So many different English "languages"!

I've met lots of English speakers here, but not many from America. I've had conversations with Australians, Britons, and even South Africans. The funny thing is that even though English is the first language for all of us, we have had some trouble understanding each other at times.

A few weeks ago, the kids were outside playing and my Australian friend mentioned running inside to get her daughter a jumper because it was getting cold. I was confused, "why would she get her a dress?" I thought. I gave her a weird look, so she said "you know, a pullover." I said back "a sweater?" Yes! So I learned that in Australian you call it a jumper, in English it's a pullover, and in American it's a sweater.

Later, we were talking about other clothes. The English girl kept talking about buying vests for her daughter to wear under her clothes in the winter. The Australian said, "like a singlet?" Again, I was confused. Vests go with a suit, or are like sweaters without sleeves, right?? As for singlet, I'm thinking "onesie" like a baby wears. So I asked her, "do you mean an undershirt?" Both the Australian and English woman had no idea what I was talking about. We were trying to explain to each other and just kept getting more confuse. Finally, the English woman's husband pulled out his cell phone with internet service and used Wikipedia (something I have no understanding of!) and found pictures of what we were talking about, with the term for it in America, England and Australia! Technology is pretty cool. What they were talking about were tank-top undershirts! Of course, then, I had to tell them the slang term "wife-beater". The funniest thing is that both of them have heard of them called that!!!!

It's getting chilly so I better go put a jumper on over my vest/singlet:)!