I'm So Over This

Thursday, August 29, 2013 - Day 35 Living Down Under

So Charlie is back at school today.  :)    But now Chaney is home sick. :(  Of course she is.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.    I hope everyone is 100% soon and Erich and I don't get sick.

I usually love being at home. (I'm not a homebody.  Okay. Maybe I am.)  But I am going stir crazy in this apartment.  It doesn't help that I've been home the last four days with sick kids.  This small hotel apartment living sucks and I'm so over it.  I am really ready to be in our house. At this point we are just waiting for the delivery of our household goods so we can move into our house.  Today is the day that the Australians are "starting" the quarantine of our household goods.  We aren't really sure what that means or how much longer it will take.  We do know that the quarantine process involves opening up crates, x-raying, and sniffing dogs all looking for contraband.   If they find one thing, they do more further investigating.  One blade of grass on the bottom of a shoe will hold up the whole process.  If they do find something that isn't allowed, we are given the expensive option to have it fumigated or radiated to make it safe, the expensive option to have it sent back to the U.S. or the still-expensive-but-not-as-much option of having it destroyed.  There is an Air Force master sergeant stationed at the Embassy that paid $300 for a dried floral arrangement to be fumigated when she moved here.  She must have really, REALLY loved those flowers. 

I am getting used to living in this area of town.  I am finally in a routine here with the local grocery store, gas stations, parks, etc.  It is going to be like starting all over when we get in the house.  I don't want to invest any more energy into getting to know this area of the city. Where is the closest chemist?  Where is the closest dry cleaners? I want to start doing that in the area where I will be living.  I WANT TO GET INTO OUR HOUSE!

I want to follow up with my post yesterday regarding the food, especially the dairy.  Erich and the kids are not having a trouble with the transition to the Aussie food like I am.  They don't taste the difference like I do.  Let's face it.  I just have a more developed palate than they do.  ;-)  I am also the one that does the cooking and since a lot of the products are different here, I'm struggling a bit more with what to make that everyone will eat.  I do know that I will eventually get used to the food and the products.  I have to.  After all, we will be here for two years and eleven months more!



We woke up to a hot air balloon off our patio this morning.

 My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Instead of saying "knock on wood" the Aussies say "touch wood."
• In the U.S. I typically drive 3-6 miles per hour over the speed limit.  Not exactly a lead foot. I've mentioned before that here they give tickets out for 1-2 kilometers per hour over the limit.  And they use speed cameras.  Do you ever drive over the speed limit but because some yahoo just raced past you, and you know you won't be pulled over? You know the cop ain't going for you, the small fish.  The cop wants the big kahuna.  And you know the speed racing yahoo would get pulled over and get the ticket instead of you. So as long as you aren't going the fastest, you are safe going over the limit.   Well, with speed cameras, that doesn't work.  It doesn't matter if someone is 20 km/h over or just 2 over.  Everyone is getting a ticket.  Crap.  But, I'm still ticket free. Touch wood.
• I almost named this post "I Touch Wood."

Our Little Secret

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Day 34 Living Down Under

I've said it before but I'm gonna say it again.  I think the food down here tastes different (and not in a good kind of different way).  All the dairy tastes different (bad).  The milk, cheese, yogurt (yoghurt), all leave a not-so-pleasant taste in my mouth.  It's all cow's milk.  How can cow's milk taste so different here?  What are they feeding the cows down here?? 

Charlie missed school today and I took him to the doctor's office.  He was feeling better today but that happened yesterday morning and then he ran the temperature in the afternoon.  Today we waited 90 minutes past our appointment time to see the doctor. Ugh.  I hope it's not like that every time we go there.  (Because of our insurance, this is the only doctor's office we are allowed to go to.) Charlie was a champ while waiting.  He was checked out and the doc told us to continue to do what we have been doing.  We left and Charlie literally skipped back to our apartment.  (The doctor's office is around the corner from our hotel. Which means it will be 30 minutes away from our house...) He will be going to school tomorrow. 



The Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet on Lake Burley Griffin in the middle of the city.  We pass this twice a day on the way to school and on the way home.  The kids can't wait to see
 if its running since its not always on.

