Tag: atozchallenge

X – X Factor Australia

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments


The X Factor is one of many reality television franchises that are highly popular in the United States and have a version in Australia.  Truth be told, this show originated in the UK and was in Australia before it hit US markets.

There is also an Australian version of The Voice, Next Top Model, Project Runway, Master Chef (actually created in Australia) and Celebrity Apprentice (David Hasselhoff is on this season. What in the world?!?!?!).

I have seen and have a strong opinion of the American version of each of these shows except The X Factor.  I figured that I could stack the two versions of this show side by side and see who comes out on top on paper.  I promise to be fair and impartial.  Really.   So, here goes.

The X Factor America vs. The X Factor Australia

Number of Seasons:  1 season vs. 3 seasons – Australia has this one

Host:  Steve Jones vs. Luke Jacobz – push; I have no clue who either of these people are.

Notable Judges:  Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul vs. Danni Minogue, Mel B  and Natalie Imbruglia – Considering the Creator is a judge on the American version, US clearly wins this one, but I will give some props to Kylie’s sister and a spice girl.

Notable Winners:  Melanie Amaro ( to soon to tell) vs. Reece Mastin (double platunim debut album) – I will give this one to Australia, although I haven’t heard anything from either of them. But, you can’ t argue with double platinum.

*The most famous winner of the franchise is Leona Lewis, Great Britain Season 3.  Bleeding Love is one of my favorite songs.

 

Prize:  5 million dollar cash and a recording contract with Syco Music a division of Sony Music vs. 5 hundred thousand aussie dollars cash and a recording contract with Sony Music Australia – no brainer. US has this one

Viewship:  Debut episode 12.5 million vs. being cancelled after the first season because of poor ratings, it was brought back by another network and has a steady viewship of about 1.3 million.  – I would give the advantage to the US, but only slightly.  You have to figure that with only 20 million people in Australia, that is a higher percentage of people watching the show then in the US, but the cancellation gives the US the nod.

So, there you have it.  X-Factor Australia pales in comparison to X-Factor USA at least on paper, but they both miss out because even after learning all that I have about these two shows, I still have no interest in watching them.

Thanks Wikipedia for all the fascinating fun X Factor facts.  

N – New Zealand

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

N – New Zealand #atozchallenge
I wanted to do a post on New Zealand for N because I was made aware from my former employees in no uncertain terms that Australians and New Zealanders are not the same.  Apparently, there is a big difference between the two countries despite their close proximity to each other.  Since I am traveling, I am so happy to have found this great post from leftofthesettingsun.wordpress.com who spelled out the differences perfectly.  Check it out.

Chris's avatarLeft of the setting sun in November

Enough is enough. I’m sick of it, do you hear? Every time I turn on the radio or open a newspaper I’m confronted by some idiot politician or half-wit commentator making some stupid comparison between New Zealand and Australia, invariably at New Zealand’s expense. Generally this is followed up with the immortal threat about everyone leaving here to go there. Well, I’ve done that and come back, and I think it’s a bloody stupid comparison. If you want somewhere to compare New Zealand to, try New Caledonia. Or Jamaica. Or even Ireland. Any post-colonial island nation would make a better comparison than Australia, and they aren’t even our closest neighbour (and we certainly aren’t theirs). Here are nine whole significant reasons why Australia is not New Zealand. Anyone who wants to compare the two countries needs to come up with good reasons why most of these aren’t important.

Money

Australia…

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G – Golf in Australia

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Australia is known for its beautiful golf courses and its mark on the world of golf in general.  I have been a part of the golf industry for over 6 years and in that time, I have seen and been exposed to just as much drama in this industry as there is on any day time television show.    Australian golf is right in the middle of it all.

Let me introduce you to Mr. Greg Norman.  Norman is the most successful Australian golfer.  His story book romance with tennis legend Chris Everett Lloyd is the stuff fairytales are made of.  If, your fairy tales involve adultery, betrayal, quickie marriage and an even quicker divorce.  Ah, romance.

Next I would like you to meet Mr. Adam Scott.  The most attractive man in professional golf.  He is a good player in his own right, but was involved in some controversy lately when he hired Tiger Wood’s former caddie.  Adam can also turn his upper torso 180 degrees.  Super flexible and oh so hot.

