Because we are Australians; we don’t do existentialism. If anything, we do Contiki.
It’s an often said that Western Europe fits inside Australia x number of times. For certain Europeans this portrays Australia as a place of light and open space, its deserts and backpacker-hostels offer a kind of freedom from society.
How does Australia fit into Europe? The same fact about Europe fitting into Australia emphasises that Europe is a small place full of many cultures. It is a playground of culture and diversity.
Something like one of those old primary school maps of the world with a stereotypical local standing in folk-dress in each country, my imagined Europe is littered with the prostrate forms of young Aussies. Here they are dressed in white and the shirtfront has been stained with sangria (Pamplona, Running of the Bulls), and here in imitation lederhosen and under pinewood benches (Munchen, Oktoberfest), and look here . . .
Johann wants nothing to do with Contiki.
‘I want to experience something a bit different to where I’ve grown up, where I’ve been before,’ he says after he has got home, showered, and sat down to do the interview, tape-recorder running.
He says:
‘Australians need to be respectful. I’ve travelled to a lot of countries and encountered people who are disrespectful, cultures and races. It’s really important just to respect people and their ways of life. Embrace the culture.’
Which are laudable sentiments, Johann, but I can’t help thinking (and I think you would agree, after the interview you complained it was too formal), they sound a bit rehearsed and goody-goody. I mean what about getting drunk in Prague?
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