'MERICA

livin the dream

So, as those gifted with the blessing of tv and internets, yall know the US presidential election was this past tuesday (wednesday in australia).  Well, as an import from overseas I'd be damned if I didn't feel a bit patriotic.  Longing for the land of the free (debatable depending on who you talk to), I woke up and turned on the TV.  Not one, but two stations were covering the election.  'USA Voting' and 'America Chooses', I believe where the names of the program (one was a bit left, and another far right).  Anywho, during the programs, they'd show footage and clips of interviews of both candidates and the 'general public'..  which led me to understand the perception of America from the Australian point of view.  .  I've asked a number of people about their view on Americans and it's pretty much what was expected.  Wal-mart, the deep South, Hollywood, New York, rednecks, rascal scooter carrying the obese and uneducated.  (even though we did pretty well in the Olympics and just earlier this year, we landed on Mars.  BooYAh)

damn straight you can

 Well, who can blame them, after all everything portrayed in the news and imported tv shows are the only glimpse of American life available.  I understood how they felt, when I came over here, I didn't expect Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin (R.I.P.) to be strollin around, but it was all I had going for me.   (though I've only met 2 aussies that have tried surfing.. I kid you not..)  Anyways, while watching the elections, I was really surprised about how much the general public of Australia knew about American politics.  I'd bet the average Australian  would know more about US politics than an American would know about Australian politics  It was pretty impressive.  So I'm lounging around watching coverage of the elections and it cuts to the activity in Canberra (the Australian capitol).  As they were watching the elections ( i think the us ambassador is there), they had an 'American' party of sorts: red, white, and blue all around.  serving the traditional American cuisine of gumbo and hot dogs.. (but no Cheetos?).
It's quite unfortunate that the sterotypical image of the States are like this (though who doesn't appreciate gumbo?), although I know many individuals (such as yourself) who know differently.   The trick is to see this in a comical light and not take it to heart.
Hailing from California, a 3 hour drive and take you to the deserts, forests, mountains, snow, valleys, ocean, even Disneyland and Mexico (depending where you at).  not many places in this world are that diverse and these are the treasures that aren't capitalized in the media (same goes for many other states, but you get the gist.)  I'm not gonna say the US is the best country in the world (cause that's just a known fact haha/ jk), but as the most powerful country in the world, it's a nation that gets a lot of hate.  For those of you reading this (and haven't been to the States), you should check it out and i'm sure you'd enjoy it.... maybe stay a while.... and start a blog