Life's too short for generic peaches

In a city where I know about 4 people I find myself alone a lot. One benefit of buckogirl time is that I am more aware of what happens around me.

Food shopping makes for an incredibly expensive excursion so I have found a discount grocery (Aldi) nearby to help support our sustenance. Shopping around the other day at Aldi wondering if any of the generic items in my cart would actually taste any good or perhaps make me ill, I overheard a father point out the section of canned peaches to his ~6 year old daughter. She chose a can and the father said "what about this can instead, it's cheaper." The daughter replied in a cute Aussie accent "Don't more expensive peaches taste better?"

Cheers to little girls with good taste. We have to come from somewhere. clink.

Sigh, my clothes may never be clean

I hadn't thought that a task like laundry could be complicated.

It is now time to phone a friend and I need your help. Which of the following slots does the detergent go into?

A. The one on the left

B. The one in the middle

C. The one on the right

D. The right and the left

Cheers to friends who will answer a call for help. clink.

"I promise I am not a stupid American"

is what I have wanted to say to the many people who have encountered "future buckogirl" in Sydney so far (future buckogirl is what my friends back in Austin call me, how I wish it were true - talk about a get rich scheme). I could blame it on the jet lag, the cold or the language barrier, but even a charitable me would roll her eyes.

I am keeping a list of the stupid things I do / say and for your amusement here is the first of probably heaps more.

Shopping in the produce area of the grocery I noticed a bin near the peppers that had a sign reading "Australian Pride." Naturally curious, I examined the item running a list in my head of all the items it could possibly be. I thought it was a potato, but it was unclear since the bin had an opportunity to be in the potato section that I had already passed over and wasn't. I became excited about the possibility that this could perhaps be some kind of vegetable I have never tried. THOUGHT BUBBLE: Australian Pride, the next soy product for vegetarians, I could cook it in all ways, with different sauces, this must be a miracle vegetable the Aussies are keeping top secret. Just to confirm I had found the holy grail of vegetables, I thought I would double check and ask someone. I walked up to a guy who seemed about my age with the magic veggie in hand, and asked "Um, excuse me, I think this will probably sound like a silly question, but...is this a potato?" The man looked at me, the item and laughed "yes. What did you think it was?" I had to think quick because I didn't want to seem crazy and stupid, so I said "maybe some kind of turnip?"

Cheers to being anonymous, the perfect situation to act a fool. clink.

Manly in all the right ways

Oh Manly Beach, you are quite lovely. Taking a walk along the coast as the sun lowered itself over the water was a perfect Sunday afternoon. If only the wind wasn't blowing so strong. It is easy to forget about the cold when you have views that take your breath away.

Cheers to a swimming hole on the edge of the ocean and to brave middle aged men in red speedos swimming in 60 degree water. clink.

Why yes, that is my can of spray paint

Sydney University is the oldest and one of the two most prestigious universities in Australia. I was happily surprised to walk through a graffiti tunnel while exploring the campus with joaquin. As we strolled on through we inhaled the chemical fumes as "artists" tagged over the works of others. If only we Americans could be trusting enough to handle a can of spray paint.

Cheers to alternative ways of relieving stress. clink.

A first time for anything

Lots of firsts:
First time in the Southern Hemisphere; first time moving to a city for someone else; first time flying over the Pacific; first time on a plane for 16 hours; first time bloggin'; first time waking up at 5:45 AM in order to work so I can try to overlap a few hours with my coworkers back in Austin; first time to hear a world famous academic say "paw paw" when referring to a papaya and having to hold back giggles; First time eating a fish called Barramundi and something called a Bay Bug (both fish native to Australia). I've only been in Sydney for a week and I know that there will be many more "firsts" to add to the list.
Cheers to many firsts we all have yet to experience. clink.