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.