A lesson in driving from Dave

I didn't think that I would be driving while I was here and I am quite content with the bus system in Brisbane. But when my housemate, Dave, offered me his beloved Datsun Sunny to drive while he was off in Canada, I thought it might be a fun adventure. Plus his sister, Bel, told me that this car is gold to Dave and he has basically offered me a piece of his heart. How can you say no to that?!

The deal was that if I were going to drive this car, Dave would need to give me a lesson or two. He was quite willing to do so and we made the first attempt this past Saturday. I had geared myself up to sit on the right and to drive on the left while shifting gears with my left hand. I had been paying attention to the flow of traffic over the past 2 weeks and had even practiced "air-shifting" so I felt quite mentally prepared.

What I wasn't prepared for was Dave walking out to the car with a cooking pot of water and a jug of brake fluid. The driving lesson commenced with, "Now Julie, before you drive her, there are a few things you need to know." Let me see if I can recall all that needs to be remembered when operating this precious vehicle:

• The radiator has a leak (hence the pot of water) and I will need to top it up about once a week
• The brake light tends to come on. When that happens, check the brake fluid and top up...for it also has a leak.
• The oil may leak too...so check it. Dave has changed the oil about once a year. When he pulled up the dip stick, I wondered if maybe the year was up.
• To pop the "bonnet" (hood), I need to use pliers since the nob has long since fallen off the release. Dave courteously left me a pair in the car.
• It takes a LOT of loving urges to get the car to run. Once it's going, it purrs like a kitten.
  
• The heat works great! But do not turn on the headlights and the heater at the same time. The heater will short out the headlights. (So far, in Australian winter, I have experienced that it is at night when you most need heat...and lights...guess I will brave the cold)
• When I turn off the car, make sure the lights are in highbeam position. Otherwise, the lights will turn on by themselves and will drain the battery.
• To roll down the driver's window, just grab onto the locking pliers conveniently attached to the door. Although it still doesn't roll down all the way. I didn't ask why.

So add that to simply driving on the left side of the road and you can imagine my spinning head as we pulled out onto the street. You can also imagine both Bel (sitting in the backseat, for she wouldn't have missed this for anything!) and myself laughing our heads off as Dave added one more thing to remember about the car.

Thankfully our street is one-way, so the first few meters were no sweat. However, when it came time to signal, I discovered the windshield wipers instead. Numerous times. Upon approaching a round-about, I quickly learned that there is no power steering (there is no power-ANYTHING in this car) and had to really work to get around the curve. We drove to 2 destinations: the Daisy Hill Koala Center and the Hyperdome (mall). Dave was a good teacher and I managed to get us there and back alive. Dave also gave me the names of a few guys from church who can come to my rescue if the need should ever arise.

Thanks for the adventure, Dave. And I'm sure there will be many more!

The Aussie Slang

Something that has really grabbed my attention since arriving in Australia is their amazing skill for slang. These people shorten as many words as they can. Words like "roo" and "Gabba" (short for Woollongabba, an area of Brisbane), and the "Con" (my school) cause me to continuously asking them for clarification. But my favorite by far is their love for the "ie". Let me demonstrate:

• Aussie (Australian)
• cruisey (laid back)
• barbie (BBQ)
• Brizzie (Brisbane)
• lollies (sweets, candies)
• bickie (biscuit, cookie)
• Uni (university)
• truckie (truck driver)
• tradesie (trades person)

I could go on. It's fascinating. In fact, there is an Australian Slang Dictionary for anyone who wants to get in on mastering it.

http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

That being said, I wonder if anyone here will ever call me Jules. Seeing that my name already has an "ie", I don't seem to be in need of a nickname here. I may have to educate.

Welcome to Griffith! Orientation weeks...

"Congratulations on taking the risk of studying in another country!"

That's how my International Orientation began last Monday, July 12 (also my birthday). It was exciting for me to hear those words. This journey HAS been a risk-taking adventure for me. And hearing the guy up front say it out loud made me feel like I had arrived.

