Apple’s most famous second banana, Steve Wozniak, was touring Australia last week and made a statement second-only in popularity to declaring a love for Vegemite.
Wozniak, who co-founded the world’s most valuable public company with the late Steve Jobs, endeared himself to Aussies everywhere when he said “I actually like this country and want to become a citizen.”
Which doesn’t mean he’s packing his bags anytime soon to leave his home in California. But does kind of make him the Wozard of Oz, for now, or until he gets his Australian citizenship and promptly moves to…New Zealand.
According to an interview he gave to Mike Cassidy of Silicon Valley.com, New Zealand, which is kind of close to Australia, is “pleasant and accepts Australian citizens.”
Woz wants to retain his American citizenship, of course. No loss to us Yanks. But a piece of advice I’d offer Woz before heading Down Under on a more permanent basis: rethink this statement from the Cassidy interview:
“It’s like a whole new second chance for me to learn about another country’s history, to become rooters for their teams.”
Rooters are generally not first thought of as sports fans in the Land of Oz. Even by Wozards.
Kathy Drasky regularly writes about online culture. Her marketing and communications work with the ANZA Technology Network, Advance Global Australians and with various Australians and Australian enterprises has led to at least a dozen trips Down Under.
An accomplished digital photographer, her photos have appeared in 7×7 Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and Google Schmap.
