I am starting to loose touch

Hello All,

I hope this finds you all in good spirits.

First to explain my subject I have been here for almost 8 months now and I am feeling as if I am loosing touch with everyone back home, as well as Michigan Culture. This is not a bad thing; it is just a change and a big one at that. This has definaty become home, though I still need to consult a map to get to certain places. And a taxi cab driver can sometimes still take me for a ride.

Now for how busy I have been, it has been a month since I have sent an update so this is going to be a long one.

The second weekend of May I had my first visitor from home: Lisa, who was one of my Girl Scout Co-leaders. Unfortunatly I only had one night and one day day with her, but we filled that time. We went to dinner near my house. So I was able to show her my neighborhood. Then for our day together I we were all over the place. We walked and walked and walked. We walked along the beaches. We went to a market. We walked across the bridge and went up one of the pylons. Then we went to the outside of Luna Park which is closed for renovations but is still one of the interesting things to see in Sydney. And finally took a ferry back to where she stayed. It was not until she was here that it hit me what a novelty a ferry is for public transit. Lisa also brought me a bunch of goodies from home (Thanks Lisa!) Some Bell's Oberon , lots of Combos (Yum!), and some Graham Crackers.

That week was also the week that my Girl Guide Unit started meeting. I am officially a Girl Guide Leader. The girls (fifteen 10-13 year olds) are just starting to plan what we are going to be doing this year. I am looking forward to it.

I also started taking a Body Shaman class. I am still not quite sure how to explain this class but here is my stab at it: it is a class that works to teach the participants about their body through dance. Right now we are focusing on bones.

The next weekend I went to a birthdya dinner. The restaurant we were at served family style itialian, and our server, Roberto, quickly became our friend. Funny man. Say the following with a thick Italian accent: "Hi, I am Roberto, my job is to make you happy, so if I bring you food that you don't like, tell me, I will throw it away and make you a new meal"

I have also been introduced to Aussie sport. I went to a league rugby game. Which to me looks like a wimpy version of the rugby game I know. And all the fans (there aren't many) are drunk and loud. I also have watched a couple of Australian Footy, which is a really rough game. I was expecting to see more injuries than I did. Their athletes have to be in amasing shape to get though the game. I am looking forward to going to the game. Maybe next weekend.

I also had a "Bring a Brick or Plant BBQ" I had told you all that previously I had a party to clear out my back garden, now we would like to fill it again. So my housemates and I threw a rather successful BBQ. Lots of food, beer and Sangria. And plnty of good company. I was really nervous going up to it, because I had not thrown a party since I lived on High Street (about 4 years ago) But it turned out to be a screaming success and everyone seem to want to help clean as it went long. How strange is that?

This past weekend I saw Primary again. I have said before that you need to listen, and I am saying it again. Great band to see in concert as well. The type of band that every member member seems to be flirting with the audience.

And lastly for this update: yesterday I went to the "Manly Food and Wine Festival," good wine, a bit of food, way too many people and a beautiful day to walk along the beach and take a ferry. Completly took the energy out of me.

Kind of like this update has taken the energy out of me.

Here are a few Aussie words/sayings to end with:

Australian:	American:
Nutter	Kook (As in: he is a nutter)
Pram	Baby Stroller
Sticky Tape	Scotch Tape/Masking Tape/Any kind of Tape
Serviette	Napkin

And for a series of expressions: Sweet As, Cool As, "insert word" As
I cannot think of an American equivalent. It basically means really sweet, really cool or really "insert word" I have asked if there was a full expression and it was just shortened, and noone seems to know of one.

Well as always I am a bit behind on e-mails, but I will get back to the individual e-mails that I recieve and I love recieving them, so please keep them coming.

Take Care,
Tia