The Australian Flo

Australian Flo, Kitty

American Flo

It has been a rainy few days here in Gladstone so I thought I might blog about Australian television.  Nick and I have watched quite a bit this past weekend as the rain came down and we made a few observations.  First, we noticed that Australian Progressive commercials have their own Flo, and her name isn't even Flo, it's Kitty.  She sports the same red lipstick, retro hairdo and is just as cute and charming as the American Flo, maybe more so with her Australian accent!  It made us wonder if there are more Flo's out there.  I like thinking about all the Flo's of the world meeting in one room.  "American Flo, meet Australian Kitty.  Italian Florina, meet Chinese Fo."  Anyway, it made Nick and I smile to see Kitty and we hope more commercial doppelgangers will appear during our time here.

Also, Nick and I discovered Australian netball in Nick's desperate search to find sports on television.  I think he may be experiencing withdrawal without his ability to watch baseball or the Big10 Network.  So, netball it is!  I hate to criticize a sport I know very little about and would hate to offend anyone, but netball to me appears to be an extremely watered down version of basketball.  During general play, a player with the ball can take no more than one step before passing it, and must pass the ball or shoot for goal within three seconds. Goals can only be scored by the assigned shooting players.  Players may not make contact with each other and must stay at an arms length distance while the other player shoots.  Players may not jump while shooting.  I just don't think netball necessary quenched Nick's sports craving.  Looks like rugby and Australian Rules football will have to suffice.

There are many American television shows that air here but I have also found a few Australian shows that I really enjoy.  The show I am currently watching is called, "The Block".  It is about four couples that completely renovate four different Victorian homes in Melbourne on the same block.  Each week they renovate a new room until the house is complete.  Then they sell their homes and whomever sells their home for the most money wins!  They are all young, trendy couples so it is fun to see their designs each week and it is interesting to hear casual conversations amongst Aussies.  I constantly pick up new words and slang from their conversations.

Hopefully the rain will subside in the next few days so we can have the weekend to get out and do some more exploring!

A Few Observations

1. Australian money is beautiful
After taking out money at the bank, we were shocked at how beautiful Australian currency is!  Take a look at all of the Australian notes:

2. Most of the workforce in Gladstone wears a uniform
And now we're like most people!  Check out Nick's new uni:

Most of the uniforms you see look like Nick's.  There is some variation in color but all are the same basic design.  The first day we walked around town, I was curious at the number of people wearing a uniform and assumed they all worked at the same place.  We soon found out that most companies require a uniform.  


3. Australians (I mean Aussies) abbreviate everything
Here are a few words we have noticed since we've been here:

     McDonald's = Maccas

     breakfast = Brecky

     barbeque = Barbie

     Brisbane = Brissie

     football = Footy

     Woolworth’s(our grocery store) = Woolies

     How’s it going = How’s going

     Australia = Oz

     good day = G'day

Also, here are some new words we have learned:
     parking lot = car park
     car trunk = boot
     car hood = bonnet
     green pepper = capsicum
     salsa = tomato relish
     ketchup = tomato sauce
     NFL = gridiron
     not stylish = dag
     gas station = servo
     redneck = bogan
     truck = Ute

  

4. Australian men wear short shorts

This is what I have become accustom to seeing at the gym and even on the street:

Dad, you would fit right in!

5. Gladstone has very exotic looking birds

Australian Ibis

Rainbow Lorikeet

Kookaburra (picture from the internet)

Pink Galah (picture from the internet)

We can hear the Kookaburras in the trees just across the street from our home.  The song should go, "screech, Kookaburra, screech" instead of, "laugh, Kookaburra, laugh".  It sounds like we are living next to a bunch of monkeys!  See what I mean?
 
I would write more about Australian insects and reptiles but I am too scared to look up pictures on the internet.  The less I know, the better!

Tannun Sands

Traveled to Tannum Sands once again for a beach day.  Here are a few pics from the day:

Reflection in the water

Reflection in the water

Path left by a snail

Pretty bird in a tree near the beach

To Sanna and Riley, Love Cinderella

Dear Sanna and Riley,

I am very hoppy...I mean happy to be back home in Australia.  I've missed my home so it feels great to be back!  I am very comfortable in my new home with Aunt Katie and Uncle Nick.  I have my own bedroom and a nice big bed all to myself.  I went to the beach with Aunt Katie and Uncle Nick today.  Here are some pictures from our trip:

Sunning with Uncle Nick

Eating some Vegemite for lunch...

...and a Tim Tam for dessert!

Keeping up with my reading.

I haven't seen any other Kangaroos yet but I hope to soon.  I think I have some cousins here in Gladstone. 

I will keep you updated on my adventures!  Talk to you soon!

Love,
Cinderella

Happy Birthday Liz

God bless the Queen!  Thanks to Ol’ Elizabeth we had a long weekend to explore, as her birthday is a national holiday.

