"100% Pure Adrenaline" all week! Day 2-7

After eating breakfast at the local Port Fairy diner we continued on our way.  A short drive outside of Port Fairy we left Victoria and crossed the border into South Australia. We were no longer on the Great Ocean Road but we continued to travel along the same coastal highway. We had a four hour drive to our next stop, a sweet little seaside town that used to be SA's most important ports for exporting wool, called Robe. Along the way we had a lot to see...the southern most tip of SA is known as the limestone coast and also forms part of the largest volcanic plain in Australia.  Upon arrival to Mt. Gambier we explored the blue lake that formed in the crater of an extinct volcano (and is actually the town's drinking water). Our timing was great since the water is a perfectly vibrant blue from November to March and then it becomes steel grey from April throughout the winter months (due to temperature and calcium carbonate...chemistry...etc).

We explored one of many giant sinkholes that have been turned into gardens...

And were absolutely amazed inside Tantanoola cave. This cave was randomly discovered years ago by a young boy chasing a rabbit down a hole. A walkway was built but the cave has otherwise been left completely untouched and remains in its most natural state. The large pillars are formed as a result of the stalactites and the stalagmites growing into each other from the ceiling and the cave floor. Really cool.

We then proceeded on to the Coonawarra wine valley, one of the top wine regions in Australia, for some afternoon tastings. We chose a few off the mark vineyards, tasted some really great wines and stocked up for the rest of the trip and made our way to Robe. The next day we drove a pretty solid 5 hours to Cape Jervis to catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island. We drove through farmland, beautiful countryside, mountains, and even rainforest, while passing through small town after small town, some which literally took 30 seconds to drive thru. We took the car ferry across the Murray River into Wellington, which runs  all day and all night as there is no other way to get to Wellington from the highway.

We arrived at Cape Jervis and took the 45 minute ferry ride across the ocean to Kangaroo Island. KI is a story in itself. The island is HUGE and takes you ruggedly back to nature with a population of 4200 and three main towns. The main highway stretches from the ferry to each main town so that there is one solid road around the whole island. The rest of the roads were unsealed, meaning lots of dirt and rocks. Once the sun begins to set, the roads are full of kangaroos (native to KI these roos are smaller than the usual roos you see on the mainland), possums, koalas, and all sorts of other wildlife. Jaime had a good eye and spotted each roo from far away so he could slow down in case they wanted to jump into the road. He also spotted a Goanna, which looks like an iguana but is native to KI and rarely ever seen!

Being the third largest island in Australia, it takes a few hours to drive from east to west coast, but it took us the whole day with all the things to see along the way. We started at a honey farm where we tried all sorts of honey and learned all about the bees. I knew bees were smart, but I guess I didn't know how smart...they are pretty amazing! Next we visited seal beach where we walked down to the beach and watched the local sea colony bask in the sun. Our traveling has been extra special since most animals have their babies in Spring and so we have seen a lot of little ones, including a rambunctious seal pup jumping all over his mum.

We drove on and rented a sandboard to take on the dunes of Little Sahara. Jaime was an immediate pro and headed right up to the largest dune, which I must say was quite a surprising climb! Cait and I had a few tumbles but made it down a few of the smaller dunes. We drove even further to Flinders Chase National Park where we walked along the remarkable rocks, remarkably formed by wind and water over time, and checked out Admirals Arch, a natural bridge made from rock, beautiful at sunset, and will eventually collapse into the sea.

We planned on continuing on the highway to head back to the east coast so we could see the whole island and eat dinner in the smallest of the three towns. About 20 minutes away from Parndana and dinner, driving in the darkness, I had just mentioned that because KI is so big,  it always feels like we are the only people on the island, and one minute later, the car starts slowing down. Cait and I asked Jaime what he was doing, but he wasn't doing it...the car was stopping all by itself and we pulled over onto the side. The car wouldn't start and we were officially broken down! We figured we probably wouldn't see another car for awhile, but one came along eventually and stopped. Luckily, Jaime signed us up for RACV, which is Australia's version of AAA, and although we were in the middle of nowhere, they were able to locate us and send help! The town where help was coming from was the town we were staying in about an hour away. So we climbed back into our car and waited, Cait and I giggled and played games on our cell phones to lighten the mood as we were going to be fine, and the best part...no predators on this island! So even though it was completely pitch black outside in the middle of nowhere, we didn't have to worry, there were no bears, wolves, or lions on this island, just kangaroos and koalas roaring at our windows.

So we made it back to our hotel safe and sound. The next day we found out it was the fuel pump and they would have to fly one in from Adelaide and it wouldn't arrive until the next day. We were supposed to catch the ferry that afternoon but changed our plans to stay for one possibly two nights depending on when the car could be fixed. So we rented a car for the day, one with 4WD drive so we could explore some of the hidden beaches on the unsealed roads. We visited a lavender farm, ate fish and chips at a tiny little restaurant on the northern coast with nothing else for miles. We checked out Stokes Bay, which ranks as one of my most favorite beaches (and as you can tell, I've seen alot of beaches!). We had to walk along a little path that weaved in and out of rocks and caves and just when you think you are getting anywhere, you emerge onto a beautiful beach. The best part about this beach is the natural rock pool that is so shallow you can see all the marine life and wade and swim in warm water heated by the sun. It was definitely worth the long, bumpy drive to get there.

We worked our way back to Parndana to check out the places we didn't get to see the night before. As we were walking into the only bar/restaurant, Cait heard what sounded like a baby crying. She and Jaime looked in a car and sure enough there was a baby, crying in his car seat with window cracked. We went inside and Cait and I told the bartender about the crying baby and she said ok and immediately walked outside to get the mom (she knew who it was right away). Then a stocky, rugged woman came in with her drink and asked the bartender in a deep voice "Who told!" and the bartender immediately pointed to Cait and I. We just looked at her, wide-eyed, but the woman proceeded to smile, chug her drink, slam the empty glass on the bar and walk out.  !!! speechless. But still able to whip Jaime's butt in a game of pool. (He was thoroughly suprised I could play). Because I won the first game we had to play best 2 out of 3 for championship rights, and on the third game we were both down to the eight ball and I fudged so Jaime became champion, for now. :)

We spent the night at a little family-run motel, where we made friends with the owner and felt very welcomed. They were able to fix the car quickly in the am and we headed to the port to try to catch an early ferry back to the mainland. We missed a stop in Murray River due to the extended stay on KI so we drove 5 hours directly to Dunalan Cottage a farmstay in Bordertown, named for its location on the border of South Australia and Victoria. We stayed in a sweet little cottage and in the am we made breakfast with farm fresh eggs and milk. We made friends with farm dog and even fed the chooks our breakfast scraps! Although I thought it was a little weird that chickens eat eggshells. The next day we drove the rest of the way home along the inland route, passing through the Grampian mountains and small towns all with their own character and reason that they were put on the map.

We saw so much stuff in just one week...nature at its best, wild animals, smart bees, remarkable rocks, a baby left in a car, a broken down car, lots of pizza, new and old wine, and eggshell eating chooks. We had a great trip and an even better time, just being together, on the road.

