The Ex-Pat Love

Jeff and I had dinner last night with Philippe and Kathrinn, a German couple I met at Byron Bay last month. We talked endlessly in Bryon Bay and continued it last night. Such a good time!

We are finding that in some ways, it's easier to make connections with other ex-pats than with Aussies. This is not an indictment of Aussies! I think it's really more about having a stronger point of connection -- the stranger in the strange land -- with other ex-pats.

Plus, of course, for the Australians this is home and they already have their friends and family networks in place. The other ex-pats are more likely to have the time and the stronger need for new friends.

Every time we spend time with other ex-pats, we do talk alot about what it's like to be a non-Australian here. We talk about our observations on Australia in general. When it's not your own country, you see things you don't see as a local.

But even with Aussies, we talk alot about the United States. We Americans "know" we're a big influence in the world but I never appreciated just how much till I moved here. We are the 800-pound gorilla in the world, through our military, our money, but most especially through our cultural exports.

There is a TV channel here that shows nothing but American re-runs all day! I Dream of Jeannie. The Brady Bunch. McHale's Navy. I Love Lucy.

All. Freakin'. Day.

Even the major channels have American shows helping anchor their prime time viewing. NCIS. Hawaii 5-0. Glee. The Mentalist. NCIS Los Angeles. CSI. Even outside of prime time, it seems like I can catch an American show on some channel every time I turn on the TV (and we don't have cable, this is free broadcast).

Ellen. Dr. Phil. The View. Oprah. Even Xena and Hercules.

We are everywhere!

It's been so good and informative to talk about what it means to be an American and what it means to be influenced by America with people from different countries (in an intelligent, non-bombastic, honest kinda way).

So here's a big thank-you for a great meal and conversation to:

Kathrinn and Philippe (Germany)

Brenda and Brad (Canada)

Davin and Michelle (Australia)

Ben and Andrea (Australia & America)

Marty (New Zealand)

Tara and Josh (Americans transplanted to Australia)