Winter in Whitby

Hummer driving

Chicago

Curling

Maybe it's because it's freezing cold for the majority of the year. Maybe it's because they're looking to be different than the United States. Maybe there is something in the beer. It's not known why, but Canadians will watch anything that takes place on ice.

First of all, there's hockey. It's the most obvious example of Canadians being obsessed with an ice-related activity. Hockey to a Canadian is a sacred tradition. It's a religion. It's life. Without hockey there are no Canadians, only Americans that have wandered too far north.

But the Canadian love of ice does not stop there. Ice fishing is a popular winter past time.While less blatant, Canadians treat figure skating with incredibly high esteem as well. The country's citizens were close to declaring war when controversy initially cost a pair of Canadians an Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating.

But those interests generally make sense. Hockey and figure skating are popular around the world, not just in Canada.

However, there is one ice sport that defines Canada's bizarre obsession: curling.

While the game was not invented in Canada, it is a definite part of Canadian culture.
And though interesting and difficult to play, the sport of curling looks absolutely insane to any Australian.

Teams take turns throwing rocks down a sheet of ice trying to place their rocks closer to a goal than their opponent's. At first it sounds like a completely normal game, right? Wrong. In order to direct the rocks to the goal two team members shuffle slightly in front of the rock, sweeping the ice in front of it with brooms. Yes, brooms.

Household cleaning supplies aside, the game gets weirder.

In order to assist the sweepers in positioning the rock close to the goal, other members of the team scream instructions at them. That isn't an exaggeration. They scream. Loud. What you are left with is one person (having thrown the rock) sprawled on the ice, screaming uncontrollably as two other people awkwardly shuffle along, frantically sweeping a path across the ice. It looks just about as crazy as it sounds.

But Canadians love it. And I do also, but that has more to do with Cheryl Bernard.

Aussie Lingo

If anyone I have met this year decides to come over to Australia in the future I will share some secrets that will allow you to speak like an Aussie in no time, or at least vaguely understand us.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that we try and abbreviate everything. These rules I have worked out only after watching baffled faces or being laughed at by Jenny.

“a”

Chop off the last half of a word and replace it with “a”, and you’ve got the basics. Here are a few examples:

Cuppa = cup of tea or coffee

Maccas = McDonalds (although you will also hear it pronounced as Mackers)

“er”

This follows the same principle as above (which is the basic principle of abbreviations!). The tricky part is that it can be tough to differentiate between an Australian saying “a” and “er”.

Mackers = McDonalds

Sanger = sandwich

“ie” or “y”

This one of the more common forms of Australian abbreviation, with some very popular words in the repertoire, such as:

Aussie = Australia

Barbie = barbeque

Bikkie = biscuit/cracker/cookie (yes, all three)

Brissie = Brisbane

Footy= football

Greenie = environmentally friendly person

Mozzie = mosquito

Tradie = tradesman

“o”

Arvo = afternoon (I’m not sure where the “r” came from either)

Avo = avocado (not to be confused with arvo/afternoon)

Bottle-O = bottle shop / liquor store

Doco = documentary

Journo = journalist

Lingo = language

Smoko = smoke break (or morning tea for the English)

Jenny at Chicago