31 Years Ago Today, I Landed in Australia… And Everything Changed

If you’d told me in 1994 that this Canadian girl would one day feel completely at home in Australia, I might have laughed through my tears at the airport. Stepping on to the plane in Toronto, I was a swirl of emotions—excited for a new life, sad to leave my family and friends, nervous about starting over, and hopeful that this adventure would be everything I dreamed of. As the plane lifted off, I watched the ground disappear with tears in my eyes, saying goodbye to my old life and hello to my new one.

It took a while to find my feet and carve out my little place in this whole new world. Settling into a new country isn’t just about learning the roads or customs—it’s also about learning the language, and in Australia, that can be a challenge of its own.

It wasn’t long before I discovered that Aussie English comes with its own dictionary—and plenty of laughs. Language is often the first bridge to belonging, but in Australia, it comes with a twist called rhyming slang, which left me completely baffled.

Someone would say, “Let’s hit the frog and toad,” and I’d pause, scanning for amphibians before realising they just meant the road. Someone else told me to “grab the dog and bone and give us a bell,” and I wondered why I needed a pet and a bone before learning they simply wanted a phone call.

At first, these phrases made me feel like an outsider, always a step behind in conversation. But over time, I started to catch on—not just to the words, but to the easy humour and warmth behind them. Learning the slang wasn’t just about language; it was about finding a way to connect, to laugh at myself, and to slowly feel like I belonged.

What started as confusion soon became a reminder that belonging is less about getting every word right and more about embracing the spirit behind them. That lesson has stayed with me: fitting in often means being willing to laugh, learn, and stay open to new ways of connecting.

Over the last 31 years, I have built a wonderful life. Yes, I still miss my family and friends back in Canada, but I am a proud Aussie who loves this country immensely—and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.