Well here we are, the Sydney Chapter of Australia is for me, coming to a close.

And I have to say I’m quite ready for it.

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely adore this seaside, always-something-to-celebrate cultural melting pot of a city, but I stayed here much longer than I originally intended, and I am very ready to see the rest of Australia. Tomorrow morning I embark on a Tiger Airways flight to Melbourne, to at last settle in with Lisa for a bit and experience the “artsy fartsy” city of the land down under. (Note: When in Australia, Tiger Airways is the way to fly – for example this flight cost me tax only at $48. However, you pay for what you get – meaning that these flights load and unload on the runway, not the terminal, and the baggage claim in Melbourne is a portable “cage” outside, disconnected from the rest of the airport. You feel like you’re stepping off into a jail cell waiting to be bailed out by your ride…or a taxi.)

This past weekend was quite an exciting one for Sydney; Jessica Watson, the 16 year old from Queensland, returned after 7.5 months at sea. She has now become the youngest person on Earth to sail around the world without stopping. Thousands upon thousands gathered near the Sydney Opera House to welcome her home, and the harbor was packed with boats that formed a fleet behind her as she passed. One forgets (at least I do) that though Australia is a continent about as big as Canada, their population is a mere 22 million (as compared to Texas with 25 million, if Google Public Data is accurate). Thus there is an extremely communal feel to living here; even though it is it’s own country, it feels more like a smallish state, where everyone knows and relates to everyone, and though there might be disputes over whatever political debate is popular at the moment (right now it is Public Transport, but I swear for all of their bad publicity the Sydney and Melbourne trains run fabulously) there is a general sense of unity and most of all – pride. This was in full force as Jessica sailed into the harbor. Her father and brother supported her on either side as she stepped off the boat, for 7 months on sea can leave one feeling a bit wobbly, I’m sure. It was amazing to see the people swell and cheer for Jessica as she passed them. It brought tears to my eyes; you could feel the love and the respect.

So later that day, basking in the glow of this Aussie pride, I headed to the markets to get Helen some food. Australia has some grocery stores like we do, though nothing compared to an HEB or Albertson’s. Their two main grocery chains are Woolworth’s and Coles. I went to the biggest Woolworth’s in Cremorne, an area that Helen’s daughter lives in – also an area renowned for having the biggest and best Woolworth’s in the city, boasting that people drive for hours to experience it’s goods. It was no where near Central Market or Whole Foods; I wonder if we all realize how blessed we are, how many options we have at our finger tips. I also find that though these grocery stores have fruits, veggies, meats, etc, people tend to go to the “butcher” for meat, “fish shop” for seafood, “market” for fruits and veggies…so on this day I was heading to the butcher to get Helen her small rump filet. The nice Asian butcher sliced it in half for me – he recognizes me by now – and I turned to make my way towards Coles. Once inside I realized that the butcher must have been in a hurry, because there was a smallish piece of raw chicken on the package. Now I’m a bit embarrassed by my knee jerk reaction, but as it kind of grossed me out, without thinking I quickly flicked it with my fingers, thinking it would…you know, diappear into outer space and cease to exist, like everything does when you flick it out of eyesight. Instead it landed smack in the middle of an older man’s back as he innocently surveyed watermelons. I frantically looked around, I could seriously feel my cheeks turning bright red…no one had seen….so I inched my way towards him and quietly extended my arm towards his back to deftly pick it off. Just as my fingers were about to make contact, something sharp and pointed jabbed me sharply where the sun don’t shine – sorry to be graphic folks – but truly that doesn’t even do it justice. Imagine quietly concentrating in your own world, and then BAM! Something sharp sticks you were you know it shouldn’t. So, as any normal person would, I yelped and jumped forward, slightly smacking the old man in the back. He turned to look at me, I turned to search for the culprit, which turned out to be an old lady carrying a box who had tripped and fallen right into me – or I should say, the corner of the box did. The three of us looked at each other, and hurried away. I think we all wanted to forget about it.

