"Australia? ..... Never Heard of It"

[mannej]

I've had a number of taxi drivers in Italy ask "Australia? What part of America is that?"

The other notable comment from one of the vecchia relatives from Italy was that she had been to Australia on the bus once! A fair hike from Castel Di Sangro I'd imagine!

 

[chelzmalee]

While in LOTFAP....

"So where are you from?"
"Australia"
"Wow, how long did it take to drive here?"

 

[trooper]

On the other hand.. tell many Aussies you've just been to New Mexico and theyll ask how you managed the language....

 

[Warks]

a) it's central europe. (I made the mistake of saying Hungary was eastern europe once, almost got lynched by the locals)

I think there are numerous reasons why they'd know Austria.

I thought that would get a bite! I'm thinking of the old Cold War map where Austria was part of the west but certainly intruded well behind the line of the Iron Curtain. The Turks got to the gates of Vienna (1529), that probably draws the line.

 

[Warks]

On the other hand.. tell many Aussies you've just been to New Mexico and theyll ask how you managed the language....

Always reminds me of Mr Burns:

[video=youtube;hEJzXbqyU8A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJzXbqyU8A[/video]

 

[Renato1]

I was in LOTFAP and when asked where I was from said 'Australia'. After a bit of to and fro they asked "Oh, so is it near New Zealand?" :!:

At least they have the right general direction.
Cheers,
Renato

1978, asked by 'barmaid' at the downtown Hilton in Baltimore where we were from. "Australia". Oh, which part? "Melbourne". Ponders a minute. Is it near London?

Many over there (and in Europe) confuse our accent with British/ London accent. I guess when they don't know Australia, teh accent triggers the next most logical place in their mind.
Regards,
Renato

My daughter spent 6 months student exchange in 2013. She went to the local school in Wisconsin.

Quite a few times, when speaking to both other students and adults, they told her that she spoke very good English !!

Clearly, some don't realise that we do actually speak English in Australia.....

hahaaaaa

TQ

That's very amusing.
Regards,
Renato

Though the language varies throughout LOTFAP.They just cant understand me in the South.Mrsdrron has to act as my interpreter,she can speak southern real good.
The okies have no problem understanding me nor I them-they talk re....a...l slow.
The best for me though is Washington State.One April we were driving up the Washington coast.It is migration time for gray whales.Usually a local on each headland to point things out for you.One day was just miserable-rain,wind and cold.I felt sorry for the volunteer so got out and had a long talk with him.As I was leaving he said-I know you are not from town,do you come from south of here.
Why yes,several thousand miles south.

It's a strange feeling when you can understand them and they can't understand you, is it not?
I get that often in unexpected parts of Italy, when I speak my version of Venetian Italian (they understand me easily in very distant Naples and Amalfi Coast, but don't understand me much closer to home in Siena).

And as I think I mentioned elsewhere, many Americans have a hard time understanding the way we say "beef" - which generally isn't a problem if one is a vegetarian.
Regards.
Renato

What amazes me about the 'Austria' reaction is that the Seppos have even heard of Austria. It's a tiny obscure eastern European country with a population well below Australia's (about 8 million). How many Austrians have you ever met outside Europe? There was a famous Austrian once though...

No offence to local Austrians intended...

Maybe they are history buffs and were into the Hapsburgs and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire?
Cheers,
Renato

Last time in LOTFAP: "Australia - that's like the Texas of England, right?"

Sure, why not.

Lots of cows in Texas, lots of cows in Australia.
Yes, that sounds about right (especially if they see Bob Katter's election commercial).
Cheers,
Renato

Years ago when I was in LOTFAP and mentioned I was from Australia, I was asked which way did I drive over :shock:

If it doesn't happen in New York, it doesn't happen suddenly makes more sense.

I guess it's could be a case of Canada/ Australia - it's all the same thing right?
Cheers,
Renato

Clazgirl is constantly asked what part of America are you from, and are you enjoying your holiday in Australia. Despite being Canadian and living here for 20 years.

She responds with I love your Kiwi accent ...... been here long

She hasn't lost her accent, has she? Which would make her more interesting to people.
Oddly enough, earlier this year I met a Canadian down here for work, and she was having a very hard time understanding me.
Regards,
Renato

I've had a number of taxi drivers in Italy ask "Australia? What part of America is that?"

The other notable comment from one of the vecchia relatives from Italy was that she had been to Australia on the bus once! A fair hike from Castel Di Sangro I'd imagine!

That's pretty unusual. Over there when I say I'm from Australia they all start going on about Megan Gale, Casey Stoner, the Melbourne Grand Prix, the Phillip island Grand Prix, Border Control Australia. Twenty years ago, visitors to Italy from Melbourne would get frustrated about everyone wanting to talk to them about Wally Lewis, and most people from Melbourne who weren't sports fans didn't know who he was.
Cheers,
Renato

While in LOTFAP....

