Wheels!

There are so many great things about Adelaide but public transport is not one of them. The bus schedule is fiction. There is no such thing as a bus pass. As a full-time student I get a discount on tickets but the most I can purchase at one time is 10 rides.  Buses don’t connect between neighbourhoods.  The fares are going up (currently about double what we pay in Edmonton).  

On the positive side I find the drivers to be patient and friendly.  When I asked one if he went up the hill to the Uni he replied “No I’m too old.”  When I asked another if he stopped where I needed to get off, he said “Not usually but just for you.”  One let me on for a reduced fare when he couldn’t break my large bill (yes they give change too, slowing up the process ).

It was not bad the first two weeks but with everyone back at school, and more traffic, I am later and later. So…

I bought a bike!

 

I need a variety of exercise and why go to the gym when it's always beautiful outside?     

I shopped around and landed on this one on the advice of the salesman.  Ironically it’s a Norco, a Canadian bike.  

I took a test run to the Uni today.  Mostly uphill but not too bad. On the way home I hardly pedalled.  Maybe I should have titled this blog 'Wheeeeeeee".

Wine

I thought the title of this blog would get your attention. I am living beside the Borosso, one of the best wine growing regions in the world, and the largest in Australia, so there is good selection. But in stores and restaurants it is mostly Australian and New Zealand varieties. Last night I was at a restaurant and there were two French wines on the large wine list. That is the first time I have seen wine from another country. And Aussies do like their wine and buy lots so drive through liquor stores abound. Sounds shocking but really makes sense when you are buying cases of wine and beer. Here I am at one.

Uni

That’s what the Aussies call it. So I really do go to school, really. I even have my dissertation topic finalized but I will save that for another post. Flinders University is up on a hill with a beautiful view of the ocean. When I asked the campus fitness people if they had a pool this is what they pointed me to.

Now the locals talk about the beautiful lake on campus. It is picturesque, but to me does not compare to that other body of water.And like all Universities there is a ‘quad’.

My Faculty has not had any welcoming so to speak but the International Students Association takes good care of us ‘foreigners’. There is always something going on and for example I was at ‘afternoon tea’ yesterday. I see other students shopping, on the bus and in the neighbourhood but I don’t fit the demographic in terms of age and nationality, so I am invisible to them. Here is where I hang out every day. You will notice my owls (thanks Jen) and the ‘surfer girl’ calendar (thanks Gail)!

And here is my class, looks like Canada eh?

Cheating Life

"Ever wake up and think "Didn't I do all this yesterday?" Life is dull. Each day is a photocopy of the previous one. Exactly the same,  but a little more faded.  Staying alive is not about cheating death but cheating life. "

Description of Simon Keck's show at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. More on the Fringe to come...stay tuned.

Exercising in Adelaide

I am finally feeling settled.  So, I decided it was time for some exercise (not that I don't get some walking everywhere!).  I headed out around 8am yesterday while it was still cool. I came to an outdoor gym in a park. Although there is no resistance on the machines it did stretch my muscles. 

I then jogged some more and needed a bathroom.  Instead of heading home another park had an ‘Exeloo’.   These are in most neighbourhood parks. You press a button, the door opens and a voice says "you have 10 minutes to use the facility...". It is all stainless steel, spotless, directions in brail, and automatic. You press for toilet paper and only a few sheets are dispensed. When you put your hands in the sink, depending where you place them the soap, water or hand dryer is activated.  Once this happens the toilet flushes. Oh and the whole time the song “What the World Needs Now, is Love” is on the intercom.   When you leave the interior is flushed down.  

This morning I went for a swim at the YMCA.  This one is much fancier than the Edmonton locations and has a FINA approved swimming pool, or should I say pools, as there are 5!  They even have a store in the lobby with Y Gear.  The Australian Olympic Finals will be held there this month.

Leap

Today is February 29th, a day that only comes once every 4 years, in a 'leap' year. 
Having an extra day in February is great in Australia - it's summer. Not so good in Canada.
In stepping off the edge I am taking a leap, a huge leap, out of my comfort zone.
I am taking "a leap of faith",   I have an abundance of faith and so far it is paying off.   
I like this quote:
"I advise you to say your dream is possible then overcome all inconveniences, ignore all the hassles and take a running leap through the hoop, even if it is in flames."  Les Brown
No flames yet.

Shopping in Adelaide

So here I am with time on my hands and a need to shop for groceries and necessities.
I usually come home from school around 6 and my bus stops at a large 3 story shopping centre.
Great, time to kill, wander around and browse - not!
All the stores close at 5 every day except Thursdays. That's right, they're not even open Friday night!
Grocery stores, Woolworths (yes, you read it right) and KMart are open until 9 most evenings but nothing else. Oh and yes they do have Target here but not with the same American products.
I don't know what teenagers here do for part-time jobs.  Perhaps their need to shop is less than Canadians as they all wear school uniforms. 
The other night I was walking through the empty mall and there were two gaming stores full of young men playing games at tables?!

 Here is a photo of something I found amusing. I don't think this name would go over well in America!