A Collection Of Roxane Gay’s Delightfully Bemused Tweets About Australia
She LOVES Real Housewives of Melbourne.
Seeing your country through the eyes of a visitor is interesting enough.
Seeing your country through the eyes of a visitor who also happens to be a brilliant thinker, writer and speaker on racism, sexism, feminism and the spaces between? Even better.
Verrry interesting place, Australia. So much I want to talk about.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
Roxane Gay, the author of Bad Feminist, is in Australia. So far she has humbled the Adelaide Writers Festival and, yesterday, the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne; this Sunday, she’ll be speaking at All About Women in Sydney, and the following night she’ll be appearing on the first ever woman-hosted all-women Q and A.
Oh I'm on there because I have a great rack. Tick that box. @marky196735 @qanda @juliebishopmp @yassmin_a
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
In the meantime, those who follow her on Twitter have been treated to her observational snippets about our country, and (save for a poorly-worded question, and an overblown reaction) it’s been kind of delightful.
Australians love babies.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 6, 2015
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On Airports:
Qantas flight attendants are mega hot.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 1, 2015
The Sydney airport is terrible but the Adelaide airport is lovely.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
Oh and airport security is so chill here.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
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On Money:
Australian money has windows in it. I threw up in an air sickness bag for the first time. It is 8pm yesterday in Los Angeles.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
See the window??? pic.twitter.com/J7gSUVCl1f
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
I don't want to spend any of this money. I just want to look at it.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
They gave me a two dollar coin and I will keep it forever. @Caitlin_Welsh @ElizaCussen @rowenaboggle
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
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On Diversity In Advertising:
The white men in commercials here are all VERY BUTCH and STRAPPING. It is fascinating.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
There is a very clearly defined masculinity. Uncle Toby is particularly intense.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
I'm like whoa now. Also, the Citibank credit card guy is majorly intense. Muscled. Tan. Nice bland haircut.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
Commercials are not very diverse here. It makes US commercials look like the promised land.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
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On Television:
The TV offerings are… Interesting.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
There are many fox channels.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
And how do I access this Arena channel? Want to see the real housewives of Melbourne.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
I watched that show too! It's pretty funny. @caitlin_welsh
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
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On Rugby:
The TV is killing me but these rugby players are fun to look at.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
Rugby man thighs tho
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
The men bunch up and get super intimate and just grind. And it's on TV.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
So good. pic.twitter.com/IuSnomSbOP
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
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On The Real Housewives Of Melbourne:
Guys. The Real Housewives of Melbourne!
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
This one woman wants a Bentley for her 50th birthday. I support her.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
This other woman has a very badly behaved dog. He has a cot. He goes to a dog beautician.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
OMG the Bentley lady is going to twerk. She says she has a sensational little butt. Such confidence.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
Her name is Petitfleur. The bad dog lady is Gamble. Gamble is married to an old man who is named Rick.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
They all call their husbands their partners.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
Oh hell yes. Petitfleur is writing a book called "Switch the Bitch"
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
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On The Food:
I've only had hotel food so far so need more time to know. Vegemite is not good. It was horror in my mouth. @coolgirlcomplex
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
Yeah. The berries!!! @HannahParry236
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
Uncle Toby's cereal.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 3, 2015
Oh and there are also a lot of commercials about meat.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
So many butchers. Meat is big here.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 5, 2015
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On Adelaide:
Adelaide is very cute. I will know more tomorrow. I told my escort I need to decompress at my hotel. Also Sydney was pretty from the sky.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 2, 2015
Beautiful weather in Adelaide and the writers week is magnificently run. A real pleasure to be here among such lovely people.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
The audiences are so generous. And they stood in such a long line for me. Was honored. pic.twitter.com/ASxBhMh87P
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
I am having a wonderful time. @GlendaBurgess
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
And I will definitely be back.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 4, 2015
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So far Adelaide seems to be winning. But Sydney’s still in with a chance.
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Roxane Gay’s Australian Tour:
Sydney: Sunday March 8, 11am, 1pm, and 4pm — All About Women @ Sydney Opera House
TV: Q and A on Monday March 9, 9.35pm on the ABC.