 My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Aussies call a van a "people mover."  They are pretty literal down here.
• They call a pick-up truck a "ute" which was shortened from "utility coupe."  (Because that just takes incredibly way too long to say.) 
• They say the letter H like "haitch."
• They don't call it a cell phone.  They call it a mobile but pronounce it mo-bile.
• In Australia during the last week, one man was eaten by an alligator and one was attacked by a shark.  I be stayin' away from the water.
• They use freeze dried coffee down here. There are only a couple of bean choices at the grocery store but a ton of coffee crystals. I'm not good at making coffee with my Mr. Coffee. Now I know I also suck at making instant coffee.  How can this be??  This is right up there with Erich failing at Easy Mac (which was designed so a 7 year old can make macaroni and cheese). 
• The Australians think we have an accent.  They are wrong. They could not be further from the truth!  They are the ones that have the accent.  Do you think I should tell them?  Probably not.  I'll just let them keep thinking it's me.  It will be our little secret.  Shhhh.

Snap. Crackle. Pop.

 Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 - Day 33 Living Down Under

Charlie has stayed home from school the last two days of school.  I will be taking him to the doctor's office tomorrow.  Almost all of the boys and three girls have been absent from their class so something is going around.  Our insurance, Tricare is really awesome.  But, being stationed overseas AND since there is no military base around, it's like trying to jump through hoops every time we need to go to the doctor. 

Chaney has continued to have trouble going into school.  The teacher talked to Erich at pick up today and she thinks that it's more of a behavioral thing then a anxiety thing at this point.  I think it's a combination of both but I agree that it's turned into a behavioral issue.  *sigh*  Her teacher calls a tantrum a "tanty" (tan-tee).  (These silly Aussies...)

Have you ever been in an elevator that had negative numbers for floor choices? 

Hmmm....



This is the Australian Parliament House. It is an interesting building and it opened in 1988.
It is about a quarter mile from our hotel apartment.

 

Chaney's breakfast of choice.  Her favorite breakfast used to be waffles and sausage links
but they don't have frozen waffles here and they don't have breakfast sausage either.
 (I need to get a waffle maker.)
Snap. Crackle. Pop.  I wonder why Kellogg's didn't keep the name Rice Krispies.

 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• The quote of the night was on the news when they were interviewing a man that was bitten by a shark. "...so I asked myself, 'What would Steve Erwin do?'  Well, I probably shouldn't have jumped on the shark's back."   What an idiot. 
• Next month Australia will elect a Prime Minister.  It is compulsory for every Australian citizen aged 18 years or older to vote.  After the election, the Australian Electoral Commission will write to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty.  If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $170 plus court costs. Wow.

Fairy Bread

Sunday, August 25, 2013 - Day 31 Living Down Under

What a busy weekend!  Charlie and Chaney went to a birthday party for a boy in their class.  We learned about two Australian traditions.  Besides cake, fairy bread is served.  Fairy bread is white bread with butter and hundreds and thousands (sprinkles) all over.  It is typically cut in a triangle shape.  Apparently this is a tradition at kids' parties here in Australia.  The parents at the party seemed surprised that we had never seen fairy bread before.  They assumed that we did it in the U.S.   The other tradition we learned is that when they sing "Happy Birthday" they conclude the song with three rounds of "hip hip hooray!"

Fairy Bread (I know you want some.)

At the birthday party, enjoying the fairy bread

while Chaney goes through the bowl of lollies looking for her favorite.

Charlie is sick today with a 102.2 degree temp.  :(   So Charlie and Daddy stayed home while Chaney and I went to a classmate's house for lunch.  They served lamb, a popular dish down here.  I had never had it before and I'm not sure I like it.  I'll give it another try.  The classmate's mom made a traditional Australian dessert called pavlova.  It was delicious.  Seriously delicious. She had never made it before and she did a great job as it's not an easy dessert to make.  She was really trying to introduce us to traditional Australian dishes which I thought was super thoughtful and sweet.

Pavlova
 It is a meringue dessert with a crisp crust and soft, light inside. The dessert is believed to have been created in honor of the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova either during or after one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s.

Charlie will probably be home from school tomorrow, even though the school doesn't have a policy of when a sick child stays home or comes back to school.  "If they are well, send them!"  I think we will stick with the U.S. school policy of being temperature free for 24 hours.  Erich will take and pick up Chaney from school. 

Questions the Aussies have asked me...

• "We put milk in our coffee and you guys put cream.  Is that really cream or is it milk?"  Cream to them means heavy cream. They don't have half and half over here and I've been explaining what it is.  (I've been asked this three times.)
• "When you guys eat your peanut butter and jelly, is that jelly like our jam or is it like your Jell-O?"  (Australian's word for jelly is jam.  Jelly to them is Jell-O.) They just want to clarify and make sure we don't put Jell-O on our PB&J sandwiches. 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• They call a sweater or sweatshirt a jumper.
• Saturday night the Canberra US Military Wives group got together to play Bunco.  I had a good time and met a few new American ladies and a few really nice Aussie ladies. 
• Candy is called lollies.
•  I was tucking Charlie into bed and he asked me a question about the U.S. Embassy here in Canberra. He asked, "Mommy, does the Embassy have American plugs or Australian plugs?" I told him I didn't know. He responded with, "I hope it has American plugs since it's a little piece of America."

