KEY POINTS:
The term Jafa has been exported to London - where it is being used not for Aucklanders, but Australians.
Aussies on their OE or backpacking in Europe have won themselves a hard-drinking and, some would say, arrogant reputation.
This has led to the not-so-complimentary label - traditionally standing for "Just another f***** Aucklander" - beening passed on to our Transtasman friends.
Travel blogger Ben Groundwater broke this news to Australians back home in a post for the Sydney Morning Herald this week, saying: "Try the old 'g'day' line at a pub in London now, and at best you'll get a roll of the eyes, at worst a 'p*** off jafa'."
He said Australians were the "new Yanks", referring to the perception of arrogant American tourists who think everything is better at home.
He added: " Australians are almost a comedy piece. People in Aussie-populated pubs will scream out "Aussie Aussie Aussie" just to have a chuckle at the inevitable slurred cries of "Oi oi oi!" from the bloke in the Wallabies jersey who would treat it as a sign of disrespect if you didn't answer the call."
The blog has received hundreds of replies, many agreeing that their countrymen and women are not doing themselves any favours with their behaviour.
Kat said: "Sadly I don't think it's just Aussies overseas, i think it's Aussies -wherever they are - that are being embarrassing. Whether it's at the Big Day Out or Bali, it's the same."
Others, like John, blamed the right-wing policies of the Howard government. He said: "The problem is that the current generation of backpackers has grown up learning that the rest of the world is an inferior lot, to be locked up in camps. How can young Australians be expected to respect overseas people when their government and parents (who voted for the government) don't?"
But Benny said New Zealanders were not without their rogue element: "Some of the biggest knobs I've met were Kiwis and some of the nicest people American, so there are exceptions to every 'rule'."
- NZHERALD STAFF
