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"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."
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(Our team from left to right: Nadia, Etsuko, Agnes, Sonia, Monica, Akiko)
Welcome to the Christmas edition of our Global Experience newsletter.
It is indeed that time of the year where schools start to wind down, mums are finishing their Christmas shopping, planning their cooking for family gatherings and in general, organising some good family time. It is also a great time of the year to show our guests at home, what Christmas is all about in this part of the world.
This is why we have decided to do a Christmas edition of our newsletter with an Australian flavour for you all, our dear students.
We would also like to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2008, may the New Year find us all living in more peace and harmony than ever before.
With much love,
Global Experience Team
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 Student of the Month - George Klucka
George is a 27 year old Slovakian boy, coming to Australia to continue his study. He has one brother age 23 who is currently staying in Dublin.
George describes himself as a simple boy who enjoys snowboarding, soccer, tennis, dancing and movies. His favourite food is Chili con Carne.
George has always been fascinated by Australia. So after he spent 10 months staying in New Zealand, he decided to continue his study in Australia. He is currently studying English Academic Program in CET at University of Sydney.
He is also in the process of selecting a country to continue his MBA program and Australia is one of the possibilities.
He loves Australian way of living and he doesn't find it hard to adjust here since he has spent some time in New Zealand.
What he enjoys the most about Australia is the beautiful nature (such as the beaches) and the people. He hasn't had any bad experience ever since he arrived in Australia.
George is currently staying with Global Experience's host family of the Month for August, the Hyde family. He really likes staying with them and he thinks that they are a great family. Most importantly, he can have fun whilst at the same time he is able to improve his English skills at home especially because the Host Father is an English teacher. George isn't the only student living with the Hydes, there are some other students from different countries, too. Thus he really enjoys his new homestay environment. They often play games and other activities and he even makes good friends with those students.
George is also very satisfied with Global Experience due to their professionalism. He thinks that living in a homestay provides good opportunity to find real friends whilst at the same time you can experience the Australian way of living and improve your English.
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 Australian World
The modern culture of Australia is a Western culture and draws from many sources, primarily from the Anglo-Celtic culture, but also from Aboriginal culture, the multi-ethnic immigration associated with the Australian gold rush of the 1850s and post-World War II immigrants from all over the world. Mainstream Australian culture has been strongly influenced by British and European cultures and more recently the culture of the United States of America. However, there are distinctive influences from the Australian natural environment, the country's settler history, indigenous Australians, geographical isolation from other Western nations and proximity to Asia.
Australians have very strong attitudes and beliefs which are reinforced by the tenets of the country's society. Traditionally, Australian have viewed themselves as an egalitarian society with a distrust of the rich and powerful. This is reflected by the status of the Eureka Stockade and bushrangers within the Australian psyche.
The Australian culture has been forged on the hardship of early settlers and later on the heroism of the Australian soldiers. "Mateship", or loyal fraternity, has been a central tenet.
The phrase "the lucky country", coined by Donald Horne, is a sobriquet used to describe Australia in terms of weather, lifestyle and history. Ironically, Horne was actually using the term to criticise Australian society of the early 1960's.
Australian stories and legends have a cultural significance quite independent of their empirical truth or falsehood. This can be seen in the national obsession with the almost mythological potrayal of Ned Kelly as a Robin Hood figure of sorts.
 Australians, according to popular opinion, are relaxed, tolerant and easy going and yet cling dearly to the fundamental importance of common sense justice or to use the classic expression, "a Fair Go".
According to popular belief, Australians make great sportsmen and superb soldiers. Yet like many legends, truths do stem from it. Australia has shown in the past and present, that for a country of just over 20 million people, it has been achieved many extraordinary things on the sporting field, such as the 49 medals won at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Militarily, Australians have served gallantly in war, ranging from the Battle of Gallipoli, through to current regional security missions, such as East Timor. Australians see Gallipoli as its baptism of fire, proving itself to Britain and the world. The Australian ideal of war is shaped strongly by the fact that Gallipoli was defeat for Australia. Serving gallantly, and having respect for their Turkish adversaries (led by Ataturk), is seen as the Australian experience, nobility stemming not from the glory of victory of war but from sacrifice and being noble in defeat.
The legend of Australians being great soldiers has its roots in the AIF being used during the latter part of the war as the shock troops of the British Empire forces. The Battle of Amiens, known as the "Black Day of the Germany Army" during the First World War was a blow in which Australian soldiers played a crucial role. This image was the result of Australians being generally of a larger build and more active soldiers, the result of coming from a rural background; the majority of Australians knew how to ride and shoot prior to enlistment, making them good soldiers. However, Australians also had a lax attitude towards discipline.
Alcohol such as beer and Australian wine in particular, is a significant part of Australian culture. In fact 32 of Australia's top 50 beverage brands are alcoholic and most of these favour local brands. Australia produces some of the world's finest wines including Penfolds Grange.