A Truly Great Ocean Road Trip "100% Pure Adrenaline"-Day 1

Ok all you roadies, if you are like me and love a good road trip, then you've taken in every breathtaking cliffside vista point and lost yourself in the magnificence of the redwoods along US 1/PCH, you've gotten your kicks on just pieces of the once Route 66, you've driven through the sweet little coastal towns of Maine in the fall when the highway was lined with leaves of every color, you've taken on Alligator Alley in the everglades, you've rolled along the green hills while exploring every loch in Scotland (no monster yet), and you've held on for dear life on the Autobahn, just to name a few. Well, no roadtrippers checklist would be complete without thoughtfully winding your way through the Great Ocean Road in Australia.

The Great Ocean Road is a 243 km/151 mile stretch along the south-eastern coast of Australia, within Victoria. Back in November Jaime and I took my sister-in-law Caitlin on a week-long holiday road trip! We left Melbourne early saturday am and planned to drive the Great Ocean Road (which can be done comfortably in two days) and continue on along the coast to South Australia, ferry over to Kangaroo Island, and drive home on the inland Dukes Highway for a night at the farm.

The road begins almost an hour south of Melbourne in a popular little surf town called Torquay, where Jaime found one of two new loves of his life...the Rip Curl Headquarters! 

Now, being married to a surfer, I have been in just about every Rip Curl from east to west USA and am now working my way across Australia. But here was the mother of all Rip Curls. It was Saturday, so it was closed, but as the Aussies say, we ticked another box of our list! Rip Curl Headquarters-"Tick". We all did a little shopping and found out too late that there was a HUGE Rip Curl outlet on the street just behind the main road. Next time. 

We proceeded just outside Torquay to Jaime's second new love, the famous Bells Beach.  Famous for a few reasons, 1-it is the site of the Rip Curl Pro, held every Easter and known internationally as one of the top surfing competitions. Only the best at this competition and often only the best surfers are out practicing at Bells due to its strong rips and rocky sides.  And 2- Bells Beach was the final scene in Point Break where Patrick Swayze goes to surf the 30 year storm. Patrick pleads to be set free to surf the monstrous waves, his life spent waiting for this moment, and as he paddles out to sea, the ever-so talented Keanu Reeves gives his famous line, expertly quoted by my husband, "He's not coming back." The rest of the trip I just kept repeating the famous quote, "100% Pure Adrenaline!" just as my eldest brother did throughout my entire childhood. 

The next few hours of the drive took us through several little coastal towns as we winded along the cliffs with vast blue ocean on one side while next thing you know you are in a forest and pulling over to take a picture of our first wild koala snoozing in a eucalyptus tree! He was super cute. 

As we drove on we became a little further from the coast and that was when you can appreciate the beautiful contrast of bright blue sea leading into bright green rolling hills. It was pretty amazing. 

As you drive through the bush, always watching for kangaroos, you approach a well-known highlight of the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles are randomly huge rock formations, formed by erosion along the limestone coast, sitting in none other but the Southern Ocean (the 5th ocean no one ever remembers).  We arrived as the sun was beginning to set and it really seemed to be the perfect time of day for viewing these oddly magnificent rocks that used to be 12 but are actually now, only 6! I can't even begin to tell you how often I am reminded of the amazing powers of mother nature during my travels here in Australia. Whether exploring natural sites or learning about the discovery and settlement of this vast continent just over a hundred years ago, mother nature is constantly making her statements. 

We were on the road for about 8 hours on our first day, the drive is not that long, but we took our time and stopped often to enjoy the sights and check out each town, but we were very glad to roll into our first hotel in Port Fairy. Port Fairy is a must-stop according to all the travel tips due to its location and charm. Well, we arrived into this sleepy town at the "late hour" of 8:00 pm and were told by the hotel owner (who was locking up for the night) that finding dinner was going to be a long shot. Some places were closing up, but the three restaurants that were open were pretty full, I think the entire Port Fairy population was in those restaurants, and we luckily found a table at a bustling Thai restaurant. We popped open our first bottle of wine (happily BYOB most places in Oz) and celebrated the first stop on our trip. We finished dinner around 9 pm and as we wandered outside it was so dark and so quiet. As we walked down the street toward our hotel, we began to hear what sounded like music faintly in the distance. We kept walking and soon enough found the only little bar in the sleepy town of Port Fairy. The music came from a cover band called Rose and Paul who were playing none other than beloved American tunes while a small group of locals danced in the small space in front of the mic.  We immediately joined in on the fun, singing and dancing to a little bit of home! I tried to make a few requests, but they had a set playlist and were still in the process of learning Bon Jovi. 

That first night on the road...you always sleep well. :) 

Check out more Great Ocean Road Trip pics.

 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2085722&id=1608184181&l=9b0faac830

And, trying out my flip videos! Koala and Port Fairy's famous Rose and Paul. 

Mishaps with the Metric System

First, let me start off by saying what an AWESOME basketball game my team had last week! We were down most of the game and trailing 17-10 in the last 8 minutes. It usually takes us a good half to figure out our best strategy. During a quick time-out we strategized again and in those last 8 minutes we put the pressure on, came back and took the lead 17-18! In the last 10 seconds the other team had the ball and was going in for an easy two-pointer. We were putting so much pressure on that our player fouled her, but stopped the basket. The other team only made 1 foul shot so the game was a draw. (No overtime in women's intramurals I guess?). Awesome comeback for us and disappointment for the other team to draw when they had been leading the whole time. And, I made my second basket of the season!!! Now, second basket is big, considering I've only played five games and just started shooting a few games ago, and both were 3 pointers! (Jaime was super impressed!) This is what they sounded like.....Swish.....Swish. Yeah! I love it when my teammates say, "Top shot Ash!" :)

Jaime reminded me early in November that one night I invited a whole group of people from the hospital over for American Thanksgiving. It sounded like a great idea at the time! Everyone was so excited because being from everywhere else but America, they knew that Thanksgiving was all about eating good food all day but had never experienced it. So the party was on! We had a guest list of 10 (which of course ended up growing a little) and we planned our menu.  My Mumster (which she has recently named herself after I started calling her "mum" like they do here) sent me all of her recipes and I began to make a list of ingredients. I was a little worried because I've always been Mumster's assistant for holiday cooking and never the mum. :) My first order of business...canned pumpkin, based on my food experiences here thus far...I just had this feeling this would be difficult to find and too late to have them shipped for home. Now, Aussies LOVE their pumpkin. They eat it in everything, they bake it, roast it, steam it, and put it in salads, sandwiches, and soup. But pumpkin pie??? They just don't do it.
I began my search with Google. A yanks down under forum gave me a few stores to try. I asked a girl at work and she had no idea what I was talking about until we got on the same page and I learned that the correct term was "Tinned pumpkin" and "No way would we sell tinned pumpkin!" This became a pretty rowdy subject and no matter who I mentioned the tinned pumpkin issue to, I always always got a hearty laugh...."Tinned pumpkin!?? No! hahahahahhahahaha." I often had to explain that in America, no one eats pumpkin like they do here. I had no idea how to even cook one. After my potential stores were unsuccessful, I began to google how to make a homemade pumpkin pie. I borrowed a hand-held blender, found myself a little sieve, and bought three pre-cut halves of butternut pumpkin to make my pumpkin puree. I put the baked pumpkin through the sieve several extra times to get all the water out so I didn't have a watery pie. Puree looked successful, but I sieved it so many times that it didn't look like much was left, but I put it away to save for the pie.

 

I couldn't find any frozen or pre-made pie crusts at the store, so we had a bakery make them for us (J's idea! Brilliant!).  By a stroke of luck, Thursday (Thanksgiving Day at home) I was talking to a few girls at work about my pumpkin pie and this one girl said she lived right next to a USA Food store out in one of the suburbs and would gladly find me some "Tinned pumpkin." She brought it in the next day, just in time for some pie-making! phew! 

