Odd Aussie Customs: Sooks and Socks

For the record, sook is actually a word.  A sook is someone who sulks.  Obviously. 

In New Zealand and Australia that is.  Apparently derived from old English/Scottish.  In the midwestern U.S, it is apparently used to call cows in from pasture.  Whatever.

Picture found next to the word 'sook' in the dictionary!

Amazing what you pick up at Friday morning tea.  (Amazing that folks are actually reading my blog, especially given my lackadaisical writing habits lately.  For you, I chose to do this today rather than clean the fridge and bathrooms as planned.  A hardship, I know.)

The other English/Aussie terms that are tough for an American to come to terms with mostly have to do with articles of clothing and car parts.  (A robot, for all you South Africans, is obviously just a secret code you people have to identify eachother.  The rest of us call them traffic lights.) 

Although she can be a love too!   (Look at that view!)

A bonnet is the hood of a car, not something to put on a baby's head.  A boot is the trunk of a car, not...well you get the point.  But we HAVE had to point and pantomime to learn that a tow-bar is a hitch and a float is a trailer. 

A ute is a pick-up.  Apparently not invented by Ford after all, just enlarged and Americanized.  (IF that is a word, it HAS to be spelled with a zee - not a zed - and certainly not with an s.)  You aren't a true Aussie unless you own a ute.  And yes, here in Queensland you can tie your dogs - mostly cattle dogs, sheep dogs and Staffies -  in the back.  Although new seatbelt laws prohibit you from doing the same with your children. 

Staffies are pit bulls.  No matter what you call 'em.   But I'm not saying that to the bloke in the ute with the "Fuck Off.  We're Full." sticker stuck on the back!

We've already been through the bathing suit, bathing costume, togs and cossie fiasco.  http://twintensity.blogspot.com/2011/05/bathing-whats.html

Aidan proving that the word 'sook' is gender neutral.

Jumpers are sweatshirts.  Tennies are sneakers.  Sports articles are different too, but somehow self-explanatory.   I believe they call sweatpants 'joggers?'   Or perhaps those are tennies too.  Hmm.  It seems that the same rules for understanding a foreign language apply to learning Aussie English.  Listen to it in context and make an educated guess.

Also realise that Australia is the only place in the world where grown men have no problem abbreviating long words into cute-sounding abbreviations.  Chrissy for Christmas.  Mossie for Mosquito.  Maybe because they've grown up in places like Toowoomba and Indooropilly that sound like Disney-Land amusement parks anywhere else.

Luke and Padme flanked by two "Ritter"

Important to remember that a cooler - to hold your beer, preferably Australian - is an Esky. 

Obviously.

Football is either soccer, rugby, Australian rules or, in last place, that woosy game the Americans play with padding.  But you call it footy.  And still sound like a man.  As in ' Have you got an esky for the footy tomorrow, mate?' 

Rugby is either league or union.  I believe the league is the one I like, lighter builds, more like touch-football.  Union are the guys with no necks.  Who play other guys with no necks from South Africa and New Zealand for some trophy noone else in the rest of the world has ever heard of.  Not to belittle it.  It's big.  Just tucked into the lower right hand corner of the map.

Rugby cool with or without the proper footwear.

I believe I might be getting the hang of it!

Enough to correct the twins when they come home from school sounding out B...B...B... cookie!  (Biscuit in English, Bikkie in Aussie - as in "Throw some bikkies in the esky for the footy, mate.)
Or L...L...L...candy!  (Lolly)

I gotta love a country that not only calls McDonald's "Mackers" but uses the abbreviated form in it's advertisements.  When in Oz.

Aidan pitches.

So that the vocabulary isn't at all as difficult to accept as this thing with the socks.

First off, you can STILL spot my boys as the only ones wearing socks with their sandals.  Honestly, I am trying to break them of the habit.  Secondly, you can spot them as the only ones WEARING sandals, with or without socks.  Barefoot is best, saves loads on footwear too. 

This winter I saw a barefoot teenager shopping with his mother.  Who was wearing Uggs.  With shorts.  Not only do we have the climate you can do that in - winter boots for cold toes at the same time your hot-blooded teenager is running around half-naked, but we have the attitude for it too.  Whatever.  They're your feet.

A bit nippy for all but the German-blooded!

I love it here.

The only thing the German in me absolutely, positively cannot deal with is the kids running around in their socks.  Outdoors.  Playing footy.  Of any variety.  Put on shoes or take off the socks.  It's so simple. 

Also apparently an outrageous request.

