Americans in Australia: Do Australians Like Americans?

Over the last five weeks not only have we looked at the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, but we have also covered Australians in Australia which is only fair, they were here first.

So, it’s the end of the series, surely?

Not so; like a dog with a bone, I never know when to give up. But what else can I possibly have in my “.. in Australia” series? Well, according to Google analytics, this website is read in 196 countries which is pretty cool, because I think that’s all of them. Bottom of that list of countries in terms of readership is the US Virgin Islands, although I do only have one reader from over there.

Who only visited one page.

Once.

But could “US Virgin Islanders in Australia” be a post one day? Would I find a US Virgin Islander comedian on YouTube? I doubt it, but with 196 countries to aim at, this series isn’t over yet. Let’s discover together how far we can get.

My biggest readership, top of the pile, is from Australia; we’ve covered that. Second is the United Kingdom, we’ve covered that too. You can find links to all of those posts in last Friday’s article called Who is Australia’s Funniest Comedian?

This week it’s the turn of the third country in my list…

The United States of America

Uncle SamWhat does Wikipedia say about American Australians

At the 2006 Australian Census, 71,718 Australian residents declared that they were American-born. Concentrations of American-born residents were in Sydney (16,339), Melbourne (11,130), Brisbane (6,057), Perth (5,558), Adelaide (2,862), and Canberra (1,970). Also at the census, residents could nominate up to two ancestries; 56,283 respondents declared they had American ancestry with 3,901 who declared Hispanic ancestry, 1,798 declared an African American ancestry, 3,936 declared a native North American Indian ancestry and 224 declared Puerto Rican ancestry.

That puts the American population here on a par with the Irish which quite surprised me; the Irish seem to be just about everywhere but I haven’t met too many Americans. Or maybe I just don’t notice the accents as easily.

Do Australians like Americans?

I am often asked if Australians like Americans, or if an American moving to Australia will be ‘accepted’.

The answer is very straightforward and short; Australia is made up of individual people, the US is made up of individual people, no one answer fits all. I can assure you there is no standard set behaviour that an Australian must observe when first meeting an American; we are not taught to roll our eyes when somebody announces they’re from the USA or anything like that.

The simple truth is that some Americans might not be very much liked when they get here just because of what they say and do. On the other hand, some Americans will be absolutely loved, like…

Arj Barker

I first saw Arj Barker on TV when I was still living in England; I remember laughing when he said he fell down an ‘up’ escalator for three days. Arj seems to like Australia a lot as well; apparently he’s toured here something like 11 times.

He seems to be a permanent fixture at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and there is certainly no doubt that his humour is more than accepted by Australians here. It’s safe to say the American humour, or at least some of it, does travel down under.

If you search on YouTube for “Arj Barker Australian slang” top of the pile should be a video called ‘Arj Barker – Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala 2010 ‘.

It’s got too many swear words for me to publish here, but if you don’t mind that kind of thing is well worth a look. Arj talks about Australian snakes and how Australians tell him that snakes are just as afraid of him as he is of them.

Really?” He says

Are you telling me the snakes are sitting up at night Googling me? Is Arj Barker deadly? Can he kill you, is he that deadly? How do I know the good Arj Barker from the bad Arj Barker?

But I’m not going to publish that video, I’m going to go with the cleaner spoken Arj Barker being interviewed on the Australian TV programme, the 7 PM Project.

Here, Arj talks about Australian scientist’s development of the bionic eye…

Next week, will it be stand-up comedy from an Indian in Australia? Or a Canadian? Somalian? Uzbekistanian? Or even a Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesian?

I said we would find out together how far I could get with this, and today we do. Today IS the last in the series. More than two thirds of my audience come from either Australia, United Kingdom or the United States, so we can safely say we’ve covered the bulk of it.

Singaporean (sixth in my list of countries) stand-up comedians either based in or visiting Australia are hard to find on YouTube. We would have never made it to the 196th, so let’s quit while we’re ahead.

Visa Assessment Service
{ 86 comments… add one }
  • TechGirl August 31, 2019, 9:47 am |

    I’m an American who has been to Australia 5 times. Mostly South Australia. In general, when out and about in Adelaide, I think I am given BETTER customer service than my Australian boyfriend. Some people get all excited about Americans. lol
    But my boyfriend tells me about Anti-American sentiment common with some people he knows.
    I call Australia Disney World. It is so clean and perfect, it reminds me of Disney World’s version of Germany or something.
    We have so many issues in the US. And I don’t mean “guns”, which is what some foreigners might suspect I mean.
    (I don’t own a gun, nor would I, but I have neighbors who are proud gun owners and I’m not the slightest bit afraid of them. In fact, to some extent I feel safer with them as neighbors.)
    What I mean is the incredibly extensive drug epidemic that is rotting our Nation’s core. And our disappearing middle class. However where I live the middle class is still doing okay. The Drug epidemic is everywhere, from Maine to San Deigo, Miami to Seattle. And it affects all income and educational levels. Such a shame. So many lives and families destroyed.
    To my knowledge, the drug epidemic is not as bad in Australia.
    I get the feeling the US government is more corrupt too.

    • BobinOz September 2, 2019, 7:27 pm |

      Actually, we do have a fair bit of a drug problem here in Australia, it may even be worse here than in the US. Difficult to find reliable information, certainly when it comes to specific illegal drugs, but I did find this.

      Share of population with mental health and substance use disorders, 2017…

      https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health

      If you look at the first map on that page, you will find Australia is in red, along with only three other countries. According to their sources 18.38% of Australians suffer from some kind of mental health or substance abuse disorder, second only to New Zealand at 18.71%.

      The US is orange at 17.34%.

  • cj December 16, 2015, 9:05 am |

    I’m an American living in Melbourne for 7 years now and I think that there is a great deal of antipathy for the US in the abstract and very negative stereotyping that it difficult to not consider bigotry. Occasionally it comes out as rudeness. The undercurrent here is very negative towards the USA (and the American people) that is just accepted as conventional wisdom.

    • BobinOz December 16, 2015, 10:39 pm |

      That’s not a view that seems to be shared by many of the other Americans who have commented here, but then I guess you can only go by your own experience.

      • cj August 16, 2016, 10:24 am |

        http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2016/06/Pew-Research-Center-Balance-of-Power-Report-FINAL-June-29-2016.pdf

        Here’s a recent Pew Global attitude poll. Aussies are only less negative regarding the American people than Greece. The numbers are ugly. Hating Americans is acceptable here in Australia. I have no idea why Australians are well-regarded in the US. I suspect it’s because most Americans don’t have to live around them.

        • BobinOz August 17, 2016, 5:00 pm |

          I had a quick look at the report, in particular the bit where 15 countries were asked if they thought the US was favourable or unfavourable.

          60% of Australians said favourable, which means we like Americans more than the Chinese, Greeks, Indians, Germans and the Spanish. And by the tone of your comments, it sounds like Australians like Americans much more than you like Australians.

