my dad think.  I don't know if it was a sign in a shop, a shirt on a passer by, or what exactly.  But Australia's nickname is "Oz"  or "Aus".  With a very serious face, dad looked at me and said "well April, guess you ended up in Oz after all".  Neither of us replied there.  We just existed.  A moment in which no further words were needed.

 

Thursday July 4th, 2013 is a date I think I will always remember.  First off, it was my second July 4th in Australia.  It was cold, raining, and I was home sick with what remains of a cold and Wayne was home sick with a nasty stomach bug.  (yes friends, our house needs to be disinfected.  And my disinfected I mean burned down.  With us in it.  lol).  A few days prior I had told one of friends from nursing school, who is a published author, that I was tossing around writing a book.  I have written since a kid as a release.  I have an idea in mind as well and have been writing a rough start on it.  Tina tells me that if I want any tips to let her know, and if I want to send her anything, she'll happily have a look and give me some advice/feedback.  I take her up on this and email the first four typed pages and awaited her response on the instant messenger.  I sit and watch for a few minutes.  Suddenly the words "Tina is typing" has popped up.  Now, other than my blog, I haven't shared anything I have written as an adult with anyone.  She comes back and tells me that she likes it, and tells me I have a knack for writing comedy.  She made some edits/suggestions and sent back to me.  They were fantastic edits so I'm really excited to hit that over the weekend.  A few minutes later, Tina asks me if I would co-write a short comedy romance novel with her for her publisher.  ME??  Be published?  YES PLEASE!  I am so excited that words don't even describe it!  While co-writing this short novel, I am also writing on my own fiction novel that I am going to hope to publish once it's finished and ready! 

 

It's really an awesome feeling.  For me, this is not about becoming rich or famous.  IF that happens, I won't reject, don't get me wrong.. haha.  But that's not the point or purpose.  This has been a dream since I was around 10 and started writing poems and short stories as a kid.  My sixth grade English teacher wrote in my yearbook once (yes, I was a dork) "I expect to see a novel with your name on it one day".  Well, Mrs. Hancock, your expectations and my dream shall soon be a reality!

 

Today, I was thinking about it, and how life really has a way of working itself out.  My life has been far from a stroll in the park.  It's be a stroll through a park with a detour through some crazy ass haunted forests.  I don't necessarily regret those detours.  They did, after all, make me who I am today.  Which is good in some ways, and not so good in others.  But it's all part of self development I guess. 

 

While thinking about how excited I was to see this dream become a reality, I thought about how blessed I am and how, once I got to the "Land of Oz" that my dreams have all started to come true.  I have found a love that I always dreamed of.  Sure we have had our ups and downs, but together we have gotten through things and have come out stronger and closer in the end.  My dream of being a Practice Manager came true within nine months of working in my current job.  I have a wedding coming up that I am excited about.  Sure, I've been married before, and how crazy as it sounds, I never have had the wedding every girl, including me, dreams of as a kid.  Where you get to chose your favourite song, your bride maid dresses and flower... all the girlie things we start envisioning at the age of five.  The things that girls should be able to have, I am finally gonna get to have.  I have met a man who I love and can't wait to start a family with and raise here in Perth.  In the past bit I've lost now around 30 pounds or so and have put my health as a higher priority than I use to. 

 

All that's missing now is for my closest friends and parents to move here with me.  That's not asking for too much is it?  lol. 

 

I am gonna close with a quote from the movie "The Switch"  Sure it's a quote I've used in the past, but I like it.. andddddd.. it's my blog.  haha.

"Look at us: running around, always rushed, always late. I guess that's why they call it the human race. But sometimes, it slows down just enough for all the pieces to fall into place. Fate works its magic, and you're connected. Every once in a while, amid the randomness, something unexpected happens that pushes us all forward. And the truth is, what I'm starting to think, what I'm starting to feel, is that the human race, isn't a race at all."

Frustrations of a Yank (down under)

Hello all.  I haven't blogged much on life as an expat in a while.  I have shared my previous yank blogs and have some new readers.  So for those new readers, hello *waves*.  For those who have stuck around for all my randomness and nonsense, well, *waves* hello to you too.  :)  Can't exclude people from virtual waves, can I?  How on EARTH would I sleep at night? hehe.