So Jaime was the sous chef and I was acting mumster and we got to work. I made three pumpkin pies, 2 canned and one with my homemade pumpkin puree. My home-made one ended up being a little fussy, since I didn't have enough pumpkin, it was thin and cooked funny, so I kept that one for me. BUT, it tasted exactly like my canned pumpkin pies which came out spectacular! People said things like, of course you should make a pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin, don't you want a fresh pie? Well, truth is, they taste exactly the same and that tinned pumpkin is SO worth it. :)

Thanksgiving dinner consisted of a little 6 pound turkey (which my family found comical when I showed it to them on skype...they also don't sell turkeys here except at Christmas and then they run about $80), a little turkey roast stuffed with cranberry and stuffing, green bean casserole, candied yams (which had limited marshmallows since the package only came with pink and white marshmallow mix, and the pink ones were strawberry flavored, lol), gravy, tomato salad, cheese ring, rolls, and mumster's make ahead mashed potatoes...

Now, you always want to make sure you have plenty of mashed potatoes. So I lugged home 7 pounds of potatoes (talk about super bag lady) and Jaime expertly peeled them. Throughout this whole cooking ordeal, I was constantly coming back to my computer to work out conversions from grams and ml to cups and ounces, C to F, etc. I was doing this so much that some things I just started to estimate. I just figured that the marks on the butter package were tablespoons, just like home, and I was getting "too good" and too busy for conversions. We mashed and mixed the potatoes and drizzled alot of butter on top while following the recipe. It did seem like alot of butter, but we figured it would sink in overnight. The next day, Jaime and I had to plan out our cooking strategy since the oven is the size of a toy box. The potatoes went in and when they came out, they were dripping with butter, like massive pools of butter. I called mumster right away to find out what to do and she calmly said, "Just pour it off." Right! So he tipped the pan while I held in the potatoes and we poured and scraped butter off the top several times. It looked much better. I did a quick mixing while they were hot so they could soak up a little more butter and within seconds...they turned yellow. So now we had a huge pan full of yellow mashed potatoes. When people arrived they crowded around looking at the food and kept asking if they were scrambled eggs. That's how yellow they were!! And I just replied, "Well...I had a little mishap with the metric system." It got a good laugh.

Our Thanksgiving dinner consisted of one Australian and people from Holland, Portugal, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, New Zealand, Canada, and Malaysia. They all tried a little of everything, including the yellow potatoes, and most went back for seconds. Dessert was a hit with the pumpkin pies, a kentucky derby pie (which looked nothing like mum's, but luckily tasted just about the same and ended up going home with a very happy guest), and a beautiful strawberry sponge cake that someone made.  It turned out to be a really nice day and we were so thankful to have such a wonderful group of friends to celebrate ours and their first Thanksgiving! 

On Sunday, Jaime and I had movie day, and I literally could not move from the couch. I was exhausted! It was well worth it...but from here on out, holiday cooking will still be at Mumsters or pot-luck! :)

In my recovery stuper on Sunday, Jaime showed me the quick converter right on the desktop of his mac, which definitely would have made life easier. Then I would have known that:
1 tablespoon of butter weighs 14.19 grams and I wouldn't have used the 50 gram markings on the butter label as tablespoons. 


oops! :)


Happy Thanksgiving! 


I am thankful for all of you! (and that butter tastes so good!)

Faster Me Beauty! Faster!

I cheered on my horse in a little Irish pub as we watched the "Race that stops the nation". Melbourne Cup is one of 4 horse races during Spring Carnival week in Melbourne and the Melbourne Cup is THE race! And actually a national public holiday. I entered the sweep at work and my beautiful horse, Javite, from New Zealand, hung in till that final straight-away, when Americain, stunning in red, white and blue came up from behind to win it all!
So Spring Carnival week in Melbourne can only be described as, simply amazing, with all sorts of meanings. There are 4 races during the week, each sponsored by a big company. The week starts off with Derby Day on Saturday, followed by Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, Oaks Day sponsored by Crown on Thursday, and Emirates Stakes the following weekend. Everyone is not only totally psyched about betting on their favorite horses but even more excited about the Fashion. Extreme fashion has completely taken over this event and it is a time for elegance and extravagance. The main attractions are the women's hats or fascinators (ornaments for your hair) and matching dress/ensemble all the way to your shoes, purse, and jewelry. Each day has its designated dress day (i.e. black/white classic, subtle colors, extravant colors, etc.) and every woman is carefully and beautifully dressed. The men wear suits, vintage and modern, and the occasional top hat. It is really serious business! Each race day is packed with people sitting in the stands or camped out on the lawns leading right up to the track with blankets, chairs, and coolers full of beer and spirits. (The boys really love their premixed Rum and Cola in the can, while the girls drink champagne). Each day is all about fun, fashion, drinking, betting, and cheering during the incremental horse races throughout the day, and this goes on all week!
Since we are only here for a year, Jaime and I try to do everything we can and so going to some of the races was a definite must. I had so much fun trying on a billion hats! I tried on everything from the little flower clip to the $2,000 brim hat. It was amazing that I could actually wear something huge on my head and it was completely normal. Jaime had to work during the week and my sister-in-law Caitlin was arriving from China on Melbourne Cup day so we decided to go to the first race of the week, Derby Day. I picked out my little fascinator and carefully placed it on my head. I wore my classic black and white dress with my purple ashmina and Jaime looked great in his proclaimed "sporty suit". And we were off to the races! The weather predicted rain, which it started to sprinkle by the time we got our start to the day. It then proceeded to pour steady buckets and buckets of rain throughout the rest of the day.

Now, on a side note, apparently the weather here is completely abnormal, no matter what happens, such as monsooning for a full day without stop, abnormally cold days in November, everyone always says..."It's never like this." I am starting to get a little skeptical about this whole "really hot summer" thing.  The weather is better described as...Spring...kinda...ah,Summer...No, Winter, No...wait...Monsoon!...ok...Summer? (shrug).

We were told over and over again that last year Derby Day was "roasting hot". But this year, while wearing my cute little hat, the 10 year drought finally came to an end.

Here we are wet.

Here is everyone else...wet.

Jaime and I stuck it out, we had a beer and a "gourmet" hot dog, and cheered on a few races. It wasn't the total feel of what the day is usually like, but the racecourse was beautiful and the horses were powerful, and we got the general idea.

Then we got ready for our first guest! Jaime's sister, Caitlin, arrived on Tuesday, Melbourne Cup Day, and we were so excited to pick her up! The next few days were a whirlwind of activities. I was so excited to have a companion to run around with during the day that each night Cait and I came home exhausted! On Wednesday, Jaime got out of work early and we drove an hour and a half south of Melbourne to Phillip Island. This is where you get to see the most amazing show, the absolute best one I have ever seen. The Penguin Parade. You walk along the boardwalk to your viewing area where you sit and look out onto the beach. Then you wait until the sun just goes down, and then you see it. All these little native penguins, only 3 inches tall full-grown, they are going home from a day of fishing at sea. They first have to cross the open beach before they get into the brush and make their journey to their little dug-out homes. They wait until sundown to ensure all the predators have gone to sleep before they are exposed as they run across the open beach. Then as they waddle down the path, we got up from our viewing area and followed them as they were alongside the boardwalk. They were absolutely amazing. They usually stayed in groups, some stopped to rest or preen their feathers, some were mating, some were fighting, and some came home to feed their babies. We could watch them for hours. The coolest part was that they didn't even care that we were there. They just went about their routine walking alongside or under the boardwalk, some even made their way out to the parking lot! Jaime mentioned that it was almost like a zoo in reverse as we were maintained on this man-made boardwalk while viewing them in their completely natural habitat and their normal daily life. It was so cool. So come visit me, and I take you!

