Americans’ Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary (Paperback)
June 1, 2009 by Aussie
Filed under Outback Guide Reviews
This is the Operator’s Manual for Australia. This book covers the basic and essential information the author and his family learned in order to survive their first few years living in Australia. It will help you avoid making the same embarrassing mistakes and asking the same dumb questions they did. Includes a 1,500 word Australian-American Dictionary. An essential tool for tourists, business travelers and migrants.
A Review of Americans’ Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary (Paperback)
by Rusty Geller (Author)
Having been brought up in both the US and Australia, I bought this book out of curiosity for how one side saw the other and was surprised by it’s breadth. Not only is it packed with the kind of information those who are visiting or emigrating from America (US/Canada) really need to know, Geller also weaves stories of his own experiences throughout which added reality and kept me reading.
Often guide books are presented too technically, but not so with this one. The style is easy and understandable all the way through. I have not read a book like this from cover to cover before, but this one taught me things I didn’t know about Australia. There is also an extensive contents and index that pin point’s particular issues quickly.
The first part of the book takes you on a journey that unveils the intricacies of all the issues you are likely to need to know about to successfully deal with a trip or move to Australia. The information is well sorted into issues and gives you the surrounding knowledge required to tackle each. For example: How do you get a car into Australia? Or use American electrical equipment? Order a beer, or migrate with your pet? Geller goes through processes like; language differences, entering the country, buying real estate and the education system, pulling the relevant information together and pointing out common pitfalls and misunderstandings you run up against when moving to a country that has so many sociological similarities. He also identifies the perplexing differences and links them comfortably back to the American vernacular. More than anything this guide gives you a gentle insight into the ways of Australia and Australians, so you are can feel out the culture and get on better, faster.
The second part is a very serviceable dictionary of Australian terms and phrases or `your cheat sheet’, as Geller put it. The coverage of colloquial `Aussie lingo’ is useful for any intending resident, business traveller or tourist and is an amusing read too. Have a “squiz” for yourself.
Whether you are going to spend time in Australia, or you are just thinking about it, the `Americans’ Survival Guide to Australia’ is worth having on your shelf and a good read to boot.
Reviewer Jack Seddon
20th October, 2007
This book is packed with valuable and interesting information. The Australian-American dictionary is also valuable and humorous. I ran many of the terms by a few Australian friends, and they confirmed they use the terms all the time (terms that most Americans would NOT understand). All in all, this is a terrific book and well worth the price for anyone that’s traveling to or moving to Australia.
Having travelled back & forth between the U.S. and Australia for 30 years, I thought I knew my way around Down Under pretty well. However, once we decided to move over permanently, I soon realized I might as well have come from another planet!! If only we had a survival guide like this to combat the daily head scratching and keep our sense of humor alive!
If you are making the trip for the first time, planning to stay awhile or just curious about the cultural differences, this little book will open your eyes to the subtle variances that are discovered only by interesting experiences. Highly recommended for keeping you safely to the left, in harmony with the Aussie attitude of ‘no worries’ and out of socially embarrasing moments when you might say the ‘wrong’ thing! Enjoy the book and the country!!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful!
I received this as a gift before relocating to Australia, and it was very helpful. Even after living here for over 6 months, I still return to it for “translations.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Some decent information, but much is incorrect, missing, or offensive
As other reviews have found, there is useful information here, but I really rather wish I’d gone elsewhere for it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Have Guide for Expats
We are moving to Australia from the U.S. and bought this book to help prepare. It’s full of useful information- like how to use the phone, when to go shopping, etc.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Gift
This was a Christmas gift for a college girl, going “Down Under” as an exchange student. We all got a kick out of it!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book! Very informative.
I purchased this book to help us prepare for our move to Australia. It is so insightful! I have learned so much about things that I hadn’t even thought about.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of the Lot
I have travelled Down Under ten times for business, and when we learned that we would go to live there for a couple of years, I figured that we would encounter things the…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Americans’ Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary
A great guide for U.S. and Canadian citizens looking to relocate to the Southern Continent. Well written and full of information and fun facts.