MR

I'm not being facetious here, I mean it. I'm starting the process of arranging an international student exchange, for one or more likely 2 semesters in 2010, and at the moment, the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus). In the last few days, there have been a lot of posts that make the US seem like less than an ideal place to live, so I'm honestly asking - why should I come here? What is there that I can see, do, have fun with, experience and appreciate?

Let me clarify for you - I live in a wealthy, liberal Western nation with a fairly steady economy, very good standard of living, very little violent crime, free press, open government (well, as open as any government can/will be), good education, free health care and decent support networks. US freedoms and legal policies aren't much of an incentive for me (not saying anything negative here, just pointing out in these regards I've already got it good and am not likely to be impressed much.)

So far, my incentives are:

* I have a lot of friends in the USA (and Canada) who I haven't seen in far too long, or who I have yet to 'meet' in person.
* the ability to see bands/acts perform live that I would be unlikely to ever see in Australia
* cheap CDs

So come on, sell this to me. What's the good stuff?

(Oh yeah - I forgot one:

* proving that Rhi and BJG are pulling my leg about the crunchy marshmallows. )

You're fuckin weird, dude.

1. The US has the best universities in the world. This is one of the few places we can still claim global superiority unflinchingly. UC Berkeley ranks #2,3, or 4 in the WORLD, depending on which set of rankings one looks at. Only Oxford, Cambridge, and Tokoyo crack the top twenty from the rest of the globe. Most people never get a chance to attend such a place; you've been given a gift.

http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/ARWU2008_A(EN).htm


2. Any time spent outside of the cocoon of one's own culture broadens and enriches one beyond measure; you will not return the same person as the one who left; it's almost always value added to the core of who you are.

3. We'd like to formally induct you into the society of US MR chicas at one of our pre-concert gatherings. We have to be experienced in person to be believed.

Rockindeano wrote:You're fuckin weird, dude.

Less 'dude', thank you. Mistress Weirdo, if you must.

So why am I weird this time, oh Grand MR Poobah and High Lord of All Opinion? Because I don't believe in crunchy marshmallows? And please, remember to use correct English spelling, not the Microsoft-crap "American English" you use, Deano. Remember, it's a-r-s-e.

DrFU wrote:We have to be experienced in person to be believed.

Just dump trainload of alcohol in these chicks and it's an easy night. Or maybe not

Arianddu, I can understand your question, it is not so easy to answer without asking you more about your country. I do not assume you do not live in a wonderful place. I am sure it is. Truely a place I hope to visit in my lifetime.
I have a question or two.
Let me google some things first.

Arianddu wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:You're fuckin weird, dude.

Less 'dude', thank you. Mistress Weirdo, if you must.

So why am I weird this time, oh Grand MR Poobah and High Lord of All Opinion? Because I don't believe in crunchy marshmallows? And please, remember to use correct English spelling, not the Microsoft-crap "American English" you use, Deano. Remember, it's a-r-s-e.

Feel free to kneel down and gobble at my smelly taint. And when you're finished, allow me to blast a fart in your face.

DrFU wrote:1. The US has the best universities in the world. This is one of the few places we can still claim global superiority unflinchingly. UC Berkeley ranks #2,3, or 4 in the WORLD, depending on which set of rankings one looks at. Only Oxford, Cambridge, and Tokoyo crack the top twenty from the rest of the globe. Most people never get a chance to attend such a place; you've been given a gift.

http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/ARWU2008_A(EN).htm


2. Any time spent outside of the cocoon of one's own culture broadens and enriches one beyond measure; you will not return the same person as the one who left; it's almost always value added to the core of who you are.

3. We'd like to formally induct you into the society of US MR chicas at one of our pre-concert gatherings. We have to be experienced in person to be believed.

1 and 2 were a given - Oxford's actually one of the other places in consideration (and I can work in the UK, so I won't need to go into debt. But I can live in the UK any time I want to, so...)

3 - DEFINATELY an attraction! Do I have to change my name to Deb?

Oh for fuck's sake...Australia is a desert version of Canada which is the same thing as the US.

You'll be fine.

Relax.

Rockindeano wrote:

Arianddu wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:You're fuckin weird, dude.

Less 'dude', thank you. Mistress Weirdo, if you must.

So why am I weird this time, oh Grand MR Poobah and High Lord of All Opinion? Because I don't believe in crunchy marshmallows? And please, remember to use correct English spelling, not the Microsoft-crap "American English" you use, Deano. Remember, it's a-r-s-e.

Feel free to kneel down and gobble at my smelly taint. And when you're finished, allow me to blast a fart in your face.

Hmm. As far as attractions go, somehow I don't think the US tourism industry has picked up on that one. Maybe you aren't blowing your own trumpet loudly enough. Or maybe no one's blowing it at all. I believe there are people you can pay to do that, you know. Try to pick a lad with strong knees, Deano-dear. Oh, and a small mouth - less work for him that way.

Arianddu wrote:3 - DEFINATELY an attraction! Do I have to change my name to Deb?

No offense bro, but are you sure Oxford accepted you? If so, learn to spell definitely properly. It's definitely spelled definitely, not definately.

Rockindeano wrote:Oh for fuck's sake...Australia is a desert version of Canada which is the same thing as the US.

You'll be fine.

Relax.

