Oprah Down Under

The news here is abuzz with news of the media goddess Oprah's arrival Down Under, but already, less the 24 hours into the venture, there are dissatisfied whispers and side comments laced with sarcasm.

Fans were disappointed initially upon Oprah's arrival because when her plane touched down apparently she didn't pop out to greet them.  I personally didn't think that was a big deal.  Having recently endured the grueling several day trip myself, I didn't feel particularly in the mood for a meet-&-greet either upon arrival.

My personal disappointment is in Oprah's choice of itinerary.  She has touted this trip as her great Aussi adventure, discovering the flavors and nuances of a new country.  So where does she go first?  Hamilton Island, a resort that most Australians will never see.  As the news announcer commented, "Nice if you're able."

Upon arrival she was greeted by a large number of men in board shorts walking in from the sea bearing trays of delicacies and was treated to a meal created by celebrity chef Curtis Stone that included, according to one local news report "shrimp on the barbie".

I'm not Australian, and I've only lived here four months as of yesterday, but the whole experience the Oprahlites are having so far seems as unAussi as coming to America and staying in Hawaii.  I have nothing against Hamilton Island, or Hawaii, but they are hardly the mainstream experience most of us are privy to.  As of yet I know no Australians who have ever eaten actual "shrimp on the barbie" and they don't even call them "shrimp".  Down here they are all "prawns".

Now please don't shred me as an Oprah hater, I am not.  I have a lot of respect for the woman behind the empire she built from nothing but her charisma.  I just feel like her wealth and fame is cheating her of the real aussi experience.  From my personal experience as an American here, I see the aussi lifestyle as anti extravagant.  Life is enjoyed, but not to gluttonous extremes.

Australia is an incredible experience, but if Oprah wants to truly taste it, she needs to get out of the resorts and into the actual country.  Places like Clare, where they drink rainwater and the air is so clean it was like breathing in sunlight.  Come out to the real Australia and smell the over powering scent of flowers, dig your toes in the red dirt and look up at a different night sky.

C'mon Oprah, don't show the viewers back home a homogenized, tourists' view of this country.  As they say here, 'get stuck into it!'.