Lunch in the Park

• 'Winter' in Perth is pretty similar to 'winter' in San Diego. It gets pretty chilly but by no means is it 'cold'. This means that even in the 'dead of winter', you can still have lunch outside to enjoy the bits of sunshine that pop out now and again. This is especially true when your office borders an adorable little park right outside the CBD (Central Business District).

• Wine is big here. Pretty huge, in fact. Considering the reputation of Australians as drinkers, this should surprise no one. But there is actually a good reason for it; Perth is surrounded by two major areas of wine production: the Swan Valley and Margaret River. The Bob and I went to Margaret River when we were here visiting last year and I fell in love with the chardonnay from Vasse Felix. When I got back to DC, Emily, Beth and the Wills all got to experience my delight at finding it on a menu at Founding Farmers--one of our favorite DC restaurants. There may or may not have been a screech involved.

• So imagine my excitement when the Bob announced that he got us tickets to the Good Food & Wine Festival last weekend at the Convention Centre. Got myself good and ready for some serious wine and food sampling. I was prepared to bring home cases of high quality finds as I have been known to enjoy a glass of wine now and then...BUT then we got there. And it was packed. Some of you might know about my feelings regarding large crowds. No bueno.

• Soooo this is what I came home with:

• Yes, that is in fact a semi-blurred picture of me as a beer astronaut. It was the only booth that didn't have a line. Naturally, the Bob and I chose it as our primary hang out spot. Oh and I bought some curry sauces. For all the dinners I don't make at Casa Voss. #starhousewife. So then we just bought some Vasse Felix at the wine store across from our house. Epic wine festival fail.

• Especially since we'll probably be needing some wine after we attend not 1, not 2, but 4 open houses today. Adulthood for the win.

Cornering the Mum Market

• When you grow up with Pat Tillson as your mum, you learn at an early age that you've basically won the mother lottery. PTills is in a category all her own in terms of #1ness. Few people have ever questioned this truism and anyone who does has clearly never met Saint Pat.
• And then you move to Perth and start living with the Australian Pat Tillson, otherwise known as Ingrid Voss. This is a woman who arrived on a flight from London via Dubai on Thursday at about 2pm. By 6:30pm almost her entire family (2 adult sons, 2 girlfriends, 1 husband, 1 monster dog) were present for a steak feast she had casually whipped up.
• The next morning, as you're rolling out of bed, she has already squeezed fresh orange juice, chopped pineapple, peeled an apple & made you a pre-packed lunch. With your name on it.

• And that's when you and the Bob realize that as products of #1mumness, you have been beyond spoiled since birth and your life will never be this good again. Sigh.

Waterfront Rugby

• It's pretty cool to see large rugby tournaments at parks around Perth. Especially when the men playing are 35+. Reminds me of going to tournaments with my dad at the fields in San Diego. Michael & I mainly played on the playground (meaning my rugby knowledge is about on par with my knowledge of ancient Urdu) but I just remember my dad's crazy intensity while watching the matches. Pretty sure he would have loved these waterfront versions:

• If you want some insight into what an Australian bush walk looks like (at least in suburban Perth), hike Torrey Pines and add a few intrusive plants. Oh and snakes. That can kill you. Yay Sunday outings!

• And if you want to compare your local public train poster to an Australian one, look no further. As you can probably imagine, they're hilarious.

• Life update: everything is pretty awesome. Job is awesome. Driving on the left is (mostly) awesome. The Bob is (smelly and) awesome.
• Not so awesome: being 12-15 hours ahead of all non-Aussies, especially the little nugget who stole my heart and won't give it back, one Benjamin "Jamon" Ruby. As you can see, he wants to be here with me as well but his parents are keeping him in cute baby jail. Sigh.

Screaming About Babies

• I have friends now! Real live Australian people! And they're names aren't Rupert or the Bob!

• When one of these said friends invites you to her house for 'book club', saying that everyone will basically just be "screaming about babies" all night, you have the following thoughts:
• There was no book actually included in the description. I like this book club.
• Huh? Oh wait, new friend is a baby doctor so they'll probably be talking about their patients.

• Then you arrive and 4 out of the 9 women are actually pregnant.

• At first it's fun and precious and googoo gaga but then they all start talking about peeing themselves at work and how many times one can physically have a cesarean and you mentally put off children for an additional 3-4 years. (Teaching had already postponed it for a solid 5).

• When everything ends with rehashing crazy stories from university days, you start missing your own people and your own stories. And you get a little sad.

• But then you realize that you've finally made some friends and some friends are better than no friends. Maybe one day I'll even have pictures with these friends. A girl can dream!

Cockatoos, Roos and Work, Oh My!

• When your job thus far consists of visiting awesome not for profit organisations around Perth to set up corporate partnerships, you stop to thank the sweet baby Jesus that you are not at a desk all day. Well at least not every day...

• These trips can include casual visitation with rehabilitating kangaroos & black cockatoos (found only in WA). And although you are on a formal work trip, you can't help but stop to take some touristy shots. Sorry I'm not sorry.

• Did I mention there were 'roos?! Lots of them. Wanted to keep one. Or all of them.

• My first work event for a corporate group was Monday at another animal rehabilitation centre in an area called Bilbra Lake. I was sitting at lunch "managing" when, before I realized what had happened, a bird flew over, grabbed my pen and legitimately absconded with it. Then he bird-yelled at me when I tried to take it back. Bold, Australia. Bold.

