The weekend is nearly finished. We showed up and did our commitment, drank tons of water, and went home to nap before joining humanity on the mall walk. It was intense, although intensely good, at our weekend event. We were treated with exquisite kindness and courtesy by our hosts. Surprisingly, many women seemed grateful that a woman was there to represent our fair sex. We did a workshop about a book and some principles, and people hung in with us for the entire weekend.
The area where we’re staying hosted an air show a block or two away – the Pacific Air Show. It was a big deal; we could see all the bridges into town filled bumper to bumper with cars coming to witness the 3-day event. We still don’t know what the celebration was.
So, a bit about the Gold Coast itself, which is a touristy area, with lots of people shopping and strolling while we watch them. Lots of flowery flowing dresses on women, fewer tattoos than at home, and genuine niceness seems to prevail. People nod, smile, and speak freely and somewhat openly to us. I think the area is a bit conservative, with modest fashions, few ripped jeans, and stylish yet unpretentiously dressed clothing in individualistic looks. Lots of head scarves on the ladies, and as close as we are to Indonesia, perhaps the source is vacationing Muslim families. Many Asians of various types, as close as they are to those countries of Southeast Asia, are to be expected. Something is up between China and them, but I haven’t yet gotten that story about why or what.
Our young coffee barista was Swedish/Italian, and he was practicing his Spanish with his co-worker, a Guatemalan. We’ve met folks born in London, Fiji, Ireland, America, Russia, Tasmania, Germany, and Poland, India. America is only one of the melting pots, and Australians also have loads of indigenous problems. Apparently, they and we have difficulty acknowledging the race of people who were living here when the colonizers arrived.
Australians are trying to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow Indigenous people a voice in the government. They don’t have such participation currently. Neither have they had any rights. There are clear lines drawn currently that keep out the indigenous and lots of fear about what would happen if they had rights. It is not expected to pass.
Aussies pay high taxes but feel comfortable that they have health care at no expense throughout their life and guaranteed retirement care. There is an active sense of appreciation for work/life balance. hmmm — I can’t even visualize the US caring about personal balance vs. military needs, can you? We walk more lightly in an environment with so little tension.
And us? We watch the beautiful sunsets and sunrises, enjoy the raucous birds, and hear about spiders as big as Volkswagens. Work on the street — ( Don’t leave your car window open ) Hichcockian story plots of giant crocs, spiders, and poisonous snakes come to mind since all of those creatures live here. We have so far seen no sign of any of them. But all those many miles of beautiful canals? They say – do not swim in them, as they are shark-infested. Yikes!
I hear that teachers here are having the same issues as teachers everywhere at home. Not enough trained teachers and too many outside issues are making teachers quit rather than fight their school boards. 80-year-old retirees are filling in some of the gaps.
Someone lent us four a car to use, allowing us all a good laugh when the window wipers suddenly come on instead of the turn signal., and some high drama when trying to change lanes and roundabouts. So much seems backward. Interestingly, people file in the same reverse order on the street and on the escalators and pass each other from opposite sides of the street. I’ve twice walked into the street looking first the wrong way and seen no one coming, stepping out into an oncoming car minding its own business but coming from some unexpected direction. So far, no injuries or near hits. That’s good! Green bikes are also all over here, and I don’t even dare try those yet.
We leave tomorrow from our metal and glass high rise to a more rural environment, close to the beach, sand, and ocean. We haven’t yet seen it, so I don’t know what we chose, but we anticipate looking forward to sitting in the winter sun, with temps of 80 or so. A life of privilege, and we intend to enjoy every bit of it. A chocky is a bit of chocolate, by the way — the expressions are terrific, and I hope I can remember some of them. and breaky, obviously, is breakfast. When one is feeling sorry for oneself, it’s a POM – a poor old me!
We’re adding to our vocabulary right and left. Travel is so broadening.