I’m taking a moment in the park after another day at the office. I haven’t really been in the lyrical mood at home. There’s usually something going on and I’m easily distracted. Hello shiny things….!!!
I figured I’d better get some of what’s rolling around in my head down in electronic ink or it may forever be lost in the ether of ‘Things I Thought About Once Upon a Time’.
Some things I love here are:
- The ocean (and the fact I live moments away from it)
- The plethora of birds (and their songs) and the distinct absence of bugs (coincidence?!)
- How the weather is like home–changing all the time–only warmer
- Recycling, reusable bags, enviro awareness
- Trolley cars (or trams, as they call them) (I blame Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood for my lexicon!)
- My apartment called Elouera, which is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘peaceful place by the sea’
- Roomie and the new friends I have and the ones I’ve yet to meet
- My first Aussie nickname….ready for it? ……Maple….. !!!YAY!!!
- Kangaroos! Cool and quite tasty too!
Some Pros & Cons
- Con: They have strange (and ego-shattering) sizing here, so I’m a size 10 instead of a size 4, 6, 8, 10 like I would be at home.
Pro: I’m always a size 10 here; no more guessing and hauling a truckload of sizes with me to the change room. - Con: People automatically assume I’m an American when I first speak.
Pro: They become infinitely (almost embarrassingly so) more friendly towards me when they find out I’m from Canada. They also start bad-mouthing The States like some 3rd grade bully. I’m not sure what the point is….Commonwealth Camaraderie?
[Sidebar: apparently us Canadians are AMAZING for standing up to the US over the war thing. Good play fellow Canucks!] - Con: Prices are higher here (at times, outrageously).
Pro: Tax is included so no more tricky head math in the checkout line.
Bonus Plus: No tipping at restaurants! - Con: Business hours are business hours for everything including banks and the post office –that means you and every other schmuck is in line at these places on your lunch break.
Pro: Australia Post doesn’t send my mail across the country and back to deliver it down the block, so I actually get locally mailed items in 1-2 days, not 1-2 weeks. [Sidebar: Aussies complain JUST AS MUCH or MORE about Australia Post as we do about Canada Post.]Poor Postal Corps.
American:
Even to me, they say ” why you speak American English ”
They don’t like USA, and that is why I tend to prefer UK.
Birds:
Do you hear Kookabara is singing in the morning?
No tipping:
Yeah, good custom!
Postal Service:
They didn’t forward my letters to my new address
even though I took a procedure…