To truly become Australian, you need an operation - it's a joke
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (375613)
Rockingham, Australia
January 29, 2026 6:45pm CST
We were in the chemist’s the other day. The pharmacist on duty is Indian and the assistant is from the Philippines. It was the day after Australia Day so we were chatting about that. It's a traditional day for naturalisation ceremonies where those from other countries pledge their alliance to Australia.
The Indian has become an Australian citizen a few years earlier and we jokingly said ‘so you’ve had the operation’. Neither lady understood the joke which was fair enough. It’s a joke against ourselves, meaning when you become an Australian, you need to have half your brain removed before you can truly fit in. You’ll speak slower and will be a bit thick. 
It reminded me that sometimes I might need to explain my jokes or remarks as not everyone will ‘get’ them.
A last photo of mine from Thailand showing work on installing a water supply from a mountain area to a Karen village.
It reminded me that sometimes I might need to explain my jokes or remarks as not everyone will ‘get’ them.
A last photo of mine from Thailand showing work on installing a water supply from a mountain area to a Karen village.16 people like this
15 responses
@snowy22315 (205172)
• United States
30 Jan
@JudyEv Thanks, I'll remember that for an answer in Jeopardy.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (170602)
• United States
30 Jan
Dad used to say that Australians had to teach their ears to walk since they were upside down. 
Oh, your photo didn't show up... 
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (170602)
• United States
30 Jan
@JudyEv 
Yes, the photo is there now. 
You didn't show me that photo but another Australian has shown it to me before.
Yes, the photo is there now.
You didn't show me that photo but another Australian has shown it to me before. 1 person likes this
@toniganzon (75543)
• Philippines
30 Jan
I got the joke without you having to explain it. lol
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (131814)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jan
Local jokes often need explained to others.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (375613)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan
Loretta spelt it 'Kayan' but I've never seen it as anything but 'Karen'. It's funny that the first name Karen has taken on this trait. I wonder how that came about. Any Australian woman can be a 'Sheila' and the men are often 'Bruce'.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (84365)
• United States
31 Jan
Maybe that’s what we should say to people who move to Kentucky! It’s also that thought that “we can pick on ourselves, but don’t YOU dare!” 1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95743)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Jan
It makes me so sad to see how the Australian actor Paul Hogan has aged, I love the Australian scenes in Crocodile Dundee,
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28056)
• Singapore
30 Jan
Yeah, one needs to immerse in the culture too to understand the jokes and the context.
I know how different is the British accent from Australian.
My British colleague used to tease me with his cockney style of speaking which did not sound English to me!
I recall the idiom "America and Britain: Separated by a Common Language"!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (217402)
• United States
30 Jan
It's funny how we all have our own "inside" jokes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (375613)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan
If you remove part of someone's brain, they become less intelligent so you become more like an Australian. It's saying we're more dumb but it's just a joke.
