With the ship pool and hot tub finally filled with warm water our last three days at sea were spent sunning, reading, and people watching in the proximity of these amenities.
A funny thing, I’m noticing my speech is slowly slipping into the local dialect, sort of mimicking what I hear. It is rather amusing, actually, that I do this almost unconsciously. Bob can’t understand anything when someone is speaking with a heavy dialect and I’m constantly interpreting for him. But I’m not having any problem and find the word pronunciation almost lyrical.
In Australia every one says “G’day” and “No Worries”. Aside from these common phrases, for many ordinary words they seem to put the emphasis differently on a syllable. Like pahwrk for park, or bawrding the feery for boarding the ferry.
New Zealanders use the words “wee bit” to describe something small or little, and I’m doing that too. For ordinary words their emphasis on the syllable is similar to the Aussies, but even more extreme. The fahwrms and heels are quite lovely these days, meaning farms and hills….
The one thing the locals all seem to have in common is a fierce pride in their country and a friendly competition between them. We were looking for a New Zealand wine in a New Zealand liquor store when an Australian customer approached us and tried to get us to buy a “better” wine made in Southern Australia. It is fun and sort of wonderful. As a people they are all very friendly and down to earth. And, without exception, when they find out we are from Alaska they all ask us to send our greetings to Sarah. Actually, even the folks on the cruise, which is 50% American and the rest either Australian or New Zealanders, ask us to tell Sarah that they love her and to hang in there! It is quite amazing how much they know about the United States.
It is very easy and fun to travel over here, and the landscape is stunning. We will miss this beautiful place.
Gail Niebrugge, Coming home to Alaska