Kate wearing a fascinator

On Saturday we went to the racetrack here in Gladstone to watch camel races.  We learned on the plane ride over that Australia has the largest camel population in the world which surprised us both, but then it was more of a shock to hear that they race them!  It was a big event and everyone was dressed to the nines!  All the women wore dresses and hats called fascinators.  The girls at Nick’s work were trying to describe to Nick what a fascinator was, but he didn’t quite get what they were describing.  He came home from work and said, “Kate, we’re going to camel races!  And you have to wear a dress and a wreath of flowers in your hair, like what the Greek people wore”.  I wore a dress, but no wreath of flowers which is good because I would have looked a little out of place.

The races were fun, but mostly for the company as the actual races weren’t that exciting.  Five camels were jockeyed by amateurs from the crowd and raced only the straight away of the track.  There were five races and each lasted no more than 30 seconds.

Nick’s coworkers were all very friendly and outgoing.  There was a mix of Australians, Americans and Canadians.  No one was from Gladstone, which created a bond as everyone was new to town.  They arrange monthly “get togethers” and I look forward to getting to know everyone better.  On Monday we drove about 15 miles south to Tannum Sands which is considered a suburb of Gladstone.  It has a fabulous beach and long esplanade.  We were able to eat lunch with an ocean view.  A good end to a long weekend.

 

 

You Say Gladstone, I Say Gladstun

Our new home

We made it to our new home!  After 20 hours of air travel we finally touched down in Gladstone.  Nick and I quickly discovered that the Aussies pronounce Gladstone as Gladstun.  So upon arriving we quickly changed our pronunciation so we can be accepted as true Glastonians.

Nick’s coworker dropped us off at our house and we had the rest of the day to get settled.  Our house is nice – it’s a duplex with three bedrooms so we have plenty of room for visitors…nudge, nudge, wink, wink.  It came furnished, although it looks a little bare right now.  I am excited for the air freight to arrive so we can fill the house with all of our things making it feel more “homey”.  There is a grocery store and gym within walking distance and a shopping center a couple miles away.

To my great despair we discovered that most cars in Gladstone are manual transmission.  So not only do I have to drive on the other side of the street, but now I have to drive a stick (Gladstone drivers beware)!  Nick has given me a few lessons now and I am starting to feel more comfortable.  I have been practicing on a large hill in our neighborhood and have killed the engine numerous times.  This practicing has occurred early in the morning to avoid any other cars on the road, so I am sure our neighbors appreciate waking up to my 5:00am “peel out’s”.  Nick and I also invested in some new bikes, so if the driving thing doesn’t work out I will always know how to pedal!

Nick and I both said that Gladstone feels like a Caribbean island. It is really hilly with a lot of tropical looking foliage.  Our neighborhood is pretty with most of the homes new, but many of the buildings in Gladstone are older and look outdated.  I guess it is part of the charm and another reason Gladstone reminds us of a Caribbean island.  We have not had much time to explore yet, so I am sure there is still much to discover of Gladstone.

Our new neighborhood

Our new grocery store

Our new car

My new bike

Downtown Gladstone

Gladstone Marina

View of Gladstone

Gladstone has a small beach, but after seeing the sign I'm not sure I will want to get in the water.

Economy…PLUS!

Nick and I were overjoyed when we discovered our tickets from Dallas to Brisbane were economy plus!  We had no idea this would be the case until we were plopped down in our spacious seats sipping champagne.  The flight was very comfortable - we had personal TV’s that folded out from the arm rest and were able to choose between movies, TV or video games to pass the time.    

We managed to stay awake for about five hours before we fell asleep, sleeping for six.  The time went fast…well, as fast as a 16 hour plane ride can go.  We landed in Brisbane at 5:00am and had a few hours to get through customs and find our new terminal.   

It was a fast one hour flight to Gladstone and when we arrived a CBI employee was waiting to take us to our new home.  It had technically been 39 hours since we last had not been either in an airport or airplane.

Bon Voyage

It is our last night in the United States...I guess officially it is our last night in a bed in the United States.  Tomorrow at midnight we should be in the air somewhere over Texas just beginning our 16  hour flight to Brisbane . 

I don't think it has quite "hit us" that we will be living in another country on the other side of the world.  While we are both excited about this adventure we also realize the sacrifice we are making by living so far away from our family and friends.  After spending time in our home towns this realization has only become more clear.  We are blessed with wonderful families and friends and being surrounded by them for the past two weeks has made it very difficult to say goodbye.  Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for us.  We love you all! 

But enough with the mushy stuff.  I will wipe the tears off of my keyboard now and proceed with the bright sunny side...we can't wait for this adventure and all we will be able to see and learn.  We can't wait for visitors and Skype sessions.  We can't wait to share this journey with all of you!