It is finally online- C Magazine!
Part of the summer at The Canberra Times I was working on parts of C Magazine, the quarterly magazine put out by the Canberra Centre (the city's central shopping center). It features everything from clothing stores to shop for the season's looks to restaurant reviews and recipes.
Everyone worked so hard on it- Mils creatively designed all of the fashion pictures, Holly took all of the photos, the girls and I wrote all of the features. The best part of having a relatively small group on the project is the level of involvement in all aspects. I chased people for recipes, I interviewed people for features, was on set for photo shoots, and even was used in one of the photos (Koko Black Chocolate review).
Check it out: C-Mag
I believe it opens to the page that my picture is plastered on :)
-Tanuushka
C Magazine
The summer ends- now back to hot weather
My summer vacation is over, and my time in Australia (for now) is over. This blog finds me back at school, sweating as I type in an AC-less dorm room. I wouldn't mind the mildly cool Australian winter right now.
So what are my reflections on the past three months?
First of all, I really love Australia. If this summer's internship gave me any indications about my future, it is that I want to move to and work in Sydney. Everywhere there seems to be a perfect harmony between cityscape and landscape, making it the ideal urban environment to live in.
I love Australians. They are chill, live life and most importantly find my American accent exotic.
Canberra's abundance of nature parks has me reconnected with my outdoorsy self that had been lost since my Utah days.
Writing on the clock and for a large audience at The Canberra Times has given me a much more positive outlook on writing papers for classes. After all, we get weeks to complete assignments and it's just for the scrutiny of the Professor or TF.
Best of all, I spent quality time with my family. The older I get, the more I miss home. I remember when I first went to boarding school- everything was so new that I don't think my mind could even register homesickness. Now, I increasingly miss my parents, my brother, a house, Mongolian food, obscure superstitions- all the things I live without at school.
Well I am off to commence my junior year of college. And there's always J-term for me and OZ.
All hail the Mighty Green Machine
Canberra Raiders (24) vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons (12)
What a game!!! My first rugby game consisted of 19,350 viewers in the stands, 3 fights on the field, inappropriate but hilarious dancing by Victor the Raiders mascot, my future husband Brett Morris positioned within very nice viewing distance, and of course insurmountable levels of testosterone. Not bad mate, I can say that I'm a big fan now of the NRL.
The 90-minute game, which I had not even studied the rules of prior to watching, on more than one occasion got me off my seat and screaming (much to the delight of Bron). The Dragons, the team for which Brett Morris plays, was off to a large lead in the beginning, but thanks to mine and the girls' strong desire to find the Canberra boys celebrating out on the town later, the boys in lime green pulled it together were on top in the end, winning 24-12. But it was an extremely tight game- the Dragons are first in the league right now after all, compared to the Raiders who rank 13th. It was so tight that they took to taking the tension out with their fists several times.
Overall, brilliant experience, excellent first game (also for Meghan and Meredith), and I'm left with the crowd's chant "All hail the mighty green machine".
The Lingo
The majority of the Western world has consistencies that make cultural adjustment pretty simple. For example, a McDonald’s is a McDonald’s is a McDonald’s, whether you are in Vancouver or London. However, there is one aspect of the English-speaking Western world that does not transcend cultural differences all too easily: the English language itself. So here in the land down under, I am constantly noticing how Microsoft Word keeps auto-changing my spelling of ‘flavor’ to ‘flavour’ (or altogether leaving it with a squiggly red line), how everyone greets me with what sounds like nonsensical sentences and how verbose explanations always seem to follow my saying simple everyday phrases.
So for those who are headed out here, I am noting the absolutely “necessary” local lingo that I have picked up over the days.
- “How you going?”- SUP?
- "Ta"- can be used either as a "thank you" or a "you're welcome"... fascinating. Definitely sounds weird to the untrained ear.
- "reckon"- "I reckon...", "you reckon...?" etc.