• Week at work is going perfectly. I've met people, made presentations and had lots of morning tea. Kinda love it.

Visits with Friends

• When friends come to visit, it's always an exciting time. When your only friend on the continent of Australia (other than the Bob) comes to visit, excitement goes through the roof!

• And it got even better when Bob, Rupert & I went to The Blue Duck at Cottesloe Beach for brunch and this was our view. Food was delish and the banter was even better. Especially the part where Rupert told the Bob that Aussies need Americans in their lives to spur them into action, otherwise Australians are just too laid back. Naturally, I interpreted this as "Katie is allowed to be bossy because she's American." Knew I loved that Rupert.

• During Rupert's short (but sweet) trip, he asked about what I found to be the major differences between here and the US.  I mentioned a few things but thought I'd include photographic evidence of one of the most horrific items I've seen so far:

Yep, that would be a kangaroo fillet for sale in the grocery store. "Gather round everyone as we strike up the barbi to serve you little Joey's mother!" Just. Can't. Do. It.

• Another meat product I was disappointed by is the bacon. It is not bacon. It is cooked ham.  The Brits make the same mistake. All I wanted was a delicious little BLT but noooo, I got not-quite-crispy-but-not-quite-ham bacon. Oh and it had BBQ sauce on it. Gag. Of course, being myself, I still ate half the sandwich. And all the fries. But still.

• Lastly, on a walk yesterday with the Texas monster (aka Voss family dog), I spied a house around the corner that legitimately looks like a mini Kennedy Center. So for all my DC friends, it seems we have a little bit of the District down here in Perth:

Australian Crack

• I have indulged in far too many of these bad boys over the last few days. Naturally, I blame the Bob for introducing them to me. They come in a variety of flavors and styles, taunting you from multiple locations in the grocery store. They are my new life crack.

• It's good to know then that after this week, I will no longer be sitting at home alone eating my weight in TimTams.  I will be hard at work! Starting Monday I'll be the Manager of Corporate Engagement with a local non profit organization in WA. I even have a new bag to prove it!

• Australians love their booze. After dinner, Bob and I were driving home and there was a guy walking somewhat awkwardly down the street carrying what I assume to be a 36-pack of beer. Bob honked at him and threw his fist up "as a gesture of solidarity" and the guy somehow managed to throw a fist back. While carrying 36 beers. They both seemed pretty pleased with themselves.  I'm fairly certain this interaction demonstrates a combination of the Bob being a bloke and the entire Australian people being a little coo coo for cocoa puffs.

• Australians also love their tea time. But, unlike the Brits, it doesn't seem to be because they especially enjoy tea.  Rather, 'morning tea' is just an excuse to get together, have a warm beverage and share each other's pastries.  There is even a morning tea scheduled for the first volunteering event we have planned next week.  It's not labeled as a "break" as in "do what you want for 10 minutes and then come back" but rather as a group tea time. I could get down with tea time: a country that builds their day around pastries and socializing is my kind of place.

• Side note: There are birds outside my window that sound like dying cats. Those guys I could do without.

Going to the Shops

• When the nearest grocery store happens to be located within the local shops (aka the mall), you know you've chosen to live in the right country.
• When the biggest display in the condiment aisle is not peanut butter but rather Vegemite, you start to reconsider the above statement:

• But when you see little bits of home sneaking in, all seems right in the world:

• And then you drive home from the shops all by yourself, feeling pretty damn cool.  When you get home you might even threaten to steal the Bob's fancy sports car and take it for a spin.  His half laugh sounds strikingly like "No way" but again, these are minor details.

(Yes this photo is posed but what kind of driver would I be taking on the road selfies?)

• All that solo driving practice will not go unused, however, as I plan to celebrate my very own Independence Day by going into my new work this afternoon for my first big meeting. I will accept congratulatory gifts in the form of fireworks and patriotic cakes.

• Oh and waterproof money magically disappears just as quickly as regular money. In case you were wondering.

Welcome to Perth!

As per the request of my legions of readers [my mom], I am picking up where "What I Learned in London" left off and will be using this site to record my unsubstantiated observations/stories of the Land Down Undah!

• Flying across the world with a (relatively) brand new airline (Virgin Australia) was a poor choice: a mechanical error on a single plane on Monday can apparently cripple their entire system. For a week. This means that when you approach the counter the following Saturday night with a little bounce in your step because, well, you were supposed to be moving across the world today, they will tell you that you have been delayed 15 hours. [Insert sad montage of rolling suitcases back toward car.] One overnight with Rachel in LA and a second night in Brisbane's finest airport hotel later, you will finally arrive in Perth.

• But it will be to this:

• Oh and to him:

• Driving a car on the "wrong" side is not nearly as bad as I thought. I am basically a pro.  Bob's hesitant endorsement of my pro status aside, I can tackle those roundabouts and right-handed turns like a champ.  Well, a champ who occasionally turns on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal and who might have caused Bob to (nicely) yell "Stop!" once or twice. These are minor details.

• Having a Bob and a Bob's family to welcome you to a new city is pretty awesome. They even bought me a toothbrush.  Makes me think that maybe being across the world won't feel so far from home after all. 

• Except of course for their plastic money. Waterproof bills are just weird.