What's new?? Joaquin has started a Kinder here and he really likes it. I know some of you reading this are gonna say "What? What happened to homeschooling??" We haven't abandoned homeschooling but the Kinder here is really more like formal playdates. In fact the teacher is very opposed to any type of formal instruction prefering instead to help the children learn from play. And I am all for that! The only problem is that little E thinks that he is part of the class too and so I often stay the whole day (only 9 to 1) because E gets to play too if I stay there to watch him. Our plan is to take J to Kinder three days a week and start very simple homeschool lessons on the other days. I have met a number of the other mothers and they are all very friendly. In fact there is another mom that is originally from Lancaster. And did I mention before that the guy that came to install the internet was from Altoona?? Small world. (Not really, at least it doesn't feel like it on the flight here!!!)
Anyway...what else? If you have looked at our flickr site then you know that we made a little trip out of Melbourne this past weekend. We had a long weekend so we made the best of it. Here's a bit of trivia: April 25 is ANZAC Day here in Oz. It stands for, I think, Australian and New Zealand Army(again, I think) Corps. It is much like our Veteran's Day but I think people take it much more seriously here, it seems. I felt a little guilty for not going downtown at sunrise for the memorial service but I would like to go next year if we are still here.
The really big thing about our trip is that we drove there! Actually, I did most of the driving. I don't know that Esteban feels that confident about it yet. Hmmm...could it have anything to do with the crazy, paranoid lady in the passenger(formerly driver's) seat chanting "stay left, stay left, stay left..." and frequently sucking in air loudly (as one might do just before an accident)? This lady also repeatedly yells towards the poor innocents in the back seat "no talking, you're father could have an accident!!", even when they are making no noise at all?? Nahhh. It's just Esteban.
Anyway...I got pretty used to driving on the left pretty quickly, which actually made me more nervous because that's when I think I'll make a mistake, when I am no longer super cautious. Much like the time my father turned down the wrong way on the highway in Ireland on our fifth day there. Yes, he got too comfortable. Many people have told me that the most dangerous time is when we return to the states and start driving on the other side again. That makes sense. The one thing that both Esteban and I were really having trouble with was the turning signal. When you drive on the left the signal is on the right side of the steering column. Totally weird, right?? Imagine it. You have to push it the opposite way. To turn left, you have to push it up and vice versa. We kept turning the wipers on every time we wanted to turn which is the last thing you need when you are trying to stay in the correct lane. The radio volume button is also on the other side. What else? Oh yeah...the overtake lanes are backwards. When you are on the highway, the slow lane is the left lane and you have to go to the left to overtake. Let me tell you, that feels really weird. I never really got used to that.
I am also trying to think if I have anymore cute Aussie-isms. Let me see if I can think of some:
Plungers are french coffee presses.
Here we don't get food to go, we get food to take away.
It's next to impossible to get just straight black coffee, which I think they call filtered. I haven't figured out the coffee code yet, but here's an attempt...a short white flat is a small coffee with unfrothed milk. A black flat is no milk. Isn't that redundant? Maybe I have that wrong. I better ask Esteban before I continue.
OH! Here's one thing that ensures that we won't stay permanently. Aussies don't drink Iced Tea!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!! I ask everywhere we go and they refer me to the drink cooler for that fake Lipton brown, corn syrup water that sell as "tea". YUCK!!! I've stopped ordering drinks in the restaurants. Now that its winter I will start drinking hot tea, but whatever will I do come summer???
I'll move on. People here say cordial as cor-dee-al. And it refers to a syrupy type drink that you pour in your water. Probably more colored corn syrup.
Muslin cloth here is cheesecloth. What we call Muslin in the states, they call Calico. Am I spelling Muslin correctly?
I was told that Joaquin should try not to say boo-boo as most Aussies have never heard of that and will probably think he is making referance to certain parts of his lady teachers.
Did I already mention this one? We got a ride to church the other day from Peter, a new friend, and he asked if he could put my bag in his boot. Now what was I to say to that?? "Either I don't know what a boot is, or you've got awfully large feet!" perhaps? Instead I politely asked what in the world he meant and he said that he thinks we call it the trunk. I started to say of course we call it the trunk but then realized that "trunk" doesn't really make any sense either. What I did say was, thinking I was being clever, "so if that's the boot, is the hood the hat? ha ha" Peter replied with a straight face "Close, its the bonnet." I didn't believe him. I had to ask several others. Here I was supposed to be learning about Jesus and all I could do was whisper to those around me "what do you call the front of your car?" I'm a heathen. But now an informed heathen.
Sneakers are runners.
Sweaters are called jumpers.
I think that's all I can think of for tonight. I am sure I'll encounter more.
Oh, and Joaquin say G'day mate now to the folks on the tram.
One last thing tonight...footy.