A Sneetch and A Popstar

Friday, August 23, 2013 - Day 29 Living Down Under

It was 4 weeks ago today we landed in Canberra!  It seems like its only been about 2 weeks.  And then I think about how long we've been in this hotel and it seems like 2 months. If we are still here in 4 weeks, I will be totally nuts. Totally. 

They have Domino's Pizza here!  We haven't ordered any yet but I did check out their website and I wanted to share with you some of their specialty "Chef's Best" pizzas.  BBQ Duck & Blue Cheese, Chicken & Cranberry, Shiraz Lamb & Tomato, BBQ Pork & Hollandaise, and Blue Cheese & Bacon.  Which kind do you want to try?  Personally, NONE of those sound good to me.  A LARGE pizza is about 27.5 cm.  That's about 11 inches. 

Today the kids got to dress up like their favorite book character. I would like to present a Star Bellied Sneetch and a Princess Popstar.

 

 

 

 

Today, at the all school assembly, Chaney received a class award.  The timing is perfect.  She really needed this extra confidence.  

 

 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Tonight we are having a girl slumber party in one bedroom and a boy slumber party in the other.   It was Chaney's idea.
• We have been utilizing a converter app on our phones.  It helps covert all the centimeters to inches, kilometers to miles, Celsius to Fahrenheit, etc.  Did you know that -40 C = -40 F.  Go chew on that one...
• Yellow onions are called brown onions down here.  But they are yellow...
• I went to the mall today so I could get a present for a classmate's birthday party tomorrow.  I seriously can't believe I'm going to say this, but the mall isn't as irritating as it was a month ago.  I know, I can't believe it either.



 



 

 



Vroom Vroom

Thursday, August 22, 2013 - Day 28 Living Down Under

Around here they have cameras all over the roads taking pictures of violators.  They snap your picture while you are breaking the law and then they mail you a ticket.  So far,  I haven't gotten one. (knock on wood) They will give tickets for 2 km over the speed limit. (That's  about 1.5 mph over).  They will snap your pic if you are holding a cell phone while driving.  You can't text or be making phone calls, even at red lights. (A friend got a ticket over $300  for using her cell.)  And you better not pull over that white line when stopping for a red light.  Or bam, you get a ticket.  It's only a matter of time before one of us gets a ticket.  Who do you think will be first?  Erich or Me? 

Because of the cameras,  most people obey the laws.  They seem to be kinder drivers that are more considerate of others.  They slow way down and observe the lowered speed limit in construction zones, they (usually) don't try to bully their way ahead when two lanes become one, they don't ride your tail if you are going slower, and they allow people to merge in front of them.  I spend 2 hours a day in the car driving right now since the kids' school is so far from our hotel.  I'm seeing a lot of road time.  It's so nice to drive in an atmosphere like that!  

We kept seeing cars with a big L or P on the back and we were wondering what they meant. When you turn 16 and you pass a drivers test,  you have to have the L, for "learner" on the back of your car for one year.  After that,  you have to have the P, for provisional. You get your full license when you turn 19 and have had your P for at least a year! 

They have random breathalyzer tests morning and night. (Yes! The morning! For people that have been out all night partying or started too early.) (But is there really a too early?)  If you get stopped at a random check you have to do the test or you will be arrested. No other choice.  The legal limit is lower here.



Thank goodness for these signs on the street! They keep me going the right way!

Our household goods are still in Sydney and we got word that the quarantine will start on August 29th.  We don't know exactly what that means other then that's when they start going through our stuff.  Fingers crossed they don't find a problem! We still don't have a better time line than that.  It could be 2 more weeks.  Or it could be four...  Tomorrow will mark 4 weeks since we arrived in Canberra.  I can't believe it.

Random Observations and Thoughts...

• You know the dot at the end of the sentence that we call a period? They call is a "full stop."
• The legal drinking age here is 18.
• Instead of saying "he has a handicap", they say "he has handicap."
• A group of kangaroos is called a troop or a mob. 
• September 1 is Father's Day here. 

