It pains me to admit it, but: I’m practically un-Australian.
Here’s three reasons why:
1. I Can’t Swim
Australia: land of the great swimming legends. Every kid can swim even before they can walk!
Or can they?!
I was the kid that dreaded summer phys ed lessons because that meant one thing: swimming.
It was downright humiliating to be in the “Turtles” (or whatever funky name they gave the slow group), year after year after year. It’s mainly the breathing that I struggle with; I think I’m just really uncoordinated. I went for extra lessons as a child but nothing really helped. I somehow dog-paddled my way through until Teacher’s College, when we had to pass our Life Saving Certificate in order to graduate. Uh oh!
I’ve gotta give myself points for sheer determination – I swam the length of that ruddy pool and I passed. I may have come out at the other end coughing and spluttering for dear life, but I PASSED!
2. I Don’t Eat Seafood
One of the things us Aussies – and Queenslanders in particular – are known for, is our great seafood. Even the old tourism ads showed how Australians will “throw another shrimp on the barbie”. The great Australian Christmas tradition is to indulge in prawns, oysters, crab and other fruits of the seas.
And I hate them all!
When I went for allergy testing a few years ago, it turned out I’m actually allergic to seafood, so perhaps it is just as well I never liked it!
3. I Hate Sport
I’m a rare creature – an Australian that hates sport in any way, shape or form.
I’ve already mentioned how I dreaded phys ed in Summer because that meant swimming.
What I failed to mention is that I hated phys ed lessons at any time of the year. I’ve never been any good at sport of any form.
I broke or sprained my fingers too many times to count in my primary school years, in my vain attempts to catch a softball or basketball.
It’s not just playing sport either – I’ve just never understood the great Australian fascination with sport. I mean, IT’S ONLY A GAME, PEOPLES!
Dear reader, will you still love me now that you’ve realised I’m practically un-Australian?!
Linking up with My Home Truths for 3 confessions for the price of 1!