The next day Cait and I went out to find her a fascinator for her hair so that we could get all dressed up for Oaks Day. We got all dolled up, put some funky things on our heads, and we were off! This day was beautiful, a little chilly, but sunny and nice and we had a great day checking out the fashion, drinking our champagne on the lawn, and cheering for our favorite horses right up by the track.

Cait and I in our fascinators!

 The Lawn leading up to the track at Flemington Racecourse.

C'mon #2!

Just another day at the Races.

Bite the hook, the fish will.

Ouuuuuuch! You would think I have never handled paper before...I just got my twentieth paper cut! Since I started my desk job, I have been surrounded by paper. Single paper, stacks of paper, pamphlets, brochures, big envelopes, small envelopes. I've been doing alot of paper handling and I tell ya what...these little things hurt! Last week, a woman called up and wanted to thank the lady who sent her the Christmas cards that we offer at the Stroke Foundation (so people can send them out). She wanted to see what they looked like, but she didn't end up wanting them. She said, "Look, (everyone says 'look' here when they start a sentence), Look, they are really pretty with the white snow everywhere and everything, but I would like to send out cards that look like Christmas here in Australia." A flash of dry and barren outback with a Christmas tree crossed my mind. Isn't it funny that even in a place that celebrates Christmas in the hotness of Summer and has only one or two places on the whole continent that may see snow (Southern Alps), they still associate the holiday with everything covered in white snow.

Well, speaking of snow, we didn't get any here in Melbourne, but we might as well have. This is the city of "Four seasons in a day" and they aren't kidding. It's cold and windy, then hot, then raining, then hot, then cold in a matter of a few hours. We have started to get some really nice Spring days, but by no means consistently. So Jaime and I were looking very forward to our first trip to Queensland! We decided to start our exploring with the Gold Coast which begins at the border of New South Wales and Queensland and heads North to Brisbane through many small little surf towns. We stayed in a beautiful little apartment in Coolangatta, southernmost town of Gold Coast and just over the border of Tweeds Head NSW. It was awesome. We had a great balcony with a beautiful view of the Pacific and the high-rises of Surfer's Paradise in the far distance across the water. It felt so great to breathe the warm, salty air. We had plenty of cute shops and places to eat within walking distance and driving up the coast was a straight shot taking you through all the little towns each one just minutes after the other. They all have their own beach and Surf Lifesaving Club named after their town. These clubs are local hangouts for members and anyone with food, drinks, events, and pokies (slots), to raise funds to support the lifesaving programs that employs the much needed lifeguards and specialty training for new lifeguards. As you may remember in my scary Australian animal blog, this is a highly respected and intense job, not only for saving people from the ocean predators but also frequent victims of the rip-tide. So, J and I tried to stop into as many as we could just to check them out and help the cause. :) The beaches were quiet and relaxing all the way up to Surfer's Paradise, which all of a sudden looks like a small Miami. Lots of high-rise hotels, shopping strips, and activity all around. During university holiday, this place apparently becomes similar to Daytona Beach at night. We grabbed a bite to eat at Pancakes in Paradise (?) and headed back to our beautiful, non-high-rise beach in "Coolie".

The next morning we drove south about 45 minutes to Byron Bay in NSW. This came highly recommended by all of our friends who have been to Australia. And it was awesome. We were told it used to be populated by hippies and while it still has this overwhelming hippie vibe, apparently it is becoming more "yuppie". In any case, the beaches were beautiful and we got a little sun, walked around and grabbed a beer with the locals at the open-air beach bar. We checked out The Pass (high surfing area) and Surfer's Lookout, and then climbed our way up stairs the length of 4 football fields (Jaime's estimate to get me to go) and took our picture at the "Most Easternly Point of Australia". There we were. Two little people at the eastern tip of a huge continent looking out into nothing but vast blue ocean. If we were in a movie, this would be the end where they would pull back and we would get smaller and smaller while the ocean and world around us became bigger and bigger. That's what it felt like. But here the adventure continues...

The next morning we woke up at 5:00 am Queensland time and drove 6 minutes down the road, where it miraculously became 6:00 am just over the border of NSW. QLD decided that they don't do DST. And we boarded our fishing boat for our half day at sea. I was very excited for our deep-sea fishing excursion, however, it was cold and windy and so incredibly rocky, that I was a little seasick and over the whole thing after fishing for an hour. I kept eating so that my stomach always had something to gnaw on and if I was sitting and holding my rod then I was fine. So I remained functional, but Jaime still baited all my hooks. :) The other lady on the boat kept going to the bathroom to quietly throw up and one of the younger boys couldn't eat bc his stomach was upset, but he remained functional too. Anyway, I caught a little blue mackarel at our first stopping point, which I was super excited about. They called it a "slimy" and instead of it being a prize, and my dinner, it went into the live bait box. However, it did tempt the best catch of the day! My mighty fisherman husband caught a HUGE King fish! This fish was a runner and Jaime expertly wore him out and reeled him in. It was awesome! Once on the boat, after the initial awe, I was switching from video camera to regular camera and as I came out from the hold I made it just in time to see the captain whack the fish with a bat. I was already woozy and I almost fainted.
I guess you can't have a gigantic fish flopping around a boat. Jaime comforted me with physiological "fish don't feel pain" education. Anyway, Jaime's fish was the prize and at the end of the trip everyone took home a 1/4 of the fish. We invited one of Jaime's friends from high school (randomly currently living on the Gold Coast) and we had a fish feast. It was delicious and literally from the ocean to my plate!

We took a late flight out on Monday and had a wonderful day. I read in the sun with my new little beach hat. Jaime rented a board and caught a few waves for his first surfing day in Australia. We toured around and went to the wildlife sanctuary where we finally got up close and personal with some of the "Australian Icons." We saw so many koalas! They were super cute eating, climbing around or just sitting on random branches of the tree, what should have been awkwardly, but was quite comfy for them. We watched them for quite awhile, they look exactly like the stuffed animals. So if you have seen a stuffed animal koala, just imagine its alive, because they really do look exactly the same. Except for one, that as we walked away, I told Jaime "That one looks like Yoda."

