A great post westozzy........ I too wondered what GOP stood for and researched it on the internet several months ago. I was surprised at the great number of references to it.......without actually explaining what the letters stood for. I eventually found the answer as you have stated. I am pleased to see that you are talking about America from the perspective of being there....... so many of us (myself included) often think of Americans in terms of the loud-mouthed tourists we see. The "man in the street" there is mostly just like we aussies.........working slobs who are just trying to get by.

Thanks K, its a fact everyone seems to use the term we are getting more america every day in detriment when sadly the views we get out the USA are from the media and movies. Hollywood isnt the USA and far from the lives of normal everyday americans who go about their daily business. A lot of the differences are worldwide now due to the influx of people from different cultures and religions who settle and the manner in which each country deals with it and adapts accordingly. My experiences, and Ive spent time here in New York at different times over the past 4 years is Ive always been made welcome and Ive repaid my friends by helping with menial tasks like painting gardening and just generally doing things they would normally bring in some to do. They display an enormous amout of gratitude for the least amount of assistance andd its a pleasure to assist. I cant say enough about there generosity which enables me to "sing for my supper" so to speak. Mr Ordinary America, Australia. England have a common bond and thats just plain being themselves and understanding each others situations simply because we all share the same day to day problems.