Those of you who have been following my column know that Australia has played a rather pivotal role in my life. I was just 18 years old, practically prepubescent, when I first made the trek Down Under through the National FFA Organization's Work Experience Abroad program. Having never been away from home before, I had no idea what to expect when I first arrived on my Australian host family's dairy farm.
In Andrew's words, "Here was this scared young American, not really sure about what he'd gotten himself into." Indeed, it was not long before I developed a close friendship with my host brother Andrew, who is only a few years my senior, and his lovely wife Belinda-Ann. What started nine years ago as a chance placement thousands of miles from home has developed into a lifelong friendship.
Over the years and subsequent visits to Australia, my friendship with the Burgoine family has only gotten stronger. Andrew and I developed our own joke: I would ask when he was planning on finally coming to visit me in the United States. He would quickly reply, "We'll come up for your wedding"; probably thinking that it would never happen. Well, friends, lo and behold, just last Christmas I got engaged. As my wife-to-be and I planned on an August wedding, I rang up Andrew in Australia. "Hey, buddy!" I announced to the voice on the other end, "Time to pack your bags!" Within weeks, Andrew and Belinda-Ann had tickets booked for a visit to the USA.
I have written many columns on what it feels like to be an American visiting other parts of the world. This week and next, I would like to turn the tables a bit - time to iterate what it is like to be an Australian visiting America! After all, there are countless things that we take for granted, things that make the Fruited Plain so uniquely American, that sometimes it takes a foreigner's eyes to point them out. For the remainder of this article, I will introduce a subject and then talk about it through an outsider's view.
On places to visit in America. Surprisingly, the number-one city to visit, from an outsider's point of view, is not New York City, Washington, D.C., or even Gary, Ind. Every Australian I ever spoke to has expressed a profound desire to rock up in Vegas, and was shocked to learn that I have never actually been there. For some reason, Las Vegas is the number-one destination, and Andrew and Belinda-Ann were no exception. Of course, they also visited the Grand Canyon; thankfully, it is close.
On American cuisine. As I drove to Madison to pick up my Australian friends from the airport, I wondered where I could take them for supper? What would be an appropriate destination - one that truly captures the American spirit of fine, authentic dining? Folks, there could only be one place, and as we pulled into the parking lot of the Outback Steakhouse, I can assure you that Andrew and Belinda were more than amused. The Outback's wait staff was equally amused, having never actually heard an authentic Australian accent before. We even got to meet the manager! The food was good, but as Andrew pointed out, "You Americans have a tendency to undercook things - how can you eat your steak raw?" We all had a laugh over the "Aussie-Tizers", especially the 'Bloomin Onion' - Australians don't eat onions, especially these "deep-fried things," as Andrew explained. Interestingly, the steakhouse was decorated with framed paintings. I took little notice until Belinda-Ann started naming the artists; they are all authentic Australian works.
On Americana. Folks, I have lived in Australia for a combined total of 18 months. During that time, I came to realize that essential bits of life, like hot dogs, graham crackers, and campfires, are virtually nonexistent. Don't get me wrong - Aussies cook up a mean barbeque, but the practice of roasting hot dogs and eating s'mores is truly an American contribution. Thus, on one particularly gorgeous night in August, I introduced my Australian friends to a piece of Americana. We sat out by my newly constructed outdoor patio and fire pit until 2 a.m. Aah, the joy of living in the country without fire restrictions! I debated telling Andrew and Belinda-Ann what hot dogs actually are made of, but after eating three myself I elected not to think about it. The closest thing to a hot dog in Australia is a wretched little sausage wrapped in red plastic; good luck trying to roast one. Graham crackers were another introduction, and when mixed with melted Hershey's chocolate and a toasted marshmallow, well; I think we all spend our winters longing for a s'more!
As I sat outside with my fiancé, my sister and her boyfriend, and my friends from Australia, I enjoyed the perfect evening. You see, one need not be in Vegas to find paradise - it is right in my front lawn! Plus, having an Australian accent there to narrate certainly helps. The American cuisine went over well - Belinda-Ann cooked herself four S'mores, and I promised to send the ingredients to their two young sons in a care package. As we enjoyed our hot dogs, s'mores, and an unending supply of New Glarus Spotted Cow, Andrew pointed out, "Hey - your stars are upside down up here!"
