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.

Septem"BER"...start of Christmas

Ahh it's September already, the first of the "ber" months, signalling the start of the Christmas season--Pinoy style. I think it was meant to be "brrr" as in cold. But since I am in the southern hemisphere where our Christmas is the height of summer, I will stick to "ber". Pinoys are known to have the longest Xmas season (September to January till Three Kings). Any excuse to celebrate. Where have all the months gone? When I was just getting used to writing 2010 it's nearly time to change it to 2011! Time flies when you're having fun. Err, that too. More like my age catching up on me so the days begin to merge into one big blur. I found this in my archives. I wrote it in 2007 in Multiply (the precursor of FB, now inactive). Feeling nostalgic, it is as relevant today as it was back then. My updates in italics.


My First Aussie Christmas

Not my first Christmas away from home but my first without my baby.  Never mind I'll see him soon enough. Though Stan and his family are very warm and inclusive I can't help but feel homesick and find myself pining for my Pinoy Xmas. I still do, four years on.  

just like back home the youngest get to play Santa

So what is an Aussie-style xmas? Much the same as a Pinoy xmas except no midnight mass and the big day is xmas day itself with as many family members as can make it together for lunch or dinner (or is it dinner and tea?). Then kris kringle after (exchange gifts). Yes, my new family is very family-oriented so I am quite relieved. It's summer time, quite warm verging on scorching. Takes a while to reconcile a lifetime of experiencing xmas in cool weather with a hot and sweaty one. 

leche flan was a hit beside the pavlova

I was asked to bring a traditional Filipino dessert so I brought a leche flan. Despite the fact that I didn't flip it upside down nor did I make the caramelized sugar topping, it was a big hit. My mother would have been proud of me. Besides, my Aussie family wouldn't know the diff. It went head-to-head with the traditional Aussie faves the pavlova and the trifle--all made with tons of cream (wreaked havoc to my lactose-intolerant tummy).  

typical drive-in liquor outlet

All day eating, drinking, merry-making, drinking, laughing, drinking.....did I say drinking? More drinking. Much like Pinoy xmas with less copious drinking. The bottle shops have their best sales (yes, drive-in liquor stores imagine that!)
What do I miss aside from the obvious? The lights glittering in every home, the xmas jingles incessantly playing in the malls and radio(yes, believe it or not, that too) the caroling from house to house and the skillful dodging, the cool, crisp December air.......the general smell and feel of xmas in pinas. I miss Dad's garden lights artfully decked to lend focus to the magnificent parol (Christmas star) in the middle. I miss decorating our 10-ft tall xmas tree, wondering whether the vintage birds will hold up, remnants of Mommy's prized collection.  I miss turning the xmas lights on as soon as it gets dark, quietly basking in the twilight glow.  I miss seeing the gifts multiplying daily under the tree wondering which ones are mine.

xmas 95

I miss putting the goodies in my nephews and nieces xmas stockings, hoping to fill them up on a shoestring budget. I miss the misa de gallo, the puto bumbong, bibingka and all other traditional xmas treats. Most of all, I  miss taking everyone's photos while they open their presents after the chaotic exchange. We have that too here in Au, just a much smaller crowd. A flurry of colorful wrappers madly being ripped and torn then the ooohs and aaahs and thank yous.  Some genuinely pleased, some hiding unsuccessfully their disappointment.....ahh kids at heart, aren't we all?  Peace time among the siblings.  Nice. The days in between Christmas and New Year was quite special for my family. We'd trek up to Baguio and spend a few days at Teachers Camp (Mommy was a teacher which gave us access to it) to enjoy the cool weather. We'd  gather dry twigs and fallen cones from the pine trees and toss them into the fireplace---about the only time we'd experience one---and toast marshmallows. We loved it and our kids did too. Simple fun. Simple bliss.

ubiquitous sight starting September

traditional belen

I miss the ubiquitous parol, the Christmas star. I still have not gotten my parol but I will. I much prefer the traditional ones made of papel de hapon or the plain five-pointed star made of capiz shells. Simply elegant. And what about the manger scene. It's rare in this part of the world it seems. Every Christmas I manage to cajole Stan into checking out the Christmas lights competition in town and every Christmas I am disappointed that not one house has a manger scene. I shouldn't be surprised really. I've been working with communities over the last three years and observe that religion, or believing in a Higher Being, is not prevalent among the younger generation (including mine). Good and bad. Good, in that they're quite accepting and tolerant of others beliefs. Bad, in that in times of desperation, they have no one greater than themselves to turn to. This has led to many doing very desperate and drastic deeds. The correlation is arguable but certainly religion as a coping mechanism is very much alive and kicking back home. And certainly people are much more content and thankful despite the wide disparity in economic standard of living. But that's for another blog. Anyway, about the belen (manger scene) I've decided that this Christmas I will have one in my yard as a testament to my faith. So shoot me.


Focusing on what I have, not what I don't, is my mantra these days. Kinda goes hand-in-hand with my long-standing email tagline "Got a lemon? Make lemonades. But don't forget the sugar." Truly, a thankful heart is a happy heart. Pass the sugar please.........