12 February, 2004 12:48 PM
I thought I should submit an entry to Blogger Idol eventually....
Here are some excerpts from an email conversation that I had this week with a first time reader of this blog.
Reader - 'Dear Darren, I've just spent the last hour reading through your site, I found it very stimulating but I am wondering about something. Can you tell me which candidate you will be endorsing at the upcoming election?'
Darren- 'Thanks for stopping by my site and reading some of my stuff. Its always great to welcome a new reader. In regards to your question - which upcoming election were you referring to?
Reader - 'Is there more than one election? I mean the Presidential election.
Darren - 'You may not have noticed as you read my site but I tend to steer clear of American politics - I don't know much about it - I'm actually from Australia'
Reader - 'Oh Australia - I've heard it is great there. It would be quite different to Oklahoma though. Do you all dress like Steve Irwin? What is the political climate there? Who do you think the Democrats will endorse in the primaries there?'
Darren - Yes Australia is great - I love living here. I'm sure its a little different to Oklahoma, although probably more similar than you might think. The main difference is the we are not a part of the United States and America and therefore do not vote in your presidential elections.
Reader - Oh you are from THAT Australia!
Comments
Page:
Having previously had a run-in in the USA with a local who didn't know where Africa was (never mind South Africa, where I hail from), I can relate.... :)
Michelle » 12 February, 2004 5:54 PM
Yes but who are you endorsing in the election?
Luke » 13 February, 2004 12:52 AM
thanks for the laugh. almost choked on my oatmeal.
btw, what about his steve irwin question?
Bald Man » 13 February, 2004 1:23 AM
American here - let's see, I know where Australia is (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory, Western Australia - did I get all of 'em right mate?). I even know New bloody Zealand has a N. and a S. Island (not to mention all those big fearless Trout). Hokaido is the Northern most island of Japan (there are Salmon there - can you tell I fish?) Africa - yeah - know that one too. I'm pretty smart - they grow some of us here like that. Just wanted to throw a kink in the chain there - and/or be a smart ass - ha. Oh, and I don't vote - I choose, as a Christian, to remain neutral in the political arena. So, I'm not endorsing anyone either. And Vegemite is nasty, really. Pax vobiscum!
+ Alan » 13 February, 2004 1:27 AM
Crikey! Almost forgot somethin! I always did support Australia in the America's Cup - Dennis Connor was such a big baby. :^)
+ Alan » 13 February, 2004 1:29 AM
Alan
You missed Victoria and the ACT (Australian Capital Territory)
Well done though mate.
PS Vegemite is the nectar of the Gods!
We have a local TV show (Roy and HG) that ran a satirical send up of the winter olympics in Utah. Part of their show involved picking some naive American off the snowfield to do the weather report in australia using a big signboard.
They mixed up all the citys and the weather and the yanks never missed a beat. just read it all right out. Hearing a forecast of snow in Darwin (called Sydney) and pointing to places like Albury-Wodonga (incorrectly located in Tasmania) and saying it was going to be a scorcher had me rolling on the floor with laughter.
Like pointing to New York and saying it was Los Angeles and saying it was going to snow in Miami!
Tim » 13 February, 2004 3:11 AM
That's classic Tim - Victoria - aaaagggwwwww! crap! ACT - dude, is that made up? must be like our Washington, DC. I'm pretty sure I could pick out Sydney from Darwin but as for Rikitikitavi Rongo Pondo - uhh, yeah, mate - fair dinkum! ha. Peace to all the Souther Land!
+ Alan » 13 February, 2004 6:21 AM
Yeah Alan - it's a bit like Washington DC. We have mostly states and two territories (ACT and the Northern Teritorry) in Australia. The historical reason for this is that people wanted to really confuse tourists, school students, and voters in Federal elections.
Lyn » 13 February, 2004 11:24 AM
Alan is brave!
Blog on.
Bene Diction » 13 February, 2004 4:14 PM
Thanks for the laugh. Please don't hold it against us Americans. Unfortunately there are some Americans who don't even know there is a state named "West Virginia" (where I live). So much for geography!
Skywalking » 13 February, 2004 4:18 PM
Yeah well done Alan - you are the first American I have met online with any remote idea of even where Australia was. New Zealand they are even more clueless about. I dont know why. We have to figure out where stuff is in America, like Disneyworld and Disneyland are two different places, how many states the grand canyon goes through, i think its Nevada, Colorado and Utah. Washington is a state and a city etc.
Tim » 14 February, 2004 12:42 AM
Man, you finally make a post and... You made my Top 5!
timsamoff » 15 February, 2004 1:15 AM
Tim, I would guess that most Americans don't know how many states the Grand Canyon goes through, either. Darren, you will be in my Top 5, when I finally get around to posting it. Thanks for sharing that!
#Debi » 16 February, 2004 8:02 AM
American moving to Australia here! Considering i'v never been, and going off of suggestions I can't decide between Melbourne or Brisbane... so straight from the natives...how do these two places compare in your view?? (and its true, americans in general are amazingly clueless ..especially in Scottsdale, my home town)
ang » 8 September, 2004 7:51 AM
That is the funniest thing I've read in the whole of today. Darren, you were so diplomatic!
Lyn » 12 February, 2004 3:43 PM