My dear friend and prayer warrior, Catherine, told me when I was working through my application that she had a deep sense that God was not only going to get me over to Australia so that I could study what I am passionate about, but that He would also provide the funding for me to do this. And God HAS! I have been blessed by both student loans as well as gifts from friends and family. I am here, living a simpler life, but about to embark on a great educational journey! Thank you to everyone who has joined me in this journey. I definitely would not have done it without the many prayers, encouragements...occasionally butt-kickings, and amazing support that you have given me. Thanks for sharing in the excitement.

So here is what I have learned during my Orientation:

• Brunei is a country. A fellow international student named Sheila told me so...she lives there.
• I have to apply for a tax file number if I don't want the Australian gov't to take 40% of my banking interest or job salary! (done and done!)
• A fire spreads fast in a room. In fact, the windows will blow out in under 2 minutes (we got to watch a video). So don't start a fire in your house. And don't pour water on flaming oil.
  
• Australian waters have rip tides, sharks, and jelly fish. ALWAYS SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS.
• Queensland is the Skin Cancer Capital of the world. Hello Sunscreen!
  
• I may be the only International Master of Music student at orientation...
  

Wasn't that enlightening?! There was a seminar offered entitled: How to Make Friends at Uni, but I missed that one. I will be attending a few more seminars tomorrow, but then the exciting part begins!

Today I met with my program advisor and my new vocal coach! Both are great people and they bent over backwards making this a perfect program for me. I am so excited to get studying. Classes begin next week, July 26.

Let me tell you a little story....

Let me introduce you to my housemate, Dave. He's a little nuts...I think he would get along great with my brother...and pretty much every other crazy guy @ Living Springs. He's actually leaving for Canada in a couple weeks on a work visa, connecting with some Capernwray friends.

The reason why I'm bringing him up is for his impeccable timing and sensitivity for this Canadian girl in telling me a little story.

He had just moved into the house a few months ago and woke up to find a SNAKE curled up on his feet!!! In his BEDROOM. Which is right beside MINE. He figures the snake is cold blooded and was looking for a warm place. He told me he had tried to pick it up, but it started hissing at him. He must have called out to Bel (his sister) because she called the neighbors and they were on their way over with a shovel to kill the snake. But Dave was able to shoo it out of the house and the snake went into the garden.

If you can imagine what I'm going through at this point as we are all sitting around the table. Also imagine Bel & Deb madly trying to stop Dave from telling the story! When they realized he wasn't stopping, they tried to downplay it. "This is just a freak thing. It NEVER happens." "It wasn't a poisonous snake...it was harmless" And then Deb's fiance, Neil, pipes up, "You know it's illegal to kill snakes. Unless they are attacking you." Good to know....but really, who would know if I happened to murder a snake?!

So as the days have passed on, the snake story has come up a couple of times. Dave is quite proud to say that he sleeps with snakes (a REAL man). In fact, here is his theory: He claims to have an agreement with SPIDERS. Bel has confirmed that growing up, there were spider webs in Dave's room because he refused to kill them. He said his agreement is that he won't harm them and they won't harm him. A few days before the SNAKE incident, Dave was cleaning out his parents' garden and was bit by a different snake. He says that he realized then that he didn't have an agreement with snakes. So as the biter slithered away, he made an agreement with it. He figures that waking up to a snake curled up on his feet was the species way of telling him they were in agreement with him.

The girls figure they are under Dave's protection with this little agreement...

Nevertheless, I check my room thoroughly each night before I go to bed.

If you would like more details, I have taken it upon myself to be educated on the type of snake that invaded our humble abode. It's called the Brown Tree Snake. May I point out "weakly venomous". The Green Tree Snake is more common and not venomous at all....but that's not the one that was curled up on Dave's feet.

Warning: Do not browse this website before going to sleep (just from experience)
http://www.snakecatchers.com.au/Brown_Tree_Snake.html

Daisy Hill

Let me tell you a bit of history behind where I'm living in Brisbane. This is just one of the many ways that God has provided for me on this journey.

My mom tracked down an old friend from 30 years ago who lives in Brisbane. This wonderful lady put an ad in her church bulletin and I got an email from a girl named Bel. She told me that she lives in a share house with her cousin, Deb and her brother, Dave and that there was an extra room that I could take if I were interested. She also mentioned that she had studied the Undergrad version of my degree...so when I asked her what instrument she played, she told me she was also a voice teacher! And the house had a teaching studio that she would be willing to share with me if I needed it. How could I say no to such an offer?! I'm in a program where I will be required to teach and the opportunity is dropped right into my lap. Bel has further offered to help me find students as she has had to turn a few away already this year.

