Jul 06 2009
Am I Becoming an Aussie?
Photo Credit: ♦ Joe’s
A couple of things in the last few weeks have made me wonder if I’m becoming an Aussie!
A while ago, I had a craving for marmite on warm, buttered toast. I didn’t have any marmite but I did have a jar of vegemite that I had bought for my daughter, who has been converted to vegemite by her friends at school! So, I decided to have vegemite on toast instead, thinking that I would be disappointed - it wouldn’t taste as good as marmite! Well, the vegemite on toast did taste very good - I couldn’t believe it! Since then, I’ve had vegemite on toast a few times and have enjoyed it!
Another time, I was sitting at the computer working and it was quite cold in the house (like many Australian homes, ours does not have central heating). I had a small heater on by the side of me but I could hardly feel any heat coming from it and my hands were getting colder and colder. So, I went and got a blanket and wrapped it around me. I felt so warm that I didn’t need the heater (not that it was making much difference)!
One of our Australian friends had told us that, in the winter, Aussies just wrap a blanket around them until it’s warm again, and that’s exactly what I was doing!
I guess that a large part of living outside your native country is adapting to the local environment and culture. It takes time to do this but, once you do adapt, you are never truly the same again. You start to become more of a local and perhaps in doing so, you belong a little less to your own native culture.
So, I’m off to make some vegemite on toast for lunch and wrap myself in a blanket until the weather gets warmer!
Hi Emm - Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! If it’s any consolation, it’s not as cold as the UK in the winter here. The daytime temperatures tend to be between 6 degrees C and 16 degrees C in Sydney and sometimes it is warmer in the sunshine. I believe that it’s colder further south (i.e. Melbourne and Tasmania) and much warmer in Queensland. Queensland is the place to move to if you want nice weather all year round!
Hi Marilynne - You’re right - after a year and a half here, I am just starting to adapt to many things! My daughter, I think, took less time but I think the other children encourage them to integrate quicker!
Hi Sher - Glad to hear that it is warm over there! Yes, isn’t it strange how the adaptations creep up on you slowly! It’s hard to describe the taste of vegemite - you would really have to try it - perhaps there is an Australian shop in Prague?!
I hope that the move is going well and that you’re settled in your new home soon.