Saturday, February 17th
I can’t believe we have been here for 2 weeks so far! Everyday we are getting more settled. I applied for a Tax File number which is similar to our Social Security Number and once I have it I will be able to do a lