Beyond jet-lag, there are many other adjustments to make upon arrival in another country. First, certain questions come to mind. a) Is Australia the country where everything must be eaten with a fork and knife, even finger-food? b) Can you flush your TP? c) Do you tip or not?
Eventually my brain starts working enough to realize no, the answer to a) is Brazil, b) it’s Greece where you should not, and c) it’s not customary to tip in Australia like we do in the US. Then you decide to take a walk down to the mall across the street. Husband reminds me of a few key items we decided to purchase here since it’s winter in the USA.
I go on a mad hunt throughout the mall for a black or brown set of men’s thongs. To the inquiring minds: I mean the kind of thongs that go between the toes. They just call them thongs here, not flip-flops. I feel weird asking where I can buy men’s thongs.
I am reminded that many Australian malls are a one-stop-shop. Not just clothing and electronics and gifts – but every type of specialty grocery store, butcher, baker, candle-stick maker, an internet stand in the middle, K-Mart, Toys-R-Us, and even a Woolworths that is a full-size grocery store.
In the evening, we have dinner with Christine and Clinton and retire to watch the Australian Open for a while. I have to refrain from asking “who are you rooting for.” Rooting is a bad word over here. Somehow it’s very difficult to not use it when sports is on TV.
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