Noone else gets it.  What's the big deal?  Their feet are a bit chilly maybe.  (THEN PUT ON THE SHOES!)  Once again, we have that rare climate where one COULD run around in socks - grass is dry, dirt is dry, it's fairly warm.  The snakes and spiders not half as prevalent in the suburbs as one has been led to believe.

Matthew swings.

If you ran around in socks in Germany you'd end up with mud.

So that my poor kids are the only ones barefoot while the Aussie kids have socks on.  Honestly, who needs to add that to the laundry pile?  Buying new ones every week just isn't an option for this all-too frugal German mindset.

Call me a sook.  A sook about socks.  And I still love it here.

Koalas in the Courtyard: Week 9

I picked up a literary magazine two weeks ago for inspiration.  (Writers Forum out of England.  Some fantastic hints on writing and some great competitions to enter.)

In it, Barbara Dynes told me I was a lazy writer, one of those 'full of ideas' people who write all the time but get so many new ideas that they never stick to any one thing.  "If you're one of these people, understand that you are being lazy not creative: you would rather play about with a new idea than get down to the hard graft of writing the story, wouldn't you?" 

Well yes, Barbara, thanks for asking.

Also Barbara you forgot to mention how absolutely brilliant all of my ideas are and how my devoted audience - all 23 of them - wouldn't know WHAT to think if I didn't share them!

The upshot of Barbara's article was that I wrote 6 blogs and didn't post them.  Which really wasn't helping either, since the one thing I have consistently done for the past two years is this blog!  I also entered a small 100 word local library competition.  And ANDREW's been published in the school newsletter.  Does that count?

I once again got to work on the NOVEL.  This time I started with my characters.  They are parts of me and parts of my past, but they are beginning to breathe on their own.  I have a setting and I have a conflict.  And I am going to go from there.

I've been avoiding my piece on the Brisbane floods versus the Haiti earthquake because it was just too overwhelming.  (Sorry about that Jim!)  But hmmmm.....now believe a piece on Haiti versus Christ Church would be much more appropriate!  I'd have to work instead of ramble, even edit and rewrite (UGH!) but it would be character building.  And quite possible something to publish.  Oh yeah, I tend to forget that part of the writing process.

My excuse for continuing my manic ravings on the blog is that -  number one, I really like the validation of hitting 'Publish Post, number two, it is the only way most people are able to keep up with me right now, and number three, I like to think the ideas I develop here are ideas that my characters can build upon and make their own. 

But.... I am going to TRY to limit my Australian school system raves to one day a week.  I'm sorry.  You know I love it here.  But there is no reason to keep hitting you over the head with it!

Fridays.  School Assembly.   Weekly rewards and reminders.  And so here comes the first installment.



Ms Egan addresses the students.


1.  Two of the sports captains were commended for GIVING THEIR OWN SUNHATS to two students who otherwise wouldn't have been allowed to play outside during break period.  It has been HOT here.  Tuesday hit over 35C again (over 100 Ffor you Americans!).  And, while it is not a DRY heat or a MOIST Florida heat, it is a RELENTLESS, sun-scorches-you-the-minute-you-step-outside kind of heat.  Students are not allowed to play outside without sun protection.   These two young men, when they ran out of the school-supplied spare hats that they were distributing with sports equipment from the sports shed, didn't think twice about GIVING THE HATS OFF THEIR HEADS to two other students in need.  The generosity of Australians never ceases to amaze me.  It is one thing to give a spare.  It is quite another to give YOUR OWN.  Shades of St Martin giving his cloak to the beggar.  Aussie-style.

2.  Was it Melinda or Ms Egan, our principal, who asked the students what they should do when they see another student by themselves at lunch time or break?  I can't remember because I was busy flashing back to the bullying and take-care-of-yourself attitude of our German schoolyard.
"They need to learn to take care of themselves."  Or, the classic from Ryan's 2nd grade teacher:
"I don't expect the children to allow everyone into their games.  They are allowed to exclude others.  Because that is life and they need to learn to deal with it.  We don't all get alone with eachother as adults so I don't think we should expect the children to either."

Uh.  Heads up.  Aussie adults seem to get on quite well, thank you very much.   Maybe because, since they were small, they have been taught that if you see someone else alone and lonely you should ask them to join you.  "Imagine how you would feel." said Ms Egan. 

Which is why you see kids from ages 5 to 13 playing together in the courtyard.

And which maybe, just maybe, is also the reason those two boys didn't think twice about giving their hats to someone else in need.

3.  We ended with Prep D - Aidan and Matthew's class- singing a little song they'd rehearsed.  "Friendliness is the cure for loneliness."  I honestly couldn't love this country - or this school - more.

