For me, the hardest part of the 20 for 2.0 program so far has been naming this blog! Especially after reading several of the clever blog titles by other staff members. I even considered using some obscure German word in the hopes the fewer people would understand my less-than-creative title choice. But after cleaning out a closet the other day I found a magnet I picked up while studying in Austria that said "There are no Kangaroos in Austria." And at that time, it seemed like the perfect title for my new blog!
But there is a story behind this phrase. When I decided to study abroad and mentioned to people where I was going comments like, "At least they speak English there," or "Throw another shrimp on the barbie!" made me realize that people were confusing the tiny European country for the Land Down Under! And apparently the problem is more common than I thought. Another student on my program received a Christmas package from her parents in May after it took a detour down south to Australia.
Eventually I learned to leave the word "Austria" out of my conversations and instead, I told people I was going to Vienna. And then I heard: "Oh, do you speak Italian! I've always wanted to take a gondola ride on those canals."
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The hardest part...
Posted by Laura at 10:02 AM
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4 comments:
Congratulations on creating your blog. Occasionally we'll be commenting on your posts--just our way of chiming in on what you've written. If you run into problems, you might try checking out a few of your colleague's blogs for tips. We're all here to help each other, so look in on your neighbor and leave a comment. If you need more help, you can IM the 20 for 2.0 team by using the "Talk to the Team" meebo box on the blog, or send us an email.
Cheers,
Jim
I have friends in Australia and an Aunt who lives in Austria. Each December I send Christmas cards in both directions. A few years ago, my Aunt didn't get hers until sometime in late January because it had traveled down under with the other cards. You would think that the Post Office could read the difference! I now enter Austria, Europe on cards going to Vienna so there won't be any question.
Before I went to Bolivia as an exchange student, a classmate asked if that was something like Bulgaria... : )
I love the name of your blog. I went to Austria a couple years ago and actually ended up in an Australian pub. My friends and I were on a tour with people from all over the world. One of them asked a fellow traveller if he ever saw kangaroos at home. He looked at her blankly and asked "Kangaroos? In Canada?" She had confused him with one of the Australians on the tour.
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