Americans speak English. Australians speak English. You’d think we’d understand each other perfectly. Here’s a guide on how to speak Australian. In 1892, German linguist Karl Lentzner wrote: The English language has of late years incorporated a vast store of words and phrases generally known as ‘Slang,’ which, with marvellous rapidity, have taken root in all …
Expat, immigrant, resident, here, there. I’m a resident of where? It’s hard to know sometimes. There are six reasons a person may be excused from jury duty. Being in another country is not one of them. I have been summoned to appear for jury duty in Miami-Dade County. One can only postpone for up to …
Earlier this week, I blogged about the heatwave. Despite the fact that it gets really hot in Melbourne every year, hundreds of Aussies still suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death due to exposure to extreme heat. Below are some tips collected from across the web as well as personal experience to help you …
After a chilly start to the summer season, a heatwave hit Australia last week. Narrabi in New South Wales saw temperatures rise to 47.8°C (118.04°F). Here in Melbourne, we saw four consecutive days over 40°C (104°F). According to Carl Braganza, Manager of Climate Monitoring at the Bureau of Meteorology, it was the longest heatwave in 100 …
The road to obtaining a partner visa, which grants me two years of residency, is long and arduous. When I first looked at all the paperwork, I was so overwhelmed that I cried. Then I pulled myself together and began printing documents, making lists, copies, and appointments. The tricky part is that you need different things …
How was your Christmas? Mine was very pleasant. I spent it with family and enjoyed a Hawaiian themed Christmas with a lot of food – pork, lamb, prawn, crayfish, veggies, potatoes, rolls, and, of course, Christmas pudding with cream, custard, and ice cream. The next day, Boxing Day, I called my parents and sister in the US …