"Friendliness is the Cure for Loneliness".  Sung by the Preppies.

On a side note, Aidan did get his first Student Achievement award this week.  I have to point out that he received it - for participating eagerly in all group and small group activities and behaving with respect and courtesy at all time - the week that Matthew was out sick for two days.  (Fever.  He's fine now.)  Does make you think about the advantages of separate classrooms for them.  Because the one seems to shine when the other isn't there. 

Aidan.  So proud.

And another of Andrew's essays was posted in the weekly newsletter.  Let's face it: the guy knows how to get recognized.  Some might call him a 'suck-up'.  As his mother, I have to call it 'knowing his audience.'  This is what he wrote. 

School is very, very fun.  Not only recess but everything that is going on.  Koalas running across the lawn...exciting and totally cute!  LOTE (Language Other Than English - which is Chinese or German depending on the day!) is good, PE is fun and reading is the best of all.

My teacher is the best and works at the best school ever!

Boy does that kid know how to get invited to the monthly Principal's Tea!

Playing Well With Others

Ryan and her friends at Lawnton State School welcoming this years preppies.

We ran into another ''recovered German'' a few weeks ago on the bus. She came to Australia as a 10-year old. Still remembers her German but speaks English with an Aussie accent. Would never consider going back. And just doesn't understand why they are all so rude over there.


She thinks its the schools. ''They just don't learn HOW to be nice to one another.''

I wonder still if the education system reflects the faults of the society or the society reflects the failures of the education system. (And not just in Germany.)

One thing we agreed on is that playing well with others is just as important, and maybe more so, than math scores. (Why are we always worried about the MATH scores?!)

Playing well with others is something Aussies do well. (Our math scores aren't bad either, since you ask!)

1.Aussies- men and women, all colors and races- willingly give up their seats on the bus or train to children, elderly, young mothers and other people in need. WILLINGLY. And they insist. I have given up trying to argue that I can stand while we squeeze the twins in.

2.Aussies give up the right of way on the sidewalk when they see children coming. Young adults too. We thank them politely and tell them it was unnecessary and they look at us like we are nuts. ''But you have kids. It's only natural.'' Explain that to the German men who insist that the pavement is theirs and refuse to give an inch as my family tries to get around them. It may mean that we swarm to all sides, but Goddamnit that sidewalk is theirs.

3.I've had strangers at the mall – kids in their TEENS – offer to keep an eye on the kids while I head to the counter for food.

A kid-friendly society.  Happy kids make happy adults?

4.People in the movie theatres try to sit so that adults don't obstruct the children's views. They apologize if they can't find a way around it and we work out a seating arrangement together- sometimes with the kids mixed in with theirs – so that everyone can see

5.People help eachother with groceries and bags on the bus. I tell them about all the hassles I used to have with the double stroller – and about how all the Germans would just sit and watch – and they can't believe noone ran over to help me.

6.People constantly ask us if we are in line when we are a good six to nine feet (two to three yards )away. They want to be sure they aren't going ahead of us. In Germany, people TRY to cut in front of you so they can get to the front of the line faster. If you are IN line and look down to answer an SMS – beware, because someone has just taken advantage of your inattention to jump right in front of you. And oh yes, they are well aware of what they are doing.

It's been a lot easier for me to learn to accept help when that help is so freely offered.

The thing is, everyone is happier this way. Noone is fighting over their spot on the sidewalk. It just seems so silly, doesn't it?!

I'm not going to insist that everyone should be as friendly as the Aussies. I personally like having people I don't know – yet – strike up conversations with me. How else are we going to find universal consciousness if we aren't conscious of others?! But it's not for everyone. Yet.

Respect for families and love of children can only help Germany but good luck with that. Large families are met with such disdain there. Like we didn't know how to prevent having all those children. Or worse, were low class enough to WANT that many. How gauche.

People here come up and ask us if those four are ours. And if those two really are twins.   And then shake our hands, give us a high-five, or tell the children how lucky they are. It started in the airport on the way here. People telling us what a lovely family we had and how beautiful our children are. In Germany all we ever heard – if we heard anything – was how much work we must have with all those kids. Joy, Germany, what about the JOY?!

Christmas Eve with friends.  Ages 2 to 13 played together. 

You want to raise the birth-rate, stop thinking about children as a burden and a responsibility.

Or make your immigrants feel welcome. Yeah, like THAT'LL happen!

Europeans often say that they find American friendliness to be artificial, that it doesn't really mean anything.