          • cj August 18, 2016, 12:17 pm |

            I expect that number to go up as tensions rise in the South China Sea. That number is support for the US government! Have a look at the numbers where the people are assigned negative characteristics (greed, arrogance, etc.). Australia rates us worse than anyone else except the Greeks, who loathe us. There is a huge amount of anti-American sentiment here. And it has nothing to do with me, Bob. That’s a bit unfair of you.

            • BobinOz August 18, 2016, 8:19 pm |

              I wasn’t suggesting in any way whatsoever that you are responsible for the ‘supposed’ dislike of Americans by Australians, I merely stated that Australians probably like Americans more than you like Australians. That’s based on you saying “I have no idea why Australians are well-regarded in the US. I suspect it’s because most Americans don’t have to live around them.”

              Personally I think most Australians accept people, whichever country they have come from, as they find them. They do not have preconceived ideas. I’m certainly not aware of the “huge amount of anti-American sentiment” that you talk about.

              I have now looked further at the report, there is an interesting roundup of it over at Pew Research Centre, seems to me that Australians are more or less in the middle ground for most things, for some may are above the median in support for the US and in others they are a bit below the median. I’m not really sure why you are reading so much Australian negativity into this.

            • cj August 19, 2016, 11:15 am |

              I disagree. They do have preconceived ideas.

              You haven’t seen the part in the research where 70% of Aussies rate Americans as “arrogant” with similar numbers for “greedy”, etc. Those are the only questions that deal with the people and not the policy of the nation-state.

              The numbers are ugly.

              • BobinOz August 19, 2016, 6:34 pm |

                I don’t have to read it cj, you’ve mentioned Greece, greed and arrogance many times in your three comments, so much so it’s getting rather repetitive now.

                This is just a survey, one survey, I don’t believe it truly reflects real life or how Australians react when they meet people from the US face-to-face. I stand by what I said, I believe the vast majority of Australians take people as they find them and one survey is not going to change my mind on that.

                We will just have to agree to disagree.

                • AS August 23, 2016, 3:27 pm |

                  Hi cj,

                  I’m not American and have lived in Sydney. I agree with the anti-American sentiment you point out. I had to ask a few people about it as it got more and more obvious over the months and years of living there and couldn’t work it out.

                  My work colleagues, “classmates” (at a hobby course I’ve taken for 4 years whose average age is 45-70 years old), neighbours, the people at the charities I was involved in – would most often insert an anti-American comment during conversations that were originally not about the U.S. Ex. “I was at the Zurich airport for a 6-hour layover…” and someone chimed in “Well, good on you that you were there because the U.S. airports are filthy…”, or “Did you see the news on the Lindt cafe hostage situation?” “Yes, but if that were in the U.S., they would have messed the whole thing up..” The topics weren’t even about the U.S. or Americans…

                  Or more recently a news commentator asked 2 American actor guests at the show – So are the Americans bragging about their medals at the Rio? Apparently these 2 Americans weren’t paying too much attention to the Olympics as they were busy touring and made the commentator realise that it was only the Australians who were whingeing about the lack of medals that their athletes brought in.

                  The Australians won’t say it to an American up front because it simply is rude but they would say it to non-Americans which is why, even my Asian friends from Melbourne and Adelaide agree with my experience on the general negative view of Australians towards Americans. This is obviously my experience and each one would have a different opinion but as something that has puzzled me over the years, the research seems to finally put some sense into what I couldn’t piece together. I know a few Australians would go to the U.S. to shop, buy property (it’s cheap compared to Sydney!) and take their annual vacations while criticising what they encounter there.

                  So that’s my bit and I’m certain others would have positive things to say about Americans. I have an American friend who claims that Australia is their far away sibling and that Americans love Australians. Unrequited love!

                  • BobinOz August 23, 2016, 5:28 pm |

                    “Did you see the news on the Lindt cafe hostage situation?” “Yes, but if that were in the U.S., they would have messed the whole thing up..” – You’re making it up, surely? This isn’t a conversation that would have taken place anywhere in the real world. 🙂

                    • cj August 23, 2016, 5:49 pm |

                      I assure you that it does, Bob. I remember the ABC/ Fairfax crowd grave-dancing during the WTC attacks.

                    • BobinOz August 23, 2016, 8:29 pm |

                      That is a hugely insulting and quite outrageous accusation to make. It’s an abnoxious statement that has no foundation whatsoever. It says more about you and what you think of Australians than it ever can about what Australians think about Americans. You can take your hatred elsewhere, we have nothing further to discuss here.

                  • MO September 2, 2016, 7:29 am |

                    Hi AS,
                    I am Australian born, my wife American born, we live in Au. I am embarrassed to say you are quite accurate, it is amazing to hear anti-American sentiment in many everyday situations. Recent example, at a workshop for specialist nurses (read post grad, i expected higher professional standard) the instructor apologised for the upcoming 10 minute video as it was by a “boring American”, after stopping through the video, on resuming “well back to our Yank friend”…without any comment about the content. Having lived in 4 countries, worked in more I am glad my native accent is Australian as I have always been welcomed but I cringe at the way Australians so quickly knock all things American.

                  • TechGirl August 31, 2019, 9:00 am |

                    They call Americans “Septics”. Rhyming slang.
                    Septic tank rhymes with Yank.
                    There was some bad blood left over from WWII. My boyfriend has told me about it.
                    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brisbane
                    Also I guess the Aussies hated fighting with Americans in Vietnam. Americans were careless and stupid or something. Lighting fires at night and wearing shiney jewerly.

            • TechGirl August 31, 2019, 8:52 am |

              I agree. I am an American with an Australian boyfriend. When I met his son he asked me if I own a gun. lol
              Then he said Americans think we’re better than everyone else.
              ???
              He is a boy, so he is getting this info from somewhere.
              Every American I know imagines Australia is paradise, so it is not mutual dislike.

  • Dvorah December 12, 2015, 3:32 pm |

    Oh. My. God.
    As an American living in Australia, I am totally put off by this Mike Jordana character. Dad clearly didn’t hug this kid enough. My guess is that he had to leave the states because he had successfully alienated every person he came in contact with. It speaks volumes about the polite and tolerant nature of Australians to know you’ve been allowed to be here for so long. Try living life instead of just reading about it, bro.
    That said, Australia is a beautiful country and I haven’t had any rudeness aimed at me for being American. There’s so much to do here, and Americans, you will totally dig the newish vibe of the historic museums because we have the same thing back in the States, oohing and aahing over things that are from the last two centuries–they are old! Beaches go on forever, natural beauty is endless, and it’s a great place for creatives to thrive also. As long as you stay away from Mikes house you’ll have a great time here.

    • BobinOz December 14, 2015, 7:10 pm |

      Yes, Mike has written quite a lot, hasn’t he?

      Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself here in Australia and that you haven’t been on the receiving end of any rudeness. Coming from the UK myself, I know what a real antique looks like, so I get what you mean about the historic museums 🙂

      Cheers, Bob

  • Mike Jordana May 16, 2014, 3:26 am |

    Hi again ifeetugga! I’m getting more curious by the day what your name means. It doesn’t sound like a real name but a pseudomym. But that’s neither here nor there. Back to what you were saying…

    “Now if I were to adhere to his definition of a ‘most advanced third world nation’ as it pertains to Oz, I fear that I’d have to classify the U.S that way.” Classify away! The U.S. used to be the most advanced First World country in the world, but since 2007, things have taken a turn for the worse. Too many greedy bankers in bed with too many useless politicians, too many obese people, too few jobs, too much debt, too much discontent. Why do you think I left there—after 38 years—and consider myself fortunate to have serendipitously found my way to Australia, despite its own many shortcomings? I wouldn’t go back to live in the U.S. until I see at least one chairman of Bank of America or Goldman Sachs do some serious jail time and get his/her assets confiscated. Of course, that’ll never happen. Obama and the Congress are all in their pockets.

    Come to think of it, I think I know why Canadians move to Australia—they want to get away from their southern neighbour—makes them nervous.

    “Really admirable that Mike is concerned about the vulnerability of the country in terms of climate change.” Thank you. It’s just that when you hear, practically every year, about yet another flood, cyclone, tornado, or tidal bore that has killed thousands of people in Bangladesh, you really start to fear and wonder what’ll happen if the oceans really rise like all the climate change people say they will. If Australia is known as the “lucky country,” seems to me Bangladesh is the “unlucky one.” Just today, I read about a ferry capsizing on the Meghna River near the capital, Dhaka, with 200 souls on board. It’s just one thing after another.

    “it’s often said that North America(mainly the U.S and Canada) has been blessed with almost 40% of the world’s natural resources(gold, oil, natural gas, arable land, etc.)” Right! And now, with the oil boom in North Dakota because of the Bakken formation, North America continues to be blessed. It may yet become fully energy-independent and thus be able to actually tell dodgy suppliers like Venezuela and Iran where to stick it. Ah, I just wish we could see a major oil strike one of these years in Australia as well.

    Well, I think this is going to be my last message on this particular blog of BobinOz’s. It’s been fun, though—like you said. Cheers!

    • BobinOz May 16, 2014, 4:05 pm |

      Your wish is my command; just Google “Coober Pedy oil”.

      Bob

    • vegasdanes November 10, 2014, 11:39 pm |

      Well, now I fully understand why my Aussie friend said a lot of us Americans come across as know-it-alls.

      • BobinOz November 11, 2014, 5:09 pm |

        All part of the service vegasdanes, helping people to understand Australia and Australians. 🙂

  • Mike Jordana May 13, 2014, 6:15 pm |

    It’s not surprising to me that people from Bangladesh (“the nation of Bengal”) would want to migrate to Australia. Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, was separated by an untenable 2,400 km from the other half of the country, i.e., West Pakistan (one of the British Empire’s more unbelievable attempts at partitioning). After years of exclusion, discrimination, and neglect by the West Paks, they decided (with India’s support) to break away from West Pakistan in 1971. I had a Bengali roommate in Berkeley, California at the time. I remember he was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs during that period.

    Anyway, although Bangladesh has made tremendous strides since independence, it is still plagued by poverty, instability, corruption, overpopulation, and other typical Third World country woes. In terms of purchasing power parity, the average Aussie is almost 20 times richer in his own country than the average Bangladeshi is in his. So economic betterment is certainly a powerful motivator to migrate.

    But why anyone from Canada would want to migrate to Australia is a puzzlement to me. Canada is already a land of immigrants as it is. And the average Aussie is almost exactly as rich in Australia as the average Canuck is in Canada. What then is the motivation to migrate Down Under? The cold winters there? That’s all I can think of.

    • ifeetugga May 14, 2014, 3:44 pm |

      Seems like Mike Jordana has a completely new and interesting outlook on what constitutes a “Third World’ Nation:-).
      Let’s face it, every nation had to struggle in order to become a great nation later on. Think about nations like France or Germany. Or, consider the immigrant nations like the U.S or Canada. During the 19th century, the U.S could also be classified as a third world nation, the same might hold true for Canada with it’s environment and vastness. Even a nation like Australia-and please correct me if I’m wrong- struggled initially at the beginning of the 20th century upon federation. However, thanks to the hard work of the people, natural endowments and the arrival of hard working immigrants, these nations flourished. Considering those factors, like Mike pointed out, Bangladesh has been making tremendous progress, despite being written off as a hopeless case during the 1970’s(before my time) and not having a lot of natural resources(of course, there’s a strong possibility that natural resources like oil may be discovered soon; something for potential investors to think about). So it might not be such a bad idea to start a blog on Bangladeshis in Australia, along with one for Canadians in Australia. But like I said, it all depends on Bob and if he could spare the time to dedicate blogs to the people of these two great nations who ultimately make Australia unique. Perhaps then we’ll get an insight into why Canadians throng the Aussie shores, probably because of the weather, and of course, if you love a place and can make a positive contribution with your skills, you should be welcomed with open arms. Don’t you agree?
      Do please consider Bob, it’d be an interesting addition, so long as nothing controversial/racist comments are made or said, which I’m sure won’t be as your bloggers are mostly well behaved.
      Would be interesting reads/discussions, though, i’d think.

      • BobinOz May 14, 2014, 9:36 pm |

        I’ve already answered you above ifeetugga, my fault, I didn’t scroll down and see this second post.

        Now, I did do a post on hot versus cold, where was it now, ah yes, here it is: And the Best Country in the World to Live in is…

      • Mike Jordana May 15, 2014, 1:24 pm |

        Hi ifeetugga! You said, “Seems like Mike Jordana has a completely new and interesting outlook on what constitutes a “Third World’ Nation:-)” Really? What’s completely new and interesting about my characterisation of what it means to be a Third World country? It’s true that, technically, the Third World is just a Cold War term referring to countries aligned neither with the NATO countries and their allies (First World) nor the “no longer existing” Communist bloc (Second World). No reference to economic status or stage of economic development. But it has also come to mean poorer countries like the Philippines, Cameroon, and even Bangladesh, though even the “emerging” economies like the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) are also still included in that classification. Obviously, this First, Second, Third World way of characterising a country is not very informative anymore, but I still like to use it.

        When I’m feeling disgruntled with Australia, for example, I like to refer to it as the “most advanced Third World country in the world.” Doesn’t make me very popular with the Aussies, to be sure. People seem to have a visceral reaction to having their country described as “Third World.”

        Second, you characterised Bangladesh as “not having a lot of natural resources…” Well, unless you include your agricultural resources. Credit the fertile plains of the Bengal Delta for that. Being there must be like living in a swamp, I think. Of course, the fact that you are at the tail end of many, many rivers draining from India, Bhutan, China, and Nepal means you are getting not just their water, but also all their pollution.

