I’ve kind of slipped back into my Australian life fairly well and my Mexican life feels somewhat like a dream. However, there are a few things that still give me away.
1. I have become a change hoarder. As one always wants to hoard the coins or small change in Mexico. It’s precious currency.
2. I have, (whilst never quite used to it IN Mexico) finally learnt to walk on the right hand side of a footpath rather than the left. This is simply annoying. I stuck out like a sore thumb in Mexico for my inability to walk on the right…and why now do I feel I have learnt this skill when it is completely useless.

Just popped down to the local shops yesterday with Gabe. On our way home we were encountered by what I thought must have been one of those so spoken about hoon westies pulling up along side us. But alas, no, it was much better news.

My local trip to the shops involved bumping into my one and only local friend, dear Jade. I love bumping into people, it’s such a good sign you’re a local. I really quite like Merrylands. It’s kind of fun living there.

I was informed the other night that supposedly Merrylands has the highest rate of crime in Sydney. We don’t really know what kind of a statistic that is supposed to be, I mean, what kind of crime? But anyway, it’s some kind of flaky statistic. Apparently car jackings and stuff. Good news is we live on the ’safe’ side. I haven’t yet felt unsafe in Merrylands. And I live so close to the old closed down kidseum. Oh that was cool.

We went to the Campsie house tonight for a bit of a ‘dance party’. Funny funny. I love being in a room with people who don’t care about making a fool of themselves.

Very tired now.

Dear Joseph says that everything starts, or happens or finishes or people arrive home, get picked up at 4 o’clock. He said we were waking up at 4 o’clock tomorrow. I asked his permission to sleep in. Good ol Joe makes me chuckle. I missed him on my days away.

There is an empty slow action of love box in this room. Oh yes.

I learnt how to say candle wick in German today. Docht. At this rate, an obscure word every couple of weeks I’m going to be fluent! Speaking of language, I got into Spanish 7 which made me happy. My dear old teacher said that with great sadness, I was in 7…I was worried that I was lower for a second, but it’s just cause she teaches 5. Oh how I should have been a linguist.

Burwood house is…..humungnifimous! I went this morning briefly and got lost trying to finds its inhabitants.

SLeeePing…

I am so happy today. Go Kevin. Apparently someones coined the phrase it’s ‘ruddy marvellous’ and I think so too!

I am so over emotional about this event of saying sorry in our history that everytime I hear anything about it I want to cry. I am so happy I want to dance all day, and that I might just do. I can’t explain my joy about this, as I am sure are many others.

I’m going to go write Kev a letter to congratulate him. Kevin 07 and Kevin 08 and hopefully to many more good ones. Today is ruddy marvellous.

Something we’ve been trying to discover and most definitely tried our hardest on wikipedia was this.
If oranges are citrus and nectarines are stone fruit, how are apples classified?

Seeing as I live right there nowadays, I’ve been spending a bit of time in Parramatta. However, it’s sooo confusing. I was thinking it was 90 degrees out. And I was feeling all distressed about how lost I got cause I don’t generally get lost, and I was wondering what was happening to me. I felt much better when my Pa said exactly the same thing. Parramatta is all wrong. But I will conquer it. I’m already getting there, I’ve had some map studying time and I Am Getting There.

Does anyone know any goods hangs in Parramatta or free parking?

Last night I made pancakes for 25 people. I have never made that many pancakes in my life. I reckon I made a good 200 or so. I started at 4.30 and finished at 7.30. They were a hit and the best part was that they didn’t run out. I’ve never not run out before. The other two L’Arche houses came to our house to celebrate and it was lovely. Just lovely. I really like this place.

Some of the oddities I have noticed upon coming home.

1. This country is filled with post boxes. Every corner there a winner red box. Just on King St/Enmore rd there is at least 4. Madness.
2. Everything happens so quickly. Water comes out of the taps quickly, toasts cooks quickly, water boils quickly, things burn. I’ve had a few overflowing boiling moments this week. I’ve been thinking its no wonder we’re in drought, the water is coming out so fast you can’t even catch half of it.
3. People can be kind of up tight and they like to yell a bit.
4. Sydney is huge. It’s so far to drive anywhere.

But Australia still rocks my socks. Nothing feels very novel anymore though. Not even the food. I hardly even want to eat I’ve eaten so much. It was so quick. In fact I’m kind of missing the flavour of tacos. mmm tacos.

I haven’t even moved to Merrylands yet and I’ve become sufficiently westie proud. But there is very good justification for that that will make everyone want to be a westie. And it’s not just that I’ve been told there is a really good Afghani bread shop in Merrylands (but I’m told there is, and I will not be kind and buy if for anyone…you all have to come and get it yourself. Oh how convenient it’s around the corner from my house).
No but really. The goodness begins now. They tell me that they can get me a free (this may even entice Gabbie with its complimentary nature) bike. Fairfield bike club rents bikes out for unlimited amounts of time if you join the bike club for $25. I’m going to be a westie on a bike. Que chido.