Same Same but Different, 29 Nov 12

Aussies use a lot of words that Americans use, but not always with the same meaning. A couple examples:

1. Diary
My first week of work, my boss kept asking me to put things we were talking about at work in my diary. "You need to schedule meetings or coffee with these folks and get them in your diary." "At the end of the month we'll have PhD week.  All our PhD students will present over lunch, and we'll have some social occasions. It'll be a good time to figure out who you'll be advising. You'll want to put that in your diary." Now I am in favor of my boss being interested in my personal life to some extent, like helping me find a place to live. But telling me what to put in my diary seemed a bit much. And I like to think of it as a journal, anyway. Diaries are for teenage girls and come with shiny brass locks on them... right? Turns out, in Australia your calendar is your diary. So it was really all about putting things on my schedule.

2. Napkin
This week has been the PhD week which has included a variety of activities. Over lunch each day two PhD students have presented on their dissertation work. Today the dean came for the lunchtime presentations. In appearance, he reminds me of a triathlete version of Bill Nighy. He's ram-rod straight, dignified, Melbourne born and bred, and a hard core scientist. He was part of the team that invented the bionic ear. We've met a few times. (He is keeping count of how many times, I think because I didn't come to see him my first week here, as I had been instructed to do. In my defense, he was on leave.) I quite like him. I invited him to sit next to me, which he did. He had a bagel sandwich, which looked like it had the potential to be messy. So I said, "Do you want me to grab you a napkin?" As soon as those words were out of my mouth, I remembered my uncle who lived for years in Papua New Guinea saying to me, "Never say napkin. Say serviette." And I thought to myself, "Did I just offer to fetch the dean a feminine hygiene product?" This might explain the slightly longer than necessary pause before he said, "No. I'll be fine...Oh, look they gave me one with my sandwich." I thought about asking him if I had just asked him what I thought I'd asked him, but thought the better of it. I think if we hadn't been in a room full of PhD students who are supposed to think I'm venerable enough to supervise them, I probably would have. Probably good not to put a second nail in the coffin when I'm still inside my first month. Look, Dad, sometimes I DO make the right choice.