“Hey there, mate! How ya travelling?”

“Um, I mostly travel by train. How about you?”

Was this the correct answer to this question, or was it just another one of those colloquial languages we don’t understand? I would go with the latter.

Having surfaced from a country like India, where English is just a second language, vernacular phrases and slang can be very intimidating. Coming from a non–English background, many international students sense a gap in language and culture. It’s not just about learning new words or phrases but taking a leap into the unknown territory of discomfort, leading to unexpressed emotions and misunderstandings. It becomes a game of charades, at least for myself, when it comes to conveying thoughts or even suggestions to people from foreign lands. It would not be wrong to say that I have mastered the art of mime! From being called a “darl” to being said to “bugger off”, Australia has its own sweet way of welcoming international residents.

Despite having English as my second language, I was pretty confident with it. I knew I would blend in right away, but little did I know that this was AUSTRALIA, where even the tiniest of words can have your brain sprinting. Yes, you heard me right. I still remember the tiny little word that made my mind swirl with nothingness: MACCA’S!

It was a windy, sunny day in the month of February 2023. A few weeks had passed by since I first set foot in Australia. One of my Australian friends comes up to me and asks, “Hey mate, wanna go to Macca’s?” I certainly did not understand but had to look cool, so I just smiled with my head, confused about the fancy name I had come across for the first time in 25 years. I started thinking about what it could possibly be, even though I didn’t mind hanging out for a bit. 10 min in, and I realise what he meant. In Australia, Macca’s is an abbreviation for the most famous fast food chain, McDonald’s. Never had I ever heard somebody refer to McDonald’s as Macca’s, and it blew my mind. I laughed so hard that even the Australian bloke (Aussie slang for a man!) understood why I had been dying with laughter and amusement.

So, having lived in Australia for about a year, I still don’t understand some phrases. Coming from a totally different culture drains out the capacity of your brain and yourself to learn anything new, and trust me, I understand. Therefore, I have listed some common phrases used during conversions with Australians.

CONVERSATION BREAKERS

• Mate: Generally referred to as a friend
• Cheers, mate: A greeting generally used while celebrating or to say goodbye
• G’day: An informal way of saying to have a good day
• Arvo: Abbreviation for afternoon
• Servo: Refers to a service station/gas station
• Thongs: Flip-flops
• Yeah nah: No
• Nah yeah: Yes
• Bloke: Refers to a man
• Sus: Being suspicious about something

And the list does not stop. But to answer the question I asked you at the start of this article, “How ya travelling?” actually means “How you doing?”. I know you are banging your heads already, but remember, whenever you get stuck in a conversation, just try adding an “ie” at the end, and there you go, you have Aussie slang. But regardless of the goofy language, it is important to have those oops moments to have something to laugh about two to three years down the lane. For instance, I will never forget my first-ever conversation with the Australian bloke about McDonald’s. Sorry – Macca’s, I meant.