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So, a week in Australia, and what have I learnt?

Koala shaped chocolates, with exception to Caramello Koalas, are really hard to find.

However Koala shaped everything else is everywhere.

The old crows that work at Myer at Miranda are still as rude as I remembered them to be.

And on that note, people still stare at me in Miranda. Yes, I’m short and have black hair and I don’t look like you, Ms-born-in-the-Shire-die-in-the-Shire-middle-aged-”but-still-young-at-heart”-shivelled-up-crow, so stop staring.

Happily, I don’t get stared at anywhere else. That’s progress for ya.

But most people now think I’m Japanese. Or at least a foreigner. Including Flight Attendants. Who are Australian. Even with my accent, which I have back, in full force maaaate.

Speaking of progress, a funny thing happened when we walked through the city on our first day — neither of us felt like we’d left Japan. Because walking down George St all we saw were Asians — everywhere! Where did they all come from? Did I just not notice before? It felt like we were walking through Roppongi on a Saturday afternoon than walking through Sydney.

Did that sound really racist?

Speaking of Asians, I can now no longer pick where in Asia someone comes from. The cross-breeding of fashion and trends from different Asian countries have done away with that — although you can still pick a Chinese family from the amount of noise we make in public places. Especially restaurants and places where we can take photos of each other.

And on fashion, I have somehow become more metrosexual. It pains me. And provides my sister with an unnatural amount of amusement.

And I missed Chinese food far more than I realised. Though I don’t miss the way it accumulates around the waste line.

Another surprising thing about Sydney — the trains were working ok. They mostly came on time, they were relatively clean and fast. Unfortunately they were really expensive, but you can’t have everything.

Food in Sydney is also expensive. As are drinks. And film, electronics, games, books, hotels, ferries, and just about everything else. I think it might actually be cheaper to live in Japan.

Sydney Airport staff are great — efficient, friendly, and helpful. Why can’t the rest of the damn country be like that?

I miss my dog. And my friends. And my ex-coworkers; though I don’t miss the work so much. But most of all my dog, who’s pushing 13 and has gone deaf and kind of blind. God I love that little guy, I hope he hangs on long enough for me to see him next time I come back to Australia.

• Posted in LeftBrain, Sydney on the 27.09.2007 @ 11:19:47 AM, Permanent Link
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