US-Australia Cultural Exchange

Rowan is up from Australia, spending a few days with his American counterparts, which has presented the opportunity for some interesting cultural exchanges.

On Sunday, Hank gave Rowan an insider’s tour of the Met Life Stadium parking lot, and introduced him to the uniquely American phenomenon of tailgating. Because they took the train to the stadium, Rowan and Hank were not, technically, tailgating. That did not stop them, however from taking in the sites sounds and malted beverages (“tinnies,” as Rowan would say) of the moment.

After a couple hours of documenting the proceedings and dodging the projectiles, it was time for the main event. Our lads bore witness to the New York Football Giants’ glorious trouncing of the lowly Atlanta Falcons. It was Rowan’s inaugural NFL experience, and he certainly got a full helping of the American version of the game and its surrounding craziness.

The next day it was Rowan’s turn. During a 13th Floor reception in his honor, Rowan produced a mysterious, white box. Inside were numerous variations on the uniquely Australian phenomenon, Vegemite. For those of you not familiar with Vegemite, it’s a dark, yeasty paste that suggests that, if worse came to worse, mankind could survive on a diet of tar.

The New York Green Teamers gamely dived into the Smith Vegemite Chips, Vegemite Cheesybite Snackabouts, Vegemite Cheesybite spread and the original Vegemite spread (in both glass jar and camper-friendly tube).

Cultural differences are, of course, part of life’s rich tapestry, and a reminder of why it’s so important to get out of town every now and then.