Three Weeks

Rainbow Beach (Snapper Rocks) at Tweed Heads (Gold Beach area)

Christian, Mattanja, Naomi at Gold beach storm

Kite beach at Sandgate on Morton Bay

I have been here for just over 3 weeks now and am feeling somewhat settled at work, getting around the city and living with Christian and Mattanya. My daily routine is getting a bit old with an hour ride on the bike to and from work. So, by the time I’m home I am fairly tired. That will change in a couple weeks when Sara and the girls get here (I can’t wait for that!!!!). We will be staying at a friend’s house while they are in Tasmania over the holidays then I will move in with Cindy and Patrick, some friends from the states.

I have been able to get out and see quite a bit despite not having a car. I went to Caloundra and the Sunshine coast to the north for a weekend, down south to the Gold coast last Saturday and Sunday and out to a couple spots on Morton bay which is a large shallow bay that separates the greater Brisbane area from the ocean.

The people of Australia and Brisbane are great. Very friendly and helpful when ever asked a silly question by a Yank. I don’t ‘hear’ the Australian accent anymore which is really strange. I do notice when there is another American or other accent in the room. Some key phrases I hear a lot are ‘cheers mate’, ‘no problems’, ‘bits and pieces’, with nearly everything shortened if possible. Umbrella is ‘breli’, afternoon is ‘arvo’, chocolate is ‘choc’, and the letter ‘R’ is not pronounced. If a word ends with an r its finished with an ‘A’ sound similar to the Boston accent but much softer.

That’s all for now.