Australian Lingo, Darren Lockyer, EKKA, Rotary

G'day mates! Hope this blog finds you doing well.  I have been in Australia a good eight months now and only have about four months left. It's all going by so fast. It was sad booking my flight home the other day as I am really going to miss Australia when it comes time for me to leave in December. Before I know it I will be back in good ole Jackson, Mississippi... but no worries as I still have loads of things to blog about before my time ends here! Number one on the list: Australian Lingo

Australian Lingo
I've had a few people ask if my accent has changed much and I have to say I really don't think it has. A simple "hello, how are you?" to an Australian usually follows with a "where are you from?" response. I'm sure when I return home my friends will be good at determining if there is any slight accent change. Give me another five years and I would be much better. Future trip to Australia? Will see. 

If my accent hasn't changed, there is one thing that has and that's my vocabulary.  New words and phrases have officially entered the 'long term memory' portion of my brain so I hope to bring some of those sayings back home. The hardest part is simply mustering up the courage to say them. So, combine my Southern accent with these Australian phrases and its a Missippalia or Austrippi accent.

Here are some of the many Australian words or phrases that I hear and say often:

G'day mate
No worries or She'll be right
Good on you (good for you)

He's a nice bloke (man)
Can I shout you a drink (buy a drink)
Sweet as (something that is awesome)
Fair dinkum (true, genuine)
Want a lolly? (candy)
What are you doing in the Arvo? (afternoon)

Words that have the same meaning but are said differently:
It's tomato sauce not ketchup
Sandals are called thongs 
A cookie is called a biscuit
The trunk of a car is called the boot 
French fries are called chips
A sweater is called a jumper
  ......and a lot more............

Stereotype breakdown:
Not every Australian speaks like Steve Irwin did (Crikey mate, She's a  beaut)

• No one says, "let's put another shrimp on the barbie."

That's just a small portion of the vast array of Australian sayings that I have become accustomed to. There are still a lot of sayings I don't know or understand so I am still learning each day.

Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is known for being one of the best Rugby League players of this generation. He plays for the Queensland Broncos (Brisbane's team) and is currently captain of the Australian national team. There has been a lot of hype about Lockyer as this is his final season.

To put this into perspective for the state of Mississippi you will first have to pretend that we have a NFL team. Next imagine that you have been watching your favorite player, say Jerry Rice, for 17 years of your life. Finally, come to grasps with the fact that he is retiring this year. So, as you can imagine, the state of Queensland is paying great respects to one of their greatest players ever. Good on you Lockyer!

EKKA
The city of Brisbane had a holiday this last Wednesday for the annual agricultural show called EKKA. This is one of Brisbane's most popular events with well over 600,000 visitors attending each year.  The attraction includes fairground rides, wood chopping competitions, horse racing, livestock shows and lots of yummy food. It was fun.

"Go horsey, Go!"... Is that what your supposed to say?

The horse racing event is very popular among first year students who have just turned 18.  Kind of felt reminiscent of going to The Grove but replace the horses with Ole Miss football.

 Rotary
I have given 13 speeches and have 6 more scheduled. 

Rotary Club of Toowong (I live in this suburb)

Most clubs consists of around 20-45 members. This was a smaller one.

Rotary Club of Brisbane-Mid City

 Questions asked at Brisbane-Mid City:
 1.) What are grits made from?
2.) What three things will you tell American's about Australia?
3.) What is tail-gating?

Shelterbox update
In other news, some scholars and I got permission from the University of Queensland to set up another Shelterbox on campus so I am looking forward to doing that again in mid September. I just hope the weather will be better this time. Were hoping to raise enough money to send a Shelterbox to an area in Kenya where increasing amounts of refugee's have gathered due to the famine in East Africa.

That's all matey. Have a good week!

P.S.

I miss my dog

Maybe he's thinking, "Morgan, why don't you come out of that computer screen and play with me."