A Bit British

I've always considered myself to be an Aussie girl through and through. Indeed, I've taken this for granted to the point where I've hardly spared it a thought, it has always just been part of who I am without me ever having to assert it to anyone, including myself. I love being an Australian for so many reasons and I've always considered my Australian-ness to be a plain and obvious fact. Travelling overseas has shown me that this isn't always so.

This is my first overseas adventure and I have discovered that, while travelling sits very nicely with me and I plan to do a lot more of it in the coming years, I really do love my own country very much. I have also found myself feeling more patriotic than ever before, especially when people directly question my nationality. The first time this happened was in Itaewon. Ah Itaewon, the sleaziest corner of Seoul, well, by night it is anyway. Itaewon also happens to be a major foreigner hang-out and the place to go for Indian food as well as certain food items that are hard to come by, such as Milo. We may not like it much but we do pay Itaewon a visit every now and then and on this particular day we were heading for lunch at an Australian cafe. To say that this cafe is run by an Aussie would be an understatement. The cafe is run by the truest, bluest, most ocker Aussie I have ever met! He was once the drummer for the band "The Choir Boys" who toured here seven years ago. Well, he never left and while he'll happily run Korea into the ground in conversation, it's pretty plain to see that he has it good here and he won't be leaving any time soon. We entered the tiny cafe in the backstreets of Itaewon to find the footy on the t.v. and some very relaxed looking customers but nobody who looked like they worked there. We rang the bell on the counter and took a seat as we heard an indistinct yell come from somewhere out the back. He emerged from the back and greeted us with "g'day, what can I do ya for?" and we knew we'd found the right place. We chatted with him for a bit as we looked at the menu and he asked us where we were from. When I answered Adelaide he gave me a funny look and said "yeah, but where else are ya from?" I returned his funny look and said, "nowhere else, just Adelaide" to which he replied, "then what's with ya pommy accent?" I raised my eyebrows and assured him that I was an Australian, mate, and that was the truth whether I talked like an ocker Aussie or not. I have nothing against the British at all, but what was this guy on about? Just because I speak clearly and use correct grammar he has no right to go doubting my claim to being an Australian. Humph. Yes, I was a bit miffed. Still, he made great chips and a good burger so I forgave him and enjoyed a beer and the footy with the other patrons.

A similar thing happened to me again when I was getting my haircut at my usual salon. I was trying to explain what I wanted to my stylist but that day we just weren't on the same page. He was clearly struggling to understand me and he caught the eye of the manager, who speaks some English, for help. The manager came over and explained to me that my pronunciation was "a bit British" and that was why my stylist was having trouble understanding me. The second the words were out of his mouth I found myself firing back with "actually, I'm Australian." I really could have let this one go but no, something in me was not going to have anyone overlook where I come from. The manager corrected himself, looked a little awkward, and then translated what I wanted to my stylist so the haircut could get underway. As I was leaving he even gave me a free gift and I couldn't help but wonder if he was feeling a tad guilty about it all....

At school too, my nationality has caused some confusion among the staff. I think I have finally managed to let them all know that I am Australian but if they aren't aware, I will make them so before I leave this place. I have been asked about Canadian public holidays and the circulation of the New York Times but every time I set someone right about where I come from, I feel proud to be an Australian.

So, don't call me British, don't call me Canadian and please, don't call me American. I come from the land down under, the sunburnt country, I am Australian and mate, there ain't nothing surer than that.

Lucy