So, I've had some new experiences as an expat...... I've blogged about it recently just in general, but not in the expat view.  I have recently been hospitalised and been in the hands of doctors, specialists, radiologists, etc.  Now, before you get all stressed, it's nothing serious.  Burst ovarian cyst that put me in the hospital, left me in pain for almost two weeks, I've now had two ultrasounds, seen the doctor numerous times, been on pain meds, etc.

The first "annoyance" I had was the "Can I see your medicare card?"  Now let me explain this to those who aren't familiar with the Australian healthcare system, there is a government healthcare scheme here and you get a Medicare card.  It's not just for 65 years and up.  I am now "eligible" because of our partner visa but going through the ropes.  For my health cover, I pay a lot of money every month for what is known as private health cover.  It's required under my working visa that I have this, and as a nurse, I won't get caught without insurance!  Throughout all of the health stuff, I have been asked a bazillion times to show my Medicare card.  "I don't have Medicare, I have private cover".... once I say that, that SHOULD be the end of the conversation... right?  Ohhhh.  I wish.

 "Can I see your Medicare card?"
"I don't have Medicare.  I have <insert name of my health cover>"
"You don't have Medicare??" 
*pretty sure I said it quite clearly*.  "No."
"umm.... okaaaaaaaaaaaaay.... um, well you have to pay today."
"Yup, I always do.  No problem"

"Can I see your Medicare card?"
"I don't have Medicare.  I have <insert name of my health cover>"
"You don't have Medicare??" 
*pretty sure I said it quite clearly*.  "No."
"Um.. everyone has Medicare..."
*crickets*   "Nope, not on a 457"

 "Can I see your Medicare card?"
"I don't have Medicare.  I have <insert name of my health cover>"
"You don't have Medicare??" 
*pretty sure I said it quite clearly*.  "No."
"ummm...let me ask what I need to do....cause you should have Medicare.."

SERIOUSLY????  ARRGGGHHHHHHH!!

Everyone turns into a bloody Medicare EXPERT all of a sudden.  A while back I had someone try to tell me the "rules" on a 457.  They were a checkout person at the chemist.  Yes, because I'm sure you know ALL about a 457, when you are a born and raised Aussie, working checkout at the chemist (aka the Pharmacy in yank-land).

Today I ventured out to the shopping centre.  After being home for nearly two weeks, I needed to get out of the house.  And for the first time, I actually felt up to leaving the couch/bed.  Which is a huge thing as I haven't felt up to leaving either unless it's to go to the other.  One thing I have missed since moving here is my old pillow.  Stupid, I know.  I loved my pillow and haven't broke down and purchased a good pillow since moving here.  Cheap Target ones that after a week have lost form, yes.  So, today I passed a store having a end of financial year sale.  I wander in.  Find a pillow sooo similar to what I had and spot on what I want.  I proceed to the check out.  The lady was probably mid 50's and very nice.  Asked me if I wanted to try it out before I purchase, because its non refundable.  Fantastic.  Customer Service?  In Australia?  It's rare, but I was quite happy.  "That'd be great".  Once we start chatting, I knew the question that would soon come out of her mouth "So, where are you from?"  "America"  "hmm.. you don't sound American, you must be from the North?"  "I'm from Kentucky"  "That's North, right?"  "Nope.  We are South"  "No, you don't sound it" (ummm.. is this a conversation, or an argument?)  So I change the subject, and ask about the product I am interested in..... however, she changes it back... "so, how long have you been here?"  "Almost two years"  "What brought you here?"  "My fiance is from Perth"  "Well why didn't he move to America?"  (am I being questioned for something here?) "The economy isn't good and as a nurse it's easier for me to get work than him in America".  "Oh...."  *long pause*.  "But.. dont' you miss your folks?  I could NEVER abandon my parents like that *said with quite a rude tone*........"

