Day 12 (LaTrobe University) - Bendigo, Victoria Australia

They told us it would happen while abroad, and last night I encouraged it: What do Aussies really think of the US? It was a friendly debate/discussion that lasted about three hours. Of course we had to go over the basics, "How do you pronounce _______?" "I have no idea what you are saying, what is that word, what does that mean?" Always a fun conversation to have while visiting a foreign country. What I gathered at the end of the day is that Australian students don't like how "Americanized" Australia is, with television, fashion, and politics. I also got asked the Obama question: What do you think of Obama? My usual response: "I'm not interested in politics."T hen I switch the topic and ask their opinion of K-Rudd (Kevin Rudd) the Australian Prime Minister. It's interesting because this is an election year for Oz. And it's against the law here to NOT vote, so if you're over the age 18 you will be fined or put in jail if you don't vote. I asked if Australians hate America, and then general response is that they love America, just not how America is the supreme power in the world, because when our economy tanks they feel the ripple. They also like to joke about me having a gun or knife that I'm going to use on them if I get angry…

Even though there a bunch of American television shows are aired here, most students I talked to prefer British shows and British comedy, saying American comedy is crap (I just assume that they prefer British things because Australians are closely related to British people). Health care came up, and I was immediately told how America's health care system is the worst in the world and they can't believe that we don't have universal health care for all people, being the supreme power in the land. I didn't know how to respond, if I didn't/couldn't give a response to comments about the US I usually responded with, "Well, it doesn't matter because we have the bigger bombs." (jokingly of course…but it's true…) Whenever I discussed how Australians use words versus how Americans use them, of course the American way is always wrong, and, "Why would you do it that way? That's just silly." I'm sure it's the same with any foreigner in any country. The place you're visiting always does and says everything the RIGHT way, while you - the visitor - is always wrong, and your country does everything backwards and the wrong way. Of course the conversation ended with a discussion about sports.I was informed that American football (called gridiron in Australia) is cheap because players wear pads, where in the AFL - the Australian Football League aka Footy - the players don't wear any protection. I had to explain that the games are played differently, thus requiring different forms of equipment to be used. After watching footy I agreed that gridiron is slow, and that footy is more interesting to watch.

Most common comments I hear when I meet someone new: After I speak I get, "Do you have an accent?" My response: "No, you have the accent." Next comment, "Oh you're from America, you know the drinking age here is 18." Really? I must have missed that…sarcastically of course.

Cool Res Life Program: For on campus residents, there is a program called the "text book buying scheme," where three students that need a textbook for the same class can get together, go to Ressie Services, and inform a faculty member. Then the Res Life office purchases the books and allow the students to borrow them for the year, returning them at the end.

Lingo Learned:
Chewy = Gum
Cheers = Thanks
Gridiron = American Football

PS
There are no Wendys or Taco Bells here