i know everything there is to know about australia

Seeing as we've been, somewhat freely, giving our impressions of other countries, what do ya'll (by which I mean Americans, obviously) and you all think about the UK and British people? Don't hold back (within the parameters of the law and the hallowed mylot guidelines of course).

I know, Australian girls turn into mermaids when they're in contact with water! Especially when there's a full moon! Amazing the things you can learn on Disney channel ... I like stereotypes. I think it's important to try to live up to them, except of course when it comes to horned helmets. Everyone knows that the Vikings didn't wear horned helmets. The Kelts had some, the Vikings ate fly agaric and washed regularly (unlike the rest of Europe at that point). So, where do I get my stereotypes from? Some I shared a kitchen with when I was studying in Vienna. Drunken Scottish holigans, prissy Brits, drunken silent Finns, drunken and slightly pervert Eastern Europeans with bad hair and weird clothes. Some are on the telly, especially when there's an election in the US. Some pass through town every summer on their way to Nordkapp and the far north of Europe. Most of them are German and loud, but not so loud as the Americans. Then of course it's the blonde girls I tried to teach how to use a computer in physics lab *sigh* Yes, computers tend to work better when you turn them on. Using the button marked ON. Books can be helpful to. Xenophobe's guide to this and that, We Europeans, Analyzing the English (I think it was called that), the sad life and history of the Norwegian people. The later is not translated, which really is a pity for the rest of the world. If you could read that, you'd never have to wonder why we turned out the way we did.

There is not enough that one can know about a people or a geography - even where one was born in and/or has spent a major portion of her/his/its life. Countries, customs, peoples' are a complex set and understanding the subtleties of each area is next to impossible. Also, please bear in mind that what one sees on a TV soap of an area and culture is from the producers perspective based on the producers knowledge which could be flawed and often incomplete. With regards to the Aussies, I know of many that are obese, and old and of course very very rude people. My opinion of the Aussies is poor and n friendly - suffice to say is that you Brits dumped your dirt there a few generations ago. The dirt has not yet been fully cleansed out and has percolated down to the current generations to some extent. Breeding or lack of it shows quite clearly among its people.

I learned about Germans from living in Germany and from my in-laws.

Sorry that I cannot respond as I cannot think of a sensible thing to say. I am not witty, vivacious or dynamic today, blue bunny but I suppose I could say that I learned about JA by living here. Definitely different than coming here on vacation - which is what I did before I married.

Sarah Palin knows all about foreign policy, because she is from Alaska and you can see Russia from there. Well, actually you can't see it from where she lived, but that is just a detail. Personally, I am an expert in the culture and economics of Mexico. I have been to Laredo, and Mexico is just across the river. I have also been to El Paso, so my credentials are solid.

I have learned about foreign countries through books, television, the Internet and personal experience when I have been traveling to the different countries. When I was 18 years old I traveled around Europe by train. On it I met my Australian friend and she told me lots more about Australia. Then I traveled to Australia when I was 20 years old as part of my trip around the world. I loved seeing the stunning looking landscape, the interesting cities, the unique wildlife and the friendly people. I adored seeing the opera house and the harbor bridge in Sydney. It was amazing to go to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. I loved snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was very exciting to go to Kakadu National Park where there were crocodiles, a waterfall and aboriginal drawings. When I was 28 years old I went on another trip to Australia, that time to Western Australia. I traveled south and then north from the city of Perth. Last summer I traveled to Cape Town and the Garden Route in South Africa. On that trip I visited a poor town ship so I saw the real picture of that region of Africa. This summer I traveled to Vancouver and other places in British Columbia. When I was in Palm Beach which is close to Sydney I met the Home and Away cast: Shane, Angel and Alf.

I learned everything there is to know about the UK from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Twiggy, from watching Br. Bean, Monty Pyhton and big, flashy royal weddings. What else could there possibly be?

As you are a Neighbours fan, (Sorry, CLOSET Neighbours Fan) you might be impressed to learn that I have been to this famous street where the show is filmed. It only has about 4 or 6 houses in it and is only used for the outside shots of their homes. I was always under the impression from watching the show that the street was longer, but they must use another street for those long shots looking down the street. All the people who own the homes have their gardens maintained for them, but they do have to put up with the constant stream of tourist buses and people in cars who visit the street just as I did many years ago. There are also the hoons in cars that like to do burnouts in their cars in the street so that they can leave their mark on TV screens around the world. They have security that patrol the street, but they are not there at all times. Similarly to your thoughts about Australia, many Americans know all there is to know about Australia from watching Crocidile Dundee! I was surprised and quite relieved when I visited Scotland that not all the men there wear kilts! This was a great relief as white hairy legs can be very scary to look at! Way more scarier than the Loch Ness Monster!

I try not to base my opinions of other countries and cultures on movies because the information is always so wrong. Like for example, the movie Hostal they made a few years back if people believed that then every foreigner would be scared to travel to Europe of fears of being kidnapped and tortured by rich people for fun. I do have to admit there is a show I watch that is right now based out of India and if this show is accurate then man India is one wild spot to live. The show I watch is called Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads. The show is based on Canadian and American truck drivers who deliver freight on some of the world's most dangerous ice roads in Alaska. Well this season 4 of the drivers are in New Dehli and driving in the Himaylain mountains and the drivers up there crazy. I mean these guys will pass you on a blind corner when your 2,000 or 3,000 feet in the mountains on roads prone to avalaches and only one car length wide. It this show is true then I don't want to go there. That's why we should not base our opinions off what we read or see. Only when we actually get to experience these foreign countries will we then be allowed to make a inform opinion.