Wait.  What?  You have GOT to be kidding me right?  You don't know me, my situation, but now you are basically telling me I am a bad daughter?  Of course I miss my parents!  I miss my family, my friends, and a lot of things from "home".  Moving doesn't mean you don't miss people or things.

Perhaps I'm just over reading but it really bugged me.  Moving to another country requires a lot of work to adjust to a new lifestyle, and a lot of time to adjust to the things you no longer have - such as easy access to family and friends.

I have recently discovered more FB pages of Americans in Perth.  It's really great.  I enjoy reading of other people's experiences.  I also like to pass along warm words to those having trouble (the "newbies") and to share tips and hints to other yanks (like how to make cornbread without cornmeal.).

So, this isn't an overly exciting yank blog entry.  I keep telling ya'll there isn't much interesting going on here, and you keep coming back.  You are your own worst enemy ya know! haha :)

Love, Peace, and Hair Grease.

Perspective

Every now and then, something happens that takes us out of the hussle and bussle of day to day life to put things in perspective...even it's a small thing.

For me, I have had a lot of things put in perspective this week.  On Saturday night I spent the night in a lot of pain.  Sunday morning.. GONE.  We had a fun day doing wedding registry in the city, and then again on Sunday night.  Pain.  Ended up at the emergency room to find I had a large ruptured ovarian cyst.  It resulted in two nights in the hospital in total.  During this time, I cannot count the number of texts, emails, facebook messages,, phone calls, etc from friends and family.  One of the hardest things for me moving here was not having that really good local friend basis.  I had people I knew.  But not the close friendships I was use to back home.  Hell, when I was moving out of my exhusbands house in early 2010, I had one friend call in sick to work to help me move and a few others take a day off to be there.  But now to have a group of friends that are there for you no matter what (and I am the same in return) is really a good feeling.  It definitely makes Perth even more like home.

The next realization for me is more of a confirmation than a realization.  I have the most amazing fiance in the world.  He was at my side through all of this.  He is so caring, nurturing, and supportive.  He only left the hospital to sleep (and the first night was when me and the nurse ganged up and basically forced him to go) or to come home to pick up items I needed such as change of clothes and tooth brush.  We live very close to the hospital I was in so that was nice and handy.  He never complained about being tired, hungry, or bored (but it only takes five minutes to be bored as a visitor in the hospital).  Now, I have told him thank you and his response was that I would do the same for him and have.  And yes, that is true.  But it's just a nice feeling to know that someone loves you and cares for you as much as he does for me.

We also had some confirmation on the hospital we were in, in terms of when the time comes for us to have babies. It's very close to home and where my OB/GYN does deliveries.  The unit I was on was the maternity ward (because that's where the ob/gyn's do their rounds and such).  The care was so fantastic.  It's a BRAND new part of the hospital.  The beds were temper pedic mattresses.  I have not one negative thing to say about it.  The doctor taking care of me in the hospital was fantastic and said they hoped to see us sometime next year under different circumstances.  Despite feeling like crap, the entire experience (minus one nurse in the ER) was fantastic.  Gives me reassurance on the hospital for when it's time to have a baby.  Which I am so excited about.  I find myself cluckier and cluckier these days!  And I know Wayne will be an amazing father.  I just can't wait for the future.....

Back to the point!!  The entire visit in the hospital put a lot in perspective.  A lot about the life and friends I have established here and how awesome they are.  How awesome Wayne's family is, and how amazing of a partner Wayne is.  For some reason, it put the wedding in perspective.  I was starting to be quite stressed about the day, and now I seem to not be as stressed about it.  It's not a competition, it's a celebration of the love we share for each other.  For example, we both have had different opinions on the icing on the cake and cupcake tower.  For god's sake.  It's just icing.  Why did I care before?  It's small things like that.  If anything maybe the cyst was God's way of telling me to chill the F out about the wedding?? haha.

Because of developing my own friends and developing a closer bond I am homesick less and less these days.  I do miss my friends and parents still... and am so excited for the wedding for them to be here, as I am secretly hoping they will fall in love (or more in love) with Perth and move here.  How great would that be.  Hey, kids need both sets of grandparents close by, right??????????   I am so hopeful that is the case.  I'm so hopeful, that I don't even think of any other scenario in the future.  Sigh...lol.  Without hope we have nothing, right?

