Fair dinkum Aussie

It's been too long since my last blog. I have no excuse. Just got plain lazy. I allow myself that from time to time. Part of being Australian. No, not the lazy bit--altho one can easily mistake the "laidbackness" for such, particularly if one is so used to the "rushiness" of the big cities---but the allowing myself bit. No worries, no one's pressuring me. Only me. I've learned to allow myself certain luxuries. My choice, my responsibility. Yes, Aussies generally seem to have a huge respect for individual choices and seldom get in the way of them. I was so impressed when a friend told me how she and her family suffered her sister’s choice of boyfriend for years. They progressed to getting engaged but eventually broke off much to the family’s relief. I asked why the family didn’t say anything at the start. Aghast, she said they never interfere with each other’s choices. They knew she would come to her senses. But she had to come to it in her own time and her own way. I was dumbfounded. Lucky the sister didn’t marry the guy. What if she did? what then? I thought to myself. Well, she didn’t and all’s well. No worries.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras reminiscent
of UP Lantern Parade 1000-fold

Personal choices. Sydney is now known world-wide for its annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Every year the numbers get bigger which indicates the increase in "outness" from the gays at the same time increase in acceptance from the general pubic. Live and let live, seems to be the typical attitude. Learning through experience rather than through interference. Very dissimilar to the culture I grew up in. Strong "guidance" from parents and other well-meaning loved ones from cradle to grave was the norm. There are pluses and minuses from either approach. For me, now that I've experienced both, I am thankful that I have. And I am very thankful that I am where I am and that my son has the same opportunities and more. 

Let go Ma.

I do have to watch myself as I still tend to poke my bib into his affairs. Thank heavens my husband reins me back in. Poor Miguel, every time I see him, which is way too seldom. I tend to switch to my "To do" mode. I rattle off things not done yet and start noticing things not quite right with his appearance (e.g. hair too long, button missing, shoes grubby, etc)---mothering is the word---which he tells me annoys him to death---instead of lighting up and just being happy for the visit and letting him be. No wonder the boy does not look forward to the visits, infrequent they already are. Duh. He's doing really well on his own and I really have nothing to worry about. I guess it's part of my empty-nesting angst at not being needed anymore. Not sure if time will heal this wound. I'll learn to let go eventually. God help me. (Note: My son has read this and insists I print a retraction---he does look forward to the visits and he's never felt restricted by me---yey!! Must just be my perception :})

Yes! I have indeed just recently been approved for Australian citizenship.  Had to pass a 20-question test after submitting yet another wave of documentation. I got into the process not for any profound reason, not initially at least, but more because I could. The opportunity presented itself. It was there for the taking. Why not? I really didn't think too much of it. Until I read over the national anthem."...Beneath our radiant Southern Cross we'll toil with hearts and hands....For those who've come across the seas (that's me!) we've boundless plains to share. With courage let us all combine to advance Australia fair..." Then the pledge "From this time forward, under God (optional), I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey." Coming from a Catholic country I was struck by the choice soon-to-be citizens are given to pledge loyalty with or without God. After all, some may worship other supreme beings or may not even worship any but themselves. That's allowed and that's ok too. Respect for individual choices, hence differences, is sacred. How good is that? I love the classlessness of the Australian society. It's ideal. Not that you don't see a semblance of social classification anywhere (remember the ferals) but you can meet anyone eye to eye and expect respect. Equality is assumed if not assured. And if you don't give it you can be liable for discrimination. Some ethnic and religious groups take advantage of this. It's become quite fashionable to scream "racial slur" over the smallest slight. Thin-skinned, I'd say. Yes, I agree slinging racial slurs, or religious for that matter, is totally un-Australian (this country was after all founded on immigrants and continue to depend on immigrants for population growth). But so is being thin-skinned!! Get over it. It's become so extreme that even 11-year-old kids are being sued for hurling "racial slurs" at a classmate. Whatever happened to plain old-fashioned bullying? If anyone needs reproving, it's the parents but that's another story.  