We also got to see a Tasmanian devil, which btw, does not look anything like the cartoon character. They are actually a little bit cute, like small, black dogs. The bad news is though, that these little devils are endangered and are being killed off by a terrible plague, Tasmanian Devil facial tumor, that is spreading rapidly through the population. It began somehow due to pesticides on the vegetation they have been eating and it is just terrible. They are trying to contain as many as possible in order to protect them from the disease and keep the population alive. We then saw a Huge saltwater crocodile but we didn't spend much time there, but I didn't feel bad for not liking them because there was a girl trying to take a picture with a huge smile on her face, saying "look over here, look this way, c'mon." You would think she was looking at and calling to a furry little kitten and not a monstrous man-eating reptile. So, we left the crocodile canoodling to her and moved on to something a little more cuddly.  Finally some quality time with the Roos! Once Jaime realized he was allowed to go in the kangaroo hang-out he was gone. There were kangaroos and wallabys hopping around and lying in the sun. I must admit we were a little timid at first. Random children were just running up to them and petting them and feeding them but it took us a little while to get close. A RN from Jaime's hospital told us that in the wild kangaroos defend themselves by leaning back on their tail and using their claws to rip up their attacker. But I figured these guys were declawed. The rules sign said to be sure to crouch down to their level when feeding them, so I would do one of those sit down and inch closer and closer. We were being ridiculous and once we settled in, we were feeding and enjoying our kangaroo friends. Some even had a little joey in their pouch and you would see a head or foot peek out every now and then. It was fun to be up-close and I am sure this is the first kangaroo meeting of many.

We didn't want to leave the beach, but it was a great trip and we still have plenty more of the Queensland coast to explore.

Arrived home sun-kissed and rejuvenated, we did.

It's about dancing in the rain...

The other day I was telling Jaime a story about the grocery store and continuing to find subtle differences between Australia and home. I was looking all over the store for chicken broth. After no luck, I asked a worker, but he had NO idea what I was talking about. Together, we went and asked two more supermarket workers who also had no idea what I was talking about. I even said "You know, chicken broth, its soup, you can drink it or cook with it...you know, broth from the chicken?" Nothing. "Umm...chicken stock?" "Oh! Chicken stock, of course!" they all said and the first guy took me right to the aisle and said "Why didn't you just say that in the first place?". Hmmph. Really. Is it that different that they had NO idea what chicken broth was? At the end of my story Jaime summarized our experiences here and said "You are speaking English, but its still like your speaking a different language." So true!

So I figured I would write about some of my favorite random little things that are so similar/familiar, but yet so different and some things that just make me laugh.

Last Sunday, Jaime's attending took us out to dinner with his family. I ordered a salad to share, which turned into 4 salads for the table since we had 8 people. The salads came out before the meal and we were educated on how in Australia people eat their salads during the meal and not before. However, this dinner, they came out before. Like I said before, salad and veggies are so hard to come by that I so strangely crave them. So I had two servings of the salad closest to me and then once I realized everyone else was done eating salad, I finished off the rest of the bowls. Professor Heggie's 9 year old daughter, Caroline, noticed that I was seriously into salads, and for the next 30 minutes we talked Salad! She went through lists of salad add-ins to find out what I liked. And offered up the things she put in her salad that day, like Mint and Coriander. Brilliant! I never thought of that. I proceeded to tell her about all the things that I have just recently discovered that I love while living in Australia. I am pretty sure one could find these things in America, I just never noticed them.
Like butter lettuce! I freakin love it!! I hope its good for me because I don't buy anything else now.
Mini Roma tomatoes, just like the large oblong ones that are good no matter how you eat them, these are spectacular. They have regular mini and aromatherapy mini. I stick with the regular mini, since we are on a budget, and actually I am a little skeptical of aromatherapy tomatoes in general.
Lebanese cucumbers, the smaller and much sweeter version of the much loved cuke. Little Caroline, whole-heartedly agreed.
She then proceeded to ask me about the fruits I like to eat and to add in my salad:
Blueberries, strawberries, mango. Yes, I absolutely love mango, but they are rather expensive here so I usually find a way to drink most of my expensive fruits via smoothies and healthy drinks.
I actually think drinking my fruit is at the top of my favorites list and its not difficult to find a good fruit drink around here. :)

My next favorite thing is definitely my new Universal Steamer! This thing is awesome, it magically fits into just about any size pot and steams away! Its very handy and Jaime had no idea I could make snow peas.

Living in the Italian heart of the city, I have this great little food store that sells fun Italian foods and wine. I found a little personal bottle of Moscato (Sweet champagne, similar to Prosecco). It is the perfect size to have for my "private stock" as my dad used to say.  As Prosecco lovers, my mom and mom-in-law are going to love their personal Moscato when they come to visit!

One thing that I am learning to love, my little clothes dryer. This little box was donated to us by our friend Peter, which was really nice. It is the size of a small hotel bar fridge and just has a power cord and a timer knob. No vent. I was really puzzled at this no vent situation and did some research online to figure out where to put the thing so it wasn't blowing out all sorts of stuff into our little flat. The only place it was listed was on an antique chat room. Apparently, I have a much coveted dinosaur dryer. People who found one or two of these things that worked were so excited, but no one really talked about where to put it. The one thread that had the same exact make as mine said that they used theirs for years but it finally broke and "the repair guy wouldn't fix it because of the asbestos." hmmm....not putting this in the house. Peter's cousin, who had been using the dryer, kept it in their basement. So I had no choice but to put it on the balcony. So now whenever I need it, I have to run the extension cord out onto the balcony. The balcony is open but quite protected from normal rain so I just cover the cord with a tight plastic bag when its not being used. As much as a hassle as it is to actually use the dryer, it is probably the best dryer ever. That little thing pumps the heat and gets clothes dry in less than 20 minutes! If those antique people only knew! On my day off last week, I was doing things around the apartment and started the laundry. When I took the wet clothes out of the washer outside to begin the hooking-up-of-the-dryer process, there it was...light Melbourne rain. Well, dang it. I can't dry the laundry in the rain with my dryer outside on the balcony.  The funny thing here is that anyone I talk to about my dryer situation reminds me that no one here uses a dryer. It gets so warm that clothes apparently dry very quickly on the clothesline. "It is a HUGE energy saver", I was told. Most people denied having an issue with sheets or towels getting crunchy. I did finally get one person to admit that the towels definitely get crunchy on the clothesline. So, as you can see, regardless of common sense, I absolutely could not use the dryer in the light rain. I can see the headline now..."American, electrocuted, doesn't care about the earth. Why was she using a dryer anyway?!"

My mom loves Dr. Oz on tv. She loves him because he was introduced by Oprah, and she really loves Oprah. She often passes along home-remedy tips discussed on Dr. Oz if she thinks I could use them. I do like home remedies, but only if someone can vouch that they may actually work...so if it applies to my situation, I'll give it a try. This often results in Jaime saying things like, "Why do we have a bar of soap under our sheets, again?"
I just giggle. :)

Last Tuesday, I took a cab home from my late-night basketball game. My cab driver was very chatty and wanted to talk about America. He was from _________, which I couldn't understand due to his foreign mixed with learned Aussie English accent and he would get a little perturbed whenever I asked him to repeat himself. I would guess that his first language was Arabic and he has been in Oz for 3 years...3 1/2 years, don't forget the 1/2, he told me. I told him that America and Australia were similar yet very different and he wanted to know specifics. So I remained vague and said categories like food, expenses, etc. He would then zone in on America with typical negative stereotypes..."Well food, I guess its different because people in America just eat the fast food." I told him that some people may, but I rarely eat fast food, and alot of the people I know rarely eat fast food. Plus the city McDonald's here is always packed. (And we did try a cheeseburger with "Australian grass-fed beef", we had to see if it was the same!).  My cab driver, now turning into a judgemental cabbie, went on to talk about American "Fads" and how everything is a fad "like not eating Gluten" "and thinking organic is best" and "how are Americans going to be healthy, when they (still) only eat fast food.". He asked if we had any culture and how could we have so many religions? Hmm...I remained positively vague. I then redirected him and asked what he was doing in Australia. He came here for University to study Horticulture. I said well, how can you do horticulture in the city? Well, he doesn't do horticulture anymore, he didn't like it. He does enjoy living here with his Aunt while his family is back in _______. There have only been a few occasions I have felt the need to stick up for being a proud American. Once in awhile I say something odd like "shave a sheep" instead of "shear a sheep" and I get a response like..."Oh, you Americans." Please.
And then there are always the much loved "map" and "geography" jokes, Thank you Miss Teen USA. But those are easy. This cab ride though, was full of judgement. When we arrived at my corner, before I go out of the car I looked right at him and I said, "Ya know, life is not about surviving the storm, its about dancing in the rain."

