American/Australian Dictionary page


While in the USA I quickly found out that there are many things/concepts which are described with different words. The following are some of the "translations" which are useful for the Australian visitor to USA to know, and can save them from the potential embarrassment I experienced a few times. This can be very helpful in the cultural adjustment required.
Also there was a lot of Spanish as well, particularly in California.
The pace of life seemed very fast, everyone is in a massive hurry to do everything. I found when I got back to Australia I felt like life is in slow-motion here for awhile.
I also experienced significant cross-cultural shock adjusting to driving (among other things) with things such as;
1.driving on the right hand side of the road
2.getting into the passenger side of a car on the right hand side of the car
3. Changing gears with the right hand
4. Indicating to turn using the left hand.
5. Taking the handbrake off with the right hand
6. Intersections; which way to go to turn.
7. Using rear-vision mirrors; which way to look to check blind spot, and where the curb is especially when making a 3-point turn.
8. The rule about not driving past stopped school buses.
(I think my brother said that "loss of drivers licence" is a penalty for this offence.)
It was like trying to learn to drive all over again.

Dictionary

American/Australian
Note that some of these may be localised things as I spent most of my time in TN and SC, just as there are differences between east and west coast of Australia.
1. peppers/capsicum (e.g. at Subway).
2. to go/takeaway (e.g. at McDonalds)
3. here/eating in (e.g. at McDonalds).
One of my first experiences was when I went into Santa Monica McDonalds in California, made my order and they said real fast; "will that be to go or here?" Fortunately I remembered a line from the Twister movie (and other movies) where they said things like; "can I have two coffees to go",and I caught on to what they were asking.
4. gas/petrol
5. truck/ute
6. buggy/trolley
[for example I had an embarrassing episode when the checkout operater says "can I put that in your buggy" (I didn't have a clue what she was saying!..especially as I was struggling with the accent anyway *LOL*) at a checkout in Walmart.....Walmart is a bit like K-mart and Coles rolled into one.]
7. cookies/biscuits
8. candy/lollies
9. toboggan/beanie
10. sweatshirt/jumper
11. britches/long pants,jeans etc.
I think this one is more a VA/TN or southern thing perhaps.
12. cellphone/mobile
13. physical therapist/physiotherapist
14. ketchup/tomato sauce
15. zipcode/postcode
16. yack at ya/talk or chat with you.
17. peanut butter/peanut paste


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