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Published: October 3rd 2008
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Lamb
Brittana holding a 2week old lamb--from Glenn's brother's backyard. Almost three months after I began calling Australia my home, I’m finally writing my first Australian blog.
When I first visited I noticed how similar Australia seemed compared to the US. Yes, it is a different country; but from a tourist’s perspective I noticed how they spoke English, there was a McDonalds, Target, the same cars, stop lights, bars and schools. Aside from how we pronounce tomato, aluminum and beer, I expected the US. One month into my experience I was still looking for similarities and, embarrassingly, disregarding at the differences, which I soon learned were everywhere.
It puzzled me how a place that on the surface seems so like home is actually so different. Differences range from the simplest, driving on the other side of the road, to the cultural differences like how they treat food and drinking.
Of course they drive on the opposite side of the road; I’ve learned how to drive on the left—when I visited the states the habit of driving on the other side got me flicking the wipers instead of the turning signal. Thankfully, I haven’t gone astray on the wrong side in either country yet. I bought my car within
my first month. Glenn and I frequented car auctions for a few weeks, and ultimately I got my car for almost 40% less than dealer price. It’s a good car and is much better on fuel than Glenn’s Ute (read: pick-up). Gas is currently $1.60/litre, about $6/gallon. So, we are constantly using my baby unless we have to take the dogs out.
Speaking of the dogs, I live with two Siberian Huskies, Jack & Cody. They’re Glenn’s dogs that he’s had since they were pups, seven years ago. Because of that, I assume it’s just that, they don’t listen to me at all. They’re awfully cute, though. Glenn’s Dad made a cart to exercise their natural husky instincts to pull. There is a picture below.
Glenn and I currently live in a beautiful home settled on three acres. It’s close to town and boasts stunning views, which is what I’m sure the real estate ad says. It’s for sale. Interested? Because of how slow things move over here we’ll be in it through the holidays, so Mom, Dad & Makena will be able to enjoy it. By the way, look for our house on Google Earth…Glenn promised me
Iditarod here we come
Jack and Cody pulling me on the "chariot" Glenn's dad made. that our house would be the brightest and most decorated home this Christmas. One of the benefits of living where it’s summer over Christmas is that you can hang lights without shoveling snow or freezing.
On the downside, I feel like I haven’t had a summer in over a year. I went from winter to winter. Surprisingly, it frosts almost every night. While I was in the States, Glenn sent me a picture of the snow that was falling. Being three hours inland from the coast it gets colder during (25*) the winter and really hot during the summer (104*).
Over the Fourth of July I had my first real bout of homesickness, and I finally came to terms with the fact that it is a different culture here. The saying goes: if you can’t beat them, join them—and so I did. I had a hard time adjusting to the work hard play hard culture here. It is very much a labor economy. Glenn describes it as a couple of generations behind the US—paying someone to walk your dog is a completely new phenomenon over here for example. People are just used to doing everything the hard way
View from House
The view of sunset from our back porch. and on their own. And, as a “reward” they have “one or two” afterwards. July 5th, you could find me at the pub at 11 am taking in the culture.
Bathurst is about 40 minutes from two or three gold mines, which means there are a lot of 20 somethings who work really hard a kilometer or two underground and when they surface, they drink! Glenn used to be one of these said miners, and he hasn’t quite lost the habit. But it’s not just the miners. On a Friday night at the pub you’ll see everyone from the 18 y.o. highschool kids (who can legally drink) to retired 70ers buying rounds and calling each other girls when one can’t keep up. Don’t get me wrong, most don’t drink very frequently, you couldn’t call many alcoholics, but when they do go out, they take it seriously. 😊 So, if you’re planning a visit, bring your drinking boots!
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