The weekend has made me think about a few things. One of my issues comes down to culture. For the longest time I felt like I was being a snob. Like I felt so much better than everyone else and I hated that feeling. The Australian Culture has a core of mateship. Yes, I love that. But coating that core is the layer which creates the unspoken law that to go out and have a good time, you need to go to a pub and get pissed. That I do not like. Its all about pubs and clubs. About how much you can drink and who you can snog.
I hate it. I want so much more than that, but the quest to find it has become futile. The few friends I did have who were not into that, have vanished off into their own lives. I almost feel like a stranded island. I understand so much more now why I found it hard to make friends in high school. Like good friends. Genuine friends. Friends with whom you say more than a passing hello to. You know their life. They know yours, and yet its not invasive. For the longest time I thought I had that, I thought I was as happy as I could be. But soon I saw different.
People ask me why I am leaving Australia? Why leave behind an awesome country? Deep down I don't feel that it is all that awesome. And perhaps it comes down to culture. The Australian Culture is not my culture. Its not what I want. Its not who I am. I don't want to settle for boganism. I want to pronounce words correctly, not be excited by the fact that Kmart and Safeway are in multiple states. I don't want a life that's about drinking on a Friday night, about being plastered or paralytic.
I am only partly Australian. Some things I am proud of, others I am not.
Dang the Day is Almost Over!
18 years ago
2 comments:
Hmmmmmmmm, I hear ye loud and clear!! The Irish culture is a lot like that also and it consistly really annoys me and frustrates me!! It often seems like all people talk about is how much they drank, what drinks and how hungover they were the next day!! Means nothing to me, its not exciting, to me its all most not living, now Im not talking about the odd night out and getting drunk, Im talking about those who do it every single weekend and this is all their lives consist of!!! I find it hard to understand!! I also feel like its very hard to fit in with people also when you dont drink to the point of falling over, your not part of the group, you dont fit in, its hard!!
Hmmmmm you have just opened up my thoughts with your blog, and because I rarely find anyone who thinks the same of me, I enjoyed reading your entry!! :-) Thanks.
Any time my dear, you know that.
Its nice to know I am not alone in feeling so out of place.
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