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
In Andrew's words, "Here was this scared young American, not really sure about what he'd gotten himself into." Indeed, it was not long before I developed a close friendship with my host brother Andrew, who is only a few years my senior, and his lovely wife Belinda-Ann. What started nine years ago as a chance placement thousands of miles from home has developed into a lifelong friendship.
Over the years and subsequent visits to Australia, my friendship with the Burgoine family has only gotten stronger. Andrew and I developed our own joke: I would ask when he was planning on finally coming to visit me in the United States. He would quickly reply, "We'll come up for your wedding"; probably thinking that it would never happen. Well, friends, lo and behold, just last Christmas I got engaged. As my wife-to-be and I planned on an August wedding, I rang up Andrew in Australia. "Hey, buddy!" I announced to the voice on the other end, "Time to pack your bags!" Within weeks, Andrew and Belinda-Ann had tickets booked for a visit to the USA.
I have written many columns on what it feels like to be an American visiting other parts of the world. This week and next, I would like to turn the tables a bit - time to iterate what it is like to be an Australian visiting America! After all, there are countless things that we take for granted, things that make the Fruited Plain so uniquely American, that sometimes it takes a foreigner's eyes to point them out. For the remainder of this article, I will introduce a subject and then talk about it through an outsider's view.
On places to visit in America. Surprisingly, the number-one city to visit, from an outsider's point of view, is not New York City, Washington, D.C., or even Gary, Ind. Every Australian I ever spoke to has expressed a profound desire to rock up in Vegas, and was shocked to learn that I have never actually been there. For some reason, Las Vegas is the number-one destination, and Andrew and Belinda-Ann were no exception. Of course, they also visited the Grand Canyon; thankfully, it is close.
On American cuisine. As I drove to Madison to pick up my Australian friends from the airport, I wondered where I could take them for supper? What would be an appropriate destination - one that truly captures the American spirit of fine, authentic dining? Folks, there could only be one place, and as we pulled into the parking lot of the Outback Steakhouse, I can assure you that Andrew and Belinda were more than amused. The Outback's wait staff was equally amused, having never actually heard an authentic Australian accent before. We even got to meet the manager! The food was good, but as Andrew pointed out, "You Americans have a tendency to undercook things - how can you eat your steak raw?" We all had a laugh over the "Aussie-Tizers", especially the 'Bloomin Onion' - Australians don't eat onions, especially these "deep-fried things," as Andrew explained. Interestingly, the steakhouse was decorated with framed paintings. I took little notice until Belinda-Ann started naming the artists; they are all authentic Australian works.
On Americana. Folks, I have lived in Australia for a combined total of 18 months. During that time, I came to realize that essential bits of life, like hot dogs, graham crackers, and campfires, are virtually nonexistent. Don't get me wrong - Aussies cook up a mean barbeque, but the practice of roasting hot dogs and eating s'mores is truly an American contribution. Thus, on one particularly gorgeous night in August, I introduced my Australian friends to a piece of Americana. We sat out by my newly constructed outdoor patio and fire pit until 2 a.m. Aah, the joy of living in the country without fire restrictions! I debated telling Andrew and Belinda-Ann what hot dogs actually are made of, but after eating three myself I elected not to think about it. The closest thing to a hot dog in Australia is a wretched little sausage wrapped in red plastic; good luck trying to roast one. Graham crackers were another introduction, and when mixed with melted Hershey's chocolate and a toasted marshmallow, well; I think we all spend our winters longing for a s'more!
As I sat outside with my fiancé, my sister and her boyfriend, and my friends from Australia, I enjoyed the perfect evening. You see, one need not be in Vegas to find paradise - it is right in my front lawn! Plus, having an Australian accent there to narrate certainly helps. The American cuisine went over well - Belinda-Ann cooked herself four S'mores, and I promised to send the ingredients to their two young sons in a care package. As we enjoyed our hot dogs, s'mores, and an unending supply of New Glarus Spotted Cow, Andrew pointed out, "Hey - your stars are upside down up here!"
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
