Kris, I thought I'd start a thread where I can collect info for you on Australia for dd's project. Also, If people ask questions I will remember more. Some stuff I take for granted is probably unique to us, so everyone can help with this project and join in the conversation. First, we do dress very much like you. I think akubra hats are probably an aussie thing, but you really onlt see them on farmers. Most of us live in the cities, and follow the same fashions you do. I started thinking about food. Here is a link to recipes for Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits. http://www.world-food-and-wine.com/anzac-biscuits-australia.html Lammingtons were a way to make stale cake more appealing. We use fresh cake now though, lol. Anzac stands for 'Australian & New Zealand Army Corps', and we have anzac day and anzac biscuits in memory of their efforts, particularly in WW1 & 2. Anzac bikkies are easy to make and yummy - you should try some.
Here is another recipe....pavlova is my dh's favourite, and apparently our national dessert! There are lots of varieties. Known as 'pav' colloquially.
Karen you rock! I love learning about other places and people. And Samantha loves being pen pals with your daughter. Her letter is going out in tomorrows mail.
I have heard of Anzac cookies...is that the same thing as what you are talking about. I think I still have the recipe...I will look it up.
Karen, thanks so much we are so excited about this, with the help of you and your dd I know we can make it.. I know my dd is having alot of fun doing this and being pen pals with your dd makes it alot easier. Thanks alot, copy everything off I can get here.
I know in Australia some of the expressions people say are a bit different than in america.. My great aunt called the other day from Old Toongabbie and talking to her is such a riot. she said "I tried to ring your aunt but she didn't answer the telly so i rang you" Also i got to talk to her about my cousins (2cd or 3rd) who are on summer holiday right now. The school year is different than in america.
We have a great Pav recipe we use because it is 'no fail'. lol. My 12 yr old can make this on her own. Once she got the concept of a slow oven she adapted the recipe for her own meringues. If you want the recipe let us know.
Oh oh, can I get in on this too? Please?! We are doing Australia for homeschooling group's "Country Day" in March/April.
VERY cool thread! I know that your drains REALLY flow Counter-Clockwise! But that is almost it.... What do you do for Christmas? (My memories are wrapped around winter activities...) What is the most popular types of tv shows? Are their political parties (Democrat, Republican, Labor)? What are they? What is the price of the average three bedroom home?
I'm not Karen, you don't mind if I relpy too do you? :lol: yer right...not! Well for us we take turns at our house or mils house. I do Roast turkey, rice salad and tossed salad. She always does a ham, roast pork and potato salad. For desert we usual have trifle. It is usualy very hot by Christmas time so a lot of people go to the beach or stay in the pool if they have one or inside by the air con. We do the last one lol. The trappings for winter stuff still clings to us though. drive through town and you will see warmly dresed santas, fake snowmen and spray on snow on windows :lol: That varies widly. We like home makeover type shows, game shows, gardening and British comedy. I must admit American comedy I rarly find amusing. But a lot of American shows air here, thats our informal education on Americans :lol: I really like wife swap that always gets a laugh. Then there are Amercan sit coms like re runs of friends. A lot of the shows like the Amazing race (love that!) are shown here 6 months after you see them, although I believe that is changing now. Yes I'm afriad even here you can't get away from the pollies. We just had a fedral election and labour got in. Also just heard they are more down on homeschooling then the Libral party. Something about some national caurriculum that they want not only schools but also homeschoolers to follow :evil: There are lots of smaller parties too, Democrats, Greens, family first, comes to mind. This varies hugly depending on where you are. Down in Sydney i don't know how people live. I don't think you would get anything decent for under $600,000. Up here in QLD it varies a lot from city to country. Although prices out here (country) have gone up a heap. Don't think you would get a 3 bedroom for under about $200,000 now. This is fun, got anymore questions?
This "IS cool! Ok.... Is Australia slowly turning to salt? Saw this on a tv show, not long ago. Wasn't sure if it was real.
I think you are referring to salinty?? We have high levels of salt in our soil (due to introduced plants, etc) and a lot of salt lakes, but I have yet to hear that Australia is turnin to a land of salt yet!
yeah, we follow the calendar year for school. The new school year starts at the end of January, and ends a week or so before Christmas. as for different words...I am constantly finding new ones that always surprise me. We wear jumpers in the winter, not sweaters. The car has a boot, not a trunk. When there is a blackout, we look for a torch, not a flashlight. Two weeks is a fortnight. Cows live in paddocks, not fields There are probably heaps more, just can't think of them right now
kind of I guess. It is salinity, and I don't know a whole lot about it, but they say that every year we loose farming land as the desert gets bigger. I will see what I can find...
Jo & Celtic, please jump in and answer too - I am by no means an expert, lol. kris, as for games, I am not sure which of our games originated in USA, or elsewhere? I know that one time when dd was little, we were playing 'elastics' in the park, and a Chinese woman came running over and said that she used to play that in China as a little girl. We play board games, card games, computer games. At parties kids play pass the parcel, and still as a statue, and tips (aka tag or chasey).