Speaking of the future, this week we also applied for our partner visa.  This is the step towards permanent residency and citizenship for me.  That's so exciting.

So that's the update on things down under.  I'm off to watch a movie online.  I found a preview for "Sound of my Voice".  Some cult movie that the preview looks twisted but reviews are good.  Getting stir crazy so movie it is.

Love, Peace, and hair grease...

Winter... in June.

Ok.  So I probably have talked a lot about the whole southern hemisphere weather/seasons.  It is really weird to adjust to.  Now, I'm not complaining about it, but it is something that is really weird to experience.  Hot hot hot Christmas (like 104F!)  COLD May/June/July/August seasons.  Not cold by Kentucky standards, but damn the cold wind off the Southern Ocean is frickin COLD!  The last few weeks I come home, change into sweats, a hoodie, and my ugg boots  (am I styling or what.. sexy eh? haha).  The thing that is the hardest for me to adapt to is when it's cold and it's NOT time for Christmas/Thanksgiving.. or even CLOSE.  This is the second year I have caught myself driving and thought about the nephews in the family and thought "hmm.. what should we get the boys for Christmas?"  Or, I'll start thinking about the menu for Thanksgiving (yes, I live in Australia, but we have an annual Thanksgiving celebration here with Wayne's family.. it's AWESOME).  Then I'm like "hey dummy.. it's JUNE".  I'm sure at some stage I will adjust and accept that Thanksgiving and Christmas are WARM times of the year, and May/June/July are not summer for fun and sun.  

Someday.  lol

So, life down under.. let's see.  

Wedding........  FULL swing.  I'm almost over it as bad as it sounds.  Now, it's not a matter of not wanting to marry Wayne.  It's just alllll the little things and such that go into it.  Choosing the cake, cake topper, music for ceremony, music for reception (cake cutting song, entrance song, etc, etc, etccccc), picking out the wedding bands, tuxes (or suits as they call them here), emailing the reception venue to see about sampling the food........  I am sure that we will really enjoy ourselves (because we are making the day about US, not what will make everyone else happy), but there are times I think of all the costs and such and wonder why we didn't elope.  Then I remember the 91 and 92 year old grandparents and all the family that it will mean so much to, and that erases any thoughts of eloping (until the next bill comes... haha).  Ok... Soooo....  Bridesmaid dresses are all ordered and have arrived at my Maid of honor's house in America.  I love love love them.. and even more importantly, both my bridesmaids love it, and it will be so easy for them to wear over and over again.  The guest book is a photo book of our Engagement photos, with a section in the beginning for how we met, pics of us as kids, then pics of us together through our dating... as well as a section dedicated to the band we met through, Seven Mary Three.  The lead singer and song writer sent us a very personal gift and we have incoorporated that into those pages as well.  Then the rest of the book is a large-ish picture with room all around it to write us a message.  Something that will be able to be used as a photo album and guest book.  If we have boys, they wont' care a thing about it, but I am thinking if we have girls, they might have interest in the story of "us".  (Probably not, but maybe..lol).   I'm really pleased and happy with it and cant' wait to share it once we have gotten it.  Or I may wait to share once it's been written in.  I'll see what time allows probably more than anything!  So everything is coming along.. less than FIVE months to go now!  Eekk!!  Seriously, didn't he just propose YESTERDAY?!!?!!?  

I think the things I am VERY excited about is seeing my folks and my best friend!  I have missed them and am really so thrilled they will be here.  They are basically getting here about 2 days apart, and we are gonna have a trip down south with just me and the three of them and do some touristy stuff and just have as much fun as possible.  I just can't wait.  Sometimes I just think the world isn't ready for me and my BFF to reunite.  Not sure Australia is gonna be able to handle us together.. lol.  I'm excited for the late night pj chats, the stuff your face with junk food at 2am while watching our FAVORITE movies (and probably being told to shut up and go to bed by everyone in the house)..... I'm just really excited.  I'm also excited for Heather to meet my best friend here in Australia, Sasha.  At the same time, I dread the good byes.  Those damn goodbyes.  It's easily the worst thing about any trips and catch ups when living so far away from the one's you love.  At first you think that the next trip will be easier.... only to find out that it actually gets harder, never easier.  Oh well, such is life.  Maybe someday everyone I love will move down Under.  Hint, hint people! haha  

Work is work.  Nothing worth going into really.

