Tui Beer ads provide some good comic relief through the use of controversial political (and otherwise) statements followed by their tag line of "Yeah Right" (Some have been banned)A recent poll showed that the majority of Kiwis did not know that 2008 was New Zealand election year...but most knew that this November the U.S. would be choosing a new president. Furthermore, Kiara and I have noticed that most people can discus the candidates and the issues (especially Iraq) with intensity.
After my third year genetics laboratory was done, the professor took everyone out to the Captain Cook Tavern for drinks. (I was told that it was the 37th year of this tradition...how Dr. Poulter has been able to afford the bar tab I have no idea...) Though I don't drink, it was a good opportunity to spend some time with friends that I had made during the course of the semester. Dr. Poulter, knowing that I am an American, made a point to sit next to me so he could talk about election year in the U.S....turns out he knows quite a bit more about American politics than I do! (Even after he had a jug in him...)
Much of the down time in my labs was spent similarly. Most of my lab mates knew the frontrunner's positions on issues, knew who the front runner for each party was, etc....one even knew the number of delegates each had!
As Dr. Poulter put it, with the amount of interest Kiwi's have in U.S. politics, most Kiwis would rather vote for the U.S. president than the N.Z. prime minister!
When we did our volunteer trip to the Catlins, we stayed with an older Kiwi couple. One night at dinner American politics came up and Mary (our hostess) said that the whole world should be allowed to vote for the U.S. president as it affects everyone.
1 comment:
Good morning from Minnesota!
How can it be that citizens of another country can know so much and rightfully be so passionate about the USA? Even more than our own citizens! This accentuates the fact that we are indeed WORLD citizens. That what we do and say profoundly affects our brothers and sisters across the world, and therefore exemplifies the Golden Rule. We Americans, evidently, can be both so charitable and so self absorbed at the same time.
Thankfully you guys are representing us so well and receiving an education beyond academics that will last your lifetime. Take good care of one another.
See you later.
Love to you both,
Dad
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