        The discovery of petroleum would be a good thing, but I’m more worried about your vulnerability to climate change. I think you need to cooperate more with others, like the Dutch, who have a lot of experience with and success in making the best of their low-lying coastal terrain.

        “…so long as nothing controversial/racist comments are made or said…” Controversial is okay. BobinOz likes controversy–it brings more commenters out of the woodwork, and makes his blog more interesting and popular and talked-about. Racist though, that’s definitely a no-no. Cheers!

        • ifeetugga May 15, 2014, 7:41 pm |

          Quite the gentlemen, good ‘ol Bob. I’m sure no one is annoyed because you didn’t scroll down(I wasn’t. After all, we’re all human).
          Really like how Bob takes the time to answer back…good on ya mate. That’s the kinda person we need to liven up these conversations and make ’em enjoyable (in my view).
          Now here’s hoping he can put in the time and effort with his “To-do” list. Many of us would look forward to how much he goes about it I should think.
          I hope that Mike Jordana noticed the smiley I put after my comment on his ‘new’ outlook on what constitutes a third world nation…I guess it didn’t stand out. My bad.
          There are different versions on what constitutes a third world nation, but what Mike said seems like the standard version/definition. Now if I were to adhere to his definition of a ‘most advanced third world nation’ as it pertains to Oz, I fear that I’d have to classify the U.S that way. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always have a soft corner for the U.S, but like any other nation, it also has several problems and as someone with at least some(strong) ties to the nation, I also feel frustrated.
          And Kudos to Mike, he sure knows a thing or two about Bangladesh(I’m afraid that I am more North American than Bangladeshi so I probably lack the knowledge that he has regarding the nation, especially since it’s birth) and it seems that despite it’s size and other factors, the nation has been able to draw attention, both for good and (sadly) wrong reasons. Yet, the country seems to have made some friends and believers out of skeptics(Really admirable that Mike is concerned about the vulnerability of the country in terms of climate change). Another reason why Bob might wanna consider a post on Bangladeshis in Oz and how they’re doing over there. Of course, a post on Canadians in Oz would be as equally interesting…to me at least! Sorry to sound like a broken record, but go for it Bob!
          I think I’ll now read Bob’s intake on the weather through the link he pointed out.
          Speaking of controversy, like Mike said, if it gets us into a discussion from which we can learn a thing or two, then why not? I just hope that it doesn’t result in offending anyone intentionally. Of course, I’m glad you folks, like myself, share a zero tolerance towards any offensive racial comments.
          Finally, lemme clarify that when I meant ‘natural resources’ I meant precious minerals like gold, precious stones, oil, etc. But in a way, I feel that many resources are precious, even those that we take for granted; think about a city like La Paz in Bolivia which stands at a high altitude where oxygen is rather scare and you need to breathe using oxygen masks if you’re an outsider! Can we not say that over there, air is a resource, and a valuable one at that?
          I suppose it’s a matter of luck whether a nation is bestowed with natural resources or not. it’s often said that North America(mainly the U.S and Canada) has been blessed with almost 40% of the world’s natural resources(gold, oil, natural gas, arable land, etc.) , and I think we all know about Oz being a land of plenty, hence so much interest from people to move there for a better life for themselves and their family members.
          Enough blabbering out of me folks. Gotta admit, really enjoying this conversation so far. I hope we all learned something today.
          Sorry for the very long post though.

  • ifeetugga May 13, 2014, 3:31 pm |

    It seems like you’re seriously considering my suggestion, mate. Much obliged. Never thought I’d be taken so seriously, especially considering that I’ve just recently started reading your threads.
    Always nice to see people like Bob putting in their mostly unbiased two cents on serious matters.
    I for one encourage you to dwell into uncharted waters if time will permit it :-). That way, people will know about the nation’s diversity and perhaps be encouraged to move there, which can only help Australia’s economy and strengthen multiculturalism.
    Anyway, these are my opinions. In the end, it’s Bob’s prerogative.

    • BobinOz May 14, 2014, 9:27 pm |

      I have put it on my list of things to do. My list of things to do do not always get done, but it’s a start 🙂

      Cheers, Bob

  • ifeetugga May 12, 2014, 8:45 pm |

    I try to read the posts of Bob as much as I can. I don’t have to tell you that i find them rather interesting.
    My background is Bangladeshi and Canadian, and the strange thing is, considering that Bangladesh has more people and, one would think, more potential immigrants willing to move to Australia, it seems as if(and I read this somewhere, can’t remember though, sorry) there are more Canadians(with a much lower population) in Australia.
    So, in the future, can we expect Bob to start threads on Canadians or Bangladeshis in Oz :)?
    Oh and did I mention my American background too as I was very lucky to have finished my undergrads there? That’s why I found this thread to be very interesting, like several other posts by Bob.
    I hope that you’ll consider my suggestions. Please keep posting. TC

    • BobinOz May 13, 2014, 2:44 pm |

      Well you probably saw the information on my page Who Moved to Australia? From What Country? To Which State? I can confirm that according to the 2011 Census, 38,871 Canadians and 27,809 people from Bangladesh were living here in Australia at that time.

      But will I be doing a Bangladeshis in Australia post? Or a Canadians in Australia post? If I go down that route, it could be a very long series. People move here from pretty much almost every country in the world. Not sure I will do that, but I might, I certainly think it is worth me delving further down the list than just the top three.

      Cheers, Bob

  • Emily March 31, 2014, 7:43 pm |

    I read something about Australia being the best third world country in the comments above. Can someone please explain that?

    • Mike Jordana April 1, 2014, 4:42 am |

      Look at what I’ve done, BobinOz, I’ve brought controversy to your blog! Emily, there’s nothing to explain that that particular post where you saw that comment, and the 2 or 3 posts following, didn’t already deal with at length. It was just a cheeky and irreverent comment made by an obviously deranged individual (namely, me) who doesn’t realise what a “paradise” (according to BobinOz) he’s living in. Cheers!

      • BobinOz April 1, 2014, 2:12 pm |

        I hope that explains it Emily, Mike doesn’t much like our supermarket shopping trolleys so he thinks Australia is a ‘Third World’ country or in other words, a bit behind the modern world.

        By his own admission, he is deranged 🙂

        Thanks Mike for clearing that up.

  • Mike Jordana January 12, 2014, 1:46 pm |

    I must say, BobinOz, that as a transplanted American, I haven’t run into any hostility at all here in Australia, namely the Sydney area, and more recently the Central Coast 1 hour north thereof. In fact, I find Aussies for the most part an extraordinarily sweet and helpful people, very kind and lovable. Well, except for the hoons and the bogans and the kids (and adults) who think getting rip-roaring drunk every weekend is a sign of ultimate coolness. But those kinds of folks are everywhere.