Another adventure I had recently was as I was walking to the car after an outing, I stumbled upon an old abandoned graveyard. Literally, it looked just like The Secret Garden – except a cemetery. :) No one had mowed or trimmed the place in what looked like years, and the entrance was completely obscure – the only reason I found it was because, well hey, when I see a foresty path leading into darkness with no fresh footprints – I’m there! It was truly incredible. HUGE. The overgrowth was gorgeous, but to look at the graves was so interesting, they were some of the original emigrants from England. I finally found an old sign from the 70s talking about the cemetery being one of the first in Australia, and declaring that renovations would start soon. Looks like that never happened. Walking around that piece of history, seeing names of people with “born in Sussex, England, 1805) was so intriguing. One grave was for a little boy named Jack who died at age 5, bearing the inscription “Daddy’s best mate”. Again, some tears. I even found some ancestors, I believe, some “Liggins” from England. Mom, Dad, I took pictures of the tombstone and will be sending them to you. I can’t explain, this was a very special day for me. I was excited to talk to Helen about it when I returned.

"Helen, what year was Australia founded?"
"1977."
“Are you sure? You mean 1777?"
"Yes...1717. I'm not good with Geography."

Man I’m going to miss this woman. I believe in fact that Australia was founded in 1788 (thank you again, Google).

There is so much to write about that if I narrated it all in this fashion, we could be here for a while. So, I’ve made a list…see below for facts learned, experiences had, thoughts pondered, and things to make you go “huh?”…

1. Russell Crowe is not Australian. He is a Kiwi. The Aussie’s dirtiest little secret.

2. Women here are HUGE on “tradies”…as in tradesmen: plumbers, electricians, builders…there was a story on the National News concerning the topic, and there are many advertising campaigns celebrating this man’s man image of the ultimate Aussie.

3. Which leads me to nicknames. Being the natural, fun loving, don’t waste time with boring stuff if ever possible creatures that they are, it follows that most words in the English language are shortened for ease of use and jolliness of character: Breakfast=breaky, present=prezzy, “swimming costume”=cossies, or bathers, television=telly, sunglasses=sunnies, bathroom=dunny (I’m stuck on that one). There are countless others but after all this isn’t a translation dictionary.

4. Watch out fashion police, the times they are a’changin – it is now not only acceptable but fashionable to wear brown and black. Specifically black leggings and brown boots. It’s everywhere folks. I have broken down and purchased some black leggings but I refuse to wear brown on my black. So far. Something else that I’m fighting: MC Hammer pants. Yep, they are all the rage here too. As are black leggings under denim cut off shorts, and fedoras worn with cut up t-shirts hanging off the shoulder…it’s like I’ve stepped into an Uncle Buck scene. Let’s hope my life-sized pancakes are gluten free.

5. Trucks here are rare. I’ve seen a few that look like trucks, but the beds are all metal – and they call them “trays”. For example, one doesn’t have a truck, they have a “car with a tray”. I mentioned to someone about a pickup truck and they said “oh yeah that’s a Texas thing, right?” Maybe this will be different in the Outback.

6. Talk about fresh – the good thing from buying your veggies and fruits at the market is that you know it has come straight from the farmer’s truck into your hands. Proof of this is that every single time I rinse our veggies, I find real live farm critters: a spider, moth, worm, lady bug, and some other unidentified beetle type so far.

7. They use sunflower oil to cook much more than olive oil. Sunflower oil is produced en masse here.

8. When I first arrived, the major debates on the news were regarding Health Care and the Prime Minister’s lack of a solid plan (sound familiar?) For reasons we will leave undisclosed, I recently had a trip to the Emergency Room. Super clean, five minute wait, in and out in 30 minutes – again, sometimes it seems popular for them to be engaged in some sort of political disagreement just to keep busy – because that ER experience far outshined any I’ve had in the states.

So, onward I go. Absolutely cannot wait to see Lisa, to see more of the arts and music of Australia, and just to experience something new. That being said, I wouldn’t trade my time here in Sydney for anything. I have met some of the most amazing people, and truly gained an appreciation and respect for this great city. More photos coming to Facebook shortly.

I will be writing much more in Melbourne – again, the internet situation here has been touch and go. I miss all you wonderful people! Please, as you are moving into that glorious Texas Summer, remember me here in Melbourne where it is starting to get very, very cold…take a dip in the Springs and enjoy a Daily Juice for me!!!

Love love –

Nancy