Ask an Aussie

Any burning questions you have about Australia can be directed to this thread.

How do you guys eat Vegemite?

I mostly eat it on toast or in a sandwich.

I, too, eat it on toast, but I also have it in a sandwich. Now, it must be said that you have to apply it liberally, otherwise it tastes like a heart attack... though I also put heaps on because I like the taste. And I'm still alive.

As a fellow Australian, I feel compelled to ask; do you ship Rhonda and Ketut?

edited 19th Jun '16 5:17:09 AM by trashconverters

Greetings, fellow Aussie! Though I moved to America.

You live in Central, Western, or Eastern?

I lived in Sydney.

Is Canberra really as boring as everyone says it is?

How do you walk upside down?

Does your country have, like, any social problems whatsoever? From the US, it looks to be a better Trump-Free Haven than Canada.

How often do you encounter wild animals?

If the Summer Olympics are held in your country, would they happen in February?

Does Uluru really glow red at night?

When I was in gunsmithing school, one of the guys was from Australia, and he told me about an incident concerning pub etiquette.

According to him, when drinking in a pub in Australia, if you finish your beer and you want another, you leave your glass right-side-up. If you don't want another right away, but might want one later, you turn your glass on its side. And when you're done drinking, you turn your glass upside-down. (In the US, we have a similar gesture: placing your coaster over the top of your glass means you're finished.)

He was drinking in a bar in the US, and turned his glass on its side. A passing waitress noticed, and turned it right-side-up. He turned it on its side again after she left. She came by a bit later and turned it upright again. He got offended by this, interpreting it to mean that she was telling him he had to order another beer right now.

This may be a regional thing, rather than nationwide. I'm just wondering if there's any truth to it.

edited 19th Jun '16 12:04:28 PM by pwiegle

How are you not eaten yet?

Seriously, though, how warm is it usually? Do you stay indoors?

Please describe the most interesting and/or dangerous spider you have ever seen personally.

Is fairy bread an actual thing there? Followup question: If it is a thing, do you know how to make it? I've always wanted to try fairy bread.

How did Hugh Jackman become such a good Wolverine?

How do you guys deal with the fact you're an isolated island nation with a crumbling social fabric caused by globalisation and right-wing socio-economic policies?

Sorry guys, I was asleep as you guys posted. Okay, here we go.

Yes, fairy bread is alive and well here. You just take white bread, spread butter on it, then add sprinkles and you've got yourself a delicious treat. Most commonly seen at kids' birthday parties.

Social problems: yeah, we've got quite a few. My state's premier (equivalent to a governor I suppose) is trying to institute a union takeover of the CFA, which is mostly a volunteer fire brigade. Most volunteers are threatening to resign, which could mean we're screwed during the bushfire season. Our justice system is a joke. We've got an election soon and I could care less. Other than that we're fine and dandy.

The beer question: I wouldn't know, sorry. I'm not much of a drinker.

I haven't seen many big spiders either. The suburbs don't get many of them.

Well, heat wise, when it's hot it's boiling. When it's cold it's freezing. We're in winter now so it's in the latter category. Believe it or not, we do get snow, though that's only in a few mountainous regions.

Do you ever get fed up about people thinking that Max Max is how Australia really is, even if they're only trying to be funny?

Who thinks Mad Max is Australia? My stereotype vision of it is a mix of Crocodile Dundee, fucking hot women, and goddamn spiders. Like a less jungle-y Catachan.

Who thinks Mad Max is really Australia? Probably everyone who doesn't think it's all Crocodile Dundee, hot women and massive spiders. :P

Well, to be fair, three of those four things are pretty awesome.

Regarding the spiders, there are a lot of them in the more rural areas. The most interesting one I've seen was probably a jumping spider bouncing along the road and following me as I went for a walk. It seemed to like me. The feeling was not mutual.

Obligatory: Is your real-life banter as excellent as it is online?