Last year I informed you about the significance of Australia Day and why Australians celebrate it. This year Id like to explore the differences and similarities between Australians and Canadians.
Ill also go through the lingo so you too can be an Aussie larrikan.
(From hence forth, Australians will be As and Canadians will be Cs.)
As and Cs are both good travellers and therefore if the situation calls for it we can usually hold a conversation about say, how good the beer is at Oktoberfest in Munich.
As say "What do you reckon?" or "Whats doing?" Cs say "Hows it going?"
As call sweaters and pullovers, jumpers.
As use the word "heaps", as in "weve had heaps of rain this year."
As call a couch or a sofa, a lounge.
As drive and walk up stairs on the lefts hand side, Cs use the right side.
As call men "blokes" and women "sheilas" but they have to be very careful who they call a sheila.
As say "fair dinkum"; Cs say "right on."
As say "Gday", Cs say "hello" or "salut."
As are generally funny and loud, but never as loud as the yanks. Cs are funny but rarely loud.
As buy utes, not trucks.
A ute is a utility vehicle i.e. a car with a tray on the back. In Canada you call these vehicles trucks, but you also call semi-trailers trucks so there is some confusion. Kill the confusion and start calling your "sick" trucks, UTES.
As are laid back, but not calm.
Theres a difference, and you can normally notice it when As and Cs are watching sport. Cs only get fired up about hockey but As get excited over just about anything.
To use a crude and more unrealistic example if somebody dropped a bomb on Sydney, As would be pretty laid back about finding the crook that did it and pulling their arms off.
If somebody dropped a bomb on Toronto, Canadians would be annoyed but there would be a lot of people whod just shrug their shoulders and head back to the farm until the situation could be handled calmly.
If somebody dropped a bomb on New York then the yanks would probably come up with another plan to invade an "evil" country that had nothing do to with it in the name of "freedom" and "democracy".
Both As and Cs methods have their merits but its easy to see why Cs are renowned for being peacekeepers. When you really look into it, its also easy to see why other countries might interpret this position as being weak.
As surf, Cs ski because As have the best beaches in the world and Cs have the best mountains.
Its fairly warm in Australia year round, whereas Canada has four genuine seasons.
As are amazed by the fact that many Cs can go ice skating in their backyards during winter (there is only about four ice rinks in all of greater Sydney, which is why hockey is not as big in Australia).
Very few As have any knowledge of snow unless theyre from a small area on the ACT (Australian Capital Territory)/Victorian border.
Both As and Cs operate under the Westminster system of government and we have both voted Liberal in recent elections.
Despite the fact that As Liberal Prime Minister John Howard supports George Bush, he was re-elected by a record margin in the recent election. There were two major reasons for this: one, every year hes been Prime Minister, Australia has recorded significant economic growth; two, the opposition leader had no idea.
Opposition (Labor) leader Mark Latham did things like call Mr. Howard an "ass licker".
As are overly proud about how good they are at sports. My own theory on this is that were still a very young country and were isolated geographically so our way of proving ourselves is in the sporting arena. Its like when a juvenile does things to try and prove themselves to their peers.
Cs rarely boast about anything except hockey.
Cs and As admire the same kinds of people.
David Suzuki is in Australia so often that a lot of As think hes Australian until they hear him talk. Dick Pound is a highly respected Olympic official thats quoted constantly in Australian papers. Alexander Graham Bell gave the world telephones; without him we wouldnt be able to talk to our families. And everyone loves AC/DC a band from Sydney.
As and Cs are both "gay friendly" countries but Canada is more politically gay friendly.
As arrive in Whistler looking tanned and healthy.
Most As leave with many happy memories, several broken bones and wider bums.
Cs arrive in Whistler and can keep coming back because they dont have to worry about working visas.
(On a visa note the author would like to bid a fond farewell to Mick Cahir from Canadian Snowmobiles. Micks one of about 2000 "good blokes" the author has had to say goodbye to after moving to Whistler. Mick performed in a pantomime, recently became a gay icon, even though hes as straight as a cricket bat, and was a valued member of Canadian Snowmobiles team but the boogey man caught up with him last week. Good luck elsewhere Mick - the ladies will miss you.)