April 01, 2003
Half American, Full Kiwi
Matthew says to me "Mum, am I half American and half Kiwi?" I nod, yes, that this is the case.
"And you are full American, and Daddy is full Kiwi?"
Again I respond yes, and I smile at his innocence. He talks about nationality as if it is a physical part of him - as if he could have American legs and New Zealand arms. He is so proud and so sure of his American heritage. He likes to tell people about it, in the way that four year olds do.
I am not so sure about my answer, though. What does it mean to be "full American" when I've lived outside America for almost as long as I've lived in it?
And Matthew? He is growing up with a Kiwi accent. He says "eh, Mum?" He watches rugby with his father. He likes Weet-Bix.
And Kiwi kids, they're Weet-Bix kids, so the advertisement says.
Posted by deb at April 1, 2003 06:06 PMI tell my girls they're all American and all Austrian. The big one believes this, the little one finds Americans quite exotic.
Posted by: Mig at April 2, 2003 05:52 PMOh goody, I always wanted to be exotic.
But since the weblog concerns expats and deb is in NZ, I'm curious to know what life in NZ is like for an expat. Maybe in comments, maybe as fodder for a follow-up post...I'm not picky.
Posted by: Lutero at April 3, 2003 03:29 PMYeah, Matt thinks Americans are exotic, too. He always looks very wide-eyed whenever we talk about America.
What's life like for an expat in NZ? Well, I hope to write a few entries about that. But if you have specific questions, you're more than welcome to email me separately and ask away.
Posted by: deb at April 3, 2003 08:48 PMI've been lied to all my life. It was my understanding that Aussie kids are weet-bix kids.
Posted by: Monkey at April 6, 2003 09:02 AMwell, Sanitarium is an Australian company, so I think you get first dibs (I'm assuming you're Australian?)
I think they use the same commercials here, with Aussie kids in them, they just change the lyrics. "Kiwi kids, are Weet-Bix kids..."
Posted by: deb at April 6, 2003 10:14 AM