- "Brekky"- breakfast
- "Not my bowl of rice"- not my cup of tea
- "Chook"- chicken
- "Coldie"- beer
- "Good onya"- good for you
- "Hooroo"- goodbye
Slang | Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| apple sauce | horse | She's a great little apple sauce. |
| steak and kidney | Sydney | We are off to steak and kidney! |
| Johnny Horner | corner | He's just gone round the Johnney Horner. |
| dead horse | tomato sauce | What this needs is a bit of dead horse. |
| brave and bold | cold | It's really brave and bold today. |
| Johnny Raper | paper | Nip down to the newsagent and get a Johnny Raper. |
| Dalai Lamas | dramas | Hey, no Dalai Lamas |
| bag of fruit | suit | All dressed up in your best bag of fruit. |
| blood blister | sister | How's your little blood blister? |
| Captain Cook | look | Well, take a Captain Cook. |
| curry and rice | price | What's the curry and rice? |
| dodge and shirk | work | I'm off to dodge and shirk. |
| dog and bone | phone | Can you get that dog and bone? |
| forgive & forget | cigarette | What I wouldn't give for a forgive and forget. |
| Fred Astair | lair (a show off) | He's a real Fred Astair. |
| frog and toad | road | Goodbye, must hit the frog and toad. |
| Germain Greer | beer | A Germain Greer would really hit the spot. |
| grim and gory | story | What a great grim and gory. |
| honky tonk | plonk (cheap wine) | Get a couple of bottles of honky tonk. |
| Jimmy Dancer | cancer | Did you hear that Harry's got the Jimmy Dancer? |
| Joe Blake | snake | Watch out for the Joe Blakes. |
| kitchen sink | drink | I could really do with a kitchen sink. |
| laughs & smiles | piles | It's not funny. I've got the laughs and smiles. |
| lemon squash | wash | I'd better give the car a bit of a lemon squash. |
| mud pies | eyes | She has beautiful mud pies. |
| Mutt and Jeff | deaf | What's wrong with you? Are you Mutt and Jeff? |
| nails and screws | news | Got any nails and screws? |
| near and far | bar | Meet you at the near and far at 6. |
| optic nerve | perv (pervert) | He's definitely an optic nerve. |
| Pat Malone | alone | I'm all on my Pat Malone. |
| Noah's ark | shark | Look out for the Noah's arks at Bondi |
| plates of meat | feet | Oh, my aching plates of meat! |
| tit for tat (titfer) | hat | I think you should wear your titfer. |
| pig's arse | glass | Want a pig's arse? |
| rock and lurch | church | See you at the rock and lurch on Sunday. |
| billy/tin lids | kids | How many billy lids you got? |
| septic tank | yank | That Bill Clinton, he's a septic tank. |
| smash and grab | cab | Would you call for a smash and grab? |
| tea leaf | thief | You bl**** tea leaf! |
| trouble and strife | wife | How's the trouble and strife these days? |
| young and frisky | whisky | I'll have a young and frisky. |
| Werris Creek | leak | I need to go for a Werris Creek |
| Bruce Reed | feed | I think I'll have a bit of a Bruce Reed |
| dog's eye | meat pie | That was a great dog's eye! |
| Zane Grey | pay | Can't buy much with the old Zane Grey these days. |
| Gregory Peck | cheque | I sent you the Gregory Peck! |
| butcher's hook | look | Take a butcher's! |
| Oxford scholar | dollar | It's just an Oxford scholar |
| Al Capone | phone | Will you get that Al capone for me? |
| dog's eye and dead horse | pie and sauce | I'll have a dog's eye and dead horse. |
| Peter Mertens | curtains | How are the Poms looking Shirl? It's Peter Mertens for em luv! (we are talking cricket!) |
| John Dory | story | What's the John Dory? |
| china plate | mate | How's me old china? |
| trick cyclist | psychiatrist | Have to go. Got an appointment with the trcik cyclist. |
| rubbidy dub | pub | I'm meeting them down at the rubbidy. |
| cherry plum | mum | I love my cherry plum |
| cheese and kisses | missus | How's the cheese and kisses? |
| Malcolm Blight | light | I really need a Malcolm Blight for my ciggy |
| on the beak | reek (stink) | You're on the beak a bit mate |
| Mars bar | car | I think I'll get a new Mars bar |
| Bugs Bunny | money | Got any Bugs Bunny? |
| wooden pegs | legs | She had a great pair of wooden pegs |
| canoes | shoes | New canoes? |
| hollow log | dog | Is the hollow log back from the vet yet? |
| ballarat | hat | Nice ballarat! |
| boat race | face | She has nice legs, shame about the boat race |
| Barry Crocker | shocker | Well! That was a real Barry Crocker.
