We have been amazed by how most Aussies are seemingly eager to help us navigate our way through their systems. I guess that's why when someone isn't too helpful, it stands out like a sore thumb. Since people aren't falling over themselves to help us in the States, it can't be because we're so wonderful. I have to believe it's because the Aussies truly like Americans. Either that or our brand of pathetic in trying to figure out their world is just too much for them. Hmmm, I'd lay even odds on which one of those it might be.
We went to the Video store last week to rent some Aussie movies (more on that later) and the clerk violated their no-googling rule to see if one of their video games would work in our Playstation3 (the answer was no). They were very patient as we fiddled around getting the correct change and I'm sure if we had just dumped it out on the counter, they'd have been happy to do it for us. Okay, maybe it is our patheticness, but the help is very much appreciated.
One of my coworkers suggested a couple Aussie movies which I had never heard of before. The movies are "The Dish" and "The Castle". We were told "The Dish" was the story of Australia's role in the 1969 moonwalk. If you were guessing what kind of movie that would be, wouldn't you guess Drama? That's what we thought, but we could not find it for anything. Then Eric just happened across it in the Comedy section. Huh? We ended up finding "The Castle" there, too.
We watched "The Dish" first and thoroughly enjoyed it and what a view into the Australian psyche (albeit from 15 years ago). Neither Eric nor I knew that Neil Armstrong's first moonwalk video feed was received here in Australia. The movie had some comic relief, but I still think it was more drama than comedy in spite of their copious attempts to poke fun at themselves.
I'm not even sure what to say about "The Castle". The best way I could describe it is awkwardly funny. It definitely fit the Comedy moniker, but there was still a serious storyline going on about a family being forced out of their home. Good prevailed and all that, but it was strange (as in kooky), strange, strange from beginning to end.
We've started to notice an increase in wildlife activity. I guess they're gearing up for spring. More of their unusual birds are zipping about and making noises. They have so many different kinds of birds here, I can't even remember them all so I can look them up when I get back to the house. Some of them are so brilliantly colored it's amazing. I'm especially fond of the Lorikeets and their mostly bright green coloring. Pretty snazzy!
Wish our rugs would stay as colorful. We're finding the quality of their rugs to be rather suspect. In spite of washing the rugs in cold, the color still runs off them. I had to hang one up on the clothesline to dry and it was pretty faded once dry. I haven't used a clothesline in years, but it's what they do here and my guess is it's because the dryers don't work very well. All I know is it's another datapoint in the conversion to Aussieness. When I start going barefoot into the stores I'll know the process is complete!
I can't remember the last time I saw people barefoot in stores. It's pretty common here although I don't remember noticing it in Sydney. I'll check it out again this weekend since we're going to spend the weekend in Sydney sightseeing and getting me a Starbucks fix!!! Sad to say, that is the number one thing on my list of things to see and do! It's been 42 days since I've had Starbucks (not that I'm counting or anything) and surprisingly, the earth has not stopped orbiting the sun. We are planning to get an espresso machine because the coffee I've been having before I leave for work is just not cutting it. If Starbucks is relegated to a sightseeing event, then an espresso machine is my next best hope to find something that gets me to work in a conscious state.
I'll leave you with my Aussie phrase of the day - "come home with a wet sail" which means you've stormed to victory.
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