So Daisy Hill (a suburb of Brisbane) is a gift from God. I felt welcomed into the house immediately. They had a welcome sign up on my bedroom door and some Tim Tams (Australian cookie) on my bed. Dave lent me a bed and dresser and Bel lent me this hilarious mirror that Deb thinks is the most insulting thing ever! I have left it up because it's just too funny.

(It reads "Time Marches On")

The house is probably the oldest I have ever lived in and already I've had encounters with a couple cockroaches (I hear that's the least of my problems). But the people make the place, right?! I'm enjoying getting to know my housemates and am so glad to live with local people.

Here's a photo of my birthday...they initiated me into the house with these lovely glasses and then made me wear them all night as we went out for dinner. I have a feeling there will never be a dull moment here.

(Me, Deb, Bel, Dave)

First Impressions

Finally I am reconnected with the world! I have a lot to catch up on and will do so in a few blog entries.

I arrived safe and sound in Sydney on July 6th at 6am. After finding luggage storage and a nice hot shower at the airport, I took a train into the city to do some exploring (may I just say that the herbal pills "No Jet Lag" do wonders and I had enough energy to get through the morning at least!). Heading straight for the Sydney icon, I arrived at the Opera House and walked around for a couple hours including half way across the Sydney Harbor Bridge. I also explored the Rocks (old Sydney) and the Royal Botanical Garden before heading back to the airport to get some lunch and chill out with my book.

Later on, I flew into Moree, NSW, where I stayed with my good friend, Kate. We had met about 6 years ago at a camp in Alberta. It was so great to see her family farm (2 properties) and get to know a bit more about her life in OZ. It was also wonderful to be with someone familiar in very unfamiliar territory. Kate helped make this transition so easy. She organized an amazing care package for me, too, complete with towels, bedding, housecoat (or dressing gown as they call it!). I felt so spoiled an am amazed at how God provides.

I spent 3 days relaxing on the farm, soaking it up at the Artesian Hot Pools in Moree (water that naturally pumps hot from deep underground) and meeting Kate's family.
July 9th, we made the final trek of my journey to Brisbane. While Moree area was vast, almost empty and had an untamed wildness about it, Brisbane is lush with such a variety of foliage and rolling hills. I loved seeing both areas so much!

So now I am in Brisbane, living in Daisy Hill. More about that later! The first leg of the journey a complete success. My life is so different from even just a month ago. I'm already feeling the laid back lifestyle of the Aussies...not sure if I can still say that once I'm a full time student!

Ceasing to Exist on July 5th

As I prepare to make the long journey down under, I thought it would be appropriate to post a portion of a book I have been reading: In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. Next to Donald Miller and Liam Stone, this guy could be my new favorite author. He's hilarious and smart. I like that in a book. Anyway, here's the clip:

"Each time you fly from North America to Australia, and without anyone asking how you feel about it, a day is taken away from you when you cross the international date line. I left Los Angeles on January 3 and arrived in Sydney fourteen hours later on January 5. For me there was no January 4. None at all. Where it went exactly I couldn't tell you. All I know is that for one twenty-four-hour period in the history of earth, it appears I had no being.

"I find that a little uncanny, to say the least. I mean to say, if you were browsing through your ticket folder and you saw a notice that said, 'Passengers are advised that on some crossings twenty-four-hour loss of existence may occur' (which is, of course, how they would phrase it, as if it happened from time to time), you would probably get up and make inquiries, grab a sleeve, and say, 'Excuse me.' There is, it must be said, a certain metaphysical comfort in knowing that you can cease to have material form and it doesn't hurt at all, and, to be fair, they do give you the day back on the return journey when you cross the date line in the opposite direction and therby manage somehow to arrive in Los Angeles before you left Syndey, which in its way, of course, is an even neater trick." (Bryson, page 9-10)

So think of me as I fly out this Sunday, July 4th, from Seattle/Los Angeles/Sydney/Moree. As you are going about your day on July 5th, I will be somewhere between not existing and sleeping into July 6th.