People are so bloody nice!

Today I was at the Post (sending Christmas presents... better late than never) and a sweet woman noticed me stumbling around and helped me get all my little customs declarations filled out properly. She told me she likes to "make sure Americans get along alright" because she is originally from Ohio. She came to Australia in 1975 on a 747 full of school teachers and she never looked back. She helped me on my way and made sure I had her phone number in case we needed anything. The postal worker was NOTHING like those I've ever encountered in the States. He chatted me up about everything American - from food (his favorites, which he buys at the American store in Melbourne, are: ketchup, cinnamon Tic Tacs, Coco Puffs, and peanut M&M's) to crazy American holidays and customs (such as having 4 days off for a holiday where you simply eat, and making snow angels for no apparent reason other than to "freeze your bum"). I love Altona.