Music: new Yeah Yeah Yeahs cd. (two extremely enthusiastic thumbs up)
Alright, so there are many funny little quirks regarding our Australian sister that us Canadians may find amusing. These may or may not include: bowls clubs, pokies, calling everyone mate, eating lots of lamb, these weird huge statues that are all around AU, kangaroos, lethal waters, lethal spiders and snakes, shortening every word in their dictionary, calling a pharmacist a chemist, thinking 12 degrees is cold, having 50 cent coins that could hurt a small child if thrown at one, and other such things.
Another thing that i find quite funny is how patriotic Australians are. They fall in different levels of patriotism. First is their State. They looooove the State they come from (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia.. just to name.. half of them). More specifically, Queenslanders (Brisbane, the Sunshine coast, Gold Coast, Cairns…) absolutely DESPISE New South Wales (think Sydney…). A common joke is that if a QLD team doesn’t win, then it better be any team, other than NSW.
Next they love their side of the country… therefore, poor old West coast Perth gets teased for being on the other side of Australia, nicknamed “Perthlings” as well as told they might as well be another country. Harsh. I would never say that about lil P.E.I.
Thirdly, they love their Country! Americans suck, the UK sucks, New Zealand… oh lord, don’t get me started on what they have to say about Kiwis… and Canada… well.. no one cares about Canada. (“You’re from Toronto? Is that near Whistler?” True story.)
Lastly, they are proud Anzacs. If the situation were to arise… say, in the Commonwealth games, or other instances where Aussies lose at some sport, but the Kiwis are left to beat the British at some lame game, like Cricket (have you looked into this sport?!?! It is absolutely ridiculous and makes Baseball look as fast paced as speed skating), they will stand by their sister Southern Hemisphere country….but only then. (I’m sure it would then follow them being proud Commonwealthers… as long as they’re better than America…)
I was requested today to partake in one of the most Australian things i could do (and, I quote, “have to do”) while being here. If I want to experience true Aussie “culture”, I would definitely, 100%, have to attend STATE OF ORIGIN!!!!
Most people are like… what? State of Origin? What does that mean?
Well, Aussies love their Rugby…or Footy, as they call it… and they love their teams, and they hate other teams. Their teams validate their City, their State as being the best in Australia. But wait! What if players on a Sydney team were actually born and raised in Queensland? Not Fair!!!
Solution: State of Origin. (I’m not actually sure if that’s how the dilemma/solution situation went exactly… but i’m sure it was something along those lines).
So, Queensland and NSW call back their best players, no matter what team they currently play for, for a best out of three games, to determine who the better state is. Qld vs. NSW; the Maroons vs. the Blues; the Cane Toads vs. the Cockroaches.
My dear friend Tamara calls me up with a complete schedule for us and a few others going down to Sydney for one night of mayhem and of course, game 2 of State of Origin.
“Alright. I’m in.” Me.
“Yaaah! We’re going to Sydney!” Tam
“Nice! Which team are we going for?” Me.
Short angry silence.
“Queensland, Lindzy!! The Maroons!!” (they pronounce Maroon, Ma-roh-n here… put that on the list) “Only the best team ev-ah! The best state! You’re gonna see what it’s like to be at a NSWs home game and WIN. Qld is gonna KICK NSWs ASS!!!”
My sweet little Tamara suddenly turns into a savage beast.
“Well, i’m a little frightened of being at such a highly competitive game–”
“Whatever man, I was at the game last year, and got a beer poured on me, and i took it like a man. And you will TOO. When QLd wins and NSW supporters are pissed at us for being AWESOME and beating them…”
You get the point… and all of this from a “young lady”…
There you have it… just trying to blend in with the crowd… learn a little culture… do as they do…
Man… remember the days when “learning the culture” included Ikebana classes (flower placement), tea ceremonies, bowing, and eating different foods? Time to bring my macho…
Queensland ruuuuless!!!! GGgggrrrrrr!!!!