Anyways, just thought I would drop in and say hi.  I seem to ignore my blog these days.  I think of random crap to blog about, but it never gets past my brain.  Or shiny objects divert my attention.  Tomato TomaTOE.  ha.  I am way behind on emails as I haven't been too keen to go into massive personal emails from work.. just not sure how "secure" it is really.  Even though I'm the "boss".. I still have a boss that I don't know what is or isn't being monitored... it's like big brother sometimes.. you just never know.  haha.

Ok everyone.. have a fantastic week.  Tomorrow is FRIDAY for me.  Friday... you are so amazing.  

Until next time....

Update on life down unda.

So, I've been really mentally exhausted lately.  Work has been chaos and I really felt like I was about to break.  I was talking to Wayne while he was in Mongolia recently with work via email, and he told me he was afraid I was gonna push myself to have a break down or something.  I don't know why, but when he said that it really made me have to stop and think and evaluate how I am handling the stress and working on new ways to unwind and make sure that I am not pushing myself mentally.  So, I am starting to slowly feel better.... mentally.

However, physically.  Well that's another story.  The dr's are having me do a high gluten diet in prep for some tests to see if I have Celiac (which would explain a lot of my health problems.)  I did three days gluten free and then had to start this high gluten diet.  I swear, my stomach feels like nuclear bombs have gone off.  The nausea and stomach problems are just.  Well.  I'm over it.  In addition on Tuesday I have to have a procedure done (female stuff) and am really nervous about it.  I am trying to be hopeful and think that by this time next week I SHOULD be over both things and headed in the right direction.  But, in the meantime.... misery it is?

Wedding is six months from Saturday.  My maid of honor went to the bridal shop back home and had a look at the Bridesmaid dresses we picked out online.  Found out it takes SIXTEEN weeks to get in... so that's middle of August.. add shipping to Australia...... ok, so I will admit that today is the first time that I've thought "wow.. this is coming up quick".  And while there isn't a LOT to get done, there is still quite a bit.  I am waiting for a surprise from the lead singer of Seven Mary Three to arrive that we are incorporating into our invites.  I have no clue what it is, but once we receive, you can bet I will share it.  How cool that the band we met through took the time to do something creative for us to use for our wedding invites.  Pretty damn cool!

Other than that, not much really new to report.  Well, nothing exciting, and I have already wasted a few minutes of your time that you will NEVER get back... lol.  So until next time.....

It's all English, part dos.

See what I did there?  If not.. re-read..  Still nothing?. um.  Yeah, just forget it.  ;)

My last blog post was quite long with all the language shmanguage stuff.   I'm sure most people scrolled and got lost and thought "forget that, not reading through all this crap".  So, today, I'm gonna use examples of shit I said this week that I thought I would never say, or at least 3 years ago I wouldn't have known what the hell I was even saying.

"What I said" -->  "what I meant"

"I need to go to the servo for petrol"  "I need to go to the gas station for gas"
"If you need me, ring my mobile"  "If you need me, call my cell"
"I can meet you at the shops in the arvo"  "I can meet you at the mall in the afternoon"
"I sure could use a cuppa"  "I need a cup of coffee/tea"
"I have heaps of work to do"  "I have a lot of shit to get done" (lol)
"Do you own a ute?" "do you own a truck?"
"Let me pop the boot"  "let me open the trunk"
"Is that kid sitting on my car bonnet?"  "Is that kid sitting on my car hood?"
"How is uni going?"  "How is college going"
"Where is the pathology?"  "Where is the lab?"
"Do you want a flu jab?"  "Do you want a flu shot"
"Did you take your tablets?"  "Did you take your pills?"
"It was hot today... 36 degrees"  (obviously, that was F..... I would never say HOT and 36 in the same sentence.. ever.. lol.  And in case you are curious... that would have been 96.8... and we are in the MIDDLE of Autumn.  aka...fall)
"I need to use the toilet"  "I need to use the bathroom"

