Some random musings

So it's been a while since I've posted(surprise surprise), but part of that is I've had nothing to comment on really. I've become accustom to living in Australia so lots of the things that were noteworthy two years ago are now just day to day normal life. So just a few random musings.

-I saw a shot of the drill field at Virginia Tech a little while ago and I was struck by how green it was. Haven't lived somewhere that green since KY.
-Perth's rugby team is getting good right as I leave. Go figure.
-Even after two years the fact that every grill(or BBQ in Aussie) here is at least 50% flat top if not 100% still makes me irrationally angry. Give me all bar grills or give me death!
-Last winter Aaron got like 90% of the rain in Perth while I got all the good weather. I was happy at the time, but I now miss rain. Like a good proper all day not crazy rainstorm, but just a solid rain that makes me want to nap.
-Airlie Beach is amazing. Go if you get the chance. Go if you don't get the chance. Just freaking go.

So yes random thoughts. And now for my final thought. I think I'll have a beer.

What you learn living abroad

Had a conversation with a fellow expat a few days ago that made me think about what I have learned while living in Australia. Yes I have experienced a new culture(even if it isn't all that different), and yes I have enjoyed the much more laid back lifestyle. However I feel like living abroad, especially when young and single, makes you evaluate what you want to do with your life and then go get it. It is moving completely away from your comfort zone and support network. At least for me the first few lonely months and some of the subsequent isolation as an outsider that can be felt made me at least really evaluate my life. And I know that I am not the only one who has felt this way. I know a few guys who have used their time in Aus as a springboard into chasing their dream. Exactly what I intend to do myself in the coming months.

My brother once told me he thinks everyone should live abroad. And while I don't agree with the catch all breadth of the statement, I agree with the sentiment. I think it is an opportunity that more people, especially while young, need to entertain. Get outside of your comfort zone. Sure it sucks and is scary. But man it makes you take a second and think about what you really want out of life and not continue down the "easy what is expected of you" road that many find themselves on. I know that when it comes to an end shortly that I will look back fondly on my time here in Perth. Not just because of the friends I made, the experiences I've had, or the stories I can tell, but also because it has set me on a path I have talked about pursuing for a few years now, and am making happen. Something I'm not sure would have happened, or at least as soon, had I stayed home.

That and sausage rolls are freaking delicious. Seriously America get on that stuff. Not that we need another high fat snack.

G'Day Mate

There are many well know Aussieisms. D'day mate is the universal Aussie saying. No worries is another famous one. There are less well known ones though. Faridinkum, any number of the shortened words they use such as arvo, brekkie, sunnies, or any other word. I've even heard Facebook called facie recently. The Aussies while speaking English speak a brand that is unique to them, and really can't be fully understood until it is experienced.

Being immersed in this different language I had to make a decision about my approach to it. Would I actively resist it, and continue to use the American sayings and words that I grew up with. Would I intentionally adopt these new words and start calling people mate instead of man. Or would I go with the lazy route of not thinking about it at all and simply see what happens. I decided to go the first way. I have very intentionally avoided using any Aussie phrases into my speech, other than 1-2 words I have consciously adopted. I know other expats who have gone whole hog adopting Aussie sayings, even to altering how they pronounce certain words to be more Australian.

I find my approach as a way to continue to assert my identity, especially as an American. Others talk Aussie to try and embrace and assimilate into their new culture. Neither is better I believe, just personal taste. And hell if just about everyone in this country will immediately identify me as American, than why not embrace it and celebrate my Americaness. God knows I miss real bbq and a corrupt relationship between amateur athletics and tertiary education back home. Talking the way I do helps remind of these things.

Not the real Australia

First off apologise as I am typing this on my phone while walking home from the gym. Gonna fat finger a few words for sure.

Anyway I had a conversation with a coworker today about how my blog was very Perth. Apparently her bf did a blind read and called that I live in Perth. It made me laugh because, while she didn't say it or even imply it strongly, the underlying current was that living in Perth and working in mining isn't experiencing "real Australia". Never mind that Perth is Aus' fourth largest city and mining is a very important industry to the area and country at large economically.

