Whale Beach

WHALE BEACH

We drove up to Whale Beach for a late lunch and an afternoon of sun, surf, and breeze.  The scenery is stunning, the waves impressive to us Long Island Shore denizens, and the sand nearly uninhabited.  Larry walked the beach from one end to the other. Nicole joined him for half the walk.  And Carla walked to the ocean's edge for a toe dip before heading back to the beach chair and Kindle.



Carla and Kindle



Admiring the sights





Nicole and Larry



If you'd asked me on December 31, 2009 where I'd be on December 31, 2010, I'd have said Farmington, CT.  Who knows what 2011 will bring?

Our First Trip to the Doctor

Nicole spiked a fever of 38.4 yesterday (101.4), and so I spent the morning today figuring out the Australian healthcare system and our insurance provider.  Turns out, things are a lot more straightforward than in the US.  We can go to any doctor we want; there are no preferred provider networks or discounted coverages.  We do have to pay at the time of the visit and then file for reimbursement, so that's a bit of a pain.  Some doctors, though, have this thing called HICAPS where you just swipe your card and the claim is filed automatically.  So that will be something to look for.

The next step was figuring out what kind of doctor to call.  Based on research, a family practice seemed the best place to start. (Every other kind of doctor is a specialist.) The other day, while walking around Roseville, I had spotted a family practice and jotted down the number.  We got an appointment for noon today. Easy peasy.

The doctors office was... hmmm... small.  Ancient.  Lots of old people sitting in chairs.  We got there 10 minutes before our appointment to fill out all the forms.  Only, in AU, THERE ARE NO FORMS.  We didn't fill out a thing.  Just sat down and waited for Nicole's name to be called.

The doctor, Dr. Chen, diagnosed tonsillitis (he told her that her right tonsil was pustular) and prescribed an antibiotic called Klacid (clarithmycin).  A quick swipe of the credit card ($40 for the office visit) and we were on our way.

We strolled down the street to the Chemist to fill the prescription.  While there, I mentioned that I was looking for some additional thermometer sleeves (the things you slide over the digital thermometer).  They didn't have them, but the young ladies instantly pulled out their order book to see if they could find some for us.  Very friendly, very personable.  The pharmacist filled the prescription in about 3 minutes and came around to the register to ring us out.  Very different experience from CVS.  Another swipe of the credit card ($18.20) and we were on our way home...

...where I filled out my very first healthcare claim form so that we can be reimbursed for our expenses today.

Hopefully the antibiotic kicks in quickly and Nicole starts to feel better soon. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and it would be great to be a part of it.

Wildlife Encounters

This morning, Larry called me downstairs to view an unexpected overnight guest:

Leopard slug - 4-5 inches long - crawling in my kitchen

And the other day, the very curious kookaburra in our backyard got as close as he could to give us the onceover.

Yes, that's him sitting on the corner railing of our upstairs deck.  This is right after he bashed a dead rodent against the ground to eat it and right before he knocked another kookaburra off "his" branch in the tree they like to sit on.

Yet Another Public Holiday

Larry assures me that the mall traffic and parking scarcity are all uncommon and extraordinary because of the season.  We went (yet again) into Chatswood, where it took longer to find a parking space than it did to drive from our house to the carpark.  We did manage to accomplish two items on our to do list: we purchased a home phone and an extension cord.  We did not manage to purchase lounge chairs for the upper deck.  More driving and shopping will be needed.

The highlight of the day, in addition to spending quality time with Larry, was the dessert he treated me to after our lunch at Sushi Train.  (Sushi Train is Larry's favorite place to eat here - conveyor belt sushi.)  The dessert is called Roti Tisu (pronounced almost like "rotting tissue"....) a Malaysian delicacy that looks something like this:

It's a hollow, upside down, cone of paper-thin layers of fried dough, coated in caramelized sugar and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.  It was GREAT.  You eat it by peeling each crunchy, delectable, layer until it's gone.  MMMMMM.  Maybe going to Chatswood continually just got more bearable!