And that last one reminds me of a story I'll never forget.  On my second trip to Oz, the brother in law took me and the two nephews (well, all future, but family doesn't need formalities, does it?) to the beach.  Well, it's a place called "Hillary's Boat Harbour" (with the extra U.. what IS it with those damn extra U's??) and they have an area that is great for the kiddos because it's the ocean but basically NO waves.  So for a little 18 month old and 3 year old, it means great fun.  The oldest, Koby, needed to go to the toilet.   As we approach the room with said toilets, I look and Koby keeps walking.  "Koby... this way pal..here's the bathroom"  He STOPS.  Looks at me like I have WORMS crawling out of my nose.  "Auntie April.  I need a TOILET.  I don't need a BATH."

And that is the very moment that I learned......... I had a lot to learn.

G'day mates!

It's all English.. right???

One of the things I THOUGHT I had going for me when falling in love with an Aussie and moving to Australia was that at LEAST it's the same language.

Right?

Ummmm.. sorta. 

I don't think I make an idiot of myself AS often as I use to, but ohhhh man.  At first, it almost seemed like the people around me were speaking French because I had no damn clue what they were saying.  "Excuse me?"  Seemed to be a term that I used a lot.  Eventually, especially in a group of people, I started to just smile and nod.  That seemed to make me feel like LESS of an idiot.  Then I would get in the car and ramble off words to Wayne.  "What is a fortnight?"  "What is a surname?"  Of course, for Wayne, these were super basic words, so he looked at me like I had a 1st grade education, would ask "do you not call it that?"  (My thought was always if I did, would I have asked? lol).  This would lead to an explanation.  I'm shocked that I have actually retained MOST of these terms.  And now find that I use a LOT of these terms on a quite regular basis without even thinking about them. 

So, for my American friends wondering "what words are you talking about", and for my Australian friends who don't know the words that we are use to, and lastly for my American-Aussie transplants who may have forgotten the language learning curve..... here ya go.... and the following is a SMALL list.... feel free to comment and add your favorites!  Or favourites.  (Don't get me started on the spellings and extra letters! ha)  Thanks to some websites for help on these, if any errors, I didn't write all these myself.  :)

Sometimes, a whole new language seems easier!! haha

OZ ... US

Car

bonnet ... hood
boot ... trunk
bumper bar ... bumper
mud guard ... fender
windscreen ... windshield
indicators ...  blinkers
petrol ... gas
ute, utility ... pickup truck
give a lift ... give a ride
car park ... parking lot
overtake ... pass

Office

A4 ... lettersize (lettersize is shorter and wider than A4)
foolscap ... legal size
rubber ... eraser
sticky tape ... scotch tape
lacky band ... rubber band
post a letter ... mail a letter
postman ... mailman
drawing pins ... thumbtacks
ground floor ... first floor
lift (building) ... elevator
notice board ... bulletin board
toilet ...  restroom, bathroom

Food

biscuit ... cookie OR cracker.  (So, you can have cheese and crackers AND choc chip biscuits...)
scone ... biscuit (nearest equivalent, made with yeast instead of self-raising)
lolly ... candy, treat
ice lolly ... popsicle, ice pop
plain flour ... all purpose flour
whole meal (bread) ... whole wheat
castor sugar ... confectionary sugar
rockmelon ... cantaloupe
shallots, spring onions ... green onions, scallions
capsicum ... bell pepper
punnet of strawberries ... pint, small basket of strawberries
sultanas ... raisins
jam ... jam, jelly
jelly ... jello
chips ... French fries
potato crisps ... potato chips
fairy floss ... cotton candy
cool drink ... soft drink
lemonade ... 7-up (not the same but similar)
lemon juice ... lemonade
tomato sauce ... ketchup
entree ... appetizer
main course ... entree
tea (tea in this context, meaning the main evening meal, may be short for high tea, although no one ever says that in Australia) ... dinner
tea time, morning tea, afternoon tea ... coffee break
half milk, half cream ... half and half
black or white coffee or tea ... coffee or tea with or without cream, coffee light
serviette ... napkin
meat and salad roll ... hero, dagwood, submarine, hoagie sandwich
... blt (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich)
hundred and thousands ... sprinkles (nearest equivalent)
jug of beer ... pitcher of beer
schooner, midi, pot ... small, large beer
tin ... can
mince beef ... ground beef
  