Life Savers

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 - Day 26 Living Down Under

So Erich found musk flavoured Life Savers and brought them home and I decided to try them.  First of all, they smell like a cheap bar of flowery soap.  And, I will add, that they also taste like a cheap bar of flowery soap.  You know the old lady behind you at the drug store that has dumped half a bottle of her rose perfume on herself?  It tastes like that.  I'm going to send you some. 

Chaney did really well going into school today!!  The other day we were talking about how she feels when she gets upset when it's time to go into school.  She told me, "I just have dragons in my head that are breathing fire."  I thought that was a really good description.  She just gets so mad when I go to leave.  Fire breathing dragons.  Hopefully we can get rid of the dragons.

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Even though they still call me mommy, they've decided to start using the Aussie word when writing.
  
• I have yet to see a fridge with a ice maker.  But, today I saw my first fridge with a water dispenser on the front.  But then I found out you had to remove a water jug and fill it at the sink to get the dispenser to work.  The jug holds about 4 glasses of water.  Totally not worth it. 
• I got to have lunch with another American today.  Her house was lovely and very warm and homey.  I really can't wait to get into our home. 
• It's really beautiful here. Breathtaking views. And the mountains are higher then I expected.  I haven't yet been able to get a photograph that captures how pretty it is.  I'll keep working on it. 
   
  

• A lot of restaurants are only open for breakfast and lunch. Today I ate lunch at my first restaurant (I'm not counting McDonald's or the mall food court.)
• They play a LOT of American TV shows.  I've seen a small handful of current shows like The Dome, Ellen, Conan, NBC Today Show (they show yesterday's show every morning), the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, and Dr. Phil.  And they show a ton of old shows.  I've seen shows I had completely forgotten about.  For example, I've seen Laverne and Shirley, Friends, M*A*S*H*, Perfect Strangers, Full House and the Simpsons.  (I haven't been watching all those shows!!)
• When you use a credit card here, they really check your receipt signature against your signature on your credit card.  Every single time.  And they really check it out to make sure the signatures match!  I've had to slow down writing my long name so it looks as good as it does on my card!  And by the way, my name usually doesn't fit on the line. It's too long. (In case you were wondering.)
• Instead of saying "he went to the hospital"  they say "he went to hospital." 

**I want to make sure you know that I'm not complaining or making fun of how the Australians live their life.  I am just noticing and pointing out the small differences in how we live in the United States. (Okay, okay.  Let me be honest.  I am complaining about the lack of ice makers.) 

One Mini m&m

Monday, August 19, 2013 - Day 25 Living Down Under

Yesterday the kids had their first play date.  The kids had a great time playing with two girls from their class and I enjoyed talking to the other parents.  I've noticed that if there is any background noise at all (i.e. kids playing) I have a much harder time understanding what someone is saying with the Australian accent.  I really have to concentrate. 

Today I went to Target for the first time.  Yes, it was in the mall.  It doesn't seem as cool or as big as the Targets in the U.S.   But I look forward to investigating it more.  I was on a mission to look for costumes for the kids since this Friday is "dress as your favorite book character" at school.  We have nothing with us to use.  Charlie is going as a Sneetch from the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches.  I bought a big yellow t-shirt.  I will attach a green felt star to the belly of the shirt. 

"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. 

The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars." 

Chaney picked "Barbie Princess Popstar" as her favorite book.  I found a pink frilly dress for her.  She is thrilled that it looks like the dress in the book.

"Tori is a princess.  She lives in a castle. 

She wears fancy dresses every day."

Target. In the Mall.

Erich recently bought Charlie a toy car at the store.  What do you notice about it? 
The steering is on the left! When driving, I still look at the car in front of me and
wonder where the driver is. 
And then I realize I'm looking at the wrong side...

School drop-off went well this morning for the first time since early last week.  It's exhausting.  Homework time after school was like pulling teeth.   I'm getting glimpses of what it's going to be like to have a teenage daughter.  "I'm NEVER.  Doing.  Homework.  Ever.  And you can't make me."  Deep breathing helped me and we got through it.  It's amazing what a 6 year old will do for 1 mini m&m.

Our social calendar is filling up!  I have two coffee dates this week with American ladies I met last week at the Canberra US Military Wives group.  Saturday the kids have a birthday party. Saturday night I have bunco with the Military Wives group and on Sunday we have all been invited to lunch by a family of a girl in the kids' class.

