We are spending the weekend here in Sydney. Yay! We left Tamworth at 7 this morning, arrived at around half past 12. Our first stop was the Filo store in Marrickville to replenish our 'supplies'. Then off we went to the storage. Next destination was Newtown where we ate lunch and I had my eyebrows waxed. Then we checked into our 'home' for the weekend, Formule 1 @ Enfield. We immediately proceeded to DFO in Homebush, where we only had a little over an hour to shop before the stores closed. Bitinsobra! Hopefully we could go back on Monday if we still have time.
I'm looking forward to BE's 81st anniversary celebration tomorrow. We are having a picnic lunch and I'm sure we'll share not just food but heaps of stories as well. :)
Back here at the hotel room, we're catching up on our favourite TV series, Entourage and White Collar. I love how fast the connection of my wireless internet is here in Sydney. We don't get a good signal in Tamworth so sometimes it takes ages to download one episode, it makes me wanna cry! So I'm taking advantage right now.
It's our third time to go back here since my husband was assigned in Tamworth. Hopefully the next time we do it'll be for good.
The following is an article my husband submitted for his fraternity publication. This was written in January 2009. As the newest migrant of Beta Epsilon sa Australia (BESA) that time, he was tasked to share his views about life in Australia in the few months that we have been here. It is written in Tagalog for maximum impact. :)
Note: We arrived in Australia on 29 June 2008.
Mahigit anim na buwan na kami dito sa Sydney. Matagal-tagal na rin pala. Parang kailan lang nung ihatid kami ng aming mga pamilya at kaibigan sa NAIA. Nakakalungkot na nakakatuwa. Di ko maipaliwanag. Sa sandaling paninirahan ko dito, marami na rin akong naobserbahan, napagmunihan. Eto at naisipan kong isulat yung iba.
1. Maraming bagay na iba ang tawag nila dito kaysa sa nakasanayan ko sa Pilipinas. Halimbawa: stroller = pram, comforter = doona, drugstore = chemist, bell pepper = capsicum (caps for short), tape receipt = docket, ketchup/catsup = tomato sauce.
3. May mga termino rin sila na nung una ay bago sa pandinig ko. O nasanay lang ako sa gawing-Amerikano?
Halimbawa: a lot = heaps, I think = I reckon, it's your treat = it's your shout, try it = have a go.
4. Dito kahit busog ako eh kumukulo pa rin ang tiyan ko. Napag-usapan na namin yan minsan kung bakit nga kaya ganun. Wala kaming maisip na sagot kaya isinisi na lang namin sa tubig! Hehehe. May fluoride kasi ang tubig dito. Di ko lang alam kung may kinalaman yun sa pagkulo ng tiyan kahit kakakain lang. Ang sigurado, matibay ngipin ng mga tao dito. Lalo na yung dito ipinanganak at lumaki.
5. Ang mga tatak ng produkto na nakalakhan ko sa Pilipinas eh iba ang pangalan dito.
Halimbawa: Magnolia = Peters, Selecta = Streets, Burger King = Hungry Jacks, Dunkin Donut = Donut King, Modess = Stayfree.
6. May mga salita na pareho lang ang pagbigkas subalit iba ang pagbaybay.
Halimbawa: curb = kerb, tire = tyre, harbor = harbour, center = centre.
7. Ang letrang "H" kung bigkasin dito ay 'heych' kumpara sa nakasanayan kong 'eych'. Ang letrang "Z" naman ay 'zed', hindi 'zee' o 'zey'. Naaalala ko tuloy, nasa Pilipinas pa kami ng asawa ko. Nanonood kami sa HBO, sabi ng commentator 'heych-bee-oh'. Akala namin may sipon lang sya kaya ganun ang pagkabigkas nya. Hehe. Ngayon alam ko na, baka dito sya sa Australia lumaki.
8. Ang shopping carts o grocery carts dito pwedeng iuwi hanggang sa bahay. Nakakaaliw! Nasanay kasi ako sa atin na laging may karatulang “No shopping carts allowed beyond this point”. E paglabas pa lang sa checkout counter andun na yung karatula.
Sa pagpasok ng bagong taon, naisip ko ang desisyon naming mag-asawa na manirahan dito sa Australia ay isa sa pinakamagandang desisyong ginawa namin. Mahirap sa simula pero ika nga ng mga Brods na matagal na dito puro sarap na ang kasunod.