In China, we get a lot of golf tourist from Australia.  It is typical to see a new group of Australian men on their annual golf trip every week.  Why do they travel to China with all the beautiful courses in Australia?  Well, they come here for the golf and the amenities.  And, to have beautiful Chinese women fall all over them.  It may sound like a cliché but I have watched if for 5 years.  Chinese women are still trying to snag them a foreign husband.  It is a stereotype that just happens to be true.

On my Australian trip, my fantasy is that I meet a tall, gorgeous Australian who not only surfs, plays golfs, cooks, has beautiful tattoos and by the way, is a multi millionaire.  They are on every beach, right.  Well, if my memories serves me correct, the Australian men are how do I put this, ambitionally challenged.

I have had the opportunity to work with two Australians.  The guys were very sweet, but so different from American guys in every way.  They don’t lack confidence, that is for sure, but they are lazy and drink a lot of beer.   I had a great time partying with these guys, but they weren’t boyfriend or husband material.

Don’t get me wrong, I am open to any Aussie hottie who wants to try and change my mind.

Playing golf in Australia is going to be so much fun.  I usually play better while on vacation and when I haven’t played in awhile.  Last time I played golf was on December 25th, so I should be good to go by next week.  I have had a birdie in every country I have played golf in, so I hope to keep that streak alive.

C – Currency

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

I have been very blessed to have had the opportunity to travel all my life.  I got the bug when I was 12 years old on a cross country trip with my father and brother.  Every since then, I couldn’t wait to travel on the next adventure.   I have been to 36 states in the US and 12 different countries.  I can deal with trains, planes, subways and taxi’s.  I have even hiked on a few trips.

I can also pick up languages pretty well.  I can ask where the bathroom is in 13 different languages.  So, I would consider that to be a pretty well seasoned traveler.

But, there is one thing about traveling to a foreign country that I just don’t get right away. It is dealing in different currencies.  I drives me nuts.

Now, please understand, I am not a dumb person.  I run a company that deals in three different currencies; US dollars, Chinese RMB and Hong Kong dollar.  It only took me a couple of month living in China before I stopped having to convert everything I purchased into USD.

But, put me in a foreign country, right off the plane and tell me what something cost in their currency, I freeze.  I have no concept of what things cost. And more times then not it gets me in trouble.  

Last year, I was in Singapore.  I gave a masseur a tip that was 3X more then the cost of the actual massage.  I wondered why she kept showed up at my door every night asking me if I wanted another one.

Under pressure, I just can’t do it. I can’t multiply and divide on command.

So, for my trip to Australia, I am starting now.  I am going to get this exchange rate down, if it kills me.  It’s simple, 1 AUD equals what? USD, no RMB.

Oh, hell, maybe I’ll just use credit cards.

A – Australian Vacation

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

In 15 days I leave for my first vacation in 10 years. My first real vacation. I have been on

long weekend trips, business trips with two days of leisure,scouting trips, inquiry trips, business interview trips, and hosting trips, but no real vacation since going to Hawai in 2002.

You might think that since I live in China, it would feel like I have been on one long vacations for the last 5 years, but it really doesn’t.I actually relocated to China just like as if I was in the states and my company relocated me to Illinois from Texas. Longer trip though. Thank God for relocation benefits.

I have a Chinese work permit. I get up every morning and drive to work, just like anyone else in the world. I just do it in China.

Now, I do live in a hotel room at a golf resort and I work in the golf business and yeah, that sounds like a vacation, but let me tell you. It is not.
I pay monthly rent at the hotel. I don’t have to pay for any other utilities, thought. That is kind of nice.
I have to do my laundry just like anyone else. Ok, I pay a lady to do my laundry. But, I have to fix my own meals. That is when I don’t feel like eating at one of the 6 restaurants at the resort.
Oh, and did I mention,  I drive a golf cart to work, not a car. But, I swear in no way does it feel like I am on vacation.

Now, I did travel around China a bit back in October of last year. Actually for 10 days. I went to Hong Kong and Beijing. I saw all the tourist attractions in China such as the Peak and the Big Budda (2nd favorite place on earth) and the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall.  But, that was with my mom and my brother.  I felt like I was more of tour guide then a tourist myself.  And, I didn’t go to another country, so it doesn’t count.  

Australia, now that is a real vacation. New Country, new culture, new experiences and I get to do what every I want to do.  I can’t wait.

If you live in Sydney Australia or have been recently,  let me know what I must see and do!