World Youth Day
Australia (Pronunciation: oz-stray-ya)
Australian Slang
G'day = Hello
How ya goin'? = How are you?
Ta = Thank you
Fish and Chips = fish and fries
Bickies = cookies (it can also mean crackers, the clue is that they will say "savory" or "sweet")
"No worries." = Not a problem
sheila = girl
bloke = boy
boardies = board shorts
togs = swimsuit
Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis World Youth Day Office 328 W. Kellogg Blvd. Saint Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-290-1645 Fax: 651-291-4554 Email: caseyb@archspm.org
Australia is approximately the same size as the continental United States. The population is around 20 million people with most of its inhabitants residing near the coastline. Central Australia is a vast desert although that doesn't stop the native Aboriginals from living there! The largest cities include Sydney and Melbourne. As the country resides in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of ours. July falls during their winter. Not to worry though! It rarely gets colder than 40-45 degrees at night. By mid-day, the sun is usually shining and the temperatures are somewhere between 50-65 degrees. Not bad for winter.
The wildlife includes kangaroos, platypus, emus and koalas. For those who are wondering, yes, they have some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. Remember Steve Irwin? He hailed from Queensland and handled various Australian creatures. However, it is unlikely to see these in the city (unless you go to the zoo).
Australians do have a great fashion sense. One need only look at their cool surf gear and hairstyles to see they are ahead of their time. We frequently see their Ugg boots on the feet of young people these days. Uggs come from Australia and are made from genuine sheep wool. If you have been wanting a pair, save up as they are more affordable to buy there.
The local cuisine is like here, although they do not have some of the best seafood in the world! It is well worth the experience of going to a local fish and chips shop. Be sure to get chicken salt on your chips (french fries). If you decide to go on the Days of the Diocese, Melbourne has more coffee shops per capita than almost anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a hot chocolate or mocha latte, you only need to look around the corner.
Australians are known for their sports. They excel in swimming, tennis and rugby. They even have their own Australian Football which is like a cross between rugby, soccer and gridiron (American football).
Some fun movies that give you an insight into the culture include:
"Rabbit Proof Fence"
The Dish
The currency there is the Australian dollar. Their money is made of plastic as things get wet, especially true when you go to the beach.