How Ya Goin?

Sooo... We're coming home early... We couldn't get work visas and are running outta money fast, so we've decided to get the hell outta Oz... We'll be flying back on Tuesday, Sept. 7th. ... This is a good thing. :)

The past few days have been spent at Airlie Beach. It's not entirely warm, so we haven't been in the water at all. We've basically been walking around, eating, and playing on the internet... Not a whole lot to do when you're broke. And the Pokies (beers) are never under $5 each, so nighlife is sorta out too. We did buy some Goon, however, which is fake wine. It's pretty nasty, but it does the trick. All of the alcohol here is really expensive, even in the liquor stores, due to high taxes. The cheapest bottle of liquor you can buy is a small $20 bottle of no-name vodka. Rum is $35 and up, a case of beer is $45... Ouch...

Tomorrow shall be fun tho! We're going to go sailing, snorkling the Great Barrier Reef, and then to an awesome tropial paradise called Whitehaven Beach. Can't WAIT!

So a few random things about Oz...

A shopping cart is a Trolley. A baby stroller is a Pram. A small glass of beer is a Pokie. Layaway is called lay by. They say "cheers" a lot. It can mean thank you, or hello or goodbye. They also say, "How ya Goin" instead of what's up or how are you. Sunglasses are called sunnies. Breakfast is known as brekkie. The pharmacy is the chemist. You don't rent anything, you hire it. A car collision place is called "smash repair." Cars are really different here. New cars with pickup beds on the back of them are really popular. All of the road kill is kangaroo... They can really f up your car. There are signs for them everywhere, as well as for koalas and sheep. The town of Mackay is pronounced mack-eye. The town of Cairns is pronounced Caines (no r). They say mate a lot. The people are very friendly. It gets dark early ... 'cause it's WINTER. We're living in the future. It's 12:45 p.m. on Sunday here, and it's only 9:45 on Saturday night there. We're also walking around upside down. We're on the other side of the world, people!!!

xo
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