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Do you know what they call movers that come and pack your things and move them to the next house?  They call them removalists.  For some reason I find that funny.
• I miss Walmart type bags.  You know, the plastic ones.  I didn't realize how much I used them until I don't have them anymore!  Canberra is a "bag-free" city.  No plastic bags anywhere.  If you forget your cloth shopping bags, you have to purchase these large heavy-duty reusable plastic bags.  So, mom, use Walmart bags as filler in packages you send us!
• I had to buy a scarf today.  The climate is cold but bearable.  Until the wind blows.  And the wind blows a lot.
• There are roundabouts everywhere here.  Everywhere.  The one lane ones are a breeze.  The two lane ones took me a while and I'm still a bit nervous when driving through one.  Three lane roundabouts I am still avoiding.
  
• They use the word arvo for afternoon. 
•  We are still having fun with balloons!
  

Legit

Saturday, August 17, 2013 - Day 23 Living Down Under

• The weekend!  Woot! Woot!  Chaney and I surprised the boys this morning with pancakes for breakfast.  The kitchen supplies here in the apartment leave a lot to be desired.  I had to cook each 4 inch (10.16 cm) pancake one at a time.  The boys were pleased with our surprise. 

• Yesterday, Charlie got an award at school.  It was given to him at an all school assembly.  Each class gives two awards every week.  Chaney was excited for Charlie but quickly followed up with "I want an award too!"  Being twins they have always gotten things at the same time.  This is the beginning of a great lesson in "we don't always get what our brother/sister gets."  It's a tough lesson!  We are very proud of Charlie. 

• I wanted to share with you guys the kids' thoughts about our time so far in Australia.  So, I asked the kids the following question: How do you feel about our time in Australia?

                     Chaney :  Good.        (pause)        I think that's it.  (shrugs shoulders)

                     Charlie: (thumbs up)

                     Ellengray:  (I expected longer answers.)

• Chaney was going through a box of toys looking for her play cell phone and we asked Chaney to go get on her PJs.  She turned around and snapped at us, "I NEED to call my boyfriend." After a few seconds, I recovered, and I asked her if her boyfriend is just a boy that's her friend.  Her response, "It's my imaginary boyfriend.  And no, it's someone that loves me and we go on dates."  I think I just got a glimpse into our future and I need to go pour myself a large glass of wine. 

• Today, Erich took the kids to the cool science place called Questacon. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• We see these signs around town:

  

  If you hit a kangaroo,  you call this number.  They go out and check to see if there is a baby in her pouch that survived the accident.
  
  

• Since grocery stores are in malls (*sigh*), you take your cart (trolley) down the escalator to your car in the car garage (car park).  The wheels on the cart are magnetized and stick to the escalator so it doesn't roll away.  Brilliant.

 

• You know you've become part of the local scene when you receive your grocery store frequent shopper card in the mail.  We are now legit. 
  
  
  

Shocking

Thursday, August 15, 2013 - Day 21 Living Down Under

So I went to the chemist today. (That is what they call a pharmacy.)  Guess where it was.  In a MALL. *eye roll*  I needed some cold medicine for Charlie and me.  We seem to be catching every little cold or virus that we've never been exposed to before.  While I was there, I looked for rubbing alcohol.  You know, regular old isopropyl alcohol.  It was $12.99.  No joke.   Today's shocker #1.

Chaney didn't do well today with school drop off.  I feel so bad for her.  But overall, things have been better this week. And she does calm down once she is inside the classroom and I've gone.  Hopefully tomorrow...

In the U.S. some songs are released with a radio version if the original version has bad words or offensive, off color language.  Not here.  I heard a song on the radio today (and luckily I was alone in the car) that used the F-word AND the N-word.  I almost spit out my gum.  Shocker #2.

I visited Kmart today for the first time.  And if you were wondering, yes, it's in the mall.  It seemed a lot like Kmart in the U.S. but a lot of items are in different places than in a U.S. store.   It took me a while to find the four things on my list .  I had to ask where to find each one.  Contact paper is with school supplies and paper towels are by the cleaning supplies.  In the U.S. there would've been an whole row of paper towels to choose from.  Here there was one kind.  It's these differences I find interesting.  

Another interesting grocery store find:


I was tired of square and rectangular shaped crackers.  I was excited to find these.  Who doesn't just love drumstick shaped crackers?! (shocker #3)



 



 

 

Go Fish

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - Day 20 Living Down Under

Our household goods are in Australia!!  Woot! Woot!  They are at a Aussie Air Base near Sydney.  Now we have to wait for customs and the quarantine which could be 2-4 weeks.  Keep your fingers crossed that everything passes the quarantine.  Australia has a crazy long list of things that aren't allowed.  Basically, if it was ever alive, it can't come in the country.  Pine cones, dried flowers, the grass stuck to the bottom of a shoe, seashells, etc. aren't allowed.  If there are problems, it will delay us getting our stuff and possibly cost us money to have anything that we missed radiated. Yes, I said radiated.  They open up the crates and also x-ray to search for contraband.   I look forward to getting in the house!

