Coming to America for Real!

What if Crocodile Dundee really came to America? What would it be like? What kind of questions would you ask of him? Would he find the day-to-day living that much different? There is just something about that aussie accent.

I would like to share the story of a special man that I have had the pleasure of knowing for a year and a half. This story gives a glimpse into life in Australia as a kid. He may not be Crocodile Dundee but in my eyes, he is the one and only aussie guy. Mr. Ray C, the man in the photo with me above this article. He is an aussie male living and working in the United States.

He was born in Malta and his parents moved to Blacktown, which is a suburb of Sydney Australia when he was 1 year old. He was the only son of Kate and Vince who had six daughters as well. Imagine growing up in a household of sisters. He does not see anything wrong with it, and still talks to all the sisters and his mom on a monthly basis.

Young Ray spent his childhood growing up going to a catholic school, and learning about his world. His playground was his neighborhood and the town, as he grew older. That is not much different then my own childhood, except for the different locations. He watched television and played with toys like I did, but they were different shows and different toys.

He watched his father work endlessly providing for his large family and this is where young Ray would learn his work ethics. He used to help around the home as much as his sisters did as a child, and I know first hand all the household chores there are with a large family. Ray learned early to pitch in and do whatever was needed, no matter the time.

They eat cheeseburgers as we American's do but their dressed burgers include a fried egg, a slice of beet and a slice of pineapple. I think I will just stick with our toppings.

Ray says that the restaurants there are not limited to preset weights of food, the shopkeeper's just kind of eyeball it. That would be nice with homemade fries covered in cheese, yummy, that sounds great about now.

Australia is one of those countries whose steering wheels are on the opposite side of the car, and they drive on the other side of the road. I watched a few home videos on youtube about Australia, and they are fascinating. I have seen that most of their street signs are painted right on the road.

I asked Ray if the kangaroos run wild like the media presents or what. He told me that the kangaroos are only in the northern part running free; sure, they come into the city but only in zoos. I guess I had always imagined that the kangaroos ran all over, like the rabbits and squirrels do around here. I live in small town in northeastern Pennsylvania and well rabbits, and squirrels are a daily sight.

He talks about Australian people doing walkabouts with bobbers hanging from straw hats to keep away the bugs, partiers getting pissed (drunk) and ending up in the paddy wagon (cop car), and his days of coaching rugby league team.

He tells Australian dirty jokes were body parts are vegetable names like yanking a carrot. Up the duff means, someone is pregnant. A root here means a root of a plant, or when one yells for their favorite team, over there a root is sex with random people.

One can only imagine what that was like growing up over there. He tells many stories of the nightlife in Sydney and tells it first hand, as he does many stories of the fireworks at Sydney Harbor Bridge.

I can only imagine what it was like growing up in such a beautiful city, and I would never want to leave. However, Ray has always had this dream. He yearned for the bright lights of America and vowed that some day, some way he would make it to America.

He did come to American but bright lights of the city are not what he got by a long shot. He came to the sleepy little town of Athens, Pennsylvania in 1997. It has a population about 2.000 on a good day and the lights go off about 9 pm here. He is a night owl, who sleeps by day. He works at our local Wal-Mart and is a friend to all who know him.

When people ask how he came to American, he simply says on a plane. It is far easier then going into a long story of his failed marriage. That for sure would bring people down, so the line about the plane brings a giggle or too. His sense of humor is outstanding to say the least, and he brings smiles to everyone who meets him. He is always ready with a joke or a kind word for everyone.

He still keeps in contact with his mom and sisters, on the phone a few times a month. I have talked with Monica, Joyce, and Anna his sisters. I enjoyed talked with them but I find their accents very strong and at times hard to understand. They all seem to be quite friendly, laid back as Ray is, and I love that. He talks so much about them that I feel as if I know them. Even though this family is separated by a huge distance, they keep in touch and that says a lot about the type of people they are. They are a loving, close-knit family much like my own.

He says some of the funniest things like 'far out Brussels sprouts' and 'mother the good lord', when something catches him by surprise as we Americans would say oh shit or any of the other countless things. That is his nature, his up bringing by good catholic parents. He still does say oh shit and that is beyond funny with his thick accent. Caulk sounds like a body part, which is just funny. He is known locally as a smart aleck at times, but he is well liked by everyone who knows him.

Another thing he has gotten from his parents is his love of life and strong work ethic. He is very willing to work and do more then is expected. He goes beyond his role as a receiver at Wal-Mart; he also does his own customer service. He is often helping people when they ask him where something is. He goes out of his way to help others.

I am sure they are surprised of his accent, because he does not look like the typical Australians they we know from the media, namely Olivia Newton John, Mel Gibson, and Keith Urban. His darker Italian looks come from his parents who were born in Malta. The jet-black hair, which is plentiful, is very thick and his five o'clock shadow appears much earlier. I find it very sexy.

Yes, the thick accent is still very much there and sometimes he has trouble getting people to understand him on the phone. It is a riot when he gets telemarketers going on the phone.

I have had to ask him to repeat him self more then once because I still have trouble understanding some of the things he says. I love his accent thought, and the sweetest words I hear from his lips these days are Amy I love you.

That truly is music to my ears. Imagine that girls, an Aussie man whispering I love you in your ear. There is no describable feeling of what that does. I know part of this is his accent, but the other part is because I know he means it from the core of his being.

A few weeks ago, we went to karaoke and he got up and sang Kenny Rodgers version of "Lady' for me and it was wonderful. I did not hear the sexy accent at all until he finished singing. I found that very sweet that he sang that song just for me. It was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes.

This man has been there through thick and thin for me for the last year and a half. His personality, charm, sexiness, and well everything about him has led me to find the love of my life. He truly is a catch, and well he has been caught. I do not foresee myself throwing him back in this lifetime. Sorry girls you are out of luck on this fish.

Hurdles when I have them are less hard to overcome these days, because I have Ray beside me encouraging me to go ahead. Everything seems easier these days, just because he is there. Life is much easier and much happier as well. He knows my writing here is not only helping with the much-needed cash, it also provides an outlet for my creativeness.

He is always asking about how I am doing and often reads my articles. I wonder what he will say when he reads this one. I am laughing to myself, because he is going to blush a nice shade of red and said Amy, I did not mean for you to write about me. I will just laugh and say aww baby I love you.