Ray Hadley every morning

Prove them wrong by your actions I'd say. Not sure if staying quiet when slighted is an Aussie trait though because they do speak their minds. Talk shows must be the most popular information and entertainment genre in this country. Every raging issue is discussed. Audience participation is critical. I've taken to listening to one every morning. I find it's the best way to get the real news and the pulse of the people. Everyone has a say. Every view is welcome. No one is spared from scrutiny. The current Prime Minister is so unpopular lately because of an unrelenting series of gaffs---cattle export ban, boat people, and now the unpopular carbon tax. I predict a sea change in politics soon. Democracy in action. Not too different from the Philippines which boasts of a free press and the might of people power. The press is so free in fact that journalists have become endangered. 

army guy charged to guide and guard us

Private armies still abound I'm afraid, wielding their own laws. My husband and I came face-to-face with one some years back whilst visiting my sister in Bicol. Mayon volcano was spewing lava at the time and adventurous bushman that he is, Stan wanted to trek up the volcano. Villagers were already being evacuated and entry up the volcano was restricted (but of course!). My intrepid brother-in-law, not wanting to disappoint his new relation, called in some favours and the mayor himself sent his private army to escort us on our "tour". Ahh the privileges of class. 

Warning sign @ foot of Mayon

We go with the flow. Great to be on the receiving end. When in Rome......So what does getting an Australian citizenship mean to me? It means that I've found a good fit in this world. I will perhaps still be a square peg in a round hole but I feel that the fit is more comfortable here. Not so much materially but in the general approach to life. Perhaps the years have softened me as well. I'm sure its' significance will dawn on me more once I've officially made that pledge. I get to enjoy two countries rights and privileges which is a real bonus. Have my cake and eat it two (forgive the pun, couldn't help myself). Now to practice my swearing and I reckon I'll be a fair dinkum Aussie. Bloody oath.

Talk about the weather

drought-stricken; oranges left to rot

I have never thought about the weather so much as when I moved to Australia. Now I even talk about it. A lot. And no, it is not as mundane a topic as it would be back home where the weather is predictable and more or less stable all year long. Back home, you know when the wet months are and when they stop. Even during the wet months, you can expect the rains to start at late afternoon and end at sunrise. Over here in Victoria, particularly Mildura, weather is not as predictable and is a major topic of discussion. Understandable because it's a largely agricultural area. Fortunes are made or lost at a drastic shift of the mercury. Ten years we had the drought. Supply of water was restricted everywhere. The farmers really suffered, with the smaller ones having to sell out for a sum much less than what they started with. Water being so precious, it is treated as a commodity. Unbundled with the land, it renders waterless land worthless. You can understand why depression can get rife in these parts. We had to stop watering our lawns for a spell until they realised our trees were dying. They then allowed us to keep the trees alive, watering them only at certain days and only for a few hours.

red earth spraying in the bush

Never mind washing our cars. I used to fret if I had to drive around Manila in an unwashed car. Now I wash my car rarely. Heck, dirty mud-caked 4WDs are in vogue in the big cities, some even put mud spray to make their 4WDs look like they've seen some offroad action. Ha! You gotta love the macho appeal the country presents to city slickers. No one minds. Mud, bird poop, even the remains of some wildlife caught while driving--usually a ubiquitous magpie. All come with the package of country living.

backyard billabong back to life

The rains unexpectedly came late last year and continued intermittently till recently. Bucketfulls. Wild weather indeed. So much so that the once dried up billabong in our backyard has come back to life again. Lovely. It's now home to countless specie of beautiful birds, frogs, snakes (I'm sure), and the very annoying mozzies! Arrgh. I've never felt so many attacking me at all times of the day, not just at dusk. Nor have I ever seen so many types of mosquito repellants: citronella candles, torches, sprays, creams, electric zappers, tried them all but guess what I found to be the most effective---the humble mosquito coil, the katol. Despite all the fancy, new-fangled inventions, it's back to the basics. I must try the citronella scented katol. I'm sure it's more pleasant than the orig.

 we used a boat to access our property!

We've been quite fortunate that that's the extent of the damage the heavy rains wrought us. Elsewhere in Victoria, whole towns have been inundated with the avalanche of water from the sky. To add to the distress, the mighty Murray threatened to overflow its banks. But that's not half the trouble folks from northern Queensland had to bear. Monster cyclone Yasi wrought so much damage and mayhem the country's ever seen. Much like super typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines but with a much larger area of destruction and a much smaller population affected. With water inundating the north and south, bit ironic that bush fires would erupt in the west! But through all this wild weather, order was quickly restored.

Yasi flattened entire towns

Adversity brings out the true character of a people. This time of natural calamity---any time, come to think of it---certainly brought out the best in the Aussies. I marvelled at the speed in which armies of trained and untrained volunteers came from everywhere to lend a helping hand. The community spirit was awe-inspiring. Much like our bayanihan spirit. This one's bayanihan to the nth degree. Sandbagging, cleaning, building, cooking, whatever was needed. Not to mention the donations. Millions were raised virtually overnight. The outpouring of support restores one's faith in humankind. In this land of plenty, the plentiful also give plentifully. How wonderful. Yes, I feel so fortunate to be living here. God's lucky country indeed. 

