Some items from the "Only in Australia" files

Having just passed the one year mark here in Australia, we've pretty much settled into daily life and things seem pretty normal now after a year of firsts and surprising differences.  However, there are still things that strike me almost daily as being things I would not be likely to ever see at home in Boston.  Here's a sample:

Driving home from the gym at 7:00am and seeing this

Walking to the bus in the morning next to this scene

Hannah catching a wave

Corporate offsite meeting at a beachside campground

Swimming lessons at an actual beach instead of in a pool filled with pee

Weather that looks like the world is about to end (sorry for the poor photo quality, I took this through the window in my office)

Bats, bats, everywhere bats

If you thought Americans like to start Christmas early, consider that this picture was taken on Nov 20th.  At least we wait until after Thanksgiving.  Decorations have been up in Sydney for at least a month already.

Directions for how to get ready for your next Pap.  I don't even know what to say about this.  Surely this is not necessarily an Australian thing, but the degree to which you have to be open-minded, totally non-PC, and willing to say things that might embarrass others in order to display something like this truly is part of the national character here.

A commitment to environmental awareness like I have never seen anywhere else.

Road signs that speak for themselves

Breathtaking view, after breathtaking view

Just scrolling through the camera roll on my phone

- Electrocuted bat in the power lines outside our house (time to avoid walking home from the bus at dusk which I found out the hard way the other night)
- Best night club vending machine ever. Your move high heels.
- "Our" Jacaranda tree (actually just the one that leans into our yard from the mansion next door)
- Abbey's new environmentally-friendly, non-Dora lunchbox (because Dora is evil now that preschool friends have shunned her). Abbey told me it was "the best day of her life" after I bought this for her. That's a low bar, Abbey, low low bar.
- Christmas and birthday lists. Illegible? Check. Full of things they either don't need (purple licorice) or will not be getting (a pet)? Check. Too adorable for words? Check, especially the fact that Hannah's includes a legend.
- Australians do love to joke about the Irish. But really? They are going after them for drinking? If that's not the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is
- My shopping buddy, fashionista Abbey.
- Hannah protecting her eyes as she accompanies me to laser hair torture.

And a couple to non-photo tidbits:
- possum was seen stalking me again the other night with his nose pressed up against the patio doors watching me while I read in bed.
- Abbey's dinner request tonight: Curry Chicken. Living Asia-adjacent is already paying off. Hannah is still on plain pasta and carrots, she is lost to me as a dinner companion.

Another great running route

The only downside is being constantly startled by huge lizards while running along the path. You can't beat the scenery though!