We walked around our little village of Roseville, exploring the amenities.  There must be around 8-10 restaurants in a 1/2 mile radius, not to mention 4 dentists and a family medical practice.  There is a relaxation spa type place, two pharmacies, a small grocery (very small, I'm hoping Italian), and a bakery.  There are a couple of cafes that look like good places to grab a coffee or tea and a snack.  Can't wait for everything to be open again after the holiday season!

What I Found Doing Laundry...

The other night, we were enjoying the fresh evening air with the terrace doors wide open, when suddenly, a large moth flew in and scared the **** out of Larry and Nicole.  Without a butterfly net to catch it, Larry trapped it in the laundry room.  We promptly forgot all about it.

This morning, I collected the towels and dirty laundry and began sorting whites from colors. (Note: I never did this at home. For some reason, I find myself sorting here.)  As I reached for the bottle of detergent, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the moth, perched on the side of the bottle, wings vibrating slightly.  I confess myself startled.

After flicking the moth into the sink and putting a plastic bag over it to keep it contained, I poured the detergent and started the laundry.  I went to get 2 plastic cups with the hope of capturing the moth and throwing it outside.  It did not fit into the cup!  The wingspan must have been about 7.62 centimeters (3 inches to us Americans).  It started fluttering around the room. 

I quickly called my husband (who is vacuuming - also something not generally seen in the US) who decided that quick, decisive action was called for. He sucked it up into the vacuum!

Before all the fluttering, cup catching, and vacuuming, however, I had the presence of mind to take a picture of it:

Isn't it pretty?  I assume it's a moth and not a butterfly since it flew into the house at night.  Maybe some insect lover out there can shed some light?

*** UPDATE ON THE MOTH: It's a Granny's Cloak Moth.

Anyway, I'm sure it won't be the last buggy thing I find around the house, and I'm grateful that my first insect adventure was so mild.

Driving on the Left

Just took our shiny blue car out for my first outing behind the wheel.  Larry only gasped once or twice (I apparently hug the left pretty closely). Used the windshield wipers a couple of times instead of the blinker... but didn't hit anything and returned safely home!

Christmas in Sydney

Christmas Eve brought an unusual sight:  three camels walking down the street in Manly, a popular beach town north of Sydney. How often do you see three wise men parading down the street on camels?

After watching Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchizadek, we headed across the street to watch the Christmas surfers and the kids playing ball on the beach.  It's a beautiful beach. 

Larry took us to dinner at Ribs and Rumps, a place he's enjoyed since he got here.  He reeeeeaaalllly enjoyed his ribs.

We went home to watch Scrooged, one of my favorite Christmas season movies, and one that they don't show so much in the US anymore.  And on AU TV, it's unedited, so all references and language are intact (very mild).  Love Bill Murray, love the movie.

Christmas morning brought a mix of joy and concern.  Concern because I learned that my mother was hospitalized after fainting and trouble breathing.  She sounded terrible and said she'd never felt so sick.  Joy because we were able to celebrate the holiday together after 7 weeks apart.

Gone are the Christmas mornings when we had to body-block Nicole from the tree.  She was the last one awake, in fact, and we had a leisurely gift-opening time.  We managed to take the obligatory family photo - only this year, we were missing Jasmine.  And the house is a little stark without all our personal belongings.

We attended church at 10:30 at St. Andrews right in Roseville.  We get to be Anglican for a while!  How exciting is that??!! The service was lively, upbeat, and joyful.  The message inspired and informed, all about the humility and inclusivity of God.   We are looking forward to regular attendance here and getting to know the other members of the congregation.

After church, we walked to the train station and headed off to Sydney.  It's the most walking I've done in a long time, Joy would be so proud!  It was an uphill 15 minutes to the station, then a ton of walking around the city to see the big Christmas tree and Darling Harbour, and then a 15 minute downhill back to the house. I don't know how often I'll be doing THAT.



Nicole in front of Martin Place tree.




Larry and Nicole at Darling Harbour.



Carla in front of bird fountain at Darling Harbour.



Most stores are closed on Sundays - how odd to us Americans - and the crowds were negligible.  Nicole and I had enough of walking by about 3:30, so we headed back to the Wynyard station and headed home, where we enjoyed our Christmas presents.  Nicole began setting up her new Zune while I got to read the incredibly complicated instructions for the new game Larry bought.  Drunk Gnomes trying to save a sinking submarine....enough said.

