You know you’re not doing too badly at fitting in when…

…you’re asked for directions by tourists!

Yes it happened just a few minutes ago on my way home!

I’d just turned the corner into my street when a man walking with a woman called out with an American accent.

“Excuse me, do you speak English?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell us where the metro is?”

I turned and pointed.

“Straight down there, turn left and then cross the road at the first pedestrian crossing and it’s right there in front of you.”

“Thanks man. By the way, you’re English is great!”

Well, there you go! My English is great!! Just as well he hadn’t asked me in Danish…

A point about this post. Firstly, I’ve had a bit of ribbing at work about my accent, or the lack thereof. Much to everyone’s disgust, I don’t sound like Steve Irwin or Paul Hogan. That’s a big disappointment and I feel very much like I’ve let the side down. A couple of introductory conversations have gone like this:

“Oh, you’re Australian!”

“Yes, I am.

“How long have you been here?”

“I’ve been here just over three weeks.”

Frowning, disapproving look.

“You don’t sound Australian.”

…Walks off.


Or, looking very perplexed, an English girl.

“You don’t sound Australian at all. You sound like a posh Englishman.”

No I don’t!!!!!!!!!

Crikey, I would just like to point out that not every Australian sounds like Steve Irwin did. Nor does every New Zealander. Well, I guess they wouldn’t because he was Australian, but you know what I mean.

The truth is, well, I don’t know what the truth is, but Australian accents do vary a bit, especially the further north you go and perhaps less so, the further south.

I think, in the end, most people end up with a neutral accent – neither broadly Australian or English.

It also seems to be an accent that’s lost quite easily. The only expat I can think of who has really held onto it is Olivia Newton-John. Kylie Minogue sounds quite English now (some would say thankfully!) and look at Crown Princess Mary… She went from neutral (or southern Australian) to speaking English with a Danish accent, then back to Australian and then onto a posher, British-esque style accent in a matter of months! It must have all just been too much but at least Frederik clings to every word she says and I guess that’s the important thing.

Now if you *really* want to hear a Melbourne accent, from the area equivalent to, say, Hellerup here in Copenhagen, here's your chance You can also here the antithesis by going further into the site...