VEGEMITE and MILO'S (Olle)
WARNING TO ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
VEGEMITE IS NOT NUTELLA!
I tried it the other day. It’s awful, I mean it’s got an “acquired” taste. It looks innocent at first sight, but it gets worse once you get it in your mouth. An explosion of vinegar landing in your mouth, that’s what it is. Sorry to Chopsticks and all you other Vegemite fans out there!
Over the breakfast table: “Do you want a Milo?”
Again, cultural references take a while to understand. To all Swedes out there, it’s Aussie O’boy. To anyone else, it’s just chocolate milk, and in contrast to vegemite, it actually tastes good.
I find moving to another country is a lot about getting out of your comfort zone. In a weird sense, I’m more open-minded when I’m abroad. Try everything once kind of thing. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact I’m still a foreigner, a stupid tourist. But this entitles me to question things, such as: Why isn’t there a Next Stop Voice on the trams? Why do your speed bump signs look like the sunset? And why, above all, do you drive on the wrong side of the road?
Then I calm down, keep telling myself I’m in the midst of Kangarooland: dangerous spiders, snakes and sharks everywhere. Total paranoia. Every little movement creates a shiver. Many of my friends back home are somewhat worried about this.
Don’t be. I’m currently surviving O Week…
mm australian food is a bit tricky to get your head around lol. I have developed an unhealthy addiction to sultana bran 😛 I can now never leave ‘kangaroo land’ unless i plan to take at LEAST 10 boxes with me for the journey. haha x
Regarding the Next-Stop-Voice-on-trams thing, it’s true that there’s no pre-recorded mechanic disembodied overhead voice (afaik anyway), but sometimes the driver’s growl does come through =P Some would even tell you jokes over the PA in that tiny enclosure of a tram.
Heh. We drive on the wrong side of the road because we’re on the wrong side of the planet to start with… Nah I love being Down Under =]
As long as you don’t venture into dubious waters, I’m sure you’d be safe from sharks (and the death toll from shark attacks is ridiculously low anyway). It’s more the mozzies you need to be wary of.
Trust me, Olle, you’ll like it here.
P.S. You’ll really have to tell me about your home country a lotttttt, in time. Simply because I’m just sooooo into Scandinavia.
Try having Tim Tams next!
Also we’ve got 4 (I think) posts up already from our group. Enjoy the weekend!