 Today I went to my first Canberra U.S. Military Spouses group function.  It was a nice potluck luncheon and everyone was really nice.  There were a few other new people too and the ladies that had been here for a while had some good advice for us.  Let me share with you some of the tidbits of information I learned today.

• Don't be alarmed when your child comes home from school and says, "I need to bring rubbers to school." That just means they need to take erasers. 
• Apparently kids here cuss and its acceptable. 
• There are birds that dive bomb humans during the birds' spring mating season.  They seriously dive bomb your head.  Spring is a month away.  Pray for us.
• Items ordered from Walmart.com take about a week to arrive.  That is amazing.

Chaney did a great job today going into school!  And the bribing continues...


Another interesting grocery store find:

Doesn't the name "Chicken Tubes" just make you want to rip the bag open and eat a handful??!

 

 

We had a hot game of go fish after dinner tonight.  It was cut throat.  Charlie kicked our butts. 

"Born in the U.S.A."

Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - Day 19 Living Down Under

So being new in town, 4 people have my new mobile number.  Erich, The US Embassy, our bank, and the twins' school.  So when Erich was sitting beside me at lunch and my phone rang, I knew it couldn't be good.  Sure enough, Chaney had gotten hurt in gym.  The school wanted me to check her out so I drove out to the school. She ended up being okay but wasn't happy when it was time for me to leave.  But it all worked out.

Chaney did well during school drop off.  She started to panic a little bit as I walked away.  But I disappeared into the crowd and the teacher took her hand.  Chaney and Charlie are both making friends and we've been invited to two playdates.   Charlie asks a million questions during the day.  Chaney finds the work "hard" and shuts down easily.  We aren't pushing her yet.  The teacher wants her to get settled a bit more and feel good about school.  We have homework  every night and I'm hoping that gets easier. (I'll write more about that in another post)

Today I heard "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen on the radio.  I usually listen to about 1 minute of it and then turn it off because it's a bit monotonous.  This time I listened to (almost) all of the song.  I felt a bit obligated. 

Today we picked up our other new car. Finally!  We now have our own cars.  I feel like I'm pretty confident with driving on the left now.  Every so often I still have a flashback to driving on the right.  And I still get a bit nervous driving places I haven't driven before.  I'm finding it the most difficult to pull into parking spaces. This is a bit surprising.  It completely throws me off being on the right when pulling into a spot.  And I also think that the parking spaces are smaller here. 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• They don't sell acetaminophen down here.  No Tylenol. 
• I miss ice makers.  I thought filling ice cube trays was so 1980.  Nope. I'm going to be filling a lot of ice cube trays in the next 3 years.
• This was in the candy aisle and I don't understand:

  

  What in the heck is musk flavor?
  
   

Victory!

Monday, August 12, 2013 - Day 18 Down Under

Today I went to get the "rego" (registration) for our new Holden Captiva vehicle.  I have now confirmed that DVMs across the world will require you to wait a long time.  Tomorrow we pick up our Corolla from the dealership.  Luckily, they take care of the rego for us. 

While I waited in line to get the rego, Erich took the kids to school.  They arrived a few minutes late so their class had already gone to their classroom.  Charlie and Chaney were able to join them for circle time on the floor while the parents waited by the desks.  Usually, after morning prayer, the teacher asks the kids to go say goodbye to their parents.  This time, because their teacher is brilliant (aren't all teachers?!), she told the class to turn and wave goodbye to their parent.  Chaney (and Charlie) waved goodbye to Daddy and he slipped out the door.  Without any fight.  Without any tears.  Without any restraint.  Finally a school drop off victory!  Now, to recreate that whole thing tomorrow. 

We also offered Chaney a bribe reward.  This morning before school, I showed her a whole set of Lil' Pet Shop toys (courtesy of our friends Piper and Payton).  I told her if she went into school like  a big girl, she could have it after school.  She loved it.  I also said that I would go buy ice cream and cones if she went into school without a fight. We will use bribes for a week or so so she can see that she can go in without throwing a fit.  I hope this bribery doesn't backfire on me...