You gotta love the Aussie sense of humour too. On the eve of the onslaught of the worst disaster in Australian living memory, towns that didn't have to evacuate but were still under threat were making the most of the wait by having a "Kiss my Yasi" barbie. Surrounded by mates, quaffing their favourite ale what could be better? Ha! Acceptance mixed with irreverence. Again, much like Pinoy humour but without the self-deprecation. The changes in weather patterns are quite extreme in the southern hemisphere I guess particularly this time due to the La Nina effect. I hear later this year, La Nina will switch to El Nino. Come what may, I am confident I am in the best hands. Yes, I reckon I will take up the offer of citizenship this year (don't worry, it's dual---not relinquishing my Filipinohood, nevah!). I will be proud to be one of them. Bloody oath.

Friendly Folks

smiles come easily to the lovely girls of Nurture Spa

Coming from the Philippines where the people are known to be friendly, I was pleased to move to Australia where the folks here are undoubtedly friendlier. Where the Pinoy seems to wear a permanent smile yet is careful not to make eye contact with strangers much less venture a "Hello" (too bold!), the Aussie is not shy to look you straight in the eye, smile purposely and bid you a warm, non-threatening "G'day, howya goin'?" (g'day is indeed still commonly used in the country, maybe less in the city). It is courteous to give a quick reply "Good, thanks" etc. but you are not expected to carry on a conversation unless you know each other, in which case, it is but polite to stop and chat briefly. It is not uncommon therefore to see folks exchanging pleasantries in the middle of a footpath or hold people up at the supermarket check-out. People behind them usually don't mind the small wait. Woe unto those who show rude behaviour. S/he'll be tagged "feral" (see "Strine II"). In a small town where the six degrees of separation I swear is halved (see "First Step in Aus"), word will spread fast.

my new Aussie mates

Equality seems to be a given among folks here no matter the circumstance. There don't seem to be any rigid rules in choosing whom to socialise with. I love that my husband's family and circle of friends include people from differing walks of life. There's a lawyer, an engineer, a wheeler-dealer, an electrician, a painter, a school principal, a labourer, a builder, a teacher, a truck driver, a farmer, a shopowner, a cleaner, a reptile handler all breaking bread at the same table. No one thinking of himself more highly than the others, at least not in public (he'll be lynched!). The camaraderie is genuine. Income and education, I find, do not define their relationships. How refreshing. 


The cultural difference is obvious yet the significance is quite profound. Pinoys have a social ranking that is still deeply ingrained and even in this modern day and age is still very much observed. This prevents the poor from socialising with the rich and vice versa. Must have started from that darn Spanish era which conditioned the once-proud indigenous Pinoys to believing that they were second-class citizens, indios, therefore unequal to the ilustrados, the white people, and may not raise their eyes to the 'superior' Spanish (swine). Racism in the 1800s was rife and destructive. Sure damaged our national psyche no end. The Pinoy "shyness" must have a psychological history. Also very Asian I reckon. I am not a historian (flunked history in high school), just an keen observer of human behaviour.  

Could it be that the lack of eye contact indicates perhaps the perception of being less than equal? I have observed that to be the case with domestics, and truly the employers exacerbate it. But it could also be a deep sense of humility---not assuming oneself to be equal. I like this idea better. Although, I am not of this mould (I'm more the equal mould), I do appreciate this pinoy trait. Entire movies have been produced dedicated to this theme. Even the great boxer Manny Pacquiao, who has recently been elevated to a global cult hero (and rightly so), calls himself not a congressman but a public servant. You gotta love that humility.
Back to the friendliness of the folks here.....one of the first things I learned to do when learning to drive on the other side of the road was to greet the drivers of oncoming cars. Just a simple wave or even just raising the index finger (no, not the middle finger, unless you're looking for trouble) to acknowledge the other driver (with fleeting eye contact), I thought was a rather nice custom. I discovered that the farther you get from the country, meaning the closer to the city, the less drivers wave at each other. Case of courtesy becoming less common. Everywhere you go though, people will start a conversation with you and I have learned to respond in like cheerful manner. Nice that Aussies don't have the same historical baggage we Pinoys carry. Everyone starts on an equal footing. Everyone has the same opportunity to have a say. There are, however, a certain group of folks that carry on about being disadvantaged despite the many advantages given to them on a silver platter. THAT I cannot comprehend. In time perhaps........

