American Invasion
Oct. 31st, 2005 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kerravonsenWell. I have just had my doorbell rung by children in costume. This is a first. Yes, in all the years I've lived in Australia (which is not equal to the years of my life, mind) I have never had trick-or-treaters at the door before.
My first words to them were "But this is an American custom!" If I recall correctly, their response was "But it's fun!". I was so flustered, I can't recall what all of them were wearing, though one girl had fairy wings on, and one boy had a beard, I think he was dressed as a pirate.
Anyway, I decided to be nice to them, and then ran around trying to figure what I could give them. There aren't usually bikkies or sweets in the house (though there were some sweets in my bag, they were loose). I knew I had some filled marshmallows, though possibly not enough. Then I recalled the assorted box of Lindor chocolate balls I was saving for Christmas. I said to them, "You're lucky, I was saving these for Christmas." I gave them one each, but from the gasps when they saw the box, they did appreciate what they were getting.
Aren't I good? 8-)
I am also good because I did 15 minutes on the treadmill just before the doorbell rang. I was going to do ten, but I persisted. Mind you, it's the first time I've done it all month, so I am not that good.
My first words to them were "But this is an American custom!" If I recall correctly, their response was "But it's fun!". I was so flustered, I can't recall what all of them were wearing, though one girl had fairy wings on, and one boy had a beard, I think he was dressed as a pirate.
Anyway, I decided to be nice to them, and then ran around trying to figure what I could give them. There aren't usually bikkies or sweets in the house (though there were some sweets in my bag, they were loose). I knew I had some filled marshmallows, though possibly not enough. Then I recalled the assorted box of Lindor chocolate balls I was saving for Christmas. I said to them, "You're lucky, I was saving these for Christmas." I gave them one each, but from the gasps when they saw the box, they did appreciate what they were getting.
Aren't I good? 8-)
I am also good because I did 15 minutes on the treadmill just before the doorbell rang. I was going to do ten, but I persisted. Mind you, it's the first time I've done it all month, so I am not that good.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-31 10:26 pm (UTC)It's dangerous saying things like this, but honestly I think it's a sign of the generally low education level of the people living in my area. They get virtually all their knowledge of the world from television and I suspect a lot of the parents probably aren't aware that this isn't an Australian custom.
With the recent immigrants, I think it's understandable - they are trying to fit into a new culture that to them probably seems virtually indistinguishable from America - but with the ones who have lived here all their lives, I really think it comes from only learning about the world from television - bear in mind I know people around here who think that George W. Bush is the leader of Australia and John Howard is some sort of deputy.