stories. observations.

Okay. Here are some Australian stories:

1) Three days ago I was at the University of Melbourne and this thing that looked like a opposum (sp?) and a raccoon leapt out of the recycling and into the garbage. This was around 11 a.m. and I figured it was some regular, Melbournian occurance (sp again?) but from the looks on everyone around me it wasn't. All I could think is that I didn't have my health insurance card yet.

2) Yesterday I went to a park to read. A family was walking by me and I noticed that the young girl with the family was lagging behind. I went back to my book. Soon, I realize that the girl is waiting for me to look back up and then proceeds to drag this giant branch she found along the concrete so it makes a loud scratching noise, but doesn't look at me. She stares in a different direction of me and the way she's walking. I find this hilarious, just as I find hilarious when I get on the bus and everyone, or anyone, looks up at me in utter disdane.

3) Today I was at one of those art! outside! in booths! things, you know, that's mostly crap, but as you get older, it seems like the crap is getting better. I walk past a mother and son and although I didn't hear what the son said, the mother replied, "I know something that's a waste of time, a computer is a waste of time!

Here are not stories so much as observations:

a) Globalization! 7-11! Subway! Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks. Target, even.
b) Although there are apparentely horrendous water shortages in Australia, I've only seen two examples of this: there are two settings for flushing the toilet (pic coming soon!) and I've only seen two drinking fountains in the entire city.
c) I woke up to three hot-air balloons in my window view and they made me happy.
d) Being an American is not enough of a prerequisite for me to be your friend.