Australia. Jesus, where the hell do I start?
Well I guess not everything is out to kill you, we're very urban and multicultural, world leaders in many scientific and artistic fields (the lack of recognition for brilliant Australians gets many of my fellows mighty pissed sometimes), and half the slang often associated with us would in all likelihood (if said seriously) would get whoever said it beaten up.
And when I say we're urban, I mean that I've met Aussies who had never seen a kangaroo, koala or even a possum, could not tell the difference between a wattle and a bottle brush and thought that a waratah was a type of bird (these three things are plants).
However, there are a lot of stereotypes that are not only encouraged but often invented or pursued. I've listened to or joined in the terrifying of foreigners with talk of rapist kangaroos, yowies and bunyips (google the last two to understand where I'm coming from), convinced a visiting class that we keep kangaroos as pets (but they must be kept on a leash at all times and you must have a four meter fence).
That is not say that we aren't a bunch of drunken louts, because we are, and damned proud of it.
And, I understand that Sydney has the highest proportion of homosexuals in the world. This is an example of how open-minded and accepting Australia can be, but I should mention that our poofs could beat the shit out of your poofs any day of the week.
Australia, its land, people and culture are very much like the platypus. No I'm not going to explain that metaphor.