Where are all the people?

watch out for tumbleweeds when windy

The first question I asked Stan upon landing in Mildura---where are all the people? (see "First Step in Aus"). The first big culture shock was discovering how few there really were. To put this in context, Australia has a population of 22 million scattered over 7.68 million sqkm for a population density of only 2.9 per sqkm, if you include all the uninhabitable land (70%). Now Mildura has a population of 60,000 spread out over 48,000 sqkm which makes for a population density of a lonely 1.2 or less than two people for every square kilometer. No wonder people say the Mallee (the general area which Mildura belongs to) is a good place for those who don't want to be found. Images of tumbleweeds rolling down seemingly deserted dusty country roads accompanied by the opening notes of some western movie flashing through my mind only to realise I'm not imagining it, I am actually in it. 

elbow-to-elbow heaving Manila population

Boggles the Pinoy mind doesn't it. Sure boggled mine. Coming from Manila with 12 million people crammed into only 638 sqkm that's a staggering 18,800 people elbow-to-elbow in each sqkm!! The entire Philippines registers at 307 per sqkm (a suffocating 92M people sharing 300,000 sqkm). I imagine THAT's mind-boggling to the Aussies. We have the dubious honour of ranking 43rd most densely populated country in the world. Australia ranks near bottom at 233rd (bottom was Greenland @ .03; does that include the penguins?) The US ranks 178th with 31.6---chances of being found if lost = quite high. 

Now why am I laboring over this? Aside for my fascination for stats and numbers (getting nerdy in my old age) I have since figured that population is key to understanding why things are the way they are, why systems work the way they do and why they don't, why possibilities exist or don't exist, why opportunities abound or don't abound. The basic law of supply and demand has influenced my pragmatic world view; my background in economics has something to do with it perhaps. A wise reader commented in my Philstar article  last week about the overabundance of people in the Phils. accounting for the luxury of cheap labor (echoed my observation that where there are so many lives life can be cheap; see "Driving on the Wrong Side").  

kids sports @ Saturdays

The opposite can be said of Au. With so few lives, each life gets a fair shot at the many available resources. This is  clearly evident in sport (singular is how they say it, not plural). Australia is well-known for its growing and continuing domination in the world of sports. This, of course is not by accident, it is by design. It starts with school-age children who are given every opportunity to play whatever sport they want; not just one but all available (football, netball, tennis, cricket, soccer, rugby, basketball, archery, rowing, athletics, gymnastics, track & field, swimming, etc.) and if it's not offered by the school the kid can access it in the community for free. How lucky is that? Talent scouts are continually on the look-out for the rising stars. Once identified, the kid is invited to join the commonwealth-funded institute of sport that sponsors him/her with sport clinics, equipment, professional coaching, etc. everything the athlete would need to reach his/her full potential. 

My step-nephew Jordan, at 10 y.o. was invited to the institute for showing promise in golf. His talent got him into the system which funnels the best and the brightest to eventually represent the country.  He comes from a small town of 18,000 and was selected from a handful of golf-playing children. His talent is obvious but if he were born in a larger town, he would have had to compete harder. Less people, less competition, more resources to go around. He met Tiger Woods (before his fall) and had front row privileges at the Australian Masters. How well-placed was he?  He's 14 now and is looking at a career as a pro golfer.   All this to say, having less people certainly increases one's chances of accessing funds and taking advantage of golden opportunities. Another clear example is in the workplace. The smaller the town, the smaller the talent pool. It's not unusual then to find unqualified people occupying senior to top positions. Especially true in government and government-funded agencies (sounds familiar?); not so much in private enterprise. I had this perception of Au as a very advanced economy lead by forward-looking dynamic people, being a first world country and all (I've also had interactions with Au and Aussies in my previous life working for an American company which fed this perception). So when I came as a permanent resident, I was quite taken aback to discover that this is not always so. I was even shocked to discover that some parliamentarians (politicians that govern the country) do not even have degrees! 

It never ceases to amaze me (e.g. dumbfound or impress, whatever the case may be) that in this vast and wondrous land of opportunities, it is not so much what you know but what you do with it (experience) and for the top positions who you know, that gets you the job. This latter bit would be the same back home. I had to downplay my degrees when job hunting here because they almost seemed irrelevant. My son, through sheer hard work was promoted manager in only four short months. He hasn't finished his degree but he has a treasure trove of knowledge and experience in the fitness and nutrition industry that was duly recognised and acknowledged by his bosses. Yes, I am very happy for him and rest assured that Au is the best place for him to realise his goals. Best decision ever. I doubt if the same could have happened in Manila where a degree is basic requirement for most entry level jobs, more so for management.  