If I get any more relaxed, I'm at risk of slipping into a coma. I've got another two more months of holidays; two more months uninterrupted diving, a little sailing, maybe take the sailboard out if I can get a lift, a bit of bush walking, hang out with friends at my lovely local, drink a few, play a few games of pool, listen to a few good local bands - any more relaxation could well kill me.

Rockindeano wrote:

Arianddu wrote:3 - DEFINATELY an attraction! Do I have to change my name to Deb?

No offense bro, but are you sure Oxford accepted you? If so, learn to spell definitely properly. It's definitely spelled definitely, not definately.

True - my favourite English lecturer Tom Burton gives me shit for it frequently. But I still know the correct way to spell arsehole, arsehole.

And as I said - Mistress Weirdo. Lay off the dude/bro/masculine references. You'll make my breasts shrink.

Well, one thing is that generally our spiders tend to be a little less nightmarishly huge.

Arianddu wrote: the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus).

Berkeley is NOT part of the U.S.

Arianddu wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Oh for fuck's sake...Australia is a desert version of Canada which is the same thing as the US.

You'll be fine.

Relax.

If I get any more relaxed, I'm at risk of slipping into a coma. I've got another two more months of holidays, two more months uninterupted diving, a little sailing, maybe take the sailboard out if I can get a lift, a bite off some bush walking, hang out with friends at my lovely local, drink a few, play a few games of pool, listen to a few good local bands - any more relaxtion could well kill me.

Uninterrupted, not interupted. Maybe you could go to fuckin Montana State or some shit like that.

And what the Hell are you biting bush? That's hot!

Saint John wrote:

Arianddu wrote: the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus).

Berkeley is NOT part of the U.S.

go piss up a light pole, Dan-O

Saint John wrote:

Arianddu wrote: the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus).

Berkeley is NOT part of the U.S.

Go Bears! ??

DrFU wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Arianddu wrote: the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus).

Berkeley is NOT part of the U.S.

go piss up a light pole, Dan-O

At least you give me credit for having a good upward stream.

Loneman1 wrote:Well, one thing is that generally our spiders tend to be a little less nightmarishly huge.

Hey, how did you get a photo of my favourite spider and my kitchen clock?

Actually, I like having the huntsmen in the house. Friendly little things... well, no, not little. But I'd rather a harmless huntsman the size of my hand than a little red-back in the loo! Painful bites those buggers have.

Arianddu wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:

Arianddu wrote:3 - DEFINATELY an attraction! Do I have to change my name to Deb?

No offense bro, but are you sure Oxford accepted you? If so, learn to spell definitely properly. It's definitely spelled definitely, not definately.

True - my favourite English lecturer Tom Burton gives me shit for it frequently. But I still know the correct way to spell arsehole, arsehole.

And as I said - Mistress Weirdo. Lay off the dude/bro/masculine references. You'll make my breasts shrink.

Well, there you go ... his Arseholiness lives in CA ... you can call him that to his face ...

Rockindeano wrote:

Arianddu wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Oh for fuck's sake...Australia is a desert version of Canada which is the same thing as the US.

You'll be fine.

Relax.

If I get any more relaxed, I'm at risk of slipping into a coma. I've got another two more months of holidays, two more months uninterupted diving, a little sailing, maybe take the sailboard out if I can get a lift, a bite off some bush walking, hang out with friends at my lovely local, drink a few, play a few games of pool, listen to a few good local bands - any more relaxtion could well kill me.

Uninterrupted, not interupted. Maybe you could go to fuckin Montana State or some shit like that.

And what the Hell are you biting bush? That's hot!

Fuck you - I actually went and checked my spelling, you bastard!
For someone who is dyslexic, I think I do ok on picking up my typing errors. Mostly.

DrFU wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Arianddu wrote: the USA is a prime candidate for me (University of California, Berkeley campus).

Berkeley is NOT part of the U.S.

go piss up a light pole, Dan-O

Goodnight Now! Linda coming over the table with a left hook and connecting! Yeeeooow! Linda throwing down does not suck Dan. You know she is dressed to the nines wearing expensive clothes and shoes and I bet you my dirty underwear she smells great too.

Ok, ok - Deano hijacking aside - talk to me people.

I'm being threatened with Disneyland, Count Chocula, and whole deep fried Turkey. There has to be more than this!

Loneman1 wrote:Well, one thing is that generally our spiders tend to be a little less nightmarishly huge.

Holy crap!! I swear if I (LOL and probably BJG too ) saw one that big here I'd go spazmotic! I have relatives that used to live in Sydney but have moved to New Zealand, are they just as big there too?

Arianddu wrote:

Loneman1 wrote:Well, one thing is that generally our spiders tend to be a little less nightmarishly huge.

Hey, how did you get a photo of my favourite spider and my kitchen clock?

Actually, I like having the huntsmen in the house. Friendly little things... well, no, not little. But I'd rather a harmless huntsman the size of my hand than a little red-back in the loo! Painful bites those buggers have.

I never really was a spider person myself, but you do seem to raise a good point. Though I must admit I'd prefer my spiders to not be big enough to possibly wear a small leash.

If I saw a spider that fucking big I'd be running around with a god damned gun!!!

Saint John wrote:If I saw a spider that fucking big I'd be running around with a god damned gun!!!

My thoughts exactly.

Dan. Goddamned is spelled as one word.

Thanks,

Rockindeano

Rockindeano wrote:Dan. Goddamned is spelled as one word.

Thanks,

Rockindeano

God is always by himself. Ask him.