Getting used to the lingo...

It has been a while since I have posted to this blog, so I thought that I was due.

As most of you would summize, they do speak Engish here in Australia. Of course it is not American English, but rather a closer cousin to UK English. Note that I say "closer cousin" because Australian English is different from UK English as well as being different from American English.

Of course there is the accent to get used to... kind of a mash between a southern drawl and bostonian pronounciation of certain sounds (think "cah" instead of "car" and "sistuh" instead of "sister") and an English accent. But then combine that with the Aussie penchant for being verbally lazy (by truncating a lot of words and/or adding an "o" to the end), and it makes for an interesting time trying to decipher what they are saying. At least until you get the gist of it.  Here are some examples of what I mean by verbally lazy. I know that we abreviate Air Conditioning to AC in the USA. However, the aussies call it "aircon". Car registration is called "rego". Breakfast is called "breaky". Conversation is "convo". Christmas is called "Chrissy". A Mercedes is called a "Merc". The list goes on and on.

So as you can imagine, your first few conversations with aussies can be a bit befudling. However, once you catch onto the pattern it is not too bad. It is nice to be aware of these differences ahead of time (which I was not by the way). But I am managing just fine. :)

First day continued...

Well, my first day at work went ok. Very busy but not mind numbing. Spent most of the day in training with "hour". Had a few conference calls and even answered a few questions. So busy in fact that I almost didn't get to eat lunch.

On a more human note, everyone in the office was very friendly and VERY eager to have me on board. I expect that they will all have laundry lists of things that they would like me to help with. However, considering it took them a year to resolve a slow internet access problem before I got here, I should be able to improve things in the office. Also, I was able to get into the office a bit before 9am and will be getting home before 7pm. So over all the commute isn't too bad and I get to have dinner with the family. :)
Sent via BlackBerry 8900

First day at work

Ok, so today is my first day at work in Australia!

Let's see, so far not much different than working in the USA. Woke up before everyone else. Showered, shaved, etc... Grabbed my stuff and walked a block or two to the bus. Caught the bus at 7:06am. Caught the train at 7:50am. Train to Sydney is crowded, as trains to most major cities are. Commuters world wide seem to be very similar.

I must say though, I am pretty fortunate to have found a job so quickly. Considering most of New South Wales is more or less shut down until mid January. Most people take their vacations around Christmas and New Year and they generally take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks off. The last of the stragglers started work this year yesterday January 18th!

Well, more to come later as the day progresses. :)
Sent via BlackBerry 8900

Well well well

Ok, so I have been slacking I know. I have not posted anything in quite a while. Well, it was the holidays after all! :)

Now that they are over I need to post some stuff about the last 3 weeks. But not today. Today I just want to mention that the paperwork has begun. I am filling out papers for new bank account and drivers license for here in Australia. Neither is really going too smoothly, but no real big obstacles either. Need proof of address for the license, but luckily won't have to re-test or anything. They will just give me a new license here in Oz. Won't even need to have provisionary plates. Nice! But before I can do that I need the address proof. To do that I need to open the bank account. This is going ok except that they could not get the account to activate. Apparently this bank worker has never had someone with a birth year of prior to 1970 and it is causing a bit of dyslexia for her. It took 4 tries but the account is finally active. More paperwork tomorrow!
Sent via BlackBerry

Just landed...

Now for the fun part of filling out customs forms and picking up bags.

Oh joy!
Sent via BlackBerry 8900

Great airplane, but...

I am unfortunately seated next to a team of male and female aussie basketball players (look like seniors in high school), and most of them stink like a sweaty locker room. Not going to be a good flight due to the stink and noise.
Sent via BlackBerry 8900

Ok, here we go...

ok, I am on the plane... gonna leave soon... ciao USA!
Sent via BlackBerry 8900