Friday June 12, 2009
Today was my day off from the church. Since I spend basically all day at church on Sundays, I get a different day off. I slept in till 8:15 then had breakfast. I got a shower then headed out the door to go exploring. I wanted to take pictures of where I was living and to see what kinds of shops were around where I was living. I walked and walked and walked and had to write down street names so that I wouldn’t forget where to turn. It would be really easy to get lost.
I walked down to Springvale which Rosemary calls Hochiman City (spelling?). This part of Springvale is populated by mostly Asian people. As I walked around, I became the minority again and I felt like I was back in Thailand. The smells that reached my nose even reminded me of Thailand. I walked up and down the street and even into the two shopping centers. There were some bargain stores where I found some really neat (and cheap!) souvenirs. One item that really caught my eye was a toilet seat cover. You actually put this cloth like thing around your toilet seat – not the toilet lid. I did not buy one of these, but I discreetly took out my camera to take a picture! Crazy stuff. Would any of you buy this? Maybe as a gag gift, but I can’t ever imagine putting it on a toilet. I really don’t think that is an Australian thing, at least I hope its not!
I went to lunch at McDonalds and had a Big Mac with chips (French fries) and a coke. In Australia you don’t get free refills on drinks. When I asked, I got this blank stare like I was asking a strange question (which in the end I was) and the answer of no. I have noticed that when you order a drink, you get a very small size and then you don’t get free refills. I much better like the way Americans do their drinks.
After lunch I bought a latte and a chocolate truffle stick. McDonalds has a McCafe attached to it. Its like a coffee shop attached to the restaurant. I sipped coffee while reading my book by Ted Dekker. At 12:45 I left to come back home. I spotted the library which is close to the McDonalds, so I can go there to get away and have some quiet time.
Back at home I called my parents and Nathan and Jake. It was good to hear their voices! I bought a calling card for a really good price. As I came from the study I was handed a book that has Aussie slang in it. A new phrase that I have learned is “I need to go see a man about a dog.” Sometime this week you need to try this one out on your family, friends, or co-workers. This phrase means that you need to go to the bathroom. I have no idea why this phrase means that, but it does. Another way to say you need to go to the bathroom is to say that you need to “strain the potatoes.” So try it out and let me know how it goes. I imagine that you’ll get some strange responses!
I am preaching next week and so I started doing some preliminary research on my verse. That took me up until supper time. We had chicken fingers and stir-fry. For dessert we had a custard tart. Basically it was a pie shell with pudding. Yummy, but not very sweet.
At 6:30 I was picked up by Chris Morey, husband of Rachel Morey who is a student minister at the church. Tonight was youth group and I was helping out with Stuff. Stuff is the name of the youth group. These children are ages7-12. Today was a balloon themed day. So the children played balloon games. It was a good time. I helped with the games and socialized with the leaders. Next week I am going to join Duff for children ages 12-18. That theme is going to be “death by chocolate.” That one sounds really exciting. What a good excuse to eat chocolate!
I then came back home to write write write. Its been a fun day and I can’t believe how fast it has gone. I can’t believe how fast the week has gone. I have been here one week. WOW. Life sure does go by fast. Why Why Why?
Tomorrow is another wonderfully exploratory day and I need to get to bed so that it will come sooner! Yippy!
I liked the "aged persons cross here" sign. It shows respect for people older than us. Where do the young people cross?
ReplyDeleteThe esculator looks like it straight up. I hope it's an optical illusion or I wouldn't be able to hang on.
How many people need a toliet seat that is "soft" and lets your "relax". Isn't a recliner for relaxing instead?
Speaking of death by chocotate, have you tried McDonalds new brownie? It's delicious. Warm, gooey, hot fudge. Can you get them there?
I went to your home tonight. All of the church women were invited. We played a game that you may be able to use. Everyone was given a name tag. You had to write down your middle name and the first street you lived on when you were born.
This became your "stage name" like on a soap opera. My name was Fay Soperville Road. After announcing that, you had to tell your real name, Ellen Fay Klump and where you got your name.
My mom picked Ellen because it was her uncles daughter's name and mom liked it. Dad wanted our middle names to match with grandmas and since we were twins. Grandmas middle name was May, Elaine's was Kay, and mine was Fay.
Try this with your youth group or adults over there. It was fun! Ellen