Australia has also produced a wide variety of popular music. Some notable examples include the 1960s successes of The Easybeats and the folk pop group, The Seekers, through the heavy rock of AC/DC, the slick pop of INXS, to Kylie Minogue, Silverchair and Savage Garden. The Vines, Jet and Wolfmother are currently enjoying enormous success internationally.
 Australian rules football (more usually called Aussie Rules or AFL) is the most popular winter sport in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. As the only sport invented by Australians, Australian rules football holds a special place in Australian culture. Whilst Rugby League is the most popular winter sport in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Source: Wikipedia
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 Christmas in Australia
Australia is relatively huge in size, with a population of over 18 million people and a harmonious mix of many ethnic groups. Our backgrounds are varied and our people have connections with England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Europe, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Middle East, Vietnam, China, Japan, Thailand as well as North and South America.
However, up until 30 years ago, our Christmas celebrations were heavily influenced by our original Anglo-Celtic influences. The English style of Christmas served as our model for celebrating Christmas, right down to the traditional roast turkey and steamed pudding in over 35 degree heat.
Today with the huge influx of overseas migrants, our Christmas celebrations are heavily influenced by the ethnicity of families involved. Common sense is prevailing today in terms of weather. Traditional dinners have been replaced with family gatherings in backyards, picnics in parks, gardens and on the beach. For many, it is the occassion to be with friends and relatives, to share love and friendship and not to forget, the exchange of gifts in the traditional manner.
For many, it is of course a time to enjoy and consume massive quantities of food. A typical Christmas menu could include seafood, glazed ham, cold chicken, duck or turkey, cold deli meats, pasta, salads galore, desserts of all types, fruit salad, pavlovas, ice cream plus Christmas edibles of all varities such as mince pies, fruit cake, shortbread, chocolates, etc.
 There has been a suggestion that "Swag Man" take over Santa's franchise Down Under. There is a lot of concern about Santa Claus perhaps suffering heart stroke whilst Down Under. "Swag Man" wears a brown Akubra, a blue singlet and long baggy shorts. He spends all winter under Uluru with his merry dingoes and then at Christmas time, he gets in his huge four-wheel drive and sets off through the red dust to deliver his presents.
Currently everyone is beginning to get ready for the "silly season". EVeryone is busily planning Christmas break-up parties. Children are writing letters to Santa Claus. Decorations are being bought and set up. Shopping centres and malls are experiencing record breaking crowds.
In homes, many of the traditional Christmas rituals are being followed. Many children are helping to decorate the family Christmas tree. We have yet to follow the American ritual of getting "real" Christmas trees though some do use gum tree branches.
Children are learning Christmas Carols so that they may be sung at festive occassions such as public "Carols by Candlelight" and school concerts. Christmas stockings are being hung in homes though fireplaces are in short supply. Cards galore are being written and posted. Everyone awaits... the anticipation is high!
It must also be mentioned that with all the glitter, tinsel and razzmatazz, Australians consider Christmas a time for remembering the true meaning of Christmas... a time for remembering the birth of Jesus and the spiritual meaning of Christmas.
For many, Christmas will begin with families attending a mid-night mass. 70% of Australians are either Catholic, Anglican or Lutheran. After the mid-night Mass, a little sleep is attempted. For many, the children in various households, wake up the family at dawn. Gifts are unwrapped and the joy of Christmas begins. For many with relatives and friends overseas, it is a mad scramble to get an early phone call to relatives worldwide.
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 Australian Social Etiquette to Attend a Dinner Party
At a dinner party, wine is the most appropriate alcoholic contribution made by guests. At the end of the night, it is not usually polite to take home any undrunk wine. Instead it should be left as a gift for the host/s.
Depending upon who is on the guest list, the choice of wine is very important. If the guests are knowledgeable about wine, anyone who brings a cheap wine such as Jacobs Creek will be frowned upon and the wine will just be left unopened.
No wine is too expensive at a dinner party. The better the wine that a guest brings, the more they will be appreciated. By bringing a good wine, the guest is saying that it is an honour to drink with other guests and the host.
Those who share the wine should appreciate the honour, without expressly saying so. Although the wine can be praised, the bringer of the wine cannot. In such situations, a very important rule is that the cost of the wine should not be asked and never volunteered.
If the host takes it upon themselves to open all the wine for the evening, it is generally good form to acknowledge who brought the wine that is being opened. If it is a unique wine, this gives the guest the opportunity to talk about where the wine came from and why he or she thinks it is interesting.
It is very poor form for the host not to open a bottle of good wine that has been brought, i.e. for the host to open the cheap plonk with the hope he or she can drink the good wine by themselves at a later date.
If the wine is not opened, then the host should suggest that the guest take it home with them. In such circumstances, the guest can accept. Alternatively, the host should say the wine will be saved for next time when the guest comes over.
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