Australians

[GomiGirl]

Not really concerning Japan but considering the amount of bandwidth taken up of late regarding Australians I thought I would post this anyway. It made me laugh.

Australia gets drunk and wakes up in North Atlantic

I am in such a good mood today - perhaps it is because Ultra made me a new avator..

[cliffy]

What a pisser of a piss take

BTW Russell Crowe is a KIWI, claimed by Aussies when he acts, called a Kiwi when he acts up

[GomiGirl]

Yes but we don't let him into bath-houses...

Bloody drunken foreigners...

p.s. Ultra - Thanks for the cocktails - I feel all loved up now!!

[GomiGirl]

p.s. I really like flat eric - your avator!!

Do you have one? I know where to get them from.. They have a whole cult following with Flat Eric - people take him around the place and send back snaps..

Assiston

All in Japanese. Very fun store in Harajuku...

[gomichild]

So, he pretty much grew up in Australia...

Well you know what they say you can take the boy out of Kiwi land but you can't take the kiwi land outta da boy...

[Never Been To Japan]

What exactly is a Kiwi? I know of the small furry fruit and I believe there's a bird of some sort with that name, but I've never heard of a person being called a kiwi. Is it an insult?

[kamome]

That article is a great satire on Australia. You can bet that a copy of it will be sent to my Australian colleague at work.

By the way, kiwi is a nickname for someone from New Zealand. How can you not know that????

[Never Been To Japan]

Well, to an American living in South Dakota that's not exactly a common term.

[GomiGirl]

To call someone a Kiwi is about the same as calling an american a Yank. It is not an insult at all.

Aussies, Poms, Yanks. All just nicknames. Just don't put any adjectives before such as "dumb" or "stupid"...

But a Kiwi is a flightless bird from NZ. about the same size as a chicken I guess but much cuter - long thin beak, skinny little legs.

Also a kiwi fruit is the small furry fruit that I hope you know. It originates from China I think so I don't know why it is called a Kiwi fruit?

Kiwi's and Aussies have alot of "friendly" rivalry. Basically take any opportunity to take the piss out of each other, however there seems to be alot of loyalty is the piss taking starts from a northern hemispherite - then the Aussies and Kiwis stand up for each other. Bit like sibling rivalry.

Here endeth the lesson.

[Never Been To Japan]

Thank you both, GomiGirl and Kamome for your explanation. I don't live in a very multicultural community so sometimes terms from other countries, even english speaking ones, can throw me off.

[GomiGirl]

Don't worry, Australia and NZ are not English speaking countries. You need subtitles to understand them.

oi - i spaake ripper Strine - yaa caand unnerstaan mei?

(Translated to: Excuse me! I speak excellent Australian English. You can't understand me?)

[cliffy]

[

Also a kiwi fruit is the small furry fruit that I hope you know. It originates from China I think so I don't know why it is called a Kiwi fruit?]

The fruit known to the Chinese as "Golden Goat testicles" was known to "Europeans' as "Chinese Gooseberrys". When it was found to thrive in New Zealand It's MARKETING name was changed to "Kiwi Fruit" to fend of any racial backlash related to the "Chinese" part of it's name.
My Grandmother was of the opinion, untill she died, that anything Chinese had opium in it so wouldn't have anything to do with Chinese goosberrys but loved Kiwi fruit so it worked there
I grew up in a fruit growing area and besides the common European fruits we grew Kiwi, Nashi and many other fruits and berries that I now have to pay premium prices for sub standard fruit here in the Tropics It's a good thing I loooove Mango's and other tropical fruits ( durian, no the smell gets me every time)

[jotty]

Call me pedantic but i thought Oz had 8 states.....oh, no, actually 6 states and 2 territories....sorry, I'll get back in my box again now.

[American Oyaji]

Kiwis and Aussies are a great bunch. Brits are pretty nice too, but tend to be a bit stuffy until they get the liquor flowing. Then they party harty.

Yanks could learn a lot from the other English speaking countries.