    If anything, the hostility comes from ME! Not for the Aussies themselves, but for their systems and institutions, which I find oftentimes primitive and laughable. Take the almost total ignorance about what constitutes good customer service. In private enterprise as well as in government, I find customer service practically nonexistent. But thanks to the Asian migrants, and the competition from the Internet, this glaring shortcoming is slowly being addressed, as Aussie businesses scramble to compete.

    Or consider the too-narrow highway lanes—you’d think this was a tiny country and we needed to conserve space when building our streets and highways. Maybe that was true of merry old England, but early Aussie city and road planners ought to have had a bit more vision, methinks. If you drive on a freeway in the U.S., you’ll appreciate the difference.

    Then there’s these supermarket trolleys where all 4 wheels pivot! I’ve seen little old ladies struggling to maintain control of their only lightly loaded trolleys, especially on any kind of slope, even the most gentle. What’s up with that?? You know, there’s a good reason why only the front wheels of cars are allowed to turn. Physics ain’t any different for trolleys. You go push a trolley (grocery cart there) anywhere in the U.S. and you’ll immediately notice how much more sensible a 2-wheel pivot is.

    I’ve taken to calling Australia the “most advanced Third-World country in the world,” which, yes, I know, is quite an arrogant thing to say. It certainly gets a rise out of my true-blue Aussie nephew-in-law.

    That said, there are many wonderful things about Australia, which is why I ignore my sister (the mother-in-law of the aforementioned Aussie nephew-in-law) when she asks me why I don’t go back to the States, “if everything’s so great there.” Well, Australia does have its charms, as you know, and it does have a lot of potential.

    So I’m staying. Might even put in for citizenship one of these fine days. Cheers! And thanks for letting me vent.

    • BobinOz January 13, 2014, 2:44 pm |

      That’s a strange list of gripes Mike, none of which I agree with. Customer service up here in Queensland from Australians is pretty good, it’s very rare that I come across bad service and all our shopping trolleys seen in pretty good condition.

      No, we don’t do eight lane highways here, but then we do only have 23 million people, not 300 million or so.

      Americans claiming everything is better back in the US than it is here usually don’t make too many friends, so it’s great to hear the Aussies have been quite tolerant of your views 🙂

      • Mike Jordana January 14, 2014, 1:41 pm |

        Oi vei, BobinOz, I think that once again I may not have explained myself adequately. You said, “Customer service up here in Queensland from Australians is pretty good…” Yes, I’m sure it is, but it’s not the customer-FACING customer service I meant. That’s pretty good—as I said, Aussies are a friendly lot. It’s things like the changing of a laboratory’s schedule to no-more-Saturday-hours more than 2 months prior, while failing to follow up with the forms given to the doctors who push traffic to that laboratory, forms that still clearly say Sat 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. Yes, it’s best to call, I know, but that’s exactly my point: you can’t trust, you can’t depend on the people involved to their jobs properly and follow up and make sure all the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed. They’d rather save money by not replacing forms before the doctors have run out of the old ones, the customer be damned!

        Then you said, “…our shopping trolleys seen in pretty good condition.” It wasn’t the condition of the trolleys I was kvetching about, it was their intrinsic DESIGN. The 4-wheel pivot is a menace to society. It makes a trolley hard to handle. The thing will go sideways on you at a moment’s notice. Of course, if you’ve never piloted a trolley where only the front wheels steer, you won’t understand what I’m talking about.

        Lastly, you said, “No, we don’t do eight lane highways here, but then we do only have 23 million people, not 300 million or so.” It wasn’t the width of the highways or streets that my gripe was about, but the width of the individual LANES of those highways and streets. They’re too narrow, just barely wider than the width of the car. I’ve seen this type of road in Europe and the UK, which is understandable since they’re relatively small land masses, and there’s no room to “splurge,” as it were. But Australia is a huge country, and there’s plenty of room to have built roads, be they only one- or two-laned, with WIDER lanes. So the argument about the different populations doesn’t apply here. The fact remains that Aussie urban planners were short-sighted. You see them now sometimes trying to correct their lack of vision belatedly, when they build new roads and highways. I sometimes see wider lanes there, in their newer designs. About time.

        Incidentally, Aussies have been quite tolerant of my views because I try not to broadcast them too much. Wouldn’t be sporting, you know. And besides, like everything else, one adapts to “what is,” as they say. When I first came, I had a far longer list of gripes, and I was going to write them down. But I was concurrently applying for a residence visa and I thought it was a bit of an incongruity to have a list of complaints about a place I was applying to live in. I thought the laws of karma might catch up with me, and I’d be denied my visa just because of my rotten attitude. And now that a few years have passed, I’ve gotten used to the weird things so they start to seem normal now, and I don’t notice them anymore. Which is why my list is so much shorter now.

        Cheers!

        • BobinOz January 15, 2014, 12:25 am |

          Well, I still don’t get about the roads Mike, they are plenty wide enough for me. The road I live in, for example, which is a very quiet little old suburbia road, only got one lane each way, you could fit two and a half car widths in each lane. I’ve never ever driven down a road in Australia where thought “gosh, this is a bit tight.”

          Try Cornwall, for that.

          As for your other concerns, I’m a little speechless. If these really are your biggest worries about living in Australia, this place really is paradise 🙂

          • Cheryl February 11, 2014, 11:07 pm |

            I believe it’s just an open discussion, not an argument or a chance to attack Americans or Aussies. Wow!!!! On to better and less nasty things.

            • BobinOz February 12, 2014, 3:56 pm |

              Yes, it is just an open discussion, not sure which bit appears to have upset you.

              • Mike Jordana February 12, 2014, 7:50 pm |

                I’ll bet it’s the supermarket trolleys with the 4 pivoting wheels, heh heh heh.

                • BobinOz February 13, 2014, 9:33 pm |

                  What supermarket trolleys with the 4 pivoting wheels? Never heard of such a thing 🙂

                  • Mike Jordana February 14, 2014, 12:41 am |

                    Never heard of such a thing?? Ah, how quickly they forget! BobinOz, please check the beginning of this thread, which starts with my comments of January 12, 2014, 1:46 pm. The topic of supermarket trolleys starts in Paragraph 4. I mention it again in my comments of January 14, 2014 at 1:41 pm, Paragraph 2. Cheers!

                    • BobinOz February 15, 2014, 12:52 am |

                      I know Mike, I know. I was joking, that’s why I added the 🙂 thing. What do you think I am? A goldfish? 🙂

                      That’s another joke 🙂

  • mike marino January 12, 2014, 2:06 am |

    The Aussies and Americans are very similiar and have and share the same values . Getting away from the Royal class bench siiters and being pioneers and developing unique and beautiful countries. Both Hard working, and with a can do spirit. Both fought side by side in the pacific while the british were in the european theather in the world War. We all have a great stake to maintain our cultures and values. Canada, the U.S , England ,Iceland , South Africa, Australia share the same , want the same for our children and future generations. Some of the down falls with The U.S is the population . We have a huge population with many cities and it gets quite difficult electing and making descisions with all the representation. It gets crazy. Autralia has I think a total of 23 million . New York City alone has 10, million people. But I know as an American I feel a bond of familiarity amoungst the english speaking countries . We pulled away from the crown and proved ourselves better. I think

    • BobinOz January 13, 2014, 2:38 pm |

      Yes, that’s certainly true, we have more in common with each other then we don’t.