Yeah, sure is nice when someone ''artificially'' holds the door open for you while you're struggling with that double stroller though isn't it? (Oh, sorry, MY FAULT I had all those kids to begin with. You go right ahead on through, sir, don't worry about us standing here. Sorry we're in the way. If you push my four year old just a little harder he'll step aside and you'll be able to get where you want to go.)

How much does it have to MEAN to give up your seat on the train for an elderly woman in a walker?! (The nerve of her coming on the train with that walker!)

Are Germans as a society really so unhappy (and I say yes) that they are UNABLE to think of someone besides themselves and put themselves in someone else's shoes? Is the lousy education system a reflection of the society or the society a reflection of a failed education system?

It's not about your right to be on the sidewalk, it's about your willingingness to share that sidewalk with others.

The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, has asked us to treat victims of the flood by asking ourselves how we would want to be treated if we were in the same position.

Didn't some Jesus guy say that too?

All I know is that I'd rather be right here, surrounded by floodwater and a massive relief effort, than fighting for my place in line in Germany.

Playing well with others. Put THAT on the international school scores.

Lucky and privileged to be part of a large family.

"You'll be awright!"

Andrew captures a small Huntsman spider.

Australians have in international image as a rather goofy bunch. Thanks on that to Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin. Laid-back to the point of being silly. Again, image of Steve Irwin getting snapped at by a giant crocodile and laughing about it. ''That mate's a might grumpy today. Would like to take my arm off, I'd guess.'' As he reaches over to do the same thing again.


It doesn't help that the average Australian also has a rather laid-back approach to the creatures and creepy-crawlies that make the rest of the world nervous, at best. (And that I truly believe they ham it up a bit for the tourists!)

''Aww. Those are the yellow-backs. Give ya a nasty sting, they will. But nothing that'll put you in the hospital.''

Australians are really big on things that'll put you in the hospital.

''Ya gotta watch out a bit for those red-backs. Not gonna kill you though. Unless....'' and here they pause to closely evaluate the size of the twins. ''Nah. They should be awright!''

Also really big on things that kill you.

And on ''should be awright.''  (We could make it the national motto!)

The presentations at the Alma Zoo were also informative.

''Naw. These little fellows wouldn't be able to kill you.'' About a small crocodile. ''Could take a nasty chunk outta you though.''

Just a lizard.  These really WON'T kill you, but we think they are cool anyway!

And my favorite about the often misunderstand brown snake. ''Nah. You probably won't die. Depending on where it bites you of course. Worst case scenario is a few months in hospital. Stings quite a bit too, I'm told. With any luck you should be out of hospital within a few weeks at most.''

Slight pause. ''I still wouldn't touch one though.''

I feel like I'm giving away a magician's secret here, but Aussies are actually quite safety conscious.

Think about it. Kids are taught to identify poisonous and dangerous animals and what to do if they spot one. (Stay away from it. Call an adult.) Kids are taught swimming and water safety at school. Signs on the train warn about crossing the rails. And there is a yellow safety zone next to the tracks, something I have not seen anywhere in the USA or Europe. (Stay off the yellow. Simple enough even for a three-year-old.) There is a national sun-safety campaign – SLIP, SLAP, SLOP – that encourages everyone to slip on sun-protective clothes, slap on some UV safe sunglasses and slop on the sunscreen.

The first time we went to the beach there was a warning on the blackboard about blue bottles.  People read the sign, evaluated the risks and discussed their options.  Some stayed and swam.  Others left.  We stayed, figuring that they wouldn't let you in the water at all if blue bottles were the ones that killed you. (It'll hurt a bit, but you'll be awright!)  And we stayed well behind some other swimmers. 

I'll admit, our first view of the ocean was a bit scary.  Stay between the flags?  And what about THE REST of the ocean? 

Having just researched 'blue bottles'' I've just learned that they are what we call ''Man of War" in the rest of the world.  Oh.  Guess that explains why some people left.  We didn't see any though.  And, true enough, the Aussie website informs you that, while you should seek medical attention immediately, noone in Australia or New Zealand has ever actually died from a bluebottle sting.  Maybe from embarrassment at not knowing what it is though!

Right now the news is informing us about mosquito control – in order to avoid Dengue and Ross River Fever. As well as about wearing wellies – gumboots- during the cleanup effort to prevent cuts and infection in dirty waters.

We got car seats over here now too. And something known as bike helmets.

It's more fun to remember Crocodile Dundee, though. lost and confused in New York City.

''What's all the fuss about, mate?'' he'd say.

Of course, Crocodile Dundee kicks ass. Without a fuss. And still smiling.

That mates is the Aussie way.

T. Rex at the museum in Brisbane.