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Labor Day. Americans have been enjoying a day off of work on the first Monday of September since the 1880s. (Yes, I googled that; I don’t actually know relevant historical facts like that. My brain reserves most knowledge of random facts for Madonna trivia, song lyrics and definitions of words like portmanteau) But, there will be no Labor Day for us – not this year anyway. Instead, Justin and I are going to spread our usual two-day non-laborious activity over the course of three days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Holla! The reason: it’s Show Day on the Gold Coast. Basically, the Gold Coast Show is like a county fair of some sort. All I can think of is the horrible jingle from the Alachua County fair ads. We’re going to the fair…the Alachua County Fair…. (I know the Gainesvegas and Jaxvillian people feel me on this.)
Anywho, whatever, it’s a day off! I’m not sure if we’ll go to the Gold Coast Show. On one hand, I feel we should at least check it out to feel more at one with our new community. On the other hand, the event description is a little too 4-H for me – Australian Rodeo, Homecraft & Visual Art Displays, Woodchopping championships (well, that could be interesting…an Aussie Paul Bunyan?) and Horse events-Showjumping and Dressage. I didn’t know horses needed to get dressed. I bet they shop at Gap.
Oh, speaking of horses (now, I don’t get to say that too often), Australia is experiencing it’s FIRST-EVER outbreak of Equine Flu. I think Australia has some of the toughest quarantine rules in the world, in effect to prevent situations like this as the economy is set to lose millions of billions. The situation has left all the gamblers rushing to think of what to bet their money on now. I could pay down my mortgage…No, give me $50 that Britney Spears gets pulled over again this week. Put $20 on Brangelina adopting a new kid in the next 30 days – a girl. Hmm, I’ve got $5 on it.
Gold Coast – Tuesday evening, August 28, 2007:
If you are planning to visit Australia, I can give you some advice. Mate is a noun, not a verb. Try not to laugh (too loudly) when you hear mothers yelling to their kids, “Put on your rubbers!” – rubbers are flip flops. Australian currency includes $1 and $2 coins, so don’t be so quick to throw away your change. And, pumpkin is good. The list goes on….
But, for the most useful advice, I have just two words:
While the rest of the world seems to know a great deal about America, it seems Americans know very little about the rest of the world. Sad, I suppose. I’m amazed/excited/confused everyday by things I learn about Australia and other countries and cultures. It’s eye-opening to see news broadcasts from Germany, South America, Eastern Europe (yeah, sometimes they do take rugby and football off the tele! haha!) Is it that most Americans don’t care about what’s going on around them? I don’t think so. Or, maybe it’s that they think ignorance is bliss. Maybe. Meanwhile, there seems to be little surprise about the way America and the American people think/operate. In Australia, they watch U.S. tv shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Big Love, Law & Order), listen to U.S. bands, follow U.S. trends (albeit, a season or two behind) and what’s more, they seem to know the same amount – if not more!- about U.S. politics compared to someone who actually lives in the U.S. I’m not sure what to make of this, but it makes me kind of sad. How can people go on all their life without thinking and learning about how the rest of the world works?
On another note, I admire the Australians pride in just being Australian – eating and buying and doing all things Australian. Their bananas, their wine, their cheese, their rugs, their coffee, their sports…all made in Australia. There’s a sense of doing things for the greater good of the country. When there is a story on the news about obesity, for example, the report explains how obesity is “costing the nation” X billion of dollars each year. They discuss ways cities, schools, etc… can help the situation. Usually, when I hear a similar report in the U.S., it’s reported as a problem that will cause “a person” early diabetes, high blood pressure – the problem affects YOU; there’s no mention of how it affects the entire society. In America, while there is also pride in being American, I think it’s overshadowed by ego at times. It’s me, me, me – I got mine, now you go get yours. But, to quote Eminem, “America, you know I love you.”
PS – I picked up the new Common album, Finding Forever. He rocks, er, raps, but rocks too! His lyrics are true hip-hop and poetry at the same time. “I wanna be like Akeelah, an achieva” “She was the type to watch Oprah and The Today Show/Be on the treadmill like OK Go” “Love is not a mystery, it’s everything“
Go check it out for yourself here. Listen to track 4, Drivin’ Me Wild , which features Lily Allen.
Most recent Hollabacks!