It is an amazing experience being Australian in London. In so many ways our countries understand each other and we always have cricket and rugby to banter about .. but in so many ways we are worlds apart on our outlook on life. Neither better than the other.. just makes dinner parties fun! When I first arrived just two years ago a few things struck me:
1. What accent?
2. Where are the English?
2. Being chilled..us?
3. Are we crazy?
4. Who is funnier?
5. Don't talk about sex or money
1) We had an accent and a funny one.
No one on our island thinks we have an accent or talk funny. It's only when you immerse yourself here and people start mimicking you that the realisation hits in the face like a bulldozer. We do sound funny.. we do shorten way more words that we should. " What should we do this avo Wazza?" Then students start laughing at you when you sue words like " dagga " and " what a ripper of a move." … you soon learn to your amazement that these are crazy Aussie words that we must have made up somewhere over the last 200 years.
Of course the whole topic has balance and we can't figure out how there can be so many English accents on one small island and to our fascination.. the accents come with a range of associations. We love chatting about your super accents ( because we don't really have one.. ) and it's always great fun at a pub trying to do a Cockney accent. My name is Scott… and in West London there is an emphasis on the "tt" at the end of my name. When I arrive home in East London the "tt"s have been swallowed.. " Sco''ie" .. in one city.. one short tube ride. This will never cease to amaze me.
2. Where are the English?
I am from Melbourne and we say we are a really cosmopolitan city and it is. London though is a whole new level and I used to count how many languages I would hear in a day. It felt like a big party ( sort of like Herrang Dance Camp ) when I arrived here and was so amazed at how many people lived here from every corner of the world. I think this makes the English really open minded and accepting. When I talked to dancers i Paris about why they all loved London so much they talked about the great open spirit of London and the lack of judgement. I think London and Londoners should be really proud of London today and its truly cosmopolitan spirit. Yes London has it's challenges like all big cities and a rather sinister underbelly that you have to be aware of .. but us Aussies love and embrace London.
2 ) Being chilled out.
We also had no idea that we were actually more chilled out than most groups and we just thought the whole world were as relaxed as us.. until we arrived. Actually having a reputation for being " cruisy " and " easy going " is kind of cool but I can assure you .. we leave the stressed ones on the island. The English put themselves down a lot and openly say they are uptight, anxious and awkward. I don't really see that in East London and think the crowd are the coolest in the world .. the ones not trying to be cool anyway.
We do see it from time to time when we get a frustrated email that I know would not have been an issue in Australia. I do think the Brits are more cautious about social dancing and the fear factor of their first steps in the wide world is greater. I sometimes wish we could get my students to embrace social dancing a little more with crazy abandon no matter what the outcome. The fear of feeling silly or out of ones depth are strong here..but hey.. this is an island that ruled the world once so maybe this care and caution has stood the Brits in good stead!
3) Are we crazy?
So many English have said .. word for word .. " Why on earth would you leave all that sunshine to live here..?"
It's true.. Aussies find the London winter cold and long and you don't appreciate your sunny climate until you leave it.
LIfe is more than a sun tan though and we love being so close to Europe and falling over the amazing history of London. I am still amazed when I know I can be in another country in an hour.. that is amazing.
I caught a train recently to Brussels and was there in 90 minutes. When you come from an big island hours from almost everywhere.. this is a stunning feature of living here.
Australia has some fascinating history but every week I enjoy some new and crazy historical fact that I learn from a cabbie, a dancer , a tour.. or even a book!
4) Who is funnier?
We think we are funny.. and we like to laugh a lot but I wasn't expecting the fantastic English humour to be such a part of society. From cabbies, football crowds to individuals in classes.. the English are funny and I love it. It's one of the best things about living here. LIke Aussies don't think we have an accent.. I don't think the English realise how great the general sense of humour is here. Back on our island the English ( affectionally known as the Poms) are called the " Whinging Poms" but when you live here.. you meet a whole other side of the English. Progressive, environmentally aware, politically aware and thoroughly impressive in so many ways.
5) Don't talk about sex or money
I can see why the English perceive us Aussies as loud and brash at times. It's partly because we are quite open and if we have a problem.. we will probably tell anyone that is happy to listen. We don't have the social boundaries that you see here so often. The English may love sex and money but they seem to have a code of conduct where it is not really discussed out openly. Which one is better? I am still unsure but I do miss the crazy Aussie chats and openness at a dinner table in Melbourne. However I certainly appreciate the discretion of the English and choosing to share with the closest of friends only. Yes of course.. this one in particular is massive generalisation.. I know it!
I could go on and on,, but by now I doubt if anyone is still reading so I will now spend my energies to talk our posh Chris Gammie into writing something about what it's like to be a Londoner working, teaching and dancing with an Aussie run dance group. Come on Chris.. we need your help!
Scottie
