Winter's On Its Way

This past weekend the Christian world celebrated the Easter holiday (here, we were able to ‘celebrate’ for four whole days - we had Friday and Monday off from work!) In Australia, the focus is mostly all on Good Friday as opposed to Easter Sunday. From a religion standpoint, I find this interesting because of the fact that growing up, I was taught that we celebrate the rising of Jesus from the dead after 3 days, as opposed focusing on his death, although we do recognise he did die for our sins. Enough of the soapbox – point being is, I asked if I could attend Easter Sunday with my friend Jade and her family, and was surprised to find the church building nearly empty. The pastor joked that this was due to the hard task of asking members of the congregation to come to church twice in one weekend. Apparently the building was packed to the gill on Friday, followed by large, Good Friday fish dinners. Oh well, you live and you learn - especially hard in a brand new culture.
The rest of my weekend was filled with cleaning, a bit of shopping and some long overdue canvas painting (before and after pics to come) to spruce up my apartment walls a bit (this is what happens when your housemate is away to Asia for a month – you realise just how white and cold and boring your apartment is while sitting there by yourself!) Also had a nice field trip worked into the plans:

Almost all shops and restaurants were closed on Friday. Not the Zoo though! ‘Irish Dave’ (as he is now quickly becoming known as) and I ventured out to peruse the tangled pathways of the Melbourne Zoo, along with every school-aged kid and their parents (because school was out as well for the long holiday). Separated into sections of the world ie Australian Outback (kangas, emus, wallabies), Afrian Safari (lions and everything they eat: zebra, bongos, all the boring, grazing animals; elephants and giraffes), and of course, penguins and seals. My most favourite, I think though, were the monkeys. I was completely enthralled with a baby orangutan that was eating leaves up in a treehouse with his mom. A cage of spider monkeys also held my attention for an extended period of time. The smallest one ran and jumped from branch to branch attempting to grab the attention of the larger male who swang effortlessly from one side of their pin to the other. Clearly he knew a large crowd of humans was watching as he showed off. He had a grin on his face as if saying, “I know you are all looking at me, longing for a show because all the other animals in this place are as exciting as a wet rock.” Amused as I was by his antics, I still was the most intrigued by the small female. Exclaiming to the crowd that it looked like she had a tumour on her back (of course with the unhesitating response from Dave in a Schwarzenegger accent, “It’s not a tumour!”), I realized at that exact same moment that indeed, it was not a tumour, but a brand new baby, desperately clinging to its mom’s back. Oh, I could have died, it was so cute! These are the moments I wish it was socially acceptable to have a pet monkey. Or at least be able to rescue the precious darlin’ from that pin and hold it for a while. After about 2 hours of wandering around (and taking a rest on a bench because walking around a zoo just tuckers you out!) we decided it was time to call it a day. 

Back to work yesterday morning was painful, especially due to the fact that winter is right around the corner. Without the concept of central heating in most houses here (all we have is a heater in the living room), I woke up shivering, able to see my breath in the air. Although I was trying to hurry to get ready (because, yes – I dreamed I was in Colorado skiing with my mom and aunt, it was that cold – and in turn, overslept) – I couldn’t bring myself to get out of my scorching hot shower. Time to invest in a big, fluffy bathrobe I suppose. Running to catch my train, I was happy to see Coffee Darling’s quote this morning: “Always fill your time with things you will remember and be excited to talk about for years to come.” Check!

The past couple of weekends before the Easter holiday, I was able to escape the city for excursions to areas right outside of Melbourne. The first weekend, I went with two other Americans (ironically, Billy went to GA Tech and of course knows a few of the same people I do, and Kelly who is from Chicago but went to school in Miami.) We drove Billy’s car down the Great Ocean Road – which is one of the top attractions to see if you ever make it to Melbourne. Driving along the coastline, heading West, the beaches are gorgeous (one – Bells Beach is the site for Rip Curl every year). Certain parts of the road wind through forest areas which remind me a lot of the drive from San Fran to Napa valley. We went all the way to see the Twelve Apostles (large, limestone rock formations out in the middle of the ocean, created by years of erosion) – and then back to Apollo Bay for the night. Sunday (after a long attempt to surf for the first time, which I think we extremely well, minus the few times I almost killed Kelly with my wildly flailing board), I led us back to Koala Cove (because I have been there before) – where we got to see Koalas and colourful birds in the wild. Kel and I watched Billy surf a while longer before we headed back.

