

By Amanda (Been There!) Hallay
Okay. I haven’t been everywhere. But how wonderful to have the Ultimate Guide to the places where I have been (or at least have an opinion about.) So, to mark our KIU Goes International Issue, I present to you my guide to Planet Earth.
ENGLANDWhere is it?
Part of an island off the coast of Western Europe.
LanguageUsed to be English, now a sort of ‘youff televison sort a’ fing, wots WICKED!’
National DressShell suits and trainers (North), trainers and baggy jeans (South.)
National DishKebab and chips (Common People), Celebrity Chef-inspired Tuscan dishes with olive oil so virgin that it’s hymen is still intact (Middle Class) and (I would guess) pheasant (Royal Family.)
National BeverageBecks, Fosters, vodka-based bottled fruit drinks enjoyed by teenagers and/or slags.
Main IndustriesDaytime television, signing-on.
KIU RatingRelatively low.
Anything good to say about it?London’s got good shopping, great museums, nice restaurants.
U.S.AWhere is it?
Large land mass in between the Atlantic and Pacific with Latin America joined on at the bottom (and the unfortunate Canada joined onto the top.)
LanguageA form of English.
National DressNot good.
National DishHamburgers and/or Nouvelle Cuisine sold in overpriced Boston bistros.
National BeverageMassive coffee-based drinks from Starbucks with dome-like plastic lids filled with whipped cream.
Main IndustriesAction films, hamburgers, palaeontology, Elvis.
KIU RatingWe love it! (That's not sarcasm - we really love it, esp. NYC).
Anything good to say about it?Well, yes! We like Americans cuz they’re big tippers, are usually friendly, and say things like; ‘Gee….So, you’re BRIDISH, right?’
FRANCEWhere is it?
Western edge of Europa.
LanguageIncomprehensible series of sounds and snot-like gurgles known to the locals as ‘French’.
National DressRather good, I’m afraid; shi-shi suits on ladies and rather nice suits on men.
National DishLe MACDO!
National BeverageAny form of booze whatsoever; as long as it gets ya pissed, the French love it.
Main IndustriesSnail farming.
KIU RatingWell, we hate France - but we love it, too. It’s all a bit confusing, really…
Anything good to say about it?Mais OUI!!!! Cafes, Art… and the Cote d’Azur.
WALESWhere is it?
Attached to England (bigger, better country.)
LanguageRidiculous noise accompanied by overuse of the letters ‘y’ and ‘p’.
National DressFleeces, cheap jeans.
Nationa DishLeeks / Burger King.
National BeverageTea, boyo.
Main industriesSheep farming, leeks, tourism (YES! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO THERE?!)
KIU RatingNorth Wales is fantastic, and the Welsh are cute.
Anything good to say about it?No, not really.
JAMAICAWhere is it?
It be in da Caribbean, mon.
LanguageEnglish, mon.
National DressBob Marley tee-shirts and shorts, mon.
National DishPork with rice n’ peas, mon.
National DrinkRed Stripe, mon.
Main IndustriesTaxi driving and ganja, mon.
KIU RatingUPTOON, TOP RANKIN’, mon.
Anything good to say about it?Ya, mon.
ITALYWhere is it?
Dangles off Europe.
LanguageItalian. (Durr.)
National DressOverpriced, over-tailored suits and shoes which cost a zillion lira.
National DishSpaghetti.
National DrinkChianti.
Main IndustriesArty Cinema, glove making, Catholicism.
KIU RatingMolta bella; we like Italy.
Anything good to say about it?See above.
TUNISIAWhere is it?
North Africa.
LanguageUtterly incomprehensible gobbledegook (ie; French) and Arabic.
National DressOversized tee-shirts and jeans.
National DishCous-cous.
National DrinkThis fig stuff (can’t remember what it’s called, but it gets ya pissed without a hangover.)
Main IndustriesHaggling / Camels / Taxi Driving (all combined).
SWEDENWhere is it?
North bit of Europe.
LanguageEnglish with odd accent.
National DressRed trousers and Crowded House tee-shirts.
National DishHerring.
National DrinkI take a beer in the louder part of town and sometimes I’m a little bit crazy’.
Main IndustriesAbba.
KIU RatingNever been, but it seems nice enough.
Anything good to say about it?Can you hear the drums, Fernando…’
IRELANDWhere is it?
Off the West coast of the proper Britain.
LanguageOdd sounding English.
National DressBlack leather jackets a la Bono and/or badly knitted jumpers with holes.
National DishThe Potato.
National DrinkAnything that contains alcohol.
Main IndustriesEurovision Song Contest and Terrorism.
KIU RATINGToo scared to say anything in case I get blown up with Centex.
Anything good to say about itI heard Dublin’s okay.
AUSTRALIAWhere is it?
A million miles away from anything good.
LanguageMutated English.
National DressBermuda shirts and massive stomachs.
National DishKangaroo. (It’s TRUE; they EAT ‘em.)
National DrinkFosters.
Main IndustriesSoap opera production / Rolf Harris.
KIU RatingSorry….
Anything good to say about it?We like actress Toni Colette, but…well….No.
SWITZERLANDWhere is it?
Far from any war zone.
LanguageFrench, German, Italian, English, Portuguese, Welsh, Senegalese, etc.
National DressTechno gear and/or lederhosen.
National DishFondue.
National DrinkSchnapps.
Main IndustriesSkiing, clocks, hiding Art stolen by Nazis, distribution of secret bank accounts.
KIU RatingThe Swiss are mental.
Anything good to say about it?The Swiss are mental.
CANADAWhere is it?
Top of America.
LanguageWeird English and weirder French.
National DressLumberjack shirts and/or Pat Benatar-inspired ‘80s dancewear.
National DishMoose.
National DrinkMelted snow.
Main IndustriesBrian Adams, convincing people that Toronto is as good as a proper city, ice-hockey.
KIU Rating4/10.
Anything good to say about it?Canadians are alright. A bit like Americans but without the crime and charisma.
NORWAYWhere is it?
Oh, you know... up there, near Sweden.
LanguageEnglish.
National DressWoolly jumpers and drainpipe trousers.
National DishMorten Harkett (boom boom).
National DrinkI don’t do too much of the drinking, man. Makes me act a little bit crazy’.
Main IndustriesA-ha.
KIU Rating7/10 on the strength of The Sun Always Shines On T.V.
Anything good to say about it?I think we’ve already said too much.
BELGIUMWhere is it?
Nobody’s really sure.
LanguageMedieval dialect known as Flemish. Also the ever unpopular French.
National DressNot sure, really.
National DishChips with mayonnaise and Pizza Hut.
National DrinkDunno what it is, but it comes in a very small glass and is like drinking fire.
Main IndustriesBeing the butt of French jokes.
KIU Rating9/10! (Went to Bruges and thought it was FAB!)
Anything good to say about it?Sure is! Belgium is CUTE. Everything’s tiny - from the cute little houses to the cute little drinks. It’s all small and cosy, as are the people, who have a very offbeat sense of humour and buy strangers tiny drinks that taste of fire and get you legless. ALL GOOD STUFF.