Is it much different to America?

The other day in the shop, the young shop assistant asked me if I found Australia much different to America. The truth is, no, I don't think I really do. She looked a bit surprised and said, "Really? Don't you like get sued for sneezing on someone over there?" "Uh, I haven't lived there for a few years," was the only reply I could offer.

Of course, they drive on the left side of the road here, and french fries are chips, and chips are crisps, and it's summer at Christmas, and winter in July... but some other basic things, are pretty much the same.

We've been to several different shopping centers and they could easily be middle-America. There are just as many McDonalds and unhealthy-looking people queueing up to eat at them. The fashions in the shops seem to be just as trendy as would be in the American shops, and just as many young girls are wearing whatever the latest fad dictates instead of what actually suits. Ah, and the young shop assistant, well, I think she's pretty representative of your average young shop assistant- dropping phrases like, "Those sunglasses (er, she would have called 'em sunnies) look sick!" (To which I responded, "That's good, right?" :) Suburbia looks like suburbia- not quite as green grass (they have water restrictions here), but otherwise, just as nicely groomed gardens, driveways with two cars, etc. Banks and churches abound. Grocery stores, oh, grocery stores. I have yet to have a good wander around, but it did take me a good 5 minutes to pick out a box of soy milk the other day faced with all the choices. But it would be the same way in America. People in shops are nice though- asking you how you are, if they can help you, etc. Yeah, it really just isn't that different.

Ah, but there are some differences I guess... yesterday we drove up into the hills where our post-engagement/pre-wedding party will be held, and along the way, instead of the yellow "watch for deer" signs (you know, the yellow diamond with a leaping deer on it), we saw the same signs with kangaroos on 'em. We didn't actually see any kangaroos though- I either have to go to the zoo or way out bush to do that, I've been told.

Oh, and the other night we went to China town for dinner with Joel's friends, and on the menu they had both kangaroo and crocodile meat. That made me laugh- but even more so when one of Joel's friends commented that it's really just cat meat that they call kangaroo or crocodile for the tourists. Hee hee.

I have been very excited eating lots of green stuff- we've had Chinese a few times, and it's had beautiful bok choy, broccoli, snow peas, spinach as well as carrots, mushrooms and more. Yummy, yummy, yummy. :)

Tomorrow we're going to go into the city during the day to be tourists. We haven't really taken many pictures since we've been in Melbourne, so maybe we will tomorrow.

There you go- I'm enjoying being in Australia. The sun is finally shining in Melbourne, the rain has stopped and it looks like it might actually be a hot Christmas- which now that I'm here, I do find myself excited about. Several people have asked if I miss Latvia- and the answer is always the same, I miss people, but not Latvia- and certainly not the cold, wet, dark gray/white that it would be now.

And of course, Joel's family, which is finally a complete puzzle in my head (the J&J&L piece had been missing until now), is wonderful. It's great to see the house where Joel grew up- to see all the pictures on the wall, and to look through all the photo albums showcasing events over the years (Jem and Mook, happy to finally see all the pics from your wedding!:). Everything feels a little more complete now, and like, we can really knowingly join our lives in a way we couldn't before. If only our families could meet before the wedding... alas...

That's about it for now...