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The Un-Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie - Oi, Oi, Oi!

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Friday, 25 January 2013

The Un-Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie - Oi, Oi, Oi!


It's Australia Day. 

I've always had funny feelings about today. You can read more about that here.

Adding to those feelings is a belief that the way we celebrate is somewhat in-congruent with our multi-cultural make-up. On average we take in 170,000 migrants each year from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, China, Phillipines, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Thailand, Indonesia, United States, Afganistan, Iran, Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, Burma and Bangladesh (source). But I am yet to see any of these cultural influences reflected in mainstream media. The stereotypes abound. We see images of people going to the beach wrapped in Australian flags, drinking beer, throwing 'shrimp' on the barbie, wearing thongs and budgie smugglers and calling each other 'mate' or as some would say 'maaaaaattte'.


Image source

It makes me think about how well I fit the stereotype.

Going to the beach. Yes it's a beautiful place and I don't mind it for a few hours a few times each summer, but beyond that I am not all that fussed. I bear the complexion of my English ancestors and look more at home walking down Oxford Street in London than sunning myself on a beach 'Down Under'. I can light up a dark street at night and one of my nicknames in primary school was 'Casper the Friendly Ghost'. What does this mean? I burn within 15 minutes, I go bright red before peeling and once again turning a translucent shade of pale. I also don't like being pummelled by waves and getting sand up my crack. Just sayin'.
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Moving onto beer. Not a fan. It's yeasty, makes me feel bloaty. About the only time I enjoy a beer is when I go to the pub with friends and I buy myself a Mexican Corona with a wedge of lime before switching to my usual New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc. Epic patriotic fail. I know.

BBQ's. Yes I love a good barbie as much as the next Aussie, but throwing shrimp on? For my American followers, we don't call them shrimp, we call them prawns and very rarely do I or any of my friends throw a prawn at our barbie. It's a treat, but generally not a staple. Thanks for that misconception 1984 Paul Hogan 'Çroc Hunter' Tourism propaganda, oops I mean promotion.



Thongs. Yes I wear thongs, but only at home from the back door to the clothes line or down to the veggie patch to pick some tomatoes. They are daggy peeps and adding bling or overpaying for a pair of Havianna's that look like the thongs from the $2 shop really doesn't change that - in my humble opinion.

Image source
Budgy smugglers. For the record, I don't wear them and if my husband did he would be promptly issued with divorce papers. That is all I have to say about that.

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Oh and if you hear me call you mate, it's only because I have forgotten your name. It fits in the same category as 'love', 'darl' and 'sweetie'. So yeah, I rarely say it maaaattte!

So what's planned for the day? Not much. I might take my boy down to the local Saltwater Freshwater Festival and have a look around. I would like to eat some fresh damper with golden syrup, another sweet Australian tradition, but I have a wheat intolerance so I won't be doing that. I am what Aussie's call a big fat wowser!

Happy Australia Day everyone!

Labels:

posted by Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye @ 21:06   8 Comments

8 Comments:

At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger Anne @ Domesblissity said...

LOL Great post Bree. I hear you on all counts. The last time I 'celebrated' Australia Day was about 23 years ago when I was boozing it up at some pub with some kind of insect or amphibian race on. Its just been a long weekend to me for such a long time. Since the kids have been born, it has been a time to remember how this great country began and maybe some pikelets or lamingtons will be made but that's it. Don't get me started on those $2 shops flogging all the Australian flag thongs, tea towels, blow up thongs, toothpick flags etc etc. Gets on my goat! Happy Australia Day! (*wink*)

Anne xx

 
At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger Anne @ Domesblissity said...

Oh, and I think my beer of choice at the time was Stella Artois! LOL

xx

 
At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger RACHEL TaoOfPoop said...

"Budgy Snugglers"? That's a new one for me! From the look of the picture, I quite agree with you on that one. I do enjoy a cold one though.

 
At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Budgy smugglers as in you could sneak your budgy (bird) out in one. Lol

 
At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

What no Fosters?

 
At Saturday, 26 January, 2013 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

*Wink* to you too!

 
At Sunday, 27 January, 2013 , Anonymous Gourmet Getaways said...

Hi Bree,
I enjoyed your story and I have to agree on all counts. Even though I do like a barbie on the beach (on any day, not just Australia Day) and I don't mind a beer from time to time.
Why does the media enjoy portraying us this very unaustralian manner?
I am pleased I stabled across your site. I would love it if you added your story to my Australia Day linky.

 
At Sunday, 27 January, 2013 , Blogger Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

Thanks for coming by. I have linked up on your blog. Thanks for having me - also following on FB and Twitter.

 

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