Unlikely Combination Proves You Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Australians are a friendly bunch. They love to talk and have conversations. And the best way to communicate is through language. The Australian language is a unique beast and our slang is enough to confuse the most accomplished person. Abbreviations, diminutives and colloquialisms are used interchangeably and are the key to unlocking the Australian language, culture and friendship.

One of MannaCare’s newest volunteers, Christa, has struck up an unlikely friendship with a long standing resident, Merv, who is teaching her some Australian colloquialisms unique to our language.

Some of the words may be familiar - amber fluid (beer), buckley’s chance (no hope), beauty (beautiful), ace (very good), bottler (something excellent), and cactus (dead, broken, in trouble).

On a Thursday afternoon after Christa has completed her volunteering, they meet in the Cassia House Plaza to “have lots of good conversations about a lot of things not just slang,” asserts Christa.

Although Christa's English is perfect, coming from the Netherlands, Australian slang is foreign to her. And Merv is providing her with some guidance to some of our most well-used words.

Merv states that it is the “little things that get left out” when someone moves half way around the world to call Australia home, and these simple gestures such as learning some key Australian phrases can make people feel more comfortable.

Merv does a little bit of preparation but not much. He found a book at the library entirely on Australian slang and they are both finding it extremely useful.

Christa is having lots of fun with the book of colloquialisms, and together with her husband “are going through the book and enjoying learning some unique Australian words.”

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