"So where are you from?"
"Australia"
"Wow, how long did it take to drive here?"

Judging from the same recollection related above, some must really think Australia is pretty close.
Unlike in my anecdote though - at least they've heard of Australia.
Regards,
Renato

 

[medhead]

I thought that would get a bite! I'm thinking of the old Cold War map where Austria was part of the west but certainly intruded well behind the line of the Iron Curtain. The Turks got to the gates of Vienna (1529), that probably draws the line.

I would've agreed with you, right up until I was forcefully reminded that it's central not east by the locals.

 

[k_sheep]

On the other hand.. tell many Aussies you've just been to New Mexico and theyll ask how you managed the language....

One is a state, one is a country, or even a continent depending on which school you went to. I don't think that's a fair comparison.

I can't even begin to imagine a school system where kids aren't even taught about the continents. What the heck do they do in geography or social science or whatever??

 

[medhead]

I can't even begin to imagine a school system where kids aren't even taught about the continents. What the heck do they do in geography or social science or whatever??

the USA....

 

[Archphoto]

I made the USA/Canadia mistake once ... Once!

Me too. Now I ask "What part of North America are you from?"

 

[significance]

The first time I visited the US was to attend a graduate-level oceanography course. One of the non-academic staff, on learning that I was from Australia asked, "but do you have oceans in Australia?"
I replied, "We do around the edges. Most people in Australia live around the edges." I was at a loss to understand the question: perhaps he thought we all lived in the red centre?
But no. He came back the next day to cheerfully tell me, "​I looked up Australia in an Atlas. It's quite big!"

 

[TomVexille]

the USA....

Now I was quite lucky, but the schools I went to in the USA seem far better then the schools in Australia

 

[jastel]

Had the "speak English" comments before.
Most people have heard about Australia but what annoys me is the comments like "Oh, my uncle lives in Sydney you must know him..."
FYI I don't live in Sydney but even if I did I still probably wouldn't know him...

On the other hand it's fun teasing them with comments about Drop Bears and riding Kangaroos to school and how we got electricity last year for the first time...

 

[drron]

My favourite way of pulling the leg of Americans is when they ask where in Australia I am from.Answer-near Australia Zoo-most know it.I then say I play golf at a course near the zoo and we are always on the lookout for escaped crocodiles.And they believe it.

 

[juddles]

....what annoys me is the comments like "Oh, my uncle lives in Sydney you must know him..."......

Years ago when living in Chile, some friends asked us to take some gifts to their relatives that had moved to Australia. We were heading via a stopover in Sydney then up to Brisbane. We asked them for the address to see if we could swing it in our short stopover. They said something about them being in the "western suburbs". The day before travel they proudly gave us the actual address. It was in Perth.

 

[serfty]

Clazgirl is constantly asked what part of America are you from, and are you enjoying your holiday in Australia. Despite being Canadian and living here for 20 years.

She responds with I love your Kiwi accent ...... been here long

I too learned the hard way.

As already indicated, one way to avoid issue is ask along the lines of "What part of North America are you from?".

 

[Jay Cee]

Had the "speak English" comments before.
Most people have heard about Australia but what annoys me is the comments like "Oh, my uncle lives in Sydney you must know him..."
FYI I don't live in Sydney but even if I did I still probably wouldn't know him...

On the other hand it's fun teasing them with comments about Drop Bears and riding Kangaroos to school and how we got electricity last year for the first time...

Better still. Two elderly US citizens asking Aussie visitor if AU has good friday?.
Answer: Yes we do, but because of the time difference, we hold it on Saturday so that it's on at the same time as the USA !!!

cheers

 

[medhead]

Now I was quite lucky, but the schools I went to in the USA seem far better then the schools in Australia

That may be so in general but it would seem not for Geography. - the subject of this thread.
Also worth mentioning that a significant number of people from my school have travelled extensively. I say as many as 10% with significant overseas connections. Wife from across europe, professional travel photographers and tour leaders to tibet, africa, etc. Not particularly special for Australians, but would it be the same in the USA.

 

[Hvr]

Clazgirl is constantly asked what part of America are you from, and are you enjoying your holiday in Australia. Despite being Canadian and living here for 20 years.

She responds with I love your Kiwi accent ...... been here long

Simplest way to avoid this problem is to ask 'what province are you from?' The Yanks will just tell you their city and state whereas the Canadians are rapt you've picked their accent.

A win/win all around.

 

[marki]

I was in LOTFAP and when asked where I was from said 'Australia'. After a bit of to and fro they asked "Oh, so is it near New Zealand?" :!:

I thought Australia was Far East Australia