Singing Cooks & Waiters resto in MNL; yes even
the security guard sings! must go see

On the other end of the scale, having less people means lots of DIYs (do it yourself). Multitasking abounds. For example, most small cafes have perhaps two people working at any one time--the cook and the waiter. Both wear several hats. The cook is also the dishwasher (puts dirty dishes in the dishwasher and takes them out). The waiter is also the maitre d', the cashier and the cleaner-upper. In the Philippines, every task has a person assigned to it. Employment generation for the masses. Don't forget the security guard. Manpower is cheaper than electronic security devices and industrial dishwashers. I swear, I will tip more generously on my next visit to Pinas. 
I get very annoyed (even angry) every time I hear people here complain about this, that or the other. I'm sure if they knew how people in less prosperous countries would kill to have what they have, they'd complain less. Maybe not. What to me are privileges, many Aussies (mostly the ferals) consider their right. Feeling entitled, it becomes almost a disincentive to work hard.  Strange but true. Very alien concept to where I come from where  one has to earn everything, nothing comes for free. And that's from having too many people that stretches our dwindling resources. Imagine if we had half the population with double the GDP, how much better off everyone would be. Until the Catholic Church stops demonizing population control, a prosperous Phils (circa 1960s-70s) would remain a dream. Case of less is more. So there.

Lure of the Great Outdoors

dining outdoors with friends @ Robe, SA

It's obvious that the average Aussie has an enduring love affair with the great outdoors. Having 4 seasons with temperate climate helps. Weather is not as predictable as it is back home where it is easy to take the lush tropicana for granted. But I believe it's more than that, they appear to have a close affinity with the land. It's so refreshing to hear them speak so positively, almost lovingly about mother nature. There's usually an element of awe too. This is evident in their expansiveness---gorgeous, fabulous, fantastic, beautiful---are words more oft used to describe how they see their environment even in the driest, greyest, dullest drought-stricken areas (oops I just revealed how I see it ha!). Sun-worshipping is their favorite outdoor activity (small wonder why Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world!). Outdoor dining wins hands down over indoor. 

water-skiing @Murray River, campers at back

They also love going barefoot anywhere they can get away with it. And going hatless even in the heat of day. I have taken to wearing hats to avoid the sun (a favorite outdoor activity of Pinoys: sun-avoidance) rather than use an umbrella. Umbrellas are almost nonexistent here. Even in the hottest of summer days, warm fresh air trumps stale airconditioned air anytime. A trend slowly picking up in Manila although I would hesitate because of the horrendous pollution and the sticky humidity. Quite uncomfortable rendering one looking like a limp rag. In Manila, I'll take the stale air-conditioned indoors over the warm carbon monoxide-laden outdoors anytime thank you. 

Mildura motor show draws a good crowd; default 
dress code for most everything is CASUAL

Events and activities they will do outdoors if they can help it. Water-based events such as ski races and fishing comps are very popular. Land-based such as motor shows and market days are convenient excuses to celebrate the great outdoors. They do know how to have fun. I am loving it. I've always been an outdoorsy person, but I am more so now having married a man of the bush.

caravans, a common sight on the road

This love affair extends to their golden years. Grey nomads. The common goal of the true green-and-gold Aussie---to explore the country on wheels in their greying years---at least the baby boomer generation of which I am told I'm part of (I don't mind, even though I feel and look more gen x. Heck I'll take both and enjoy the best of both!). Something like retiring on the road. The wander years. Fun! Entire magazines are dedicated to it dishing out advice on caravans, camping gear, destinations, hot fishing spots, stopovers, toilets guide, etc.  It's a common sight---a car or 4WD towing a caravan, a smiling relaxed older couple at the helm. 

typical caravan park

The countryside is replete with very comfortable caravan parks, a friendlier alternative to motels. Now, motels in Au do not have the same seedy connotation as they do in the Philippines, e.g. infamous for quickie illicit liaisons, places of ill-repute no self-respecting Filipina would be caught dead in. In fact, they're quite respectable places offering accommodation, nothing else. Hotels, at least in rural Au, are not the same as hotels where I come from e.g. high-rise places offering accommodation, fine food, conferencing facilities, entertainment. Hotels are in fact pubs where the community congregate after work for drinks, a feed, a game of darts or billiards, or watch some sport on the telly; normally no accommodation offered. 

my neighborhood pub/hotel

It's where the latest goss is shared between gulps of one's favorite ale. It's a good place for the traveling grey nomad to get the latest news from the bartender who would normally be the owner-publican (no not the anti-Christ character of the Bible, but the person that mans the pub. I felt so silly reacting like an offended Catholic upon hearing that word for the first time ---images of Christ being persecuted by a mob of publicans and sinners flashing through my mind ha!).