And today is boxing day.  A big shopping day in Australia, I guess, and a public holiday as well.  Larry has the whole week off, and we will be planning day trips and other activities to see the area.  Maybe I'll even drive the car!



Back Online

What did we do before the internet? Today I was able to see and talk to my sister and her family and my mother and father via Skype.  (http://www.skype.com/ for free software so you can talk to me, too!)  Merry Christmas to us, thanks to the tpg people (don't ask me who they are, but one of them came to the house today to make everything work).

Here are a few pics from our first few days:

Larry met us at the airport and drove us home!



We drove over the Sydney Harbor Bridge and watched a few hardy souls climbing it.



A prophetic sign along our route.

Our home for the next 12 months.



Kookaburra sounds like a howling monkey, and he's not sitting in a gum tree!

Wild cockatoos are enormous and have very loud, harsh, voices.

I feel like I'm living in Jurassic park, what with the intense greenery in the backyard and the calls of the wild birds. 

Merry Christmas, Everyone!


















can your ebook reader do this?

its thursday also known as day 3 in australia. no network access but then i remembered my kindle has a web browser. not a great one thus the short post and lack of punctuatiogood enough to leave a quick update.

1 seeing larry waiting at the airport was a huge moment.
2 the house is great.
its warm and humid and doesnt feel like christmas
4 the birds in the backyard are amazing
5 nicole came down with a throat and cough virus on the plane.
6 flight wasnt too bad.
7 grocery stores are in malls
8 no screens in the windows and doors
9 havent driven on the left yet but larry is quite proficient
10 cant wait for phone and internet to be installed

Going Dark

It's Saturday night - our final night on US soil for a while. Wonderful family dinner of chicken parmigiana topped off with Italian pastries, laughter, and tears.  Sendoffs, hugs, and the moment I've been working up to for months - the Jasmine hand-off.  Of all the transitions and changes, it's the dog that has me the most worked up.  And I'm not really a dog person - they slobber and shed.  I'm a Jasmine person.  She's gone to a good home for a while, and we'll get her back upon our return, but in the meantime, I can't explain to a poodle, no matter how smart she is, what's going on.  I know it will take her about 3-4 weeks to settle into her new surroundings and create a new routine, and it's far better than worrying about her in a quarantine facility. 

Then, of course, the farewell from my sister, her husband, and my niece and nephew.  My niece presented me and Nicole with handmade necklaces.  She's obviously talented - the necklaces are beautiful and inspired and reflect our personalities.  My nephew described his favorite book (James and the Giant Peach) and some other books he likes to read.  Ange, Andrew, and I had some great laughs on a variety of topics, and the evening ended with hugs all around as my nephew announced "See you in two years" on his way out the door.

The "kids" seem less affected by the idea of distance and time away.  I think the world seems smaller to them than it does to older folks.  They spend so much time chatting, IMing, and posting that geographical location doesn't really matter.  Whether they are in Farmington or Sydney, the internet enables relationships and communications.

Larry has started settling into the house and has begun making arrangements for utilities and services.  Included among these is broadband internet access so that we can communicate with the outside world.  As I contemplate a possible one or two weeks without wi-fi in the home, I have started to realize how much the online world has become part of the fabric of daily life. 

Need to know a phone number? Bing it!  Need an address or directions? Bing it! Want to tell someone a funny story or let them know what's going on? Log on to Facebook or email!  Want to talk to someone? Skype!  Other than relieve some early carpal tunnel syndrome, what will I do without internet access!!??

Thus the title of this entry, "Going Dark."  It may be a while before I can post another update.  When I asked Larry about wi-fi spots, his sole suggestion was MacDonald's (Macca's in Aussie-talk).  Not sure where the closest Macca's will be, or when the home network will be up and running...but I promise updates as soon as I can log on once again.

So time to load the Kindle, check and double-check that the passports are accessible, and cram the final items into the suitcases!

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travel, happy reunion, and smooth transition to our new home.

