Leaving Australia

Tomorrow I leave the land of Oz for the land of Thais. It will be a brutal flight; nine hours and change in the air. And, to tell the truth, I have been spoiled here in Australia. The people speak and understand the Queen's English well enough to solve whatever silly American neediness I had while I was here. Australia was very kind to me.

In truth, there wasn't much culture shock:

Cars drive on the opposite side of the road
McDonald's is called "Mackers"
Burger King is called "Hungry Jack"
Fries are "Chips"
Chips are "Crisps"
and when asked "how would you like your eggs", they really mean "fried, scrambled, or poached".

Notice a food theme? If there's one thing is apparent in difference, it's the fact that, in America, we are champs when it comes to eating. In Oz, everything closes at 5 pm or so. Bars, pubs, etc. close when it gets slow (less than three tables left in the night) rather than at a set time. If business is slow at the stores, the salespeople will just leave their stores and get coffee. No kidding. Getting food here can be a difficulty for any American used to the "Breakfast Served All-Day, Open All-Night, 24-hour" food culture and convenience we are used to. I have never missed late nite Montage spold mac with cornbread and a glass of POG than I have in the last two weeks. And to think I used to complain that there were only five open-all-night greasy spoons in Portland. Never again will I take that for granted. Here, if you don't eat by 8 or 9? You're f-ed.

On the plus side: the beer here is wicked strong. Two pints a piece at the pub last night and Lupe and I had a wild time walking the 40 meters back to our hotel. Holy Jesus. Good beer. None of that Foster's crap. "Beer" is Australian for beer. And it is good.

Overall, Australia has been a great experience with a few mishaps. A missing travel hat on the plane, a lost iPhone and the apparent inability to replace it while overseas (goddamn AT&T), a laptop Hard Drive that decided to be difficult, and the fact that everything here is ridiculously expensive made Australia seem more like home than anything else. Troubles and stresses are the same everywhere and anywhere you go: that is the God's honest Truth.

Lupe and I have had some tough time adjusting to this new life we are living, especially when we first got started and we realized that this was no mere vacation, this was our living condition for the next four months. Homesickness has been rough, especially getting MMS pics from Mom with our very missed dog in them (healthy and happy, thank God). Lupe and I are experiencing a shift in our relationship which has been hard but which results have made us stronger and more in-tune with each other. We spent the last 3-and-a-half years working things out, defining our roles for each other, making it work. This trip has made us redefine our relationship with each other, redefine our roles for each other and what our wants in each other are. A few fights and a lot more making up with smiles and laughs and talks has tied us to each other stronger than before. This is our new life together and, even after over 7 years being with each other, we're still taking on the world hand-in-hand. The Natasha to my Boris, if you will. Neither of us want it to ever end and that is a grand and wondrous thing.

In the immortal words of Bill Murray in Caddy Shack: "So, I got that going for me".

Justine Henin is about to face off against Serena Williams in the semi-finals of the Aussie Open, my bag is about 85% of the way packed, money's in the bank to pay for the hotel, and my Previews order is in for the month (thanks, Debbie!). My wife and I are safe, tired but good, well-fed as always. I can't really ask for more (except maybe for my iPhone issue to be resolved. le sigh but oh well). Time to head to Thailand where every ounce of comfort I've been spoiled by here in the land down under will be dashed to bits. Am I scared? Hell yeah, I am. Will it be worth it? You're god damn right it will.

Talk to you soon.

-d@n