tyranny of distance; Mungo park 
far from everywhere

Travel, in general, seems to be in their blood. And why not? It'll take a lifetime to explore all 7.68 million sqkm of this vast and wonderfully diverse land. It's kinda by default that they have to travel anyway to cover tremendous distances. They even have a catch-phrase for it--the tyranny of distance. It used to boggle my mind  that it was nothing to them to drive 100 km for a meeting or a party then drive back the same day. What with such good roads and little traffic, 100 km would only take an hour to drive. As a Manilena, driving that far meant an overnight stay and certainly at least two hours of stressful driving one-way. I remember doing the commute from Subic (where I lived and worked for 4 yrs) to Manila and would pride myself if I covered it in under 3 hrs, all 160 km of it!! Must be better now with the new highway that's supposed to cut travel time by half. The only times I would come back the same day was when I hired a driver. Otherwise, it was too much for me. Now 4 years onward, it's nothing to me to drive for meetings 200+ kms away and come back in time for dinner. Certainly distance does not impinge on my quality of life these days. Most, except the ferals (remember this from Strine II?), are even overseas travel-literate which accounts for their warmly accepting manner. Nothing like exposure to other cultures and way of living to expand one's understanding and raise one's level of tolerance for human differences. 

@ Mungo Park lookout; the vastness behind us

Our personal homage to the great outdoors is our humble nipa hut (see The Aussie Barbie). It allows us many hours of outdoor enjoyment in comfort. Not to mention the business that Stan runs allows him to stay in close touch with it.  Me too from time to time when they need a female perspective or a spare cook. Someday, we will hit the road like a couple of smiling  relaxed grey nomads and carry on the happy tradition of our generation. Until then, we will strive not to let work get in the way too much of our travels.

Costly Living

Anyone who fills out a visa form is warned repeatedly of the relatively high cost of living in Australia. (And no, it's not because of the number of relatives you may have--the more relatives, the higher the cost---harhar). It took me many months to come to terms with the reality and stop converting everything to pesos.

 It was too stressful. I had to  start enjoying the experience of shopping and stop regretting being parted with my money. I figured I can always make more (have to stay positive you know). The basics I had little option but to accept.  But I would search high and low, even do the rounds of the nearby supermarkets to get the best deals. 

Woolworths, Coles, Fishers, Foodworks, I have all their loyalty cards. No such thing as loyalty as far as I was concerned though. At least not for food, no sirree. Whoever gives me the best deals gets my hard-earned moolah. I've always been an "aware" shopper, e.g. I carefully study the ingredients and compare items on a cost per gram/ml/unit basis. I unashamedly would whip up my trusty pocket calculator in the middle of the aisle. Even if I end up paying more for bulk purchases, at least I am satisfied with the knowledge that I was squeezing the best value for money. It's from being a single mother for so long---being self-sufficient also meant being wiser and more frugal with money than the normal housewife or houseband. Thankfully, there aren't many point-of-purchase promo girls hawking their products in our neck of the woods. 

  SM Supermarket on a weekend

Unlike Manila where there might be one in every aisle! It's the cheap labor you see. Hiring people is cheaper than printing catalogues.  Besides, it's employment generation for the masses. I would often take pity on them and end up buying their stuff or at the very least taste it. Hey, I've been in sales and it's a tough job so I do have a soft spot for the hard-working sales people. Even though what I sold were worth several 000's more, the effort is the same. God bless the sales folks. But I digress. Typical items in my cart: rice @ $2+/k, multigrain bread @ $3.50/loaf, eggs (large) @ $3/dozen (caged not free-range--I honestly do not see the fuss about this. You think the chook prefers to work for its food than just wait for its food to come to them? You think it even cares?)--I've since reconsidered after seeing a documentary on chicken factories in Au where the chook is crammed in small cages. They give us food so we owe it to them to provide them good quality life, chicken breast fillets @10/k,rump steak @ $16/k or eye fillet @ $26/k for the odd occasion, barramundi fillets @ $15/k, tiger prawns @ $24/k, 200 gm jar of good instant cofee (Moccona or Nescafe Gold) @ $15, brown sugar @ $2/k, assortment of vegies worth $20, fruit in season another $20, bananas @ $1-3/k--they only sell the bland cavendish---I will only buy if less than $1 remembering that the tastier variety in the Phils cost only a dollar for a whole bunch!! 

Tagaytay fruit stall; $1 for a whole bunch 

Permanent wet markets are non-existent where I am so everything has to come from the supermarket. Although there are a few mom and pop fruit and vegie shops that cut out the middle man, alas their prices are not competitive.  

