Things I have learned from the Aussies:
1) Dogs are more obedient than we think ~ dogs don't wear leashes here. I mean, maybe it's just a coogee thing, but every time I walk past a family or jogger or couple with a dog, they're just wandering along and their dog is trotting just ahead or just behind them. The one exception has been our friend the Rave Dog; a particularly fast canine friend who runs without a leash or any sense of hesitation or direction. Luckily though, he has a collar that blinks like a multi-coloured strobe light, so he can always be found.
2) BYOB is not just for parties ~ At almost every restaurant here, they have something called a "corking fee". This is a genius little business in which you pay money (usually anywhere from $2-$5) to bring in and drink your own alcohol with your meal. Four words; Canada get on it! ~ I have since been informed by some faithful blog-readers that this already exists in canada... so, I either need to get out more, or they need it in more places.
3) Job interviews are unnecessary ~ You don't need a cute outfit and a good handshake to get hired in Australia. All you need is the ability to be thrown into a job that you've never worked before, in a place you've never been, immersed in a culture you're not familiar with, and work it like a champ. And you'll be just fine. It is the system of "trial shifts", and it is brilliant.
4) Retail gets you addicted to certain words ~ Pop, as in, "let me just pop that in the changeroom for you!"... Heaps, as in, "we got heaps of stock yesterday"... Doll (pronounced dahl) as in "how are those fitting for you doll?" *note; all of the above phrases must be said with a sort of aussie-flavoured twang ;)
5) The price on the tag is the price you pay ~ while the cost o' livin is a bit on the upside over here, the wonderful thing about it is that all taxes tips etc are included in the price. That dress, is $39, and you will pay, $39 for it. That sandwich is $4.50. You will pay $4.50. Once again, brilliance.
6) Birds (and giant bats) have no fear ~ They will swoop at you without a second thought. You can't really distinguish them either, because the bats are about the same size as large seagulls and just as fearless. Just, cover your hair and food. At all times.
7) Buy your food before you sit down and eat it ~ Once again the aussies have revolutionized the food service industry... You wait in line, you order your meal, you pay the price that was listed on the menu, you go and sit down with a little buzzer, and one drink later you are summoned for deliciousness. Then, when you're full and want to go home, that's what you do. No waiting no tipping. Otherwise known as, ideal.
8) Steak is the cheapest thing on the menu ~ Every wednesday at the lovely beach-side palace - just a stroll down the sand from our apartment - they have the deal of all deals; $5 rump steak (haha, yeah, rump steak) cooked to your liking. An extra $2 gets you fries & salad. And, going back to the whole pay as priced thing, that's it! No tax, no tip. If you're feelin a beer too, you'll be looking at a whopping $12 for a damn classy meal. Other than that, food prices can be pretty rough, but it's these little hidden wonders that make this place magical. Look mom, I'm saving! :)
9) The ocean is saltier than you think ~ Seriously. It's insane. I guess I haven't been to the ocean since going to Miami and that was at least 5 years ago, but ohhh mannn. When your face down on a surfboard trying to paddle through wave over wave, and you get a mouthful of that sea salt water, you're going to be choking for a good 15 minutes.
10) Raccoons are made of possums ~ Take a walk through the park on the way to Kings Cross in downtown Sydney, and all you will see is bush-tailed possums and their babies scampering around the grass and trees. They're like the raccoons of the South Pacific, without fear of humans or boundaries regarding food. See photos from a few entries ago...
and now I am falling asleep on my kayboardnfgi'o [eng\m\',v;'b>mfopEFJ|'mdvl......
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