|
| Ruben Wiki | Sickie | I not working today, I'm having a Ruben Wiki |
| Paul Keating | meeting | Let's have a Paul Keating this arvo |
| Rod Laver | favour | Do us a rod Laver will you mate? |
| Gary Abblett | tablet | I'm feeling crook, might have to take a Gary Abblett |
| Victor Trumper | jumper | Its bit cold, think I'll wear my Victor Trumper |
| Old Ned | bed | Think I'll be off to Old Ned |
| Rocky Ted | head | Be careful, don't bump your Rocky Ted |
| Piccadilly | chilly | It's really Piccadilly today |
| Rock 'n' Roll | dole | Are you getting the rock 'n' roll |
| Onkaparingas | fingers | Why don't yopu use your Onkaparingas |
| Dog and bone | phone | That'll be the dog and bone Mabel |
| Pat Malone | alone | All on her Pat Malone |
| Near and far | bar | I'm off to the near and far |
| Wally Grout | shout | Your Wally Grout |
| Norman von Nida | spider | Look out! It's a Norman von Nida |
| Monkey's arses | glasses | Anyone seen my monkeys |
| Reg Grundies | undies | Don't forget to wear your clean Reg Grundies |
| Apples & pears | stairs | Not more apples and pears! |
| Sky rocket | | Put THAT in your sky rocket |
| Eau de cologne | phone | Get off that eau de cologne |
| Warwick Farms | underarms | Bit of deodorant for the Warwick Farms |
Happy world of HARIBO
For those of us who grew up in Europe, we grew up with the privilege of eating HARIBO. For those of you who don't know, it is all that is delicious and is the only true gummy candy out there. Well to my surprise, and horror, once I moved to the U.S. they definitely did not have my beloved Star Mix or Phantasia. Although I lived with that huge void in my life for about eight years, I never gave up hope and sure enough I am reunited and it feels so good.
Thank the Aussies for reigniting my delightful childhood memories of chewing on those treats by selling them in an obscure, overpriced British store called "Treats from Home".
So if you haven't tried it- order it on eBay, comb every Europe-inspired store, or ask me for a bag once I return because I'll be sure to stock up, because without trying it you have not lived. Just sayin.
Romancing Sydney
It's official- I am in love with Sydney. Currently we are doing the long-distance thing, but I definitely see us settling down in the future.
This week I went up to Sydney and I just LOVED it there. Unlike all of my previous visits, exploring it alone and aimlessly wandering around made me realize that it is the perfect place to live. It's fun, hip and diverse. It was warm (in mid-winter), sunny and had beaches. It's clearly the cultural and, in many ways, historical center of Australia so what more could I ask for? Oh yeah, I met up with Meghan!
Our hotel was right by Hyde Park and the CBD, so while I was alone during the day, I amused myself by taking long walks on the streets, visiting the museums, sitting in the park reading, absorbing the scenery and other various activities that usually appeal to aging romantics.
I also met up with Meghan, my former roommate who is now doing a semester abroad. What a wise choice because she now lives in a lovely flat right on Bondi Beach, takes awesome classes that do not involve finals and of course is cheating with my Sydney.
We marked our reunion by taking a long stroll on the beach, cooking crab cakes, discussing our shared disgust of vegemite and admiring the Sydney public transportation system (especially the double-decker metro).
I highly recommend Sydney to anyone who wants grow professionally and personally in a vibrant atmosphere, and of course wants to party it up with the awesome crowd here. The Big Apple is cool, but you can't beat sunny mid-60s weather and a picnic in the park on a winter afternoon.
At least for me, I'll be back.
Meet the co-workers!
G'day!
I'm interning at The Canberra Times as a Creative Services Writer. The experience has been really good so far, thanks mainly to the people, always the people of course. This is a little bit about the characters in my Aussie life.
So there are three other Creative Services girls (I am filling in while they recruit a full-time fourth) Bron, Joni and Meredith. We share a desk space and many many laughs throughout the day. They are young, fun and educate me on Australian culture (rugby and football studs).
Bron is an aspiring screenplay writer and a competing boxer- meaning she is a BAMF.
Joni, the youngest before I got here, has actually been working here the longest and thus is the most experienced. She is really smart and charming and is clearly boss material, though not bossy in the slightest.
Meredith is very hard-working, funny and has a great boy-wall in her cubicle.
Holly- she is a photographer and has redeemed hope for my hand-modelling career!
*For those of you who know me, you may remember that I have a hot tea burn on my right hand from when I was a young'n. All of my friends' reaction to it is "well there goes your hand-modelling career". But now my left hand may get published holding a frozen dessert, so there you go. I am up for hire for left-hand modeling.*
Some other interesting people in my part of the office (Advertising Dept.):
Peter- he also just started and happens to live close by so I carpool with him (thanks Peter!). He is an opinionated, chatty young guy so really no dull moments.
Mils- the graphic designer/ resident Bruno! He is hilarious and likes to rag on celebs just as much as me- soul mates.
Ernie- the first person I knew here, probably because there are very few people he doesn't know in this town. He has an endless supply of "dad jokes" that make me and the girls laugh solely because he finds them funny. For example, the other day I was finishing up an apple when he remarked, "Ah, I see you got to the core of the matter." Enough said.
Well there are about 30 other people around here and they are all really funny, as in there's really no time to bore yourself here. Oh but the really best part of the job- cool press perks!
A review had to be written on Koko Black chocolate cafe and guess who got to go and sample (more like devour) chocolate treats? Correct, yours truly and the girls :) As you can see the original desserts and then the carnage. (photo credits: Holly)
