Friday, February 24, 2006

Of snow-fields, celebrities, and slang.


Australians everywhere.
That's what I was told before I left, after I left, and when I arrived in Vancouver by locals, family, and friends.. They were right, but though Australians over here in Canada have been affectionately named 'JAFA's (which stands for: Just Another Fruitful Aussie' [ok, it's obviously not fruitful]) by the younger generation of Canucks, they are nonetheless popular with the locals.
Also, if the accent wasn't enough, there's always that rumour that we as Australians are all given a koala or wombat at five years old, and are given our first Kangaroo at the age of 15. I was told this by one of my co-workers, and I quickly corrected her, the legal age for kangaroo owning is, after all, 16.
Unfortunately this isn't even a myth with a lot of people.. But it's amusing, and though I also have people flinging horribly British slang my way in attempts to replicate an Aussie accent, I enjoy riding the rumour express and seeing what other awful Australian 'facts' people come up with. Apparently I also live 20km away from the nearest toilet and my backyard is populated by redbacks, cobras (Yeah.. Explain that to me if you can..) and dingoes.

I have to say though, it's been a rare occasion to see another Australian browsing American Eagle's clothing or just generally around, I have met a few who are doing exactly what I'm doing now. Over here on a Visa. I suppose the most of us are up the snowfields (which, may I add, I can see from my window.. kinda painful really.) ski-instructing or simply skiing or boarding. The snow is the best in 8 years I've heard. Interestingly, however, I have seen a few celebrities browsing the shelves. Yesterday alone we had Lionel Luthor (Lex's dad from Smallville) Denzell Washington, some random camera crew, and another guy from TV whose name eludes me browsing around. (The camera crew was quickly shooed my my manager, no photos are allowed to be taken in store.. Which makes it really difficult to show you all who my comrades in outfitting are.)

Anyway, it's not all over for me, I may still actually get up to the snow fields properly. (I had a brief sojourn last week, at Cypress mountain. See Fig C.) In fact, a couple of the navy guys I met the other week are going up to Whistler for the weekend, and have invited me along with them. Seeing as I have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off, I said of course.
Maybe this time I'll get lessons instead of snowboarding cold turkey. We all know how that turned out last time..
Cheers all!

JW

6 thoughts are now mine:

Dave O roo said...

Hey J,
I know what you mean with the Aussie Rep, I just got off the phone with a Texan while registering 'a certain product' as soon as the guy realised i was aussie, the registration part of the convo slowed to a stop and got me rambling on about Melbourne's weather, nightlife etc. Told me to visit, and gave his email address.. THIS WAS A REGISTRATION DESK at a CALL CENTER!

can anyone say random?

p.s. wrist guards this time jimmy, wrist gaurds! also, when you refer to Navy guys, you mean like YMCA Navy guys right? ;)

Have fun

Jimzip said...

Dave: Hahahah.. Ok, *that* is random.. Like... What the hell.. But I guess if you work at a call centre you have to amuse yourself somehow..
About the wrist guards, yes indeed.
And no, the Navy guys had no affiliation with the Village people or any of their lyrics.. As far as I know. They're literally a bunch of guys and girls from the Canadian Navy. Really fun people too, they know how to party, evidently. :)
Cheers Dave.

JW

Ed said...

ARGH, COBRAS!!

Robert Padbury said...

So...... when do Australians celebrate christmas?

- If you can top that, I'll be impressed :)

Rob.

Jimzip said...

Haha. Yeah that's true, a lot of Americans can't get their heads around the fact that Christmas is at the end of each school year for us. I mean, who has New Year's in the middle of the school year? ;)

JW

Z said...

stop teasing us with these army/navy people.



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