Love Makes a Subaru

and my Subaru is now in the loving hands of friends.  I'm sure their 2 teenage daughters will enjoy the little car, especially the auxiliary jack that hooks the iPod through the car's stereo system.

The two of the biggest final tasks are complete: 1) the car is sold, the plates returned, the town hall informed, the insurance canceled, and the check deposited; and 2) the air shipment has been packed, wrapped and driven away.  I think our checked bags are more or less packed - we just have to figure out how to best distribute Nicole's school books and binders among them so as not to tip the scales too much.  Only one final, heart-wrenching, moment remains:  handing Jasmine over to her foster family for the next two years.  I'm crying already, and will cry more, I'm sure.  Wouldn't you? 

(Although, I must confess, I will not miss the nightly 9:00pm final trip outside in below-freezing weather.)

On the upside, Larry has moved into the house, rental furniture and all.  The TV and vacuum cleaner both arrived as scheduled, and there have been wildlife sightings!  A kookaburra and a bush turkey (whatever that is) have both wandered through the backyard.  And for those of you wondering, the backyard is heavily screened with bamboo, so only the bush turkeys and kookaburras will be peering through the wall of windows featured so prominently in the photos.

To IB or not to IB...

One of the considerations in choosing a school is the type of degree each school awards.  Most schools in New South Wales, Australia (our new state and country) award the Higher School Certificate (HSC).  This is the recognized high school diploma for graduates in NSW (New South Wales).  One of the schools on our list also offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is a standard curriculum recognized world-wide and organized out of Switzerland.  Would it be better for Nicole to apply to US universities with an IB or an HSC?

(Whew, now that you are all familiar with the acronyms currently populating my life!)

Unfortunately, the school offering the IB is on the too-small side, and Nicole is really looking for a larger pond to swim in with this move.  There would be just 14 girls doing the IB next year, so class sizes could range from 3 to 14, depending on the subject matter.  So, we are strongly considering schools where the degree would be the HSC.

According to a friend who works in admissions at a local university in CT, it shouldn't be an issue, since the HSC is the standard, recognized degree for NSW graduates.  As long as we keep our eyes on the classes she chooses to take so that she fulfills graduation requirements that align with US high schools, we should be fine.

Now that we have a house and car, school selection is the next Big Decision.

Farewell Dinner

Nicole had her farewell dinner with 9 friends last night at a Japanese restaurant - Hibachi style dinner.  I could hear the voices from across the restaurant (because, of course, I didn't sit with the girls) where I ate my sushi and read my Kindle.  Am reading Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy - Holy Cow those are good books.  But I digress...

The girls had a wonderful time with the onion volcano, flipping spatulas, squiring fireman, and the egg in the hat trick.  I guess the food was good, too!  Nicole got some wonderful, thoughtful, gifts and left with a huge smile on her face.

Maintain, Don't Gain

I feel so loved! So many people want to see me before I take off next week.  Most of these get togethers involved food of some kind - breakfast, lunch, dinner - it's like a smorgasbord of yumminess.  Today I enjoyed a delicate eggplant parm with a side of spaghetti and a dollop of fresh mozz and delightful conversation with my neighbor.  Yesterday started out with breakfast at The Harvest Cafe with my aunt - over easy eggs with shredded potatoes and sausage.  mmmmmmm  Wednesday was lunch with Mom and Angela at The Village Cafe in Canton (smoked chicken quesadilla).  Tuesday was lunch at Max a Mia with CRD (fried calamari and salmon salad), and Monday was tea at Tisane in Hartford (just tea...whew).  Tonight, it's Mexican at Puerto Vallarta with the ladies from MUMC, with a side helping of Johnny Depp (if all goes well). 

If nothing else, I am now well-versed on dining recommendations all around the Farmington area.  Anyone need a suggestion??

Hard to believe I'm managing not to gain any weight, especially since I haven't been over to see Joy at Core since the end of November.  I went this morning for one last hour, a nice, stretchy, session that left me feeling looser and more relaxed than I have felt in days.  Thanks, Joyous!

So as I look ahead to the weekend, our last full weekend in CT, USA, we've got some family gatherings, a drywall inspection of the ceilings in the condo, cookie-baking day, and Nicole's farewell dinner with her friends on Sunday evening. Let's hope the weather holds!

