this crazy country
Torrential rain and 'inland tsunamis' in the northeast, bushfires in the southwest and unpredictable weather in the southeast. A whole lot of nothing in the middle - mostly deserts, some mountain ranges. And yet this nothingness is home to countless species not found elsewhere and many, many clues to how the world has evolved. Everyone, welcome to Australia.
Living in Australia is an adventure. You learn to be careful with insects and other creepy-crawlies because Australia hosts some of the most venomous creatures on Earth. People drive on the left, death-defying hook turns are a way of life (at least in Melbourne) and somehow chugging a VB on the tram at 10 AM isn't looked upon unfavourably. You can spend an afternoon sedately exploring the botanical gardens, or throw yourself down the side of a mountain in search of an adrenaline rush. You learn to say "How are ya?" and not expect a reply, because that's their way of saying hello. You get your head the around cricket, plan your life around the tennis, and barrack for a team after you pick your own footy code. If you live in Victoria, chances are you will be drawn into the AFL - go Hawks! There are different words for everything - a sausage is a snag, swimmers are cossies, a sandwich is a sanga, afternoons are arvos, and Sharon is rechristened Shazza.
While you may think a session at Congress is snore-inducing, watching a meeting at Parliament will change your mind. Here, our MPs hurl colourful insults at each other during question time, in full view of the very person they are attacking - as well as the rest of the Parliament, and via the wonders of media access, the rest of the country. They're not afraid to write it down, either. In 2007 Alexander Downer called future PM KRudd shallow, cynical, immodest, mealy-mouthed, duplicitous, a boy in a bubble, a foreign policy imposter and unfit to lead the nation. Holla. Clearly, life as an Australian politician is not for the onion-skinned. And here, an entry on the vocal prowess of former PM Paul Keating. Watching question time is akin to watching children best each other at insults and witty, cutting comebacks.
The Australia I know is dizzyingly cosmopolitan. A walk through a food court yields the usual suspects - Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, burgers and fries - and then, depending on where you are, some unexpected gems. Sushi rolls galore? African food, perhaps? A baguette served by a guy who refuses to speak anything but French? A borek and some baklava? Tagine? Lamb souvlaki with tabouleh and hummus? A bratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut? Or maybe a vegan stir-fry with tempeh and brown rice? Go Aussie and have a fish and chips!
But it's not just food. Australia is a very young country built on the back of its migrants. Rather than a set of features or skin colour, I identify Australians using accents and their attitude to life. I think of Australian culture as a jumble of many different cultures, brought together by its many different peoples (including the Aboriginals, the history and fate of whom Australia still struggles with). However, at its core, Australia remains torn between clinging onto Britain and forging its own, independent destiny. It's an interesting mix.
Living in Australia is an adventure. You learn to be careful with insects and other creepy-crawlies because Australia hosts some of the most venomous creatures on Earth. People drive on the left, death-defying hook turns are a way of life (at least in Melbourne) and somehow chugging a VB on the tram at 10 AM isn't looked upon unfavourably. You can spend an afternoon sedately exploring the botanical gardens, or throw yourself down the side of a mountain in search of an adrenaline rush. You learn to say "How are ya?" and not expect a reply, because that's their way of saying hello. You get your head the around cricket, plan your life around the tennis, and barrack for a team after you pick your own footy code. If you live in Victoria, chances are you will be drawn into the AFL - go Hawks! There are different words for everything - a sausage is a snag, swimmers are cossies, a sandwich is a sanga, afternoons are arvos, and Sharon is rechristened Shazza.
While you may think a session at Congress is snore-inducing, watching a meeting at Parliament will change your mind. Here, our MPs hurl colourful insults at each other during question time, in full view of the very person they are attacking - as well as the rest of the Parliament, and via the wonders of media access, the rest of the country. They're not afraid to write it down, either. In 2007 Alexander Downer called future PM KRudd shallow, cynical, immodest, mealy-mouthed, duplicitous, a boy in a bubble, a foreign policy imposter and unfit to lead the nation. Holla. Clearly, life as an Australian politician is not for the onion-skinned. And here, an entry on the vocal prowess of former PM Paul Keating. Watching question time is akin to watching children best each other at insults and witty, cutting comebacks.
The Australia I know is dizzyingly cosmopolitan. A walk through a food court yields the usual suspects - Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, burgers and fries - and then, depending on where you are, some unexpected gems. Sushi rolls galore? African food, perhaps? A baguette served by a guy who refuses to speak anything but French? A borek and some baklava? Tagine? Lamb souvlaki with tabouleh and hummus? A bratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut? Or maybe a vegan stir-fry with tempeh and brown rice? Go Aussie and have a fish and chips!
But it's not just food. Australia is a very young country built on the back of its migrants. Rather than a set of features or skin colour, I identify Australians using accents and their attitude to life. I think of Australian culture as a jumble of many different cultures, brought together by its many different peoples (including the Aboriginals, the history and fate of whom Australia still struggles with). However, at its core, Australia remains torn between clinging onto Britain and forging its own, independent destiny. It's an interesting mix.