Home-made goodies are not cheap

I try to support the local farmers by visiting the weekend country markets from time to time. I am fortunate to live in  Mildura, the foodie haven, the food bowl of Au. I go for the ambience, for the odd home-made fig jam, for the unique hand-knitted wool scarf, for the lovely feel of community. You'd think though we'd get wholesale prices for our food and wine? Not a chance. The economies of scale, law of supply and demand at work. If we only had more people the cost would be spread out more? I reckon. In fact, the farther from the major cities, the less people, the higher everything costs. 

street musicians at Myer Bourke St., Melbourne

Apparel. I could not for the life of me bring myself to buy clothes here for the first couple of years. I kept comparing prices and could not psychologically justify the purchase. An ordinary T-shirt would cost anywhere from $20-30 and they're well, pretty ordinary (read ugly). Dresses over $100. Nikes $120++. Unless I chance upon a sale, I would not voluntarily shop for clothes or shoes. My internal dialogue would go like this "$100?!! For that money I could buy several cool outfits in Greenhills or at least 3 pairs of killer shoes in Greenbelt". I cringed at the prices and lamented at what I could buy for the same money back home. The worst part of the shopping is most of the products are made in China!! What the? That was my first major disappointment--even the designer brands are made in China. Heck I'll just wait for when I'm next in the Philippines and shop till I drop! If the exchange rate holds up (1:42 last I checked) I'll have plenty of change for a daily massage. Yey!

Ahh how I miss the cheap massages

Pampering and other girl stuff. The first thing on my to do list when I get home: get a massage. Then second thing: get a massage. Third: get a massage. Yes, I LOVE massages. Swedish, shiatsu, thai, detox, reflexology, reiki, volcanic stones, I LOVE them all. I used to have them weekly before the big move. At P250 plus tip ($6 ridiculous!), how could I not? Home service to boot. Since moving, I can count them with the fingers of one hand. At $50-80 a pop it is not difficult to understand. Now if I can only get my dear husband to give me a proper one every week I wouldn't be so homesick for one ha! Hair colour (regrowth only) is $40 which I have to do every 3-4 weeks. Haircut @ $20. My hairdresser does a good job but I miss the extras they give in Manila---the shampoo with head massage, blow-dry and styling, the back rub whilst waiting for the dye to set. The cup of coffee or cold iced tea---all for $10-12. Sigh. I've never gotten a manicure or pedicure here because I refuse to pay $30-50 for what costs a measly $5-10 back home. And I even get a nice hand and foot massage with the nail job. Yes, us Pinoys like to give as well as receive massages. Bikini wax is $20 vs $5 in RP. Because of high cost of maintenance here I've resorted to DIYs (do-it-yourself). I wouldn't recommend the waxing though eowww!

all for $8!!

Eating out. An average 3-course meal (starter, main, dessert) costs maybe $80-100 for two, drinks not included. Beer @ $3, glass of wine @ $7, coffee $3.50. My Aussie guests went berserk in Manila with beer costing only 50c. One of the best fine dining places in Manila, La Cocina de Tita Moning costs under $40 per head but that's a 5-course gourmet feast++!! A regular upmarket meal in Makati might go for $60 for two including drinks. A quick chow at a fastfood or takeaway shop maybe $8-10 vs. P100 or $2.50 at a regular Manila food court. Stan's best food experience is at Market Market fresh seafood center at Fort Bonifacio where we ordered garlic crabs, two huge plates for a measly $8, rice included. I shudder to think how much it would cost over here in Au. 

yabbies for $16 (plain steamed) sigh...

The closest thing to it would be yabbies, taste like a cross between a lobster and a prawn, yummy but hard on the pocket @ $16-22/k!! We love eating out when we're over there more so than over here for obvious reasons.

But what makes the biggest difference overall, aside from the costs, is the quality of the customer service we get anywhere in the Phils. Waiters, salesgirls, etc. patiently hover over you awaiting your next order. It's almost embarassing if you're not used to it! I think I wouldn't mind so much paying the high price here if the customer service is there. But it's not. Nearly everything is self-serve. Your fill up your own tank. You pump your own tires. You pay for your meals at the cashier (even the upmarket ones). You get your shoe size among the stack of boxes yourself. Vendors are friendly enough but I guess I was looking for the extras. Oh well, I'll get plenty of that when I get home soon enough. Can't wait.