  • Michelle December 31, 2013, 11:13 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    As an American living in Sweden and looking to move to Australia, I can understand why people are concerned if they will be liked, or disliked based on their nationality. When I boarded the plane to Sweden I thought, no problem. I am a nice, likable person, I can fit in anywhere! Boy was I wrong!!! hahaha who would have thought holding the elevator door for someone was considered rude?!? Needless to say I have since became rather Swedish in my mannerisms, so much so that no one knows where I am from until I open my mouth. However, in Sweden all immigrants go to language courses so most of the people I have meet (outside of the neighbors and my Sambo’s co workers) have been other immigrants. Most of the immigrants are from places that the US government has decided it needed to go to war in, or around, so my popularity in class (being American) is even worse than in High School!

    So as I research moving, again, I find myself digging deeper into the cultural differences so I do not make the elevator mistake again. And your website has been very helpful, Thank you Bob!

    Best regards,
    Michelle

    • Mary January 1, 2014, 8:03 am |

      Hi Michelle,
      I have had similar experiences to you in New Zealand. I am American and thinking of moving back to the STates because of the anti-American feeling I have encountered here.
      Mary

      • BobinOz January 2, 2014, 6:04 pm |

        @ Michelle, holding an elevator door open is a problem? I’m as confused as you are.

        @ Mary, things could get worse, I just read today that CNN described Auckland as an Australian city during their new years eve show. Oops!

        • Mary January 2, 2014, 6:16 pm |

          I once got the bird flipped at me because I slowed down for a school bus (there were kids crossing the road). Rude.
          Too bad for Auckland.
          I am thinking of Brisbane or Perth today. It changes day by day.

  • Mike Jordana December 20, 2013, 5:10 pm |

    Well, I followed that link you gave us about Arj Barker, and watched the video of his act during the 2010 Melbourne Comedy Festival. Since I enjoyed that, I next found another act of his at the 2011 Melbourne Comedy Festival. I was enjoying it until he did a thing about bucket lists, and actually said at one point, as though having a conversation with a friend, “‘I wanna see the Sistine Chapel before I die!’ ‘Well, then book a trip to Spain, dumbass!'”

    Spain??? On what planet is the Sistine Chapel in Spain?? Since we were dealing here with a fellow American, I was mortified. I kept hoping it was part of the joke… but it wasn’t. Mr Barker simply has no clue where the Sistine Chapel is! What an embarrassment for America! Doesn’t he have anyone who proofs his material before his shows??

    Now I feel compelled to tell everyone I run into, that the Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican, which is within Italy–just to redeem Mr Barker in the eyes of all Australians. Sorry, Aussies, we’re not all as geographically illiterate as Mr Barker. Well, many are, I suppose, and you can never tell until you talk to one.

    But other than that, he WAS pretty funny!

    • BobinOz December 20, 2013, 10:01 pm |

      Ooh, what a howler! What next, Big Ben in Berlin? I hope not.

      I’m sure Arj head-butted a brick wall when he realise his error, surely he must have realised his error? Funnily enough, he’s playing live this weekend here in Brisbane, I’m tempted to go and see him but I can only go on Sunday and for some reason I can’t seem to order tickets online, although they are available for the Friday and Saturday performances.

      Anyway, if I do go and he says the Sistine Chapel is in Spain again, I’ll have a heckle all prepared 🙂

  • Valter Russo December 2, 2013, 12:02 pm |

    yeah, i know the expression 🙂
    no, i don’t know anyone down under , and less a stand up artist.
    may be i’ll be the one…NOT.ehehe

  • Valter Russo November 29, 2013, 7:28 am |

    Hi Bob,

    can’t wait to see the Portuguese in Australia, despite im very interested in moving down under, im not quite sure how ”write” ourselves in the continent country…

    keep up the good work
    Valter Russo

    • BobinOz November 29, 2013, 4:06 pm |

      Don’t hold your breath, as we say here Valter, I may struggle to find an English speaking Portuguese on YouTube who is currently living in or doing stand-up in Australia.

      Unless you know anyone?

  • Mark Thompson November 28, 2013, 8:55 pm |

    Hi Bob

    Whilst like you I am a Brit, living in Brisbane for 3 years now, I did live in the US Virgin Islands for 12 months and still have the (long-expired) driving licence to prove it!

    • BobinOz November 29, 2013, 3:39 pm |

      Did you visit my website while you were there? If you did, that would double my readership from that country 🙂

  • Jonas November 28, 2013, 8:43 pm |

    Thanks for writing a post about the American’s living in Australia. One of which happens to be me. Now what I’ve found is that there hasn’t been any hostility to me being here, nor have I been treated like a celebrity. Although I still do turn heads when I’m ordering a coffee due to my accent.

    I’ve always kept a positive attitude and haven’t been to overly loud or American cocky…. Well maybe a little bit but that’s what we do. Just don’t go around comparing how things are so much greater back home etc and you’ll be fine. It has actually been advantageous in my line of work to have an American accent and perspective here. Our two countries are great allies and American’s love the Aussies and the Aussies love the Americans. We have to, who else in the world can we fall back on.

    So in short for any Yanks feeling apprehensive about moving down under, just keep it low key and you’ll be right mate. Although be warned it did take me a good solid 18 months to feel settled and not want to get on the next flight home.

    • BobinOz November 29, 2013, 3:37 pm |

      Hi Jonas

      Firstly, again it is good to hear that you’ve not experienced any hostility, and sound advice for your fellow countrymen considering a move to Australia. And yes, settling here does take some time no matter where you come from, although for us it was probably 4 to 6 months rather than 18.

      Everyone is different though and for most people I think it is worth persevering.

      Cheers, Bob

  • Cheryl November 28, 2013, 8:28 am |

    Hi Bob, Just wanted to add that, as an American married to an Aussie, one of my biggest fears in moving here was that I would be hated for being American, hate to admit it but was so ashamed when I first got here. Only found happiness when I realised that I can be proud of my American heritage while still appreciating how lucky I am to be living in beautiful Australia. No one should feel the way I did when I arrived and I realise that now. Hope that helps someone else!

    • BobinOz November 28, 2013, 9:13 pm |

      Hi Cheryl

      Thanks for your incredibly honest and personal statement, and I’m so glad that you have been made to feel very welcome here in Australia. I hope what you have said helps someone else as well.

      I think a lot of Americans are concerned how they are viewed by others and the whole ‘acceptance’ thing, and like most people I am aware of the reasons behind it. But I come from Britain, maybe I should be a bit ashamed as well?

