'Somebodies' Review

Although I thought the concepts and themes in 'Somebodies' had serious commercial potential, I would not argue that its' appeal spanned far from the traditional BET audience.

As a white, Australian college student, i found myself frequently questioning the authenticity of the characters and their interaction with each other. Either as a result of poor acting or thin character dialogue in the script, I was not fully engaged by the relationships and at times found the interrelation between characters visibly superficial. This was highlighted most by Scotty and Diva's relationship, which was at times dry and hard to believe.

Having said that, coming from Australia, I have never watched a program on BET and am thus unfamiliar with the style of its programs. However, I assume that if a culturally naive foreigner can question the credibility of character authenticity in the script, the average African-American BET viewer would do so even more severely.

UGA vs USYD - The battle begins

If you ask my scholarly advisors, parents or anyone involved in the payment of my college tuition what the most important aspect of attending UGA is, you will undoubtedly elicit a common response; Academics. Even though the social distractions of college life have already rivaled this aspect of my schooling, academic achievement remains my top priority and I have thus been reflecting on the fundamental and striking differences between the scholarly requirements of UGA and those of the University of Sydney.

The difference in academics between the two schools is rooted in the structure of the degree system itself. In Australia, the majority of schools require students to choose their major before they enroll for the university. This, to me, is a questionable notion, considering that most 17/18 year old high school graduates have none to little idea about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. For example, when i graduated my high school with my final grades I chose to enroll in a 4 year Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications. As a 18 year old, focused more on celebrating the end of an arduous exams period at the time, it did not exactly seem that the decision held much significance. Luckily i thoroughly enjoy my studies and believe I made the best decision.

In my opinion, the American college degree system is far more forgiving for students who are not entirely confident in what they wish to do with the rest of their lives and is thus, a more logical and effective way of doing things. Interestingly, a select few universities in Australia such as Monash University in Melbourne have taken this lead and switched to the US degree system.

UGA 1 - 0 USYD

An International Affair

I do not want to run the risk of becoming a cliché angry blogger, However, today was my first experience of 'cultural frustration'. I had been hearing complaints all week about the new ticketing system for the UGA football games and did not think much of it until I found out this morning that my ticket request form did not go through and now as a result i am unable to attend ANY of the football games this semester(My only semester at UGA). This is a huge deal to me as the primary reason I chose UGA over other US schools was to embrace the football atmosphere by attending bulldog games. Now i hear that people have received full season passes who will be at UGA for years to come and do not plan to attend a single game. Under the new system they cannot give their free tickets to friends but must give them back to the office to sell at a higher price.

My initial thoughts were born out of my rage (money grubbing, capitalist leeches). It is duly noted that Australian sporting events are sold using a completely different ideological approach. Aussie sports are, for the most part, marketed and sold to in an attempt to maximize crowds rather than to make large revenue loads. Although it is naive to say that revenue is entirely irrelevant.

However, once again I am intrigued by the size of the local Athenian hearts. Upon hearing my dilemma people have been persistently offering support and solutions. The friends I have met here have epitomized my predictions of southern hospitality and I continue to smile at the generosity and genuineness of the Southern people.

Even though I may not see the bulldogs, I am happy to say I still consider myself to be one.

Lost in Translation

If there is one physical aspect of my person that differentiates me from the Georgia locals it would be my distinct Australian Accent. I will be approached from half way across a crowded lecture theater and merely asked from where do i come. The people that I talk to surprisingly find me and my accent far more foreign and intriguing than I seem to find theirs. This unusual state of affairs boils down to the fact that I represent something different, and difference never fails to intrigue. The homogenization of American media throughout the world, in particular towards Australian mediums, means that I am already familiar to an American accent. This is the reason for my somewhat jaded opinion of American speech. However, Australian Media forms are quite rare t0 experience out of my home continent and hence I become a representation of difference. I plan on utilizing my niche to meet and socialize with my American counterparts.

The Beginning

When traveling, some people see themselves as outsiders in an alien land. I prefer to look at myself as a cultural sponge, ready to absorb and adapt to any culture that I confront. As an Australian Exchange Student attending the University of Georgia, many aspects of day-to-day life continue to enthrall me. During my time in sunny Athens, I will strive to explore and understand the intricate subtleties of living in an American college town. My journey begins thus, exchanging my Boomerang for a football and my kangaroo for a Bulldog..