Category: Migration Translators

While the U.S. may be the home of the blues, there are plenty of Australians appreciate the spirit of the music and plenty of them with be heading to the Byron Bay Bluesfest this coming Easter. This year is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary of the festival and the 5th anniversary of its move to its now permanent home at Tyagarah Tee Tree Farm. The name should be taken literally as most of the year, the farm is full of the gorgeous minty scent of one of Australia’s best-loved products.

There are also plenty of Eucalyptus trees in the vicinity, which means that visitors have the chance to see one of the country’s most popular icons, the koala, in the wild. The festival takes its responsibility to the environment in general and the protection of koalas in particular, very seriously and actively encourages visitors to be aware of their behaviour and its impact. The organizers see this as part of their commitment to promoting the values of co-operation and social justice, which is at the heart of blues music. Those interested in visiting Australia to take in the event (or at any other time) will probably find it most harmonious to enlist the help of a professional NAATI translator.

 

On this day, August 18^th, in 1786, the British government took the decision to reduce the notorious overcrowding in British jails by shipping convicts safely away from British soil, to Australia on the other side of the world.

The decision was a reflection of the turbulent times in Europe and specifically in the UK. Industrialization had destroyed many traditional cottage industries and led to migrant workers being forced to move to the growing cities. Those who could find work, found themselves labouring in horrific conditions, while those who couldn’t turned to crime simply to survive. This led to growing pressure on the prison service.

At the same time, the authorities had their eye on social unrest. Continental France was already showing signs of the rebelliousness which would lead to revolution in 1789. In the UK, discontentment with the march of mechanization and the use of cheaper, immigrant labour was exacerbated by food shortages leading to higher prices. These led to civil unrest and eventually formed the basis of the Luddite movement, many of the members of which would wind up in Australia. These days many Australians are proud of their convict ancestry and of being descended from people who had to undergo daily challenges just to survive. None of them enjoyed the benefits of modern travel, from fast planes to immigration translations.

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has commissioned a replica of the ill-fated Titanic, although there will be some noticeable differences between the modern version and its predecessor, starting with a far greater number of lifeboats. There will be nods to changes in lifestyles too, on the original 20 passengers had to share a bathroom, it’s unlikely this will be the situation on the replica.

Unlike the original, which was built in Ireland, the Titanic II will be made in China and then sailed to Southampton for its official launch, from where it will sail to New York. Given that it is hoped that the Titanic II will make significantly more voyages than the Titanic and that its owner is Australian, it’s entirely possible that people will have the opportunity to recreate the voyages made by the early settlers to Australia.

Just like the early settlers who went to Australia for a variety of reasons, modern travellers have many reasons to visit the country; however changes in lifestyle have changed travel in many ways and mostly they have made it much easier. For example, these days travellers can make contact with a professional NAATI translator in Australia before they even leave home.

One person’s unwanted clutter can be another person’s treasure. Sometimes it can be a society’s treasure. A case in point is the recently-discovered photos taken by digger Private George (Eric) Cherry with a basic Kodak vest camera during his spell in Gallipoli in 1915. His images of day-to-day life during the campaign contrast sharply with pictures taken in the more tranquil surroundings of Egypt. Cherry himself did not even develop the images, but fortunately kept the film, which his family later gave to Michael Lean of the Queensland University of Technology. These were then passed to the Maroochy RSL Museum where they were finally developed.

Even though the images are in black-and-white and show the grain of age and a primitive camera, they are still striking in their portrayal of day-to-day life as seen through the eyes of a front-line service man. In some the soldiers’ tension is clear, but in others people are relaxing, apparently without a care in the world.

Today many amateur photographers are eager to capture meaningful images which will send a message to posterity. Others simply want to have fun with their cameras, although even they can capture special moments. Both groups will find plenty of material in Australia which is visually extraordinary in many ways. For those needing a bit of help finding the right words, it’s best to enlist the help of an experienced NAATI translator.

Australians know how to throw a party and Sydney in particular manages to have it’s two biggest parties nicely spaced apart. New Year’s Eve, is, of course at the end of December, while Splendour in the Grass is at the end of July.

Although billed as a music festival, the joy of Splendour (or Splendour in the Grass, to give it its proper name) is that it has plenty for everyone, including children. Those taking a break from an array of international acts, can sample the delights of food stalls from fine dining out of doors to ultra-healthy options. There are craft fares and stores selling pretty much everything.

Of course, while the many festival goers can often be tempted to shop, what many of them really love to do is talk. As well as being a haven for music lovers, Splendour is a forum for everyone from those who want to put the world to rights to those who just want to talk about the weird and wonderful happenings in it. One of the wonders of Splendour is its openness and the way people find ways to communicate. For more formal communications in Australia, it’s best to hire the services of a qualified NAATI translator.

Australia’s Hugh Jackman may be one of the world’s favourite actors, but even he can upset people occasionally. While filming Wolverine in Japan, Jackman took a well-earned break to visit a spa. Unfortunately he didn’t realize that even though he was in the men-only section, he was still expected to keep covered up. After about an hour (and with the help of some sign language from another spa user) the penny finally dropped.