I am not sure why I said it...maybe I wanted him to realize that he was a judgemental fool and we are all humans, connected in some way, or maybe its because I do and say random things all the time and this was the quote on my calendar this month. I don't know. But he just looked at me, dumbfounded. I figured he was contemplating whether I was so profoundly wise or just really ridiculous. But with that, I gave him a quick, righteous nod, got out of the cab and walked to the 7-11 to pick up some milk for Jaime.
1% milk, produced by organic Australian cows. 1% milk per product label guaranteed to be 100% free of hormones, preservatives, pesticides, added sugar, msg, gluten, and high fructose corn syrup. :)
You know, I think like an American but I currently purchase Australian, and sometimes...we are pretty similar.

Think Globally!


lol

Chocolate and Headsets Part 2

"Good Morning, Strokeline, this is Ashley." This is what I say when I go to work at my new part-time job! In America, I have only worked in a hospital setting where I am on the go all day, running around answering consults and seeing patients. I love the fast-paced environment, but I always wondered what it would be like to have a desk job. And ta-da! Move to a new continent and have the luxury of working a random part-time job. I have enjoyed my reflection time, but I was about to go insane without some daily social interaction with people other than store clerks. So I hooked up with a locum agency that places me in per diem or part-time positions as a speech pathologist. My first opportunity popped up to work at the National Stroke Foundation Australia as a "Stroke Advisor." Basically I sit in my little cube and answer questions about stroke (education, resources, referrals, counseling) for the general public that calls in. Its easy, I do get to use background knowledge regarding stroke, and its an interesting change. I've always wondered about foundations and toll free numbers and who answers the phones etc...well now, it is me! Surprisingly, I have only been asked a few times about my "accent" and if I was located in America. The office is friendly and social and the best part...I get to wear my little headset! If I am returning calls or busy getting calls, or just wanting to look busy, I spend most of the day in my headset. I put together packets of information to mail to my callers and I can't tell you how many times I have wheeled my chair around to grab material from the wall behind me without first taking off my headset. This is usually followed by a tiny squeal from me or loud clatter from my phone or other desk objects being knocked around by the cord.  Otherwise, it gets stuck in my hair or I can't get my microphone out of the way fast enough for a sneeze or cough. So as you can see, its fun and actually a little ridiculous.  And no one bothered to mention the dangers of wearing a headset in my 30 minute work-safety tutorial (literally 30 minutes!). "The hot water faucet is very hot", "Don't put anything in front of the fire door," except maybe my headset. Its one of those love/hate relationships. :)
When I speak to a caller, I log personal details and our conversation into the computer database. The keyboard is similar except for a few exceptions. The left shift key is quite small and the right enter key is vertical and not horizontal and the slash key is next to both of them (\). So for awhile things looked like this;
 \y name is \shley.\  My pinky is now trained to stretch that extra mm. My callers range from young to old and may be stroke survivors, caregivers, family, friends, or just interested in keeping themself 'strokesafe'. Alot of older people have difficulty hearing and I have to talk loud enough for them to hear me but still quietly enough that the whole office is not in on the conversation. Often co-workers say..."I tune you out because I am so used to it, but you have a lovely phone manner." Thanks for listening, I guess!? Most people have accents and usually have to spell out their street names and cities like Toowoolong, Ballacara, Coolagarlie, Ulladulla because I can't understand the strange name and their accent on the phone doesn't help. When spelling a word with the letter 'h' it sounds like "hey-ch" so, my name would be A-S-hey-ch. The other day the woman in the cubicle next to me said that sometimes she likes to speak in an "American accent" but its not to offend me, so don't be offended. :) ??? I told her not to worry, no offense taken. (giggle..what?!).
We also have birthday and going away parties with "Afternoon tea". This is usually very exciting since the conference room becomes overcome with australian party/tea foods. Like trout and cucumber or egg salad sandwiches, profiteroles, tiramisu, quiche, and sponge cake...which is very popular here. There is a constant rumble of "Ooh sponge cake!" "Who made the sponge cake?" And apparently it is an authentic Aussie food that you don't venture to make if you don't know how to make a good one. This came about from the Country Women's Association. Anytime there is trauma or disaster, the country women come to the rescue and bake a sponge cake!

Outside of my new gig, I am keeping very busy! Its a little surprising how I managed to put together a schedule! I have joined a great non-profit organization called carpets for communities (http://www.carpetsforcommunities.org/) where we sell these fun and colorful rugs at open-air markets around Victoria. It is an organization that empowers women in cambodia by giving them work and the opportunity to support their family so that the children do not have to beg at the border. Each carpet sold, sends a child in Poi Pet to school. Its really cool and since I have some time I decided to join the small group here and take a position, Volunteer Coordinator and Social Chair! (they didn't have one, so I added it!). It is exactly what I was looking for and I sold rugs at my first market last week! I also joined a women's intramural basketball team. Jaime gets a big kick out of this. Like I always say, I can play basketball, but I am not a basketball player. Well, I have no idea what I am doing. I grew up with two brothers and my father who played basketball in high school. I called dad to ask him for some tips and he said "Ash, you've been around a basketball long enough to know what to do."....right...???
I am guessing he may be referring to the pop-a-shot we had in our family room when we were younger. It was just like the actual arcade game but you didn't have to use quarters.  I still to this day wonder how my brothers convinced my parents to buy a pop-a-shot and build it in our family room. It lasted quite awhile so we could have DeTillio pop-a-shot competitions, until mom decided it was a goner. Anyway, dad and Jaime gave me some tips and in my first game, I still had no idea what I was doing but I made it out ok! No elbows to the face, I made a few good passes (quick hands dad said), one was actually through my legs which I thought for sure was illegal, but only got a few giggles, and I fouled some chick. Otherwise, I hustled up and down the court in my little blue jersey for twenty minutes until I thought I might die. Two days later I was as sore as could be in random places that I don't workout in my regular routine. One of those places being the soles of my feet. And so I told Jaime that I will definitely be needing some new shoes, those new Nike Hyperdunks are looking pretty good, I mean now that I am a basketball player. :)

We finally had some really great Spring weather this weekend. The footy Grand Final rematch was on Saturday and so we met up with some of Jaime's work friends. It was fun being at a bar for Gameday! It was a different type of gameday as the bar was not packed (it was just right, compared to home where every sports bar gets packed) not many people wear gameday colors, and girls don't usually drink beer. Well, I did both!  And we taught our international friends how to play Flip Cup! They loved it and we made a mess. :) We had then had the BEST thai food...the restaurant smelled like sweat socks, but the pad thai was super awesome (and this was way after flip cup so it wasn't the beer talking). One of our friends did not want to drive all the way home so we had our first guest at the Kraus House. We had an interesting time opening up the mattress in a box, which is as weird as it sounds, but out rolled this mattress and puffed right up into a really great night's sleep, per guest report. The next day Jaime and I had a coupon for a massage and then we just laid in the park for the day and got some much needed sunshine. Our weekend was complete with the exciting purchase of our first car!!! We were referred by a friend to a specific used car dealership and we purchased a nice little 1998 Audi for a great bargain price, low kilometers, new tires, and works perfectly for scooting us around. So many milestones...
And we're Off!!!

