The French just call French toast … wait for it … toast! Is this fact not mind blowing?
We just had a 16-year-old French exchange student, Charlotte, stay with us for three weeks and it was really fun to show her our beautiful home that is the Sunshine Coast.
We went to Noosa, Point Cartwright and Mount Coolum, and did all the Coastie things. But Charlotte’s request was to see dolphins.
So, we drove to Tin Can Bay and waited as the sun came up for the beautiful creatures to come into shore to be hand-fed fish by tourists such as ourselves as we stood in ankle-deep, freezing water.
One of the dolphins is called Patch, and this magnificent mammal is famous for bringing in ‘gifts’ for the humans waiting with fish in their hands to feed his pod.
Patch bought in a smooth, old brown beer bottle resting precariously on his rostrum the morning we visited.
It was as if the dolphin thought he was a dog and was bringing gifts to make us happy – the way my labradoodle brings me socks and jocks as little treasures to stash away.
Patch then returned to the ocean, only to come back with an empty can of Bundaberg Rum. Could it get any more Australian for our Charlotte than this scene?
Patch has come in over the years with discarded sunglasses, boat batteries, coral, seaweed and shells. My love language is most definitely gifts, so I was totally enamoured by the glorious Patch.
We drove home along Inskip and then Double Island and saw plenty of wild dolphins frolicking out at sea.
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We ate sausages in white bread with tomato sauce and had ice-cold cans of sarsaparilla, followed by Tim Tams, strawberry and cream lollies and lamingtons. We were leaning in hard to impress Charlotte with our Aussie treats.
Our daughter goes to France next year and will stay with Charlotte and her family.
I do not have the heart to tell my gal that the unofficial national food of France is fries and snails. Not French fries. Just fries. And you certainly do not order a French stick at the bakery. It is just a stick, I suppose. I cannot wait for my daughter to do a deep dive into the French culture to find out.
But I do not think any country in the world can beat Patch and his presents.
Sami Muirhead is a (now retired) radio announcer, blogger and commentator, wife and mum of three.
