A Yank's Guide to
Life In Tassie
A Yank's Guide to Life in Tassie
Second Edition
© 2001 by Ben Armacost
First Edition - October 1996
Second Edition - January 2001
Written and printed in Tasmania, Australia
The purpose of this book is to provide information for those who wish to learn about Tasmania, or who are preparing to visit personally. This book,or portions thereof, may be copied for your personal use or for your local church , for the purpose of missions education and awareness for any and all age groups, as long as it is not altered or edited in any way, and that the source is clearly quoted with the text. You may use this material without permission, but the author would appreciate feedback concerning how this life material has been useful in your church or your own personal.Direct all comments or inquiries via email
to tassiebear@vision.net.au.
Preface
My purpose for writing this is to help Americans understand and appreciate what Tasmania is, both physically and culturally. Being an American myself, I know how little we “Yanks” tend to know about other countries, especially Australia. Unfortunately, many people in the U.S. do not know that Tasmania even exists, or mistakenly believe it is some little country lost in the jungles of darkest Africa. Americans who are interested in knowing more about their world owe it to themselves to find out more about the
little-known island on the other side of the world which we affectionately call Tassie. I said in the preface to the first edition that this was not a research project. But since that time I have found myself digging everywhere for information, and have to admit that I have done a good bit of research and study in order to compile this information. But it is still largely an accumulation of observations that I gathered in my first year in Tasmania—while the distinctions between American and Tasmanian life were fresh and obvious.Having been here only since January 1996,we have found that in even a few months the distinctions between life in America and Australia faded considerably. Fortunately, this project has helped keep those distinctions clear. While most of what I have compiled is based on personal observation, I have tried to be as objective as possible. I certainly hope that no one will not regard this as an authoritative account, as I am just sharing what I have seen m and heard which means that it is subject to errors due tomisinterpretation. And it is by no means exhaustive, as it was never intended to be. However, I will add to it regularly as I discover more about Tasmania and the distinct elements which make it unique. If you wish to really get serious about learning about Tasmania, may I suggest you look at some of the books and web sites listed at the end of this book. Or better yet, get on a plane and come visit!
If in fact you are planning to come to Tasmania, whether for work orrecreation, reading this material is a must. It will give you a great head start (as well as a few fair warnings!) in your journeys here. Take some time to read through carefully, and start looking at some of the resources that will build your knowledge a bit. Your time here will be farmore fulfilling if you do a little homework in advance–and the people here will appreciate your sensitivity to their culture and their ways.If you are an Australian,NewZealander, or Britisher, please understand that this has been written for Americans, from an American viewpoint, in the American language. I have done my best not to be derogatory in any way,
but rather to bring out the most noteworthy features of Australia's little island state.
I hope you will find this presentation of facts interesting and informative; that it answers some of your questions; and that you will develop a sense of appreciation and excitement for the life and work in which we are immersed.May it enable you to pray for us more meaningfully as we share the Savior's love on this beautiful island.
Ben Armacost
Tasmania, Australia
Introduction
Tasmania. Just the sound of its name invokes thoughts of a wild, far-off land of enchantment and wonder. And it truly is a fascinating place filled with unique, natural beauty.Amazingly some of that beauty has never been beheld by human eyes, as there are presumed to be regions in Tasmania's southwestern wilderness that have never been explored by humans! And there are animal and plant species dwelling in the temperate rain forests here that are found nowhere else on earth.But culturally, Tasmania is part of what we call western society, and is remarkably similar to America. In fact, I would venture to say that there are far more similarities than there are differences (although you might be willing to argue that statement after reading this book!)Most things that are different are just minor things, for the most part. The values, ideals, and life goals embraced by America and Australia are remarkably comparable. Because of the number of similarities, moving to Tasmania seemed like moving to another American state. The most obvious differences—the accent, driving on the left side of the road, and the money system—were the only real reminders that I was indeed in another country! If you want to imagine what it's like here—and I will only speak for Tasmania and not Australia as a whole—just start off by imagining that it's the same as America. Then take into consideration the following “distinctives,” and you will begin to have a pretty good picture of what it's like to live in Tasmania. But I must admit—there's nothing like actually being here!
