Originally published on Shut Up and Go. July 20, 2017

To every non-Australian out there – let’s play a game. What is the first thing you think of when you see this word – Australia. 

Done? 

If you thought of anything besides Steve Irwin, the H20 mermaids from Nickelodeon, or Love Island Australia – missy girl, you’re lying.

So, if you want to know more about going to ‘Straya, here is what you can’t find on Google.

1. The Aussie accent is just as hot as you’d expect. 

Get used to it. Or don’t and just accept that you’ll be swooning 24/7.

2. You will attend an Aussie Rules game, have no idea what is happening, but love it all at the same time.

Welcome to Aussie Rules Football! Didn’t know Australia had their own sport? Welcome. The point of the game is to kick the ball between these very, Quidditch-esq posts. After watching two minutes of this, it is easy to tell why the rest of the world thinks the NFL is boring AF (sorry, dad).

This game is absolutely wild. In Aussie Rules the players are not only allowed, but encouraged, to jump off each other’s backs with zero padding on. 

Did I mention that there are both men’s and women’s professional teams? *cries with tears of feminism *

3. Heaps, Keen, Reckon

Australians’ favorite words! You will pick up on these and then come back home, say them, and no one will know what you’re talking about!

Heaps: a lot 
Keen: wanting to do something 
Reckon: To think

You can be heaps excited. You can be keen. You can be heaps keen. You can reckon that you’re heaps keen.

4. Australians shorten everything

Let’s be honest, “Australian” should be a Duolingo language. But in short, well they shorten every word. Breakfast- brekky. Avocado- Avo. Afternoon- Arvo.

You get the idea.

5. You really can’t beat the coffee

It will be hard to come back and drink the coffee in “The States” after having it here. 

Pro tip: if you want a very unexpected, yet pleasant surprise, order an iced coffee. It’s coffee… but with ice cream.

6. Goon 

You will drink it, you will love it, all the while simultaneously hating it. If you have any idea where this name originated from, please let us know. A bottle of liquor goes for an average of like, 40 AUD, so you can guess why people defer to Goon.

Goon is cheap boxed wine and it is indeed the drink of choice at house parties. 

7. Everything wants to kill you

Things you probably knew were dangerous: spiders, snakes, and crocodiles.
Things you probably didn’t know were dangerous: paralyzing and blinding plants? @Australia, you’re wild

8. Program expenses

Yes, Australia is probably going to be your university’s most expensive study abroad program. But you know what that means?

LOANS LOANS LOANS

If you read that in the rhythm of, “Shots” by LMFAO you’re doing it right.