Interesting Info

Well, I thought I'd write out some of the quirky things I've learned on my travels before I forget them. The amount of Aussie slang is in itself formiddable.

Aussie = Canadian

a singlet = a tank top
Howya gawin'? = How ya doin'?
Do ya reckon? = Ya think?
a beanie = a toque
thongs = sandals
I'm over it = whatever
sunnies = sunglasses
muffin tops = beer bellies
mate = friend/pal
skull it!!! = chug it!!!
winger (prounounced like "ginger") = bitcher/complainer


and the list goes on...more than I can remember

A phrase that I will never be able to forget because I've heard it hundreds of times on the tube (underground train): "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."

Different ways of saying "cheers" like "Salut" in Italian, "Prost!!" in German (which the boys on the bus would call out endlessly when they were out drinking, and would usually follow the "cheers" with a hearty gulp of something)

Did I ever mention that our tour manager, Jenni, named our bus? Apparently she names all the coaches she gives tours on, and this one she christened Charlotte. We all got pretty defensive of our Charlotte.

Top 10 list of some of the most crazy things that happened on tour:
1) Geoff partying in tights and a tutu (later streaking, which most people missed)
2) Tom stripping down to his undies on the top of Jungfrau Mountain (Switzerland) and rolling around in the snow, he even made a snow angel.
3) First night out in Amsterdam one of the Aussie girls got arressted for wandering around the streets drunk and stoned at like 3:30 in the morning.
4) Some of our group getting into jealous "lovers spats" (almost everyone on tour "hooked up" with someone at some point) and causing some damage to the cabins we were staying in (over 500 Euros charged to them for repairs)
5) Several incidents of peeing on mattresses, once due to the pure drunkenness of someone who had passed out on their own bed, and at least twice the guys got drunk enough to think it'd be funny to pee on their mates that were already asleep. All incidents costing upwards of 100 Euros to replace the mattresses.
6) Several incidents of members of our group getting up on tables and dancing.
7) One guy threw up on the bus, he had tried to make it to the bathroom on the bus, but didn't quite make it. He ended up making a mess of one of the stairwells on the bus (bottom of which was the bathroom), walls, steps, etc.
8) Everyone cheering when our two South African guys made it through the first boarder check and almost getting them arressted for it.
9) The self-cleaning gas station toilette somewhere in Germany. It was the most sanitary bathroom anyone had been in. All motion sensored so you wouldn't have to touch anything, and when you were done the toilette flushed itself and then the seat rotated of its own accord underneath a sanitary spray and wipe. Insanity I tell you!!
10) The Aussies themselves...what an insane lot of people.

Okay, I think that's enough for now. I don't really have a lot going on now, so that's the best I can do. Hope you all found it entertaining!!

Love and hugs, Mel
PS-anyone want to share what they've been up to? what's going on at home? I'd love to not be completely in the dark when I get back, be a little more up with the current affairs ya know!