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• The Australian 50 cent coin has 12 sides (a dodecagon). The coin is quite large at 31.65 mm.

• I decided to get a package of bacon and to cook it up in the oven (an idea from Pinterest). I could then wrap up individual servings, freeze them, and then pull out bacon on our busy school mornings.  I know I gave bacon a hard time in a previous post and I decided to give it another try.  The store was out of "streaky bacon"  so I went for the middle cut bacon.  (Did you know streaky bacon is the cut of bacon that the U.S. uses? I learned that today.)  I opened up the package and found the pig skin is still attached to the bacon. Pig. Skin. On. The. Bacon. Gross. 
• Australia will elect a new prime minister next month.  Erich really enjoyed watching the debates on TV last night. (Boring.) He also thought it was cool that the debate took place about a block from our hotel. 
• You know that wonderful new car smell?  When we were at the car dealership last weekend, Charlie got inside a car and announced, "This car stinks!"

 

 

 

Zoo

Sunday, August 11, 2013 - Day 17 Living Down Under

Today is Erich's birthday!!  He is the big four - two!  42!!  Happy Birthday, Erich! We had Indian food delivered for dinner tonight.  Yum. 

Erich took the kids to the National Zoo and Aquarium.  We bought a season pass so we will enjoy going again.  Everyone had a great time.

Checkin' the map

Peacock

Kangaroos

Lunch

 



Charlie watching the Australian Rules Football game. 

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Australian rules football uses an oval field.
• When you buy milk, you have three choices.  Full fat, light fat, or fat free.
• I have yet to find anything to use in my coffee for creamer except milk.  I have not found half and half, flavored coffee creams, or even the powdered creamer.  I am on a quest to make my coffee taste better. Maybe they've hidden these products somewhere I haven't thought of yet. (Remember they put maple syrup with the chocolate syrup...)  I must track down a clerk and ask. 

Please Pass the Napkins

Saturday, August 10th, 2013 -  Day 16 Living Down Under

A special shout out to a special lady, Erich's grandmother, Norma Chaney Wolf Hagler on her 90th birthday yesterday!  She is an amazing woman with some great stories.  Maybe she should start a blog!  Her husband, Erich's grandfather, was in the Air Force and the family moved overseas to Germany soon after the war.  Grandma had to ride a boat with a baby for something like 7 days by herself to make it over there.  I hear the seas were rough and it was a horrible trip.  Riding on the plane for 15 hours to get to Australia is a breeze compared to that!  Happy Birthday, Grandma! 

Today we joined Costco! Imagine the biggest jar of Vegemite.  They had it. The prices are going to save us some money since things here cost so much.  At grocery stores, the items are packaged in small quantities.  (Probably because you have to carry them through the mall to get to your car that's in the car park.)  It will be nice to be able to stock up instead of going to the grocery store three times a week.

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• When wanting to know when a business is open or closed, we ask about the "hours of operation." Here they ask about the "trading hours."
• An entrée in the U.S. is the main dish.  Here the entrée is an appetizer. That one, my friends, is gonna mess me up.
• When the Aussies say "ship"  it sounds like the four letter word "shi*."  We had the news on today and the newscaster said, "...a shipload of ..."  and we swore that instead of shipload he said "shi*load!" 
• I'm going to put a Jayhawk sticker on the back of my car.  I'm on a mission to spot another Jayhawk fan around Australia.
• We have been told not to ask for napkins at the restaurant because here the word napkin only refers to a feminine product.  But no one has told me what word to use for a napkin you use on your face!  What word am I supposed to use??! Please, tell me!
• I miss the automatic flush toilets in public restrooms and the frozen steamer bags of veggies.
• The Aussies don't say "vacation" they say "holiday."

Cars & Cats

Friday, August 9, 2013

We are now the owner of two new cars.  (well, one is new new and one is new to us.) We pick up the Corolla from the Toyota dealership on Tuesday next week.  Today we bought a 2011 Holden Captiva. I know.  I bet you have never heard of Holden cars and are probably wondering if we bought the Australian version of the Yugo.  I had the same concern but Erich did the research and we are good.  So tomorrow we will return the hire (rental car). Finally.


The Holden Captiva

Erich and I were at the mall the other day to do our banking, (our bank is in a darn mall too!) (Have I mentioned that I don't like malls??)  and we went to lunch in the food court.  I was very excited to see the KFC.  I had an AMERICAN tasting chicken sandwich for lunch and it was AWESOME.  Except they called it a burger.  Hmmmm...