      But most Australians (I think) aren’t interested in governments, least of all our own, just people.

      Good on ya as we say.

  • Phil November 28, 2013, 8:01 am |

    As Americans, my whole family felt accepted. I think it takes a while to get used to how other nationalities view one’s home country, but that would be true regardless of from where one hails. Bob’s website helped immensely in understanding Aussie culture. I love these people. Cheers!

    • BobinOz November 28, 2013, 8:57 pm |

      Hi Phil

      That’s great to hear, I’m glad you and your family have all been accepted here in Australia. Pretty cool to hear that my website helped you as well 🙂

      Cheers, Bob

  • Lawrence Vilar November 28, 2013, 7:23 am |

    Hey Bob !

    Looking forward to one of these about what Australians think about Brazillians 🙂

    I’m studying the possibility of moving to Perth initially as a student, recognizing the place and everything with strong intentions on moving in for good.

    Keep up the good work, I just love your website !

    Cheers.

    • BobinOz November 28, 2013, 8:51 pm |

      Yeah, stay tuned, my post “Brazilians in Australia” is coming soon, honest.

      Good luck with your plans, hope you get to Perth soon.

  • Ernie In AZ November 24, 2013, 2:42 am |

    Hi Bob,

    On my first trip to Australia, I happened to lose my passport. After searching my hostel room for hours with no success, I turned to an Aussie in the room and asked, “What do I do now? I can’t go home without a passport. Will I be stuck in Australia forever?”

    His response was, “Well, we’d love to have you!”

    For some reason, a lot of Americans can be insecure when they travel abroad. But I’ve found that most people will ultimately judge you according to how you are as a person.

    Cheers!

    • BobinOz November 25, 2013, 1:18 pm |

      Did you find your passport though? Or is that why you are still stuck here 🙂

      Yes, I’ve noticed that many Americans seem concerned about whether they will be accepted here, my answer is the same as yours.

      Cheers, Bob

      • Ernie In AZ November 25, 2013, 2:27 pm |

        No, I never did find that passport. I’m pretty sure I accidentally threw it out with the rubbish when I was cleaning my locker. I was able to make it back to America, although I had to spend an entire day at the consulate in Melbourne to get an emergency travel document . . . wonderful memories that was.

        On the bright side, I met my future wife on that trip, and I’ve been stuck on Oz ever since. We got our visas and are making the move this coming June. Can’t wait!

        • BobinOz November 26, 2013, 12:05 am |

          Great to hear you have got your visas sorted, see you soon then. Unless, of course, you lose your passport again 🙂

  • Ricardo November 23, 2013, 4:50 pm |

    Hi Bob!
    I have had an awesome year here in Australia! Everyone has been very kind with us.
    I am from Argentina (does it count as American? hahaha)
    Cheers,
    Ricardo 🙂

    • BobinOz November 25, 2013, 1:07 pm |

      Glad to hear you have had a great time in Australia, even if you are from a bit further south 🙂

      Cheers, Bob

    • Mike Jordana December 20, 2013, 5:18 pm |

      Technically, there are two main Americas, North America and South America. And, yeah. there’s also Central America. In Spanish, the term “United States of America” is translated, “Estados Unidos de Norteamerica,” NOT “Estados Unidos de America,” in recognition of the fact that U.S. Americans are NOT the only Americans.

      But since the U.S.A. is THE principal power in that part of the world, and since most Americans don’t have much of a global outlook, but are very isolationist, almost parochial, in their view of themselves vis-à-vis the rest of the world, they can get away with calling themselves Americans, and our country America, as though we were the only Americans. The South Americans don’t have much to say on the subject except to grouse on occasion, when the opportunity arises.

      • BobinOz December 20, 2013, 10:05 pm |

        That’s very interesting Mike, I’m glad you cleared it up for me. I’ve never thought of it in that way, but I guess you have to live there to get it. On that basis…

        @ Ricardo, YES! You are American! (Ha ha)

        PS. I suspect you knew that already Ricardo, it’s just me that wasn’t sure 🙂

      • vegasdanes November 10, 2014, 11:25 pm |

        The United States of America is the ONLY country in the world that has the word ‘America’ in it’s name. So if any nation can be called America, the U.S.A. is it. That’s why the entire world refers to U.S. citizens as ‘Americans’. No other country has that word in it’s name. But the Hispanic countries on the North American continent(Central America is part of North America) and the South American continent get all bent out of shape about it. They get artificially defensive without really thinking it through.

        In Spanish, the translation does NOT refer to the U.S.A. as ‘North America’. Please stop spreading your private agenda.

        • BobinOz November 11, 2014, 5:00 pm |

          I will leave you and Mike (if Mike is still around) to sort this one out between you, I’ll just spectate 🙂 Interesting reply though, kind of makes sense to me in a way.

        • Mike Jordana November 11, 2014, 8:33 pm |

          Well, BobinOz, I was really not planning to respond to this VegasDanes character. This was after I noticed him misusing the possessive adjective “its,” confusing it with the contraction “it’s,” not once but TWICE in his diatribe. It tells me s/he is probably not the kind of person with whom one can have a intelligent discussion. But against my better judgment, I will reply. Perhaps there may be some entertainment to be had.

          Though I went to graduate school in the U.S., became a U.S. citizen, and lived there for 38 years, Spanish is my first language. My parents both worked in the diplomatic service of Spain for a great number of years, and they taught us that the name of the U.S.A.—in Spanish—is Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Apparently, the primary drivers of this appellation are the Mexicans, the official name of whose country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos. I think they want to make clear that there are other ‘Estados Unidos’ in America besides the big kahuna, the U.S.A. Incidentally, my family is not Mexican, so I have no personal agenda… except against ignorance.

          Besides, though VegasDanes says the U.S.A. is the only country in the word that has the word “America” in its name, I don’t think “United States of America” is really a valid and proper country NAME. It’s more like a DESCRIPTION of a political system, namely a federation of states on part of a certain continent, namely NORTH America. It would be like Spain calling itself the Autonomous Communities of the Iberian Peninsula, instead of Spain.

          Now “Spain,” THAT’s a name! Whereas the only name in “Autonomous Communities of the Iberian Peninsula” is Iberia, which is the name of a peninsula, not a country—a peninsula that also includes other non-Spanish entities, namely Portugal, Gibraltar, and possibly Andorra.

          To me, “United States of America” is just as unimaginative as “Autonomous Communities of the Iberian Peninsula.” I think the U.S.A. should have a nationwide country-naming contest. If nothing else, it would distract the citizenry from their current woes.

          Incidentally, North America is a continent which comprises 23 independent states, among them Canada, Haiti, Cuba, Bermuda, and even Greenland! Clearly not just the U.S.A. In fact, the U.S.A. occupies less than 40% of North America. Pretty cavalier of it then, to informally call itself “America,” as in the patriotic anthem, “America the Beautiful.”