Strine II

Nuances of Australian English took me a while to get.  Only when I began noticing people other than my dear hubby using words the same way did I stop taking offense---umm something like two years ha! Two years of angst, most of it needless but some needful. Very early on in my migration I had resolved in my mind to gamely climb the steep learning curve of adjusting to a new culture. The onus was on me being the immigrant. The steep learning curve of adjusting to a husband is another matter (see Adjusting to Adjusting). Some of the more common aussieisms that threw me for a loop:

blank look

I couldn't tell you. Or else what? You'll have to kill me? I asked, wondering what the big secret was. I couldn't tell you. He repeated with a blank, end-of-discussion look on his face. I didn't know then that the blank look was genuine. My patience was running thin. What's the big deal?? Why couldn't you tell me??!! Ready to strangle him. He, on the other hand was getting more and more bewildered by my insistence over what to his mind was clearly nothing. Literally. His learned response to my growing annoyance and utter confusion is like fuel to fire---silence. Arrrrggghh. I couldn't tell you is Strine for "I don't know". I had come to that understanding after many a frustrating moment. My powers of observation do not seem to work when it comes to my nearest and dearest. Only from hearing it often enough from other folks, not so near nor dear, did I deduce the meaning. Yes, dear Watson, one must be objective for one to come to the correct conclusion. Ahhh, Sherlock I am not. For some reason, it is quite uncommon for Aussies to say "I don't know" when they can say I couldn't tell you. Why? I couldn't tell you.

Or not. Are you coming to the barbie or not? Will they be flying with us or not? Would you like a drink or not?  Relax. Not meant to be an ultimatum, just an expression. I've had to consciously dissociate my instinctive defensive reaction at the words from interfering with the innocence of the question. Must take the tone into consideration, always. And it's usually warm and friendly. Phew. My aggressive American training really has no place here. In fact, aggressive behaviour is frowned upon among country folk. Laid back, relaxed, warm and genteel, it really isn't necessary. Aggressive behaviour is associated with drinking and the low-ed, low-income bracket, the ferals. 

feral camels are considered pests in WA

That's another aussieism. It can also refer to stray animals, unwanted. Feral cats. feral goats, feral camels (yes, there are camels here). Feral folks, from how I've observed the term used, are probably the equivalent of the squatters in Manila. Although, there aren't technically any of that in Au, the lack of social manners would put them in the same class. No class. Uncouth. Low breeding. Inbreeding. Yes, there is a dark side to any culture after all. No matter how prosperous. Stan and I have a standing joke--every tiny town we pass through we break into the opening riffs of the banjo in "The Deliverance". Can you hear it? If you're there longer than two blinks you won't (joke, don't shoot!).

typical small town, popn < 200. wheat silo at back

Half past. The time is half past ten. Let's meet at half past seven for dinner. A variation could be--Tea will be served at a quarter to one. Or Conference starts at a quarter past two. Get it? I've never heard a native say the exact time to the minute even when they're looking at a digital watch! Bit softer with the time. Not exacting. Quite Filipino in that they too are not very strict with time but not as abusive with it like the infamous "Filipino time". Aussies allow for a few minutes late start to anything. Not a whole hour or more.

Aussie Rules football is HUGE in Au you reckon? Yeah naah.

Yeah naah. So what is it, yes or no? Both. Confused? Just go with it. It's a very safe way to say you agree but not quite. It seems like a good way to deliver an honest opinion without outrightly disagreeing. "Geelong is the best footy team ever you reckon?" "Yeah naah Carlton's won more premierships overall." Similar to how Pinoys say "siguro" or add "naman" so we don't sound disagreeable. Although soft is not a word commonly used to describe Aussies, it seems appropriate when it comes to expressing themselves. Simply add the gruff no-nonsense tone.
You right? This one's easy. Shortcut for "You alright?" I'm right. A much used aussieism--You'll be right mate. Offering reassurance. They're so tough nothing can ruffle them. At least they like to think so. In my work with communities in drought, I find this to be the biggest barrier to recovery. This very coping mechanism becomes a convenient cop-out. Similar to the Pinoy "Bahala na." Only diff is Pinoys tend to lean on a Higher Being whereas Aussies tend to lean on themselves. A balance between the two would be perfect, in my opinion. 


Shits.I never knew there's a plural for it. Like you's (see "Strine English"). The isolation has caused them to make up their own rules it seems. Got the shits. Unhappy, upset, angry, hormonal, menopausal, wait that's me ha!


I reckon. Originating from the Pommies (Brits), it means "I think so." Reckon and think seem to be interchangeable here. Can also mean to agree or believe something to be right. You reckon I have a hope in hell of mastering strine? I reckon. Smile.