That being said I get it. I have said the same thing to people who visit NYC or Vegas only and form their opinion on the US based on that alone. Is it complete? No. Is it true to what they have experienced? Yes. I would however hope that people realize that they have only seen a very limited part of a bigass country in that case though, much as I try to temper my opinions on that fact that I spend limited time outside WA.

So I guess I should be more conscious of the fact that my observations are Perth centric. My experiences in this country will always be tempered by that. Oh and unnamed coworker if you're reading this feel honored you made it into my oh so amazing blog.

Dining out Down Under

So unsurprisingly I once again forgot this thing existed. But hey, I'm back now. I've been on a business trip to Brissy for training and now am in Melbourne for a friends birthday and to see more of the city so I've been eating out a lot. I figured I'd put together a small list of things that are different about eating in restaurants in the US and in Aus.

-When you order water you get a big bottle and small glasses. Usually the bottle is a repurposed wine or liquor bottle or something. I really like this.

-Round pricing. GST is included in the listed price and everything is rounded to usually a half dollar. Sometimes 20 cents

-Lack of table service. Unless you are at a very nice place you order at the bar or counter pay, for your food then take a very tacky looking number to your table and wait for your food. Even nice joints have little numbers on every table. Really makes eating out feel very tacky to me. As the Canadian geotech at work says "I just want a chesty barmaid to bring me my burger and beer at my table damnit. Is that too much to ask."

-No tipping, but you already knew that.

-Fries with everything. Even at really nice steak joints you will get fries with the majority of meals. Not a baked potato in sight.

-Chicken parmesan or as it is called here param is very common. Especially at bars. And again it is always served with fries.

-Not many places have bar stools. The bar is for people to come up and order drinks/food not to sit at as far as I can tell in this country.

-Tabs are handled incredibly inefficiently and no one really uses them. I have to turn over a CC or ID like in the states, but then there is usually a small form to fill out(phone number, addy, etc.) and you get a small numbered card that is your tab. Also the staff always makes opening a tab seem like some big deal and inconvenience.

So yeah overall restaurant culture and experience in Aus is similar to the States, but there are some sizable differences.

Aus real national pass time

When you ask someone what they think Australia's national pass time is most would probably say drinking(see previous post). Maybe one of the several football codes played here or footy as the word shortening locals call them. I would say it is flying however. Aussies love to travel and considering their isolation on the international stage and insanely low population density on the domestic stage flying is the way to do it.

Don't get me wrong Aussies love a good road trip, but when the country is the size of the lower 48, has a population similar to Texas, and 5 main urban centers which account for the vast majority of the population it just isn't practical. I think the phenomenon is best demonstrated by the fact the Ululru, a massive and impressive rock formation in the middle of the outback, has its own airport. It just isn't practical for most people to drive there from the nearest city of any size. Alice Springs is a 6 hour drive through the middle of nowhere away. A daunting task for sure.

I of course have no stats to back up this claim, but I would suspect Australians are per capita the biggest flyers in the world. Geography, love of travel, and a high standard of living make it a perfect storm for a busy airline industry.

So they drink a lot in Oz

In the US Australia is assumed to be a drinkers heaven. We assume everyone spends all day drinking(or "on the piss" as they say here). While this is partly true, alcohol is not the beverage they take most seriously here. Coffee is by far.

I don't drink coffee so I can't comment on quality, but I can say Aussies are obsessed. I read an article where Starbucks had to close down 3/4 of their Australian stores because they couldn't compete with domestic cafes. Based on what I have observed this is not surprising. Every block it seems has 3-4 cafes that all make coffee. I have seen impassioned debated on Facebook and in real life as to the merits of various beans, blends, devices used for preparation, and other nuances I can't even comprehend as a non-coffee drinker. Listening to some of them it is almost as if it a matter of life and death.

So really Australia is more a nation of over caffeinatied coffee snobs, not the drunks everyone assumes they are. Makes for more boring parties, but at least they can get up early in the morning.