          As for VegasDanes’ assertion that “That’s why the entire world refers to U.S. citizens as ‘Americans,’” in fact if you were to watch Spanish news programs, whether in Spain, Chile, Argentina, or Mexico, the tendency is to refer to “American” (whether it be a person, a policy, or a government) as “norteamericano,” not “americano.” That’s to distinguish them from things that are “sudamericano.”

          Finally, regarding VegasDanes’ later comment that “…now I fully understand why my Aussie friend said a lot of us Americans come across as know-it-alls,” I would riposte that, like Charles M Schulz of “Peanuts” fame, I thought I made a mistake once… but I was wrong.

          • BobinOz November 13, 2014, 12:39 am |

            You’ve made quite a few comments on this website Mike, I’ve seen the quality of them, and frankly if you have never made a mistake, then I am the King of Spain. I remember who you are now, you tried that same low grammar correcting trick on me some time ago in a comment you made back in February 2013, if you’ve forgotten it you can reread it here. I thought I had put you straight on the futility of this kind of exercise back then; clearly you haven’t taken any notice or learnt from that.

            You certainly don’t have the ability to judge other people’s intelligence based on a missing apostrophe and that in itself shows you do have quite a bit to learn.

            All you have done with your post here is prove that vegasdanes, in the comment he made much further down, has indeed made it very good observation.

            • Mike Jordana November 13, 2014, 11:48 am |

              I guess I just don’t like being called a know-it-all, BobinOz, even if I am—even know-it-alls have feelings, you know. Nor do I enjoy being implicitly accused of harbouring a private agenda (against the U.S., I suppose). “Please stop spreading your private agenda,” said VegasDanes. I was ready to keep quiet about the whole issue, as I noted in my last post, but you challenged me to sort out the issue with him/her, so as we say in the U.S., I “let it all hang out.”

              I have to point out, though, that the majority of my post (over 75%) was on topic. It would’ve been nice if you’d made a comment about that as well. In any case, I consider the topic of Norteamérica well and truly “sorted out,” and will say no more on the matter.

              • BobinOz November 15, 2014, 12:44 am |

                If you don’t like being called a know it all, then maybe you should stop acting like one.

                I didn’t comment on the “over 75%” of your post (your figures, I didn’t check, wasn’t sure how to mathematically do that to get an exact figure) that was about the debate, but since you asked, I will.

                You say that the Spanish refer to the Americans (ie those from the USA) as Norteamérica, but even that’s not correct, because as you have also informed us “North America is a continent which comprises 23 independent states, among them Canada, Haiti, Cuba, Bermuda, and even Greenland.”

                My view is that if you refer to somebody as an “American” then you mean someone who come from the USA. Not Mexico, not Chile, not Argentina, not Panama, not Canada but the USA. That’s not to say that those from Mexico, Argentina, Panama or Canada don’t live in America, whether it be North, Central or South, it’s just that if you were referring to them you would call them Mexicans, Argentinians, Panamanians or Canadians.

                Having said all of that, I really don’t want to get into a debate with you about it, as I said earlier, on this one I’d rather spectate. The subject is just not that important to me.

                • Mike Jordana November 15, 2014, 5:02 am |

                  I re-read what you said around that “low grammar correcting trick” to which I subjected you back in Feb 2013, and which you were kind enough to link back to. In one place, you said, “My comment policy only really has two rules; be nice to people and stay on topic.” Points well taken.

                  So, given that this Norteamérica topic is “just not that important to” you, and is a topic that’s becoming tedious to me as well, I’ll let it go.

                  But not without an “executive summary” of my basic position, which is this: the main bone of contention here, between the South Americans and the people of the U.S., is that the people of the U.S. (like VegasDanes) assume they are the ONLY Americans! And they’re patently not. It would be like the French claiming to be the only Europeans—where would that leave the Germans and all the rest? Americans grabbed the name of a whole continent—of which they were but one country—and appropriated it as the name of their own country and as a demonym for its people. Only Australians can validly do that, and that’s because we happen to be the ONLY country in the entire continent! Having said that, I realise it’s too late to change anything now.

                  Can we leave it there then? Peace, out.

                  • BobinOz November 16, 2014, 9:19 pm |

                    I’d be more than happy to leave it there Mike, but a guy called Chris Kirk who does care about this debate would like to have his say as well, you can read it in his article called I’m From America. Stop Complaining, South America.

                    As you know, there’s always two sides to every argument, I thought if if I don’t care enough about this issue to explain the other side, I’d find somebody who did 🙂

                    Peace back at you.

                    • Mike Jordana November 19, 2014, 9:08 am |

                      I must say I’m impressed that you took the time to research this “unimportant” topic that you “don’t care enough about,” finding this excellent piece by Chris Kirk of Slate online magazine in the process.

                      He seems to recognise the fallacy that I’ve been pointing out, namely that (1) it wasn’t right for the U.S. to usurp the name of an entire continent and use it as the name of their one country, to wit: “I know the situation isn’t ideal. I know the Constitution should really read ‘United States of Some Parts of America Plus Hawaii.'” And he also agrees with me on point (2), which I expressed as “I realise it’s too late to change anything now,” and he expressed as “Americans have been calling their country ‘America’ for more than two centuries. They will and should continue.” And he even discussed past attempts to rectify the situation. And both he and I understand that there’s no way to fix it now, and any attempted solution would be worse than letting things be.

                      You know, this whole issue started when a reader of yours named Ricardo posted, “… I am from Argentina (does it count as American? hahaha)” and you replied “Glad to hear you have had a great time in Australia, even if you are from a bit further south,” appearing (to me at least) to imply that you judged him to be not quite an American. Had you simply acknowledged or recognised that he is in fact an American, albeit a SOUTH American, and that you were perfectly happy for him to identify with what you wrote even if he wasn’t a U.S. American, the intended subjects of your piece, I wouldn’t have bothered posting a comment, and we would all have been spared this tiresome political discussion. But… c’est la vie! No such thing as a blog with too many comments, eh?

                      Cheers!

                      Reply from Bobinoz:

                      As you can see, the ‘Reply’ button has now disappeared from this conversational thread, my comment system has a built-in ‘this conversation has gone on too long and must be getting boring’ factor and automatically drops that reply button.

                      No kidding, that’s what really happens.

                      Of course, as administrator I can add a footnote like this to your comment to get the last word 🙂

                      All I want to say is this debate actually started with the title of this blog post which was written by me very deliberately because I wanted it to be absolutely clear to my readers that I was talking about people who come from the USA and not people who generally come from any one of the Americas. “People from the USA: Do Australians like People from the USA?” would have been just too weird.

                      I think the title succeeded in that which is why Ricardo asked the question.

                      By the way, interesting the way you have spun everything that Chris Kirk has said in his article to try and make it suit your needs, you should be a politician.

                      This debate is now over, although feel free to continue it yourself on Chris Kirk’s page.

                      Bob

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

If your comment doesn’t get answered, find out why…..
FAQs and Comment Policy.