Words we didn't know we didn't know how to spell.

Perhaps it is most fitting to post this blog entry today, on Australia Day..

I think most people in the US have a good idea that British English utilizes different letters and spellings.  Spelling with ou when we only need an o, turning around their r's and e's, and using an s instead of c.  Colour, favourite, theatre, fibre, practise, civilisation.  Here are some of the words which have come as a surprise to us over the past nine months:

Kerb instead of curb (this was the very first new word to me.  I can't help but wonder if they use the colloquialism "kerb your excitement")

Tyre (pretty sure I had seen this before but it was still a surprise to see giant TYRES signs.)

Verandah (why the h.)

Enrol and enrolment (still looks weird every time I see it.)

Oesophagus, poediatrician (oesophagus really caught us by surprise.)

Artefact (I run into this a lot at the cultural centre)

Aeroplane (this really should not have come as a surprise, but it did.)