Random Updates

Our New Car - Holden Commodore

First update - Larry is happily driving a shiny blue Australian made car, the Holden Commodore. 

Second update - renting a house can be exhausting!  Apparently, when you live in a house for 13 years, you don't see all the flaws and blemishes of a beloved residence. I thought my microwave worked just fine, thank you very much, but the tenants think the exhaust fan is broken.  Thankfully, we have a property manager who gets to handle items like this one!

Third update - I "joined" an expat social group in Sydney at their online MeetUp site.  Judging from the website, they have a fair number of social events, from 4th of July BBQs, to game night, and SuperBowl parties.  Although I plan to "go native" and immerse myself in Aussie customs and culture, it will probably be very nice to have a slice of American every once in a while.

Fourth update - we have our first guest...well, someone who is already reserving the guest room at 7 Glen Road.  All you who are waffling about whether to visit or not...get out your calendars!

Last update - It looks like I'll be going to Oz with some gainful employment.  More details to follow, but I had a very productive, exciting conversation this morning and things look good!

Telling Time in Australia

Well, I thought we had a call tonight with one of the schools we applied to.  I calculated the time difference and then double-checked.  We made our list of questions, charged up the cell phone, and hid the tennis ball so Jasmine wouldn't want to play during the call.  We are still sitting by the phone.  All dressed up and no-where to go...how disappointing!  I'm sure something came up down under, but all the same, this was going to be our first contact with the Head of School.  No reflection on the school, right?

We have three schools lined up for interviews/visits:  Ravenswood, Roseville College, and Pymble Ladies' College.  They all have their relative merits with Pymble in first, Roseville second, and Ravenswood ranked third.  Based on Larry's recon work and Carla's intuition. 

As it is now 10:07, and the call is officially 37 minutes late, I'm going to pack it in and get ready for bed.  'Night all.

This is why there will never be a tv in the bedroom

At my parents' condo, which normally houses 2 adults, there are 4 TVs.  One in the kitchen/living room, one in the finished basement, one in the master bedroom, and one in the guest bedroom.  Since the guest room is, for the next couple of weeks, Nicole's room (and mine), she has unlimited access to TV.  It's now 11:00am on Saturday, and she has emerged solely to eat breakfast and take a shower.  This is why she will never have a TV in her bedroom!

In our home, we had two TVs - one in the family room and one in Larry's "man cave."  This model worked well since we have some different viewing habits.  Nicole and I enjoy our crime shows - Criminal Minds, Bones, The Closer - and Larry enjoys his sci-fi and concert movies.  With two TVs, everyone was happy.  As we contemplate the house in Australia, Larry has said we'll have just one TV.  Hmmmm.  I'm reserving judgment, but I have my doubts. I'm looking forward to absorbing Australian culture through its TV. 

Anyone have some Australian TV shows to recommend?  Do they get American TV?  Or, dare I hope, British programming??!  I love British TV shows!!! 

Only 2 weeks until I start to get answers to my questions.  In the meantime, our next big decision is choosing a broadband, cable, and phone provider.  Stay posted for late-breaking news.

Delish

Just back from a night out with the girls at the Wooden Tap on Route 4 in Farmington.  (Love the burger bites!)  What a great group of women I am lucky enough to call friends!  From the drive over to the ordering process, we laughed and laughed.  Shared Shaun Cassidy memories and debated the relative merits of Frank and Joe Hardy and Bo and Luke Duke.  Remember the General Lee? Hey Deenie? This group does!

Will Larry call again at 3:33am?  Thought it was my alarm going off until I saw the extraordinarily long phone number in my caller ID window.  Not sure how coherent I was, but it was so good to hear his voice - muffled and distorted though it was.  He's through the ramping up period for both the job and the country, and he's visited just about every major Australian city since arriving: Melbourne; Adelaide; Perth; Canberra; and Brisbane coming up this week.  His favorite so far? Melbourne.

Time to wind down now, settle in for the night in my twin bed across the room from Nicole.  Fabulous weekend plans begin unfolding tomorrow, including yummy Italian food and one of the best movies of all time, The Godfather.