I went to our house today to do the inspection for the rental agency.  I documented and took pictures of every little scuff.  The house is in really great shape and I can't wait to move in!!  While I was there the neighbor across the street had me over for a cup of coffee.  Her daughter is in kindergarten at St. Monica's Primary with Charlie and Chaney. I had talked to her through Facebook about the school before we had decided to go there. By the way, "primary school" in Australia is Kindergarten through Year 6 (6th Grade). 

We continue to have issues with Chaney at school drop off.  Today's behaviour (notice the Aussie spelling?) became more defiant and mad.  She had to be restrained again as Erich dropped them off.  I know we are doing the best thing for her but it breaks my heart.  I talked to her kindergarten teacher after school and the teacher isn't overly concerned.  She thinks it will work itself out soon.  We are going to offer rewards for going into school "like a big girl" and see if that helps.  I'm glad the twins have a teacher that has been around the kindergarten block a time or two. 

I really miss my kids during the day.  I knew that when they started kindergarten it would be a transition for me since both kids would be heading out the door.  I knew that my days would suddenly seem empty.  But what I didn't think about (and really should have) is that there just wouldn't be much time to spend with them.   I've shed a few tears because I miss playing with them, reading with them, talking with them, etc. as much as I used to.  Why can't they stay little forever?!

Erich woke up in the middle of the night and asked me where the cat was.  "I haven't seen the cat in a while.  Where's the cat?"  We don't have a cat. I thought this was the funniest thing.  So I lay in bed in the middle of the night laughing.  And then Erich got frustrated that I was laughing and not taking him seriously because he was concerned about the cat.  THAT WE DON'T HAVE!!  (We both are laughing about it now.)

 

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• They pronounce the letter Z like "zed".  Hmmmm.   "...W, X, Y, and Zed."   Just doesn't sound right to me.
• They pronounce Nissan (the car company) "Ni-sin"   (So Erich's car, the Nissan 350Z is pronounced "350Zed Ni-Sin") Ha!
• I looked at a pair of white runners (tennis shoes) for Charlie today. $99 and up....  For a little boy's shoe...
• One of the things I will miss about living in the hotel apartment is that someone comes in every Friday to clean, change the sheets, take out the trash, etc. It's heaven.
• Stores close early here.  The malls (and the grocery stores in the malls) close at 5:30 Monday through Thursday, 9:00 on Fridays, 5:00 on Saturdays and 4:00 on Sundays. 
• Adelaide time is 30 minutes behind Canberra.  Not an hour.  30 minutes.
• One of Erich's cigars he likes to smoke is $30 here. For one cigar.

Bacon

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

I bought bacon yesterday at the store.  We had started to use turkey bacon in the U.S. and there is no such thing here. So, I decided to try the regular bacon.  I have heard from another American that the bacon here just isn't the same as in the States.  I couldn't imagine what could be different.  I should really stop trying to imagine... When cooking bacon in the pan, you know how your whole house starts to smell like good bacon yumminess? Go ahead and close your eyes and imagine that smell.  Well, today, when cooking the bacon, our apartment smelled like pork frying. I've never liked the way pork smells.  Yuck.  It looked sort of like bacon and that is where the similarities stopped.  I can't explain how it tastes different other then to say, "it's not bacon."  I gave it to the kids this morning at breakfast.  While they liked it, Charlie commented that it tastes like ham.  Well said, Charlie.  Well said.

So, Erich was in Adelaide last night, staying at the Aussie AF Base.  I think he had some good United States A.F. appreciation.  He picked up the key to his room at the gate as he drove on base.  He arrived in his room and the TV isn't working.  No biggie.  There is no internet.  No biggie. The room is cold but there is a heater. No biggie.  The communal toilets and showers at the end of the hall are coed.  Ummmm.  What?? Biggie! Biggie!!  (At least I think so!)  I haven't yet talked to Erich since he used the bathroom and I can't wait to hear about this experience. 

We saw a rainbow on the way to school this morning.
Can you see it in the picture?
On the way to school I also saw a bumper sticker but it
was kinda far away and I couldn't make it all out.  It either
said "I love fat ladies."  Or it said "I love fast ladies." 
I'm not really sure.  Either way...  wow...  thanks for sharing...

 

Below is a text message conversation between Erich and I this afternoon.  For those of you not familiar with the iPhone, Erich's texts are on the left in white bubbles.  My words are on the right in the blue bubbles. And for those of you that really don't text at all, LMFAO means "Laughing my freakin' a** off."   ROTFLMFAO means "Rolling on the floor laughing my freakin' a** off."