I can't help but think as i'm lying here on the couch how many subtle litte differences there are between every country i've lived in and the US. Right now i'm thinking of 2 things-the Rugby world cup and the news. I'll start with the news really. It's funny how a constant criticism i hear about US news is that it's just that--US news. Even programs called "World news" seem to have a distinct US focus. Here in NZ it seems like the opposite mostly. Whether it's a focus on Hollywood celebs or what the Aussie's are doing (or perhaps it's just that nothing that exciting happens here) it's all very much global. Maybe nothing of huge note happens here and they've gotta keep the viewers watching. It does however just have it's own "what does this mean for us" spin. Maybe everyone is incredibly narcissitic (maybe not quite the right use of the word) but people only seem to care about what affects them. Either way tho i do like being informed of things on a much wider scale. Scale seems to be the key tho. In the US everything is geographically centred because let's face it--the US is huge. I read recently somewhere that New Zealand is like the size of Colorado. And that's it. A whole country. Not that Ireland or the UK (the last 2 countries i've lived in) were all that much larger. But Australia's pretty large and i didn't think that their news was particularly insular (at least what i saw of it). And speaking of scale brings me to my next item--the rugby world cup. The kiwi's are mad for it! It's brought out something i'm not used to having--patriotism. I was vigrously following the US in it (well as much as one can when the games are usually at like 6am) and despite failing to win one game i kept cheering them on because i have this feeling of pride. I think what makes it wierd is that other than the Olympics i don't feel as though America takes part in any world games. Let's face it the World Series is hardly a "world' series and the sports that we see as American institutions (baseball, american football, and basketball) don't seem to have any major global showdowns (Soccer does but no one in the US really cares about that). I can't help but wonder if they did have a major worldwide event for those games would we (Americans) be so patriotic about it? Is it because i'm abroad and i feel so isolated i cling to any bit that i feel identifies me?

Right well enough of that 2am rambling. Unfortunetly i've been sick this week which has been a bummer and may be the reason for any non-sensical bits of this entry. I did manage a first tho--Caitlin's hen night (aka Bachlorette party) which was fun despite not feeling in top form. I even made her a little banner (i can't think of what they're called---like what the beauty queens wear) saying "bride to be". Matt's off at Oisin's stag do as we speak (well as i type).

I think i shall give in to sleep. But look, i've made good on my promise to write more! Maybe i'll even add some more photos in soon.

:-)