bring a plate (Oz) =pot luck (US) adj

In Oz, one might say "All invited. Bring a plate." In the US, it's a "pot luck dinner". In either case, all guests bring a plate or dish of food which can be shared. In Britain it is apparently called "Dutch treat".

crumpet (Oz) n

1. vaguely like an English muffin, only much better. Commonly eaten in place of toast during winter. 2. woman considered as a sexual object (seldom used now).

vegemite (Oz) n

Wholesome and sharp tasting black spread for toast and crackers. The definitive Australian icon, and there is definitely no US equivalent.

University

1st year, 2nd year etc ... freshman, sophomore, junior, senior
university, uni ... school, campus
at university ... in college
masters, PhD student ... graduate student
thesis ... dissertation
supervisor ... adviser
term ... quarter
autumn ... fall
sit in on course ... audit course
primary school ... elementary school
conch ... nerd
nought (numeral) ... zero
maths ... math
stats ... stat

Home

flat ... apartment
rubbish bin ... garbage can
bucket ... pail
tap ... faucet
letter box ... mail box
veranda ... porch, deck
footpath ... sidewalk
lounge ... sofa
lounge room, sitting room ... living room
wardrobe ... cupboard
dresser, dressing table ... sideboard
cutlery ... flatware
knives ... cutlery
freezer ... freezer, icebox
kitchen bench ... kitchen counter
clothes pegs ... clothes pins
estate agent ... realtor
block of land ... lot of land
cubby house ... tree house, play house
(baby's) dummy ... pacifier
lane ... alley
tomahawk ... hatchet
cotton wool ... absorbent cotton
rates ... local taxes
tidy up room, house ... pickup room, house
heating outlet ... register 

bedsit (Oz) = studio apartment (US) n

An apartment with kitchen/living room and bathroom, but no separate bedroom. The US version can be very comfortable (I had one in Goleta, California), while British-style bedsits are often very cramped. A British style bedsit would probably attract the description "toy studio" if found in the US. I noticed the term "studio apartment" in use in Australia (Brisbane) for the first time in 1992, in a real estate advertisement. Obviously it sounded more impressive than "bedsit". In any case, this type of apartment is relatively uncommon in Australia.

continental quilt (Oz) n

See doona.

doona (Oz) = comforter (US) n

Quilted eiderdown with a down or synthetic filling. "Doona" is an Tradename. "Doona" is apparently used in Australia only, and is unknown in New Zealand and Britain, let alone the US.

Clothes

jumper, pullover ... sweater
polo neck (jumper) ... turtle neck (sweater)
... jumper (in the US jumper means a loose fitting sleaveless dress worn over a blouse. This is an older British usage - it's in the OED of 1933 - but is not in current Australian usage.)
singlet ... tank top, athletic shirt
nappy ... diaper
sanitary towels ... sanitary napkins
hair pins ... bobby pins
press studs ... snaps
track suit ... sweat suit, sweats
clothes horse ... clothes rack (for hang drying clothes)
reel of cotton ... spool of thread

Hardware

spanner ... wrench
torch ... flashlight
oxie welder ... torch

Spellings

ardour, behaviour, colour, honour, glamour, flavour, labour, neighbour, odour, valour, vapour ... no "u"
arse ... ass
analogue, catalogue ... analog, catalog
analyse ... analyze
centre, litre, theatre... center, liter, theater
cheque ... check
computer disc ... computer disk
enquire ... inquire
enrolment ... enrollment
grey ... gray
-ise, -ize (most words which are spelt with the -ize suffix in the US, can be spelt with either -ise or -ize in Australian English, although the -ise is more common) ... ize
modeller, modelling ... modeler, modeling
programme (music etc) ... program
sulphur ... sulphur