Chocolate and Headsets Part 1

Last week Jaime and I took our first trip out of Melbourne to Adelaide. Jaime had to present at the Australian/New Zealand Association of OMFS conference so we left Wednesday night for the rest of the week and through the weekend and the highlights began quickly! The airport was super low-key, checking in was a breeze (Selecting your destination was literally 8 choices for all the main cities in au), no checked baggage fee, security was no problem (except I set the alarm off with my boots...who knew! I have never worn them through airport security.), and get this...we flew Qantas for our 1 hour flight to Adelaide and they served us Dinner! (yes tv dinner style and everything) and a comp wine or beer! You should have seen my face when they announced this treat, especially on such a short flight. (Apparently Qantas is the only airline that does this but still...COOL!).  Adelaide is a small city that I actually walked from point a to point b in a matter of hours. I started to take the 3 hour self-guided tour but I got off track by stopping in random places, although I still think I saw about everything in the city center and the immediate fringe. And that was it. That was Adelaide. And every time someone asks me how I liked Adelaide they usually wait for my reaction before agreeing that there is not much there. Adelaide, if you don't live there and call it the "relaxing city" then you just go there to get somewhere else (Barossa Valley, Kangaroo Island, etc). I did very much enjoy the Sushi Train where you just sit and pick what you want off of the conveyer belt like in Japan (per Jaime). It was packed everytime we tried to go or walk by so you know the sushi was fresh. It should definitely be franchised to the US. I also liked the huge market and the Tbar where I drank lots of tea and did some more reflecting. :)
Jaime did awesome on his presentation and the last night we got a dressed up for the Gala. Everyone got on a bus outside the hotel and we rode it 5 minutes down the road (thats how big Adelaide is) to the Wine Center. We had a delicious dinner, all the wine you could drink, and met and spoke with many of Jaime's Aussie and Kiwi colleagues. The party started to wind down and so the younger crowd decided to continue to the pub. Before leaving, I noticed a plate of chocolates set out on each table and when I returned to my table, the chocolates were untouched. So I asked the waiter if I could have a to-go box for the chocolates. Hey, even after a night of wine I know that good chocolate should not go to waste :). So they brought me a box and I plopped them in. Then some of the residents agreed it was a good idea and they went around collecting the uneaten chocolates from all the tables to put in my "take-away" box. We made our way to the pub, chocolates in hand, with most of the group already there. When we arrived there was a small line to get into the pub. Now, for those who know me, they know that I don't wait in lines for pubs/bars/clubs etc. (I used to, but now I don't, I either go talk to the bouncer or go somewhere less crowded). So I walked up to the bouncer who was an older gentleman and very nice, and told him that a big group of friends were already inside. And he said "Ok get your mates" (Jaime and one other guy) to let us in. So of course, I opened up my take-away box and offered some chocolate. The next few minutes were absolutely amazing. The first bouncer was delighted and took two and the second bouncer said "Oh! Chocolate!" and took two. A couple was walking in the door before me and the guy stopped to let me in so I offered and he said "Chocolate!" and took one and then his girlfriend in the doorway also said "Oh! Chocolate!" and also took one. This went on for a few more people until I got to Jaime halfway into the pub and we just looked at each other and laughed. It was so funny. In America, noone would take random chocolate from a random person in a pub! Here, they were genuinely excited. And we didn't make it home with any chocolate that night.

The next morning we woke up a little early, a little hungover, and got ready for our splurge for this trip. We booked a personalized wine tour of the Barossa Valley, which is said to be the best wine valley in Australia! We were thinking of renting a car and so on but we have been so busy thinking and planning and figuring things out that I was so happy to let someone drive me around all day! The tour was Jaime and I, our Adelaidian driver/guide, and a gentleman/wino from DC who was friends with our guide. We rode in a kind of limo van into the countryside. And it was beautiful!!! I can't really explain the difference between US rolling hills and countryside and Australian countryside but something about it was just breathtaking. The grass is perfectly bright green and soft and the hills are dotted with trees or large bushes and of course sheep! It was really pretty. We went through several little towns, including Hahndorf, the cutest little German town with a busy strip of shops labeled for what they sell, "Butcher" "Cheese" "Pies" etc. I love the simplicity. And the wines were delicious! We visited 3 wineries before lunch. The aussies call them vin-YAHDS, with the emphasis on the "yahds". We had lunch at just the perfect time as the vino was setting in. We tasted dukkah for the first time, which is an Egyptian nut and spice mix. So you take your bread and dip it in the best olive oil you have ever tasted and then dunk it in the dukkah and...YUM! We couldn't stop eating it.
Then to order, Jaime and I, still a little ruffed up from the night before, decided that we both wanted the meat pie. This was the BEST meat pie I have ever had. It was so delicious, I was so full, but I kept eating because it was so good. We then waited patiently, completely fulfilled, and now very tired for our guide to pick us up. Upon his arrival, our guide asked what we had for lunch and I told him we both had the beef pie. And he looked at me funny and then said, "Oh the Rabbit pie." and I said, "No, the beef pie." and he laughed and said, "No you had rabbit!". My goodness.

I am not a vegetarian (obviously since I thought I was eating beef) but I am an animal lover and I try not to eat the out-of-ordinary meat, aka rabbit! I did feel very bad that I had just eaten a soft and tiny little creature that some people have as pets. But I couldn't do anything about it, so I figured flattery was the best way to go, and so I went on and on about how it was the most tender and tasiest "beef" I had ever eaten.
They say that alot of the meat pies here are made of mystery meat unless you get them from somewhere you know what it is (i.e. a nice cafe vs. a four and twenty that comes in a microwaveable package). Now I understand! Meat looks the same coated in gravy...you could be eating anything!

Despite not being able to breathe from being so full, we wrapped up the afternoon with 3 more vin-Yahds. We went to Penfolds, which is the most famous and some bottles can be extremely expensive. We tried the $200 bottle. Definitely overpriced. You can find the very affordable Penfolds Koonunga Hill at home. We also went to a special little winery that is only open 2 weeks out of the year. It was a massive amount of beautiful countryside with a tiny cottage and teeny tiny little tasting cellar, and delicious wine. We fit in one more place which had the best Tawny, a type of dessert wine. I have never been a dessert wine gal but the girl looked at me and said, I have something for you. She had a shiraz/grappa mix called none other than Shirappa. I was so full but I managed to taste it and said "Wow! We'll take two!" And then we relaxed, satisfied and happy, for the hour-long ride back to our hotel.

Headsets...more to come...

Septic Tank?

