Two Weeks Later

Red Deer, Alberta

Called it home for over 20 years.

Shovelling snow, nope

In Newcastle, Aus

The only thing iced are drinks

Sand, sand everywhere

I have always wanted to come to Australia, to experience something different. It has been something in the works from when I had graduated college, a little over 15 years ago (writing this makes me feel old, which I am sure that I am). Sometimes, a little more than a daydream, "if only...", and to opening up flight trackers and figuring out the requirements, only to be whisked away other things going on in my life.

So to arrive two weeks ago, was something of a dream in and of itself. Unbelievable to finally have happened. When I left Canada, it was -35c with a windchill, arriving in Sydney at a balmy +27c. Nearest makes no difference, that 60c temperature change after 26 hours of travel still hit like a truck.

Some things have surprised me. The slang; mostly shortening words, a few idioms, have caught me off guard, looking at my partner with a look of, "what the eh did they just say??". There is one word that is not in the Australian dictionary: hurry. No one is in a rush. Things get done with they get done and everyone chills, when the temperature does not.

But mostly... it's how much it feels like home.

I might be driving on the right hand side of the car, on the left hand side of the road. Gas is still expensive and vehicles are seemingly everywhere. Large, American vehicles - I have seen 1 Chev Silverado and a handful of Jeeps - are still obnoxious and need to be off the road. There is no place for a vehicle that size anywhere. When there are crew cab utes. I swooned when I saw my first one.

I still order coffee in English, but I do not tip, because wages are fair.

I still love being around the water, albeit it not frozen, warm, and comfortable to swim in. Not in a layer of ice, thick enough to drive and race on. With multiple vehicles, at that.

My phone did not work (lesson learned, Australia needs phones that are VoLTE compatible, mine was not), but there are options available. But the only adapter I needed was for my computer, and that I just replaced the cable for, as everything else is powered by usb, all but one are by usb-c. Even my camera batteries can be charged with usb-c.

And with my cameras, I still take loads of pictures. There is always something cool to see, something different around every turn. Which is no different to home. There is always something to see and do that challenges the mind.