I can already see the assimilation of my husband into Aussie culture. Remember that's Aussie like the Osbournes. Anyway, he has already begun to say the quintessentially Australian "yeh", as in yes. Its not "yeah", its yeh. Pretend you are Crocodile Dundee and say yeah. You've probably got it. Its terribly infectious. I asked him the other day if he thought he'd like tacos for dinner and he answered very aussie like "yeh" and immediately looked alarmed because he couldn't beleive what he'd just said. And then the footy!! Footy is Australian Rules Football and there is no such craziness like it that I have ever seen. Esteban watched about an hour of it the other day and I am afraid he's hooked. But then again, how can one not be? It's really entertaining to watch. Let me try to describe it like this...Say you took the Steelers and put them on a soccer field with the Giants, but without their uniforms. Then you gave them a football but told them to play soccer with it. You know they might try to play soccer but would end up kicking and passing 'cause thats what they do best. Then you virtually take away any penalties,say for, punching opponents on the field or similar acts of aggression. Oh and you have to have someone stand just off camera and blow the whistle incessantly and sporadically but have it mean seemingly nothing. And finally, make them all pretend to be Australian and say Dr. Phil like phrases. THEN and only then you will begin to get an idea of what Footy is. Australian readers, if there are any, I mean this with great respect for your sport.
And one more thing...the prime minister speaks fluent Mandarin! How great is that!!! Good ol' George Dubya can't even seem to get a grip on his english.
Buenas noches.
And one more thing...the prime minister speaks fluent Mandarin! How great is that!!! Good ol' George Dubya can't even seem to get a grip on his english.
Buenas noches.
Lovin' the down under...
It's going really well folks!! I found Big W today (which bears an uncanny likeness to Wal-Mart, they have "roll-backs" and the little yellow smiley face)but, more importantly, they have CHEAP STUFF!!! Yeah!! I am beginning to realize that Esteban and I just happened to move into an expensive neighborhood. AND, I found my first thrift store, or as they call them down under, op shop. Its run by a brotherhood of something and it was pretty great. I didn't really get to look around that much however because I was on my way to the Melbourne Zoo. You know, I really just want to write Mel-bun, cuz that's how everyone says it anyway.
The zoo...we had a great time at the zoo. It was a beautiful day and I have to say that Australia has beautiful clouds. I can't really even say how they are different but they are and the sky is so blue. Yesterday while we were at the zoo, the sky was just amazing. Its as if the clouds don't block the sun. And they are so white, yes, that's part of it. They seem whiter than at home. Of course, I did live in Pittsburgh! I even found a yarn store, a little pricey but good yarns, not much selection. I also took the kids on the tram all by myself for the first time and it went quite well. I took the boys down to South Mel-bun to have lunch with Papi and his new co-workers. It was so hot that day, I thought I was going to faint on the tram. The boys were all red-cheeked and sweaty. When I got the Esteban's office I commented on the heat and they responded "Heat?? This isn't hot! Wait until the summer!" But all you yankees reading this have to understand that this day was like a pretty average summer day in the northern states, like a day in August,exept not humid. In other words, I don't know if I will survive a summer here. You all will be scraping the ice of your wipers and pulling out the extra blankets and I will be here sweating to death wishing for snow. I just ask that you think of us while you shovel the drive.
What am I crazy!?!?! I'm not gonna miss the snow...I live 500 ft from a pool (or rather about 170 metres)!!! But I won't brag.
I digress, I meant to talk about the zoo. I was a really great zoo with many animals I had never seen before in my life. I have now seen a kookaburra, and that's somethin'. They are quite strange looking birds. Look them up sometime. What else?? A wombat...I saw a wombat very up close. I will say that about the Melbourne Zoo, they have done the "up-close" thing very well. I was a little to "up-close" to the lions, but the kids loved it. Wombats are like furry little pigs and their paws look like little children's hands. They are very cute while they are sleeping. I think they are my new favorite animal. Or maybe that is the echidna. I thought I was looking at a very large hedgehog. They must be in the same family. I will look to see if I took a picture.
The zoo...we had a great time at the zoo. It was a beautiful day and I have to say that Australia has beautiful clouds. I can't really even say how they are different but they are and the sky is so blue. Yesterday while we were at the zoo, the sky was just amazing. Its as if the clouds don't block the sun. And they are so white, yes, that's part of it. They seem whiter than at home. Of course, I did live in Pittsburgh! I even found a yarn store, a little pricey but good yarns, not much selection. I also took the kids on the tram all by myself for the first time and it went quite well. I took the boys down to South Mel-bun to have lunch with Papi and his new co-workers. It was so hot that day, I thought I was going to faint on the tram. The boys were all red-cheeked and sweaty. When I got the Esteban's office I commented on the heat and they responded "Heat?? This isn't hot! Wait until the summer!" But all you yankees reading this have to understand that this day was like a pretty average summer day in the northern states, like a day in August,exept not humid. In other words, I don't know if I will survive a summer here. You all will be scraping the ice of your wipers and pulling out the extra blankets and I will be here sweating to death wishing for snow. I just ask that you think of us while you shovel the drive.
What am I crazy!?!?! I'm not gonna miss the snow...I live 500 ft from a pool (or rather about 170 metres)!!! But I won't brag.