The next weekend, Jade and I set out for Philip Island – a quaint little holiday island about 2 hours south-east of Melbourne and the home of the Penguin Parade (at night 1,000s of tiny penguins come out of the water towards their nests on the beach) and the Nobbies (a large rock formation and blowhole at the far west of the island – the waves are frighteningly strong and magnificent to watch). Although I was able to at least see the Nobbies (will venture down another time to see the penguins), we were there to cheer on our friends in the Tough Mudder race. I would have participated (naturally) – but my ankle is still recuperating and I feel that taking it easy is best until its 100%. But no worries, I have signed up for the Sydney race in September! For a bit of background info: “Tough Mudder is a hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie.” We had friends starting in the 10:30am group and again in the 2pm group. Thankfully because of our stressful run-around of the course from 10:30 – 1:00pm, we were experts of timing and placement by 2:00pm to take pictures of our friends at certain obstacles along the path of the course. From fire walking to electrocution to climbing up walls and half-pipes, the day was exhausting for us – and we were only spectators! Clearly, I have some training to do before September, but I accept the challenge. Grateful to a long-time family friend of Jade, we had accommodation and meals for the weekend. They own the local family Italian restaurant in town (one street with about 2 blocks of shops and cafés) – the perfect place for tough mudders and spectators alike to get their fill of carbs before and after the race. It was delicious! Their house is set up like a hotel for visitors like ourselves, and the size of it is astonishing for the price they paid (its huge) compared to what people have to pay for land/housing in Melbourne. I think I should invest in some property to hire out to holiday-goers.

Now back into the grind of work. It’s going really well, I’m thrilled about the project I was placed on, and I get along great with my manager – there are just days where I am still unsure of what I am supposed to be working on. Sometimes it’s harder to look like you’re staying busy than actually being busy. I was asked to help organize a “Great Place to Work” program for all the Accenture employees on different projects at Coles (essentially the Kroger of Australia, where I am currently assigned to in the Project Management department). Anything allowing me to plan kick-off dinners and design logos, I’m in! With a short week last week, this week and another one next week (I am venturing up to the Gold Coast for a long weekend) – I can’t complain too much!

So to wrap things up for now, I have one last little thing for you:

At my going away party last July, my Uncle Pat lent me an Aussie phrase book (which I’ll need to return since I’ll be here longer than a year!) It’s been quite useful in translating some of the sayings I hear down here. I’m telling you – I have a hard time translating Aussie, so I can’t even image how hard it is for someone who’s first language isn’t English. I’ve decided to fill you in on some translations I hear all the time, or have picked up myself (it’s hard not to start saying certain things when you hear them all the time. Although I don’t think I’ll even get rid of my ‘yank’ accent (as they so kindly refer to all Americans down here – no matter how many times I explain that I am indeed NOT a yank, that I come from the South, but I digress.)

Petrol = Gas
Partner = Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Husband/Wife
Kiwis = People from New Zealand (who happen to prounounce their I's like E's and E's like I's, so it sounds like "Fesh and Cheps" as opposed to "Fish and Chips")
Good-aye = 'Hey There'
Mate = Friend
Good On-ya = Great Job/Good for you
Fair Dinkum = True/'You're Right'/'Good Call'
Fairy Floss = Cotton Candy
Fairy Lights = Strands Christmas Twinkle Lights
Keen = Said when you are up for doing something ie "I'm keen to go to the cinema tonight."
How you going? (How’d ya go?) = Said mostly when approaching a check out counter by the sales clerk, meaning, "How are you doing?" or  "Did you find everything alright?"
Pash (pash and dash) = Kiss (kiss and run)
Reckon = Commonly heard in the South, it's said here ALL the time instead of "I think" or "I guess"
Arvo = Afternoon
Brekky = Breakfast
Rashers = Bacon
Baked Beans = So Euro - people here eat baked beans for BREAKFAST! No one thinks its normal to eat them with Cole Slaw and Hamburgers
Barbie = Grill
Crisps = Potato Chips
Wedges = Potato Wedges served in practically every eating establishment served with Sour Cream and Sweet Chili Sauce
Aluminium/Basil/Oregano = Al-EWE-MIN-EE-UM/BAA-SAL/OR-EH-GONE-O - Almost every spice and kitchen necessity is pronounced differently, and I'M the one with the funny accent!
No Worries/Too Easy = Two of the most commonly heard phrases here b/c everyone is soo laid back and stress-free.
Car Park - Parking Lot
Lounge - Sofa
Doona - Duvet/Down Comforter
Parma - Chicken Parmesan
Pint/Schooner/Pot/Jug
Pissed/Off Your Face = Drunk
Pub = Any and all types of drinking establishment
Entrees/Mains = Very European in the sense that Mains are Entrees and Entrees are Apetizers
Lolly = Any type of hard candy
Autumn = Fall
Flat White/Short & Long Black
Fussed = Bothered
Bird/Sheilas = Girls/Chicks
Rubbish/Rubbish Bin/”Bin It” = Trash/Trash Can/Throw it Away
Mobile (ring) = Cell Phone (call)
Oh four, double two, one-nine-five, one-seven-eight = Literally how I would tell someone my mobile number
Zebra – pronounced “zehh-bruh” as opposed to “zee-bra”
Post - Mail
Dag - An indearing insult to call someone out on being stupid ie "You Dag"
Bogan - Hillbilly/Redneck 
I'll continue to add onto the list as I think of or hear phrases. Just be prepared if I say things when I'm home in May and you start to pick up on them! Speakinig of which - about 1 month to go!