Ben and Rachel's first day of school!

Our House in Oz

Oz News From the Niesens, Vol. I

Hello From Down Under!

We’ve been here two weeks and thought perhaps I should share what we have been up to. FYI, this is a little long!

Besides house hunting and car shopping, we have actually explored the city and taken the kids to the city zoo. However, I think we have obviously only scratched the surface. There is a lot to do and see just in Melbourne so; I think we are going to have a busy two years exploring just Australia. However, trip packages to Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, are as common as the packages to Mexico and Hawaii in Oregon. So we’ll see.

As far as a house, we applied for two houses in neighborhoods similar to Ladd’s Addition and Laurelhurst. We should know by Tuesday if we got either. Luckily, the government schools in both neighborhoods have excellent reputations. So the kids should be in good shape either way. We’ll sign them up this week depending on which house we are offered. If both houses fall through well, I guess we’ll sign them up at the school near our current residence.

Okay, enough administrative stuff.

First of all, I’d have to say that Jake lied when he said Melbourne was the same size as Portland. It’s so much bigger and there is so much more to do. The feel is similar, though.

If you took the culture of SE Portland and combined it with the cafes and boutiques of a Paris neighborhood, I think you’d end up with Melbourne. Every neighborhood has its little strip of boutiques and cafes like the Hawthorne district. The people are so polite and friendly and overall not pretentious. The best thing about the shops, though is that every thing is well done, well made with attention to detail. Starbucks…what’s Starbucks? Every café I have been to makes the best coffee! I have yet to be disappointed. In addition, the idea of grab and go does not translate here. I can’t tell you how many times we have just gone into a café and actually just sat with the kids, drank our coffee and ate our baked treats. Did I mention the pastries here are amazing??

Another great thing about the little neighborhoods which reminds me of Paris is all the fresh produce shops, butchers and bakeries. I could walk up to the shops every day and purchase incredibly fresh food each day. Maybe that’ll happen after we get settled into a house and the kids are in school. The quality of everything is amazing. Shopping in the markets here is also very similar to Europe. The Aussies have not necessarily adopted the bigger is better philosophy of the states. Everything comes in smaller packages. We did actually buy a small container of vegemite today. The kids really wanted to try it. We’ll give it a whirl for breakfast tomorrow. Considering its main ingredients are yeast and vegetable paste and the fact that it smells like crap, I won’t be trying it! I am sure that’s going to be $2.50 down the tubes. Oh well, I can’t wait to see the kids’ reaction tomorrow!

The train and tram systems are very extensive here. We rarely drive to get into the city. It’s so much easier and faster to go by tram (Max). I have to say, though, Jake and I are catching onto to driving quite well. The first week was a little rough. Like I told my sis the other day, I kept getting into the left side of the car and then would realize, I don’t have a steering wheel! Okay….out of the car over the right side, whew! Also, making a right turn is like making a left turn in the States. It’s usually best to turn into the far lane to avoid a head on. It only took me one time to learn that lesson. And overall, I have completely mixed up left and right when I try to give Jake instructions. Did I mention that I am driving better though! Just don’t ask me how many times I have turned on the windshield wipers when I meant to turn on my blinker.

So we took a trip to the Melbourne zoo. It was amazing. There were so many animals that are just not at the Oregon Zoo. We saw elephants from Thailand and many animals from SE Asia and Africa. Of course there were the Australian animals, Kangaroos, Koalas, Platypus, Emus, Blue Penguins. The reptile exhibit was amazing. Also, Marty…… each area of the zoo had an atrium of birds dedicated to it. So many birds, that Jake’s phrase of the day became, “just more damn birds.” Yes, Marty you can punch him the next time you see him. The kids loved it all, though so did we.

Another note on birds… there are so many just flying through the neighborhood that I have never seen before and they sing and they sing loud. It’s amazing. One always has a song going on.

As far as the downtown area, every time we go down there it’s always bustling. There is an abundance of shopping, amazing old architecture and many large parks to encounter.

I have concluded that the following things are important to the Aussies:

Sports, especially Aussie Rules football is popular. Basically, it is soccer with a football where holding the ball and tackling is allowed. Protective gear is non existent. It is similar to rugby. Apparently Aussie men love to beat the crap out of each other. The first weekend we were here was the National Finals of the Aussie Football league. The day was reminiscent of Superbowl Sunday. The entire town of Melbourne shut down for a full Saturday to eat their meat pies, drink their Victoria Bitter and watch the game. Thus, we went to the zoo which was deserted.

The Aussies also like to take care of themselves. I have never seen so many hairdressers, beauty salons, naturopaths, chiropractic centers and massage centers. It’s amazing. And just to clarify. You go to the hairdresser to get your hair and nails done. You go to the beauty salon for facials, waxing, etc.

The Aussies like their coffee and food, well made. Since I have already elaborated on this, I’ll stop here.

A few more things and then I will be done.

So I could get on with the home search, I signed the kids up for the Holiday Program at the local primary school a day after we got here. The school system was on its two week break between the 3rd and 4th terms. The kids had a great time and integrated incredibly well. Everyday they came home with new words. A sweater is a jumper, candies are lollies, bark dust is tabby chips and on and on…. It was also cute because the Aussie kids kept asking Ben and Rachel to say words over and over again. Say, ‘Hello’, say ‘Hi’. Rachel didn’t get it until I explained we have an accent to them.

With that said, although we speak the same language and look like them, as soon as we open our mouths, we become a novelty. Everyone wants to tell us where to visit, asks how long will we be here, etc. I even think our mannerisms stick out. Nobody seems to be rushing down the street to get somewhere. People drink their coffee in the café in a real cup. It’s definitely a slower pace where life is savoured and enjoyed.

I have to say Jacob was on the money when he said I would love it here. I think my only disappointment is that the only people I get to critique Australian Idol with are my kids. Did I mention their top 8 puts ours to shame. I think only Fanstasia could have kept up.

Anyways, I’ll write in a couple of weeks!!!

Jenny :)