I digress, I meant to talk about the zoo. I was a really great zoo with many animals I had never seen before in my life. I have now seen a kookaburra, and that's somethin'. They are quite strange looking birds. Look them up sometime. What else?? A wombat...I saw a wombat very up close. I will say that about the Melbourne Zoo, they have done the "up-close" thing very well. I was a little to "up-close" to the lions, but the kids loved it. Wombats are like furry little pigs and their paws look like little children's hands. They are very cute while they are sleeping. I think they are my new favorite animal. Or maybe that is the echidna. I thought I was looking at a very large hedgehog. They must be in the same family. I will look to see if I took a picture.
Some pictures of the kids
Here are some pictures of the park near the house. This is a bit overexposed, but here is Joaquin on his way to play for the first time in the park near our house.
What is this tree??
I think that I have seen this before but not as a tree. I feel like I have only seen this as a small plant. I have to find out what it is before it drives me batty. That reminds me...in Queens Park, there are palm trees growing next to oak trees. Is that unusual??
The Australian Chapter
And how fitting that I shall begin it with my birthday, the thirtieth no less. Yes, today I completed three decades of life and will begin my fourth. How do I feel? Very, very grateful. I could have only made it to 25 or 7. I welcome my 30th and will welcome every birthday after that. I am just a bit sad however to be so far from home. My main chica, T-ta (as Elias calls you now) and I were supposed to be in the big NYC thriftin' it up. Oh, I long to go back to the Salvo Boutique just off Broadway! 2010 will be our year Chica de Tug!!!!
Enough about my bday, what about Australia you ask? There is so much to tell and I am already forgetting things because I went without internet for so long, but I will try to compile a list here of the things that I have learned thus far:
1. I have an internet addiction. But I guess that doesn't really have anything to do with Australia, I just happened to discover it here. So we won't count it...
New 1. That when one drives on the other side of the road they also walk down the sidewalk on the other side and they push the shopping cart down the other side. You might be saying "Well, Duh!" to yourself right now, but I ask you, really!?!? would you have really thought of that?!?!? I only caught on after twenty minutes of Australian shoppers trying to avoid playing a game of chicken with me.
2. Cantelopes are rock melons
3. Bell peppers are capsicums
4. Mackers is McDonalds
5. Many many australians can name all fifty states of the U.S. Quick...name the seven australian states! Got you, there are only six! Any dill knows that!
6. a dill is an idiot.
7. Aussie is not pronounced "OSSIE", it is "OZZIE"
8. Cookies are biscuits
9. Esteban was inducted at work his first week (had his orientation)
10. You greet someone by saying "how are you going?", not "how are you doing?", and this even applies in the past tense ("so how did you go?")
11. If something is suspicious or suspect, it's "a bit dodgy"
12. Being "switched on" applies to smart people who catch on quickly, not necessarily electrical appliances or light switches...
13. Evidently every Melbournian has a personal stylist,or at least they all look that way.
I think that's all I've got for now. In general, we are very happy with where we live. It is very close to a park. Everything is very expensive here though and that might be a slight set back. I went to buy some toys for the boys the other day and I almost cried in the store. I mean it, I was really fighting back the tears because the prices were so high that I was thinking "I am such a bad mom, bringing my children to this land where I can't even buy them a toy! Shame on me." But I did end up buying them a little people set that costs about three times what it would in the states. I am not exaggerating. Aren't they all made in China anyway and aren't we closer to China now?? I think that's all for today.
Enough about my bday, what about Australia you ask? There is so much to tell and I am already forgetting things because I went without internet for so long, but I will try to compile a list here of the things that I have learned thus far:
1. I have an internet addiction. But I guess that doesn't really have anything to do with Australia, I just happened to discover it here. So we won't count it...
New 1. That when one drives on the other side of the road they also walk down the sidewalk on the other side and they push the shopping cart down the other side. You might be saying "Well, Duh!" to yourself right now, but I ask you, really!?!? would you have really thought of that?!?!? I only caught on after twenty minutes of Australian shoppers trying to avoid playing a game of chicken with me.
2. Cantelopes are rock melons
3. Bell peppers are capsicums
4. Mackers is McDonalds
5. Many many australians can name all fifty states of the U.S. Quick...name the seven australian states! Got you, there are only six! Any dill knows that!
6. a dill is an idiot.
7. Aussie is not pronounced "OSSIE", it is "OZZIE"
8. Cookies are biscuits
9. Esteban was inducted at work his first week (had his orientation)
10. You greet someone by saying "how are you going?", not "how are you doing?", and this even applies in the past tense ("so how did you go?")
11. If something is suspicious or suspect, it's "a bit dodgy"
12. Being "switched on" applies to smart people who catch on quickly, not necessarily electrical appliances or light switches...
13. Evidently every Melbournian has a personal stylist,or at least they all look that way.
I think that's all I've got for now. In general, we are very happy with where we live. It is very close to a park. Everything is very expensive here though and that might be a slight set back. I went to buy some toys for the boys the other day and I almost cried in the store. I mean it, I was really fighting back the tears because the prices were so high that I was thinking "I am such a bad mom, bringing my children to this land where I can't even buy them a toy! Shame on me." But I did end up buying them a little people set that costs about three times what it would in the states. I am not exaggerating. Aren't they all made in China anyway and aren't we closer to China now?? I think that's all for today.
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