 

Measures

Celsius ... Fahrenheit (temperature measure are converted by F = 9/5*C + 32)
stone ... 14 lb
gallon (= 4.5 litres) ... gallon (= 3.8 liters)
metres ... yards
kilometres ... miles
fortnight ... two weeks
Saturday week etc ... a week from Saturday
Saturday last, Saturday next ... last Saturday, next Saturday
1 cent, 2 cent etc ... penny, nickel, dime, quarter
dollar note ... dollar bill
thousand million ... billion

Country

bushwalk ... hike
station ... ranch
droving ... muster, roundup
cocky (not derogatory) ... red neck (derogatory)
swagman, swaggie (not derogatory) ... bum, pan handler (derogatory)
mate (not derogatory) ... sidekick (slightly derogatory)
jackaroo ... cowboy
jilleroo ... cowgirl
woop woop ... boondocks, boonies
behind the black stump, back of Bourke ... podunk
bush bashing ... brush busting

Other

barrack for team ... root for team (root here means to have sex.... lol)
sport ... sports
stocks (ski) ... poles
football ... Australian rules
gridiron, American football ... football
hockey ... field hockey
ice hockey ... hockey
noughts and crosses ... tic tac toe
newspaper cuttings ... newspaper clippings
queue ... line
quay ... wharf
busker ... street artist
unreliable ... flaky, flake out
home and hosed ... home free
homely ... homey
plain ... homely
glandular fever ... mono (nuclesis)
rsi (repetition strain injury) ... repetitive stress syndrome (less serious), carpal tunnel syndrome (more serious, may even require surgery)

doggo ... play dead
galah ... wise guy
drongo ... bore
cinch ... sure thing
Father Christmas ... Santa Claus
g'day ... hi, howdy
ta-ta, seeya ... take care, take it easy
tar, thanks ... thanks
good on you ... good for you
poker machine ... slot machine
chemist's ... drug store
caretaker ... janitor
warder ... prison guard
engine ... locomotive
shareholder ... stockholder
disembark (from plane) ... deplane
sus (that's a bit sus) ... suspect

sus out (we'll have to sus it out) ... check out

bloody (general emphasis, not polite but not real bad either) ... damned

tick off (items in a form) ... check off

tick off (the teacher caught the boy and ticked him off) ... scold, dress down

piss off ... go away, get lost, shove off
irritate ... tick off "his bogoted attitude really ticks me off!", miff "That screaming child really has me miffed.", piss off (very common but also vulgar, borderline profane) "That rude sales clerk pissed me off."

 

dole (Oz) n

Unemployment benefits.

Father Christmas (Oz) = Santa Claus (US) n

Although never used when I was a child, "Santa Claus" is now, in 1997, in common use in Australian department stores.

funky adj

1. Oz and US: eccentric, stylish, pleasant, as in good jazz or folk music. 2. US only: dirty or smelly, as in "the bicycle chain is funky".

innings (Oz) = inning (US) n

Turn to bat, as in cricket or baseball.

gaol (Oz) = jail (US) n, v

Same pronunciation.

often times (US) adv

The emphatic form "often times" in place of simply "often" is virtually never used in Australia, but it's quite common in the US (usually pronounced "offen-times"). The Oxford concise lists it as an older usage in British english.

paye-as-you-earn (PAYE) (Oz) v

Pay income tax automatically at source. Employer deducts a standard amount from each salary or wage payment, and forwards to the tax office.

rafferty's rules (Oz) n

no rules at all, as of a chaotic contest or organization.

reckon (Oz) v

In Oz,  "I reckon" translates simply to "I think", but there is no real US equivalent for this very common Australian construction. (September 1999: Kent Parks of Raleigh, NC, writes that "reckon" is also used in the same sense in the Southern US.)

*I take no credit for the above words and definitions.... source: http://www.statsci.org/smyth/ozus.html (prior to deleting and editing some terms)