The Aussie Mind Set
Before we dig into the fun stuff, I want to share some important facts. Perhaps the most important reason I have taken the time and trouble to write all this information is to remind Americans of one important thing:Australians are not Americans. That might sound a little silly to say, but having been in Australia for nearly 5 years now I can see how one might be ready to call it the 51st state. There are a lot of similarities. The values, goals, and ideals of Australians are certainly very much like those of Americans on the whole. But it is important that one consciously remember that, while Australians might be “like us,” they nevertheless have a unique heritage and a basic mind set that is not exactly the same as their trans Pacific neighbors.
There are a number of factors that cause Americans and Australians to misunderstand each other. Here are just a few:
Ignorance. This is mostly on the part of Americans, as we tend not
to know much about other countries, including Australia. But the
reverse is not true! Australians have their ear to America's
door—they have their hand on the pulse of America—they know
what is going on far more than Americans know what is going on in
Australia. This is probably due primarily to the plethora of news
coverage from and about the United States. I would venture to say
that many Aussies know as much about what is going on in
American politics that many Americans do!
The Media. The media, especially TV movies, tends to present an
unbalanced view of America. Frequently,when Australians discover
that I am from the U.S., their comments tend to reflect a stereotype.
The media tend to portray America as one big city, overrun with
rich executives, greed, and violent crime. To a degree, they are right but we Americans know that it isn't all like that. The same
can be said about the North American perception of Australia.
Movies like Crocodile Dundee play on the stereotype, and really do
not portray an accurate picture of Australian life. For example, do
you really believe that Aussies walk around with wide brimmed hats decorated with crocodile teeth, and carry a really big knife in their belt? I challenge you to fine even one!
Perceived Attitudes. Australians are traditionally “knockers,” and
if something negative can be said about someone or something, they
are likely to say it. This is especially true of tall poppies. Since
America has quite a large percentage of these tall poppy types,
Australians, by their nature, are likely to cast their share of
criticisms. By the uninformed visitor, this could be interpreted as
negativism or bigotry. But it is actually just their way of speaking
their mind–and simply telling the truth!
Language. Differences in language also account for misunderstandings. What sounds rude to one person may not actually be rudeness. For an American to use the word “bloody,”
mention that we were “stuffed” after a big meal, or talk about
“rooting” for our favorite football team, Aussies will be terribly
offended by our speech. The reverse is also true, and you may well
see some examples as you read on
Fortunately, by becoming more aware of each other’s cultural
idiosyncracies,we can at least make allowances for each other and give one another the benefit of the doubt.
Basic Facts About Tassie
Tasmania is Australia’s island state the smallest and most southerly of 6 states and several territories. It is situated about 150 miles south of the state of Victoria, separated from mainland Australia by a body of water called the Bass Strait. King Island and Flinders Island, to the northwest and northeast respectively, are also part of
Tasmania. Macquarie Island comparable in size to King and Flinders, is also part of the state.However it is uninhabited, located about midway between Tasmania and Antarctica.
History
Tasmania was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642, an explorer on an expedition for the Dutch East India Company.Because Anthony Van Diemen was governor general of the Dutch East Indies at the time of the discovery, the island was named Van Diemen's Land. This designation remained until 1855, at which time it was renamed Tasmania to honor its discoverer. Tasmania's capital city, Hobart, was founded in 1804 and is the second oldest city in Australia. Sydney (New South Wales) is the oldest city, having been settled by the First Fleet in
1788.
Geography
Physically, Tasmania is quite varied. Elevations range from sea level to mountain peaks exceeding 5,000 feet, with the highest–Mt. Ossa–reaching 5,305 feet. Hundreds of lakes can be found throughout the central highlands. Waterfalls abound along seemingly innumerable streams and rivers. Beneath the surface, there are miles of caves. Over 25% of Tasmania is protected in the form of state reserves and 14 National Parks;
