‘I’m an American and I was called ‘offensive’ for using this common word in Australia’

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere abroad then you know there are different rules and regulations you have to follow.
Let alone having to learn a new language or pick up on the local lingo.
But one person who moved from America to Australia had learnt the hard way.
Emily Tollefson, who is originally from Minnesota, moved to Sydney and has been living there for two years.
However, she was shocked after an Aussie friend told Emily she had been using a word that “offends all Australians.”
READ MORE: Travel expert discusses the secret to avoiding getting stuck in long airport queues

“Australians, I need you to tell me the truth right now,” she began.
She was shocked when an Aussie friend revealed that Emily committed the ultimate faux pas by referring to the man she was seeing as ‘champ’.
She said: “Last night, my Australian best friend and I were talking about words that are offensive in Australia that might not be offensive in America and vice versa.
“I’ve been seeing this guy for a while and I sent him a text that might have offended him.”
So what was the word in question?
She continued: “He’d been out drinking the night before so I sent him a message in the morning saying, ‘How are you feeling, champ?’.
“She told me that the word ‘champ’ is wildly offensive in Australia – and I thought she was taking the p**s.”
Emily then explained to her the word was a friendly term and was like “buddy”, “pal”, or “mate.”
Despite, Emily thinking she was being friendly the guy from Australia gave her a blunt response and said: “Please don’t call me that.”
She added: “In my American brain, I thought that was fine. Some guys don’t like to be called ‘champ’, ‘mate’, or ‘buddy’ by girls they’re seeing.
“I told my best friend this story and she told me that ‘champ’ was very offensive in Australia – but that’s not how I meant it.”

People weighed in on the faux pas she made and the meaning behind it.
One person explained: “Try being a bloke calling another bloke ‘champ’ at a pub. It’s a term used for kids and when you use it on another adult you’re undermining them.”
Another wrote: “Champ, chief, captain, pal, sport, and tiger are all seen as derogatory.”
A third said: “If you call a little kid “champ” it’s fine. If you call an adult “champ” you are being super patronising and picking a fight.”
However, some people jumped to Emily’s defence over the term and her being unaware.
One person wrote: “It’s not offensive. Some people are just offended by everything. Toughen up, cupcake.”
A second commented: “You friend is lieing. I use champ often. EG ‘G’day champ’.”
Another added: “I’m Aussie and today’s year old, when I learn champ is an offensive word!! I’ve been living under a rock it appears.”