It’s unlikely that the incident will have made a huge dent in Jackman’s popularity in Japan, let alone elsewhere but it’s always worth making the effor to understand local sensitivities, even in relatively informal countries such as Australia. For example Australians tend to place a strong emphasis on the use of politenesses such as please and thank you and to omit them can seem rude.

 While Australians will cheerfully make jokes about friends, acquaintances and colleagues, this is only acceptable if they are present and while language between adult friends can become colourful, it is expected that it will be toned down if children are present.

 There are a surprising number of cultural standards even in Australia, but the good news is that it’s fairly easy to learn to navigate them. A professional NAATI translator will help make sure your documentation is accurate, but also conforms to these standards.

No matter where you go, there are some parts of life which are the same all over the world. Arguably one of them is the fact that while many people aspire to own their own home, the mechanics of buying and moving into one can challenge the most patient of people.

 

A lesser-known fact is that they can challenge Real Estate agents too. While houses in pristine condition may catch the attention of buyers, sometimes sellers have properties which clearly need a little TLC but which have masses of underlying potential. Queensland agent Tamara English took inspiration from a leftover fancy-dress costumed and donned her bat-wings to make buyers notice a somewhat run-down property.

 

Making no secret of the work required, English’ advert drew attention for its enthusiasm and honesty as much as for its tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a Real Estate agent as a superhero rather than the arch-villain of popular culture.

 

Tackling challenges with enthusiasm and humour is part of the Australian way of life and show itself in how they do business. Anybody considering a move abroad would be well advised to adopt the same attitude, but employing the services of a professional NAATI translator will help the process go more smoothly.

 

Australian teenager Alyssa Azar, aged only 16, is currently in full-time training to become the youngest person ever to conquer Mount Everest. She’s already been to Everest base camp twice and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

Perhaps surprisingly, Australia’s mountains tend to be relatively small, compared to those in other parts of the world, but like much of the country, they often have a unique beauty.

 

Mt Gower in NSW can only be climbed with the help of a licensed guide. This is partly to ensure that the mountain is protected and partly to ensure visitor safety, particularly on the section which is essentially a narrow trail with a sheer drop on one side.

 

Walshe’s Pyramid in QLD hosts an annual race, in which participants literally run to the top and back down again. It’s worth taking the time to go at a more sedate pace and enjoy the spectacular views.

 

Non-Australians may be very impressed if you tell them you’ve climbed Mt Kosciuszko in NSW as it’s Australia’s highest mountain. Australians are more likely to know that most of it can be climbed in the comfort of a chair life, making it the ideal mountain for those who want the views without the effort.

 

For those who prefer to minimize the effort needed to organize a trip to Australia, it helps to enlist the services of a professional NAATI translator.

Although the “gentleman’s game” of football is arguably the most popular game in the world, its spin-off, the “ruffian’s game” of rugby has plenty of followers in Australia and other countries across the globe. While the first recorded instance of an international rugby match was between England and Scotland (in 1871), nowadays national rugby teams literally travel the world to play each other.

The game was already firmly established in Australia by 1864 when the Sydney University Football Club was founded. The influence of rugby was also crucial in the forming of Australian Rules Football, credited to Tom Willis, a former pupil at Rugby School.

Australian football is played by two teams of 18 players and is similar to rugby in that handling the ball is permitted, although throwing it is not. It is arguably more tolerant of physical contact than modern football, although dangerous tackling is forbidden. It also eschews the controversial offside rule of modern mainstream football.

Australian Rules Football was formalized in Melbourne in 1859 and remains popular today. Indeed it has now spread internationally. Over 50 other countries now boast Australian Rules teams or leagues. For those interested on learning the sport in Australia (or visiting the country for any other reason) an experienced NAATI translator is sure to help.

Australia is known as being a country where people tend to be chilled out and can take a joke. Sometimes these jokes can be very creative.

 

Recently Melbourne resident Tom Overend returned from an extended holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia to find his bachelor bedroom transformed into an enchanted castle fit for a fairy princess. The pranksters were rallied via Facebook and the footage of the transformation has become an internet sensation.

 

Australia is developing a reputation for creativity. The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics were masterpieces, both in terms of imagination and in terms of managing logistics. Since then, the country has become known for creating a range of innovative marketing events, many of which have centred on beating various world records – sporting and otherwise.

 

From the World’s Longest Radio Interview (Richard Glover and Peter FitzSimons on ABC Radio, 24 Hours) to the Largest Circuit Class (Michelle Bridges, 12WBT, Melbourne, 1165 participants), Australia has innovated to create both a powerful marketing impact and a sense of fun and often of participation.

 

Many of these events have attracted international participants. Those who do wish to visit Australia to participate in one of these events (or to create one of their own) would do well to hire the services of a qualified NAATI translator.