Media

If you're looking for light reading or another travelogue you can skip this blog.
This is for those of you who like the 'edge'.
Countries like Canada and Australia used to have many independently owned newspapers.
There are 11 major newspapers in Australia, some city based and a couple country wide, just like Canada. Over the years their ownership has come down to two conglomerates, Murdoch and Fairfax.  So, if you're conservative you read the Murdoch papers and if you not you read the Fairfax papers.  But now the major shareholder of Fairfax is the richest woman in the world, Gina Rinehart, the mining magnate who earns a mere $50 million per day!
So how do you get unbiased news in Australia?  Julian Assange please help!
The control of media outlets raises concern everywhere. In Canada I think of the CBC.  How unbiased can Gian Gomeshi or Peter Mansbridge be when their salary is not only coming from a neo-liberal Harper government but is being threatened by that same government?  Comments?

Citrus

I did something this morning that I could never do anywhere in Canada. I went out into the garden and picked a grapefruit off the tree, brought it in the house and ate it for breakfast. It was a white grapefruit and although it looks the same in terms of size as we buy at home there is less flesh and more pulp. 
It was delicious. 
I am also eating oranges the neighbours have donated.  Each tree produces so many, people give them away.

Holding pattern

I have been in a holding pattern on my dissertation for a little while. Oh yes, there’s still lots to work on and in fact I am writing a paper right now.

But, next week I have a meeting with a key person in the health department in South Australia. If it goes well I will be connected to a clinic to do my research. This will move me to the next stage of my studies which is not only necessary for my degree but more importantly will determine when I can come home!

The waiting is testing me but I am thinking positive thoughts. 

And of course I have a Plan B and C… 

My Classmates

Classes are over...for me maybe for the rest of my life. 
Here is a photo of my classmates. There are 10 of us in my cohort and others in the photo are at different stages of the program.  As you can see it is an international mix of people representing Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, United Arabic Emerites, Lebanon, The Phillipines, Saudi Arabia, and of course Australia.

Unfortunately I won't see some of these folks again. Many are travelling home. 
I think we look pretty good considering we celebrated last night!

Brrrr!

So it’s winter here in South Australia.

Here the seasons start on the first day of the month.  Winter started on June 1 and will end Sept. 1.  

As you know it’s nothing like the Canadian winter.  No snow in all but a few high spots in the country.  Temperatures stay at about the mid-teens, going down to about 5 or so at night with the sun rising around 7 and setting around 5:30 in the dead of winter.  And yes it rains…a lot. 

It’s something like Victoria but for one thing.  The houses are cold! 

There’s no central heating, no insulation, no basements, no triple pane windows. It’s freezing.

I was warned before I came here that I should find a room with air conditioning AND heating. Fortunately I did. My house has what’s called a reverse cycle air conditioner.

The Aussies just accept it but my friends from Europe and North America complain loudly.

I have a space heater in my room. If it gets too hot and I turn it off, within an hour the room temperature has dropped 10 degrees!  The student room at school also has reverse cycle air conditioners but when you go out in the hallways its freezing cold. We work in our warm cocoon.

Well it makes for some interesting temperature negotiations in meetings.

No comment on Australia’s carbon footprint.

Seasons

Well I am feeling better.

It’s warming up, a degree or two takes the chill off and makes a huge difference.

Plus the days are getting longer. It’s bright at 7 in the morning and not dark until after 6 pm.  I ride home from school in the light.   

European settlers created the four seasons because it is what they knew but I think there are really only 2 seasons in most of Australia – spring and summer.   It’s still winter but trees are blossoming, irises and daffodils are blooming and roses are appearing again. 

The grapefruit, lemons, limes and oranges that were tiny in February are now falling off the trees and like most fruit and veg. here are delicious… and in this case free! 

The birds are singing loudly, here is a photo of the adoreable and smart Galahs.

 

Dreaming of home

I had got to the point that I wasn’t home sick. It's a weird feeling, but I was walking down the street one day when I realized that as much as I missed everyone I was here for a reason and it was my choice so I might as well make the most of it.

Then my family came for an amazing vacation and now I am home sick again.

It's been a tough few days since Keith left. The wet weather is reflecting my melancholy.  It's still winter despite the blossoms on the trees and the green grass.

Plus, with Andrea and Jason’s engagement and the flood clean up I feel like I AM at home some days or at least part of me is there and the rest of me is an onlooker here.

Almost every night I return to Edmonton in my dreams!

But, it's the start of term and like February I am back in class for the next two weeks. As they say here, school is ‘full on’!

So I am rationalizing. I have 4 months give or take to get my proposal and ethics approved and all my data collected.   It's a lot to do.

 I won’t have time to sleep never mind be homesick!

But I need to sleep and dream....