Out for drinks one night, Jaime and I were further educated on the Aussie way of life. We learned about how to communicate nonverbally with the bartender while drinking at the bar...glass pushed forward for "Filler up", glass sideways for "I'm resting or I'm done" and glass upside down for "Looking for a fight" (note to self- only do that when with our friend Peter who is a boxer).  What was most interesting and peculiar was the Aussie rhyming slang, used widely by mostly men across Australia. It was thought to have originated with the convicts who first settled the country and was used as code so authorities would not know what they were talking about.  So they use a specific word that rhymes with the word they mean to say, often with no logical explanation. So for example (the best one), Jaime and I are "Yanks" (general term since we are from the US) and "Yank" rhymes with none other than "Septic tank" and so we are known as "Seppos" as in "Where are the seppos this weekend? Are the seppos coming to the game on Saturday? What's up with the two seppos?" Glamorous, I know. :) It gets better. A jumper is a british word for 'sweater' which rhymes with Victor Trumper (an Aussie cricketer) and so "It's a little cold I think I will wear my victor." Fridge = Harbor Bridge, Drink = kitchen sink i.e. "Will you get me a kitchen sink from the harbor?" Sydney = steak and kidney "I am off to steak and kidney". Phone = Al Capone "Will you hand me the Al Capone". And my favorite, people say "no dramas" for "no drama, no worries, its ok" etc...and so dramas = Dali Lamas, therefore you say "Hey, no Dali Lamas."

So Jaime and I have been seppos for a little over a month now. We are just about settled in and really getting to understand life here and getting around. We moved into our new apartment and had discount furniture delivered in a rooms-to-go style. Jaime had to build the beds and put together most of the furniture, I monitored and handed out the appropriate screws and tools. :) Our preloved fridge was delivered and after warming up and working for a day I think it was too old and started knocking the power out in our apt. So the balcony became our "harbor" since it was still cold enough and we had a new fridge delivered 3 days later. I turned it on this am...its smaller and newer...so we'll see if our new one can keep the balance. 

We are learning a lot in our new home across the world...learning about ourselves, learning about each other and marriage, and learning about the world and how we fit into it and live in it. Jaime has started a new chapter in his professional life and has opened up to a whole new world of learning and practicing in his field. When I turned my calendar to September, there was a very fitting quote, I believe it was perfectly placed to reassure us that we are where we should be. It just happened to be by Ginevee, an Australian Aboriginal, who said "At each stage of learning we must give up something, even if it is a way of life we have always known." For Jaime this is most evident in his growth and learning as a person as well as a surgeon in so many ways, and especially when he walks into the room to care for a teeny tiny 1-day old instead of an adult.  For me, it is also about learning about myself in a new place and in a marriage, but also for exploring and discovering opportunities to bring out and indulge in parts of me that  were sometimes suppressed by my daily routine back home and always planning for the future. Being unemployed, I have a lot of time to reflect and think. I think about all the things I could do in life and I reflect upon what it is like to be free...really free. Free to live, to breathe, to learn, to make mistakes, to explore, and to love...it is glorious! 

My job in healthcare is highly fulfilling as I do my best to directly help people. I have been looking for some part-time or hourly SLP work but I have been thinking a lot about what's missing in my daily life when I am not working. I am missing that fulfillment of doing something to help, to interact with the world and know that I am doing something special. And so I have been exploring opportunities for something I can dedicate myself to in addition to my job, even when I return home. I currently have one exciting lead that happened to find me and I will check it out and keep you posted. 

As Jaime and I are beginning to feel more settled in Melbourne, and the weather is beginning to feel the warmth of Spring, we are starting to plan our trips to discover this vast and exciting place. I have realized that in this stage of learning, we have a lot to do! We will see and do everything this continent has to offer, we will help save the world by doing our part in our careers and in our dedication of time and love, and most of all we will laugh, love, and enjoy every moment of each day with each other. 

Really, it's no Dali Lamas!

Ooh! I need that!

Jaime and I happened upon Watefront City last weekend after we met some friends for brunch (same friends from the rugby game...still working on charming complete strangers into friends). Waterfront City is a giant outdoor mall of mostly outlet or discount stores and SALES SALES SALES everywhere! One of the billion shoe stores we passed I saw a big boot sale in the window and paused to look. Jaime asked me if I needed boots...Well of course I need (more) boots! :) Silly question.

So, I didn't get any boots since we just did our budget, and as acting-adults, we are trying to stick to it. (Awhile back when talking to my parents,  I responsed to a question regarding how my money was holding up...with "eh, measly." They got a big kick out of that...I often hear jokingly, "How are the measly funds doing Ash?") Parents. :) I think its their duty to let us make our own path, but I think they are secretly amused all the while. Well anyway...I can still look and that is half the fun of shopping!

The thing about Melbourne is that they would never say that they have the best food or the best shopping or the Best anything...but they sure do love what they do have. No one would ever drive a long distance to come shop in Melbourne, but Melbournians  LOVE to shop and they are extremely proud of the many stores the city has to offer. We came at the most perfect time for shopping...end of Winter sales! The clothes here are expensive, even the basic stores are expensive compared to the US, but they don't mess around with the sales. They mark down up to 80%-90%. Most stores want to clear, I asked one clerk when the sale was going to end and she said when everything is gone. Serious business. The sales are all over town but I am learning that the shopping areas are specific. Bridge St. is considered "outlet stores"(although you would never know that unless someone told you they look like regular stores), Chapel St. is high end, and Brunswick is vintagey and retro. Most stores are new to us, we have seen only a few chains (Target, Costco, Gap). Some stores are Aussie chains, but a good majority of stores are Aussie designer specific.  Whether they have a little upscale or vintage-y store or they rent out a little cubby in a store to display their stuff, you can be sure to find unique and Australian-made clothes most places. My only purchase so far was when we first arrived and I bought a really cool dress for my birthday present from this little Australian designer store that was having a gigantic sale. Then the saleslady made me buy a wool coat too. (She was good!). Anyway, I love them because they were a super great deal, unique, locally designed/made and now I am warm like a sheep! (And by now the sheep is probably warm again too).

Upon arrival here, I was directed to Woolworths for grocery shopping, but I walked right by it because Woolworths is a department store. Usually. But here it is a nice little grocery store. The drug stores are called Chemists and are small, jam-packed with products, and on every corner. Everyone is always very eager to help you find something and I usually go through 3 store attendants asking if I need help because they don't understand why I am just browsing. But there is so much stuff to look at. I compare familiar products with home and I like to explore new products that they use here. And again...it is expensive! The best thing...for every type of store here there is a discount store! So you can always find a deal. Discount chemists, discount vitamin store, discount grocery store, discount bottle shop, discount make-up...discount everything!  Good for the measly funds! The other day, I had to buy a computer charger, so I went to the discount computer accessory store (convenient). The guy didn't desensitize the sensor and so I set the alarm off when I walked out, but he just said it was ok and waved me on from afar. Well, that was first thing in the am...I then proceeded to set off every store alarm that I entered and exited. After awhile I would tell people...I am going to set off your alarm...and they would just look at me awkwardly. I even caught a few jokes..."Well you don't usually buzz when you walk IN the store." I finally gave up setting off alarms for the day and went home.

I also discovered Scoopon, Jump on it, Ouffer, and What's on, which are all Oz's version of America's online coupon sites (i.e. Groupon and Buywithme.com), which is awesome and a great way to discover and do things we wouldn't know about at a discount!

Whether you are just window shopping or out to buy, being in a new city, especially a new country as funky as Australia makes exploring fun and when you score a great deal or find a cute little hidden store you have to write it down or you will never find it again! Jaime might make a request or we run out of something we brought from home (i.e. Advil, virtually nonexistant) and I go out on a mission...it might take me a few days, but I will find it. And you can bet it will be discounted!

Now, when do I get to learn how to shave a sheep.