After 10 minutes of failed search and some-what convinced Australia doesn't have ketchup, I decided to man up and ask.
"G'day, mate," said the cashier.
I said, "Do y'all have ketchup?" and got a blank look back with a "Pardon?"
That's because it's called tomato sauce here.
It wasn't culture shock, but it's pretty cool.
What's even more interesting is it comes in a package similar to individual jam and butter packaging found at restaurants, but minus the easy opening (eventually I found you grab the ends and pinch like you would with a lemon and ketchup squirts out).
Getting food is like an adventure down here, and I love it.
I even ordered Dominos online and the choices of pizzas was overwhelming. There were over 20 specialty pizzas and besides Hawaiian, Supreme and Pepporoni, everything was different.
They even had health-concious, under 400 calories pizzas, pastas and salads. And of course I didn't order from that menu!
I instead ordered cheesy garlic bread and half and half of spicy peppers and chicken, feta cheese and tomato pizza.
Though I used anecdotal examples to explain slight cultural differences, I still think it's ridicously cool when I discover these nuances.
This study abroad experience has taught me that even English is unique to its own environment.
As an aspiring journalist and writer, it was eye opening to realize there are a million ways to say the same thing.
Also, french fries are called chips (as in fish and chips), bathrooms are called toilets and trash is called rubbish here.
Calling your professor "professor" is like calling your math tutor the dean of science, footy ball is Australian version of rugby and "getting sorted out" is someone setting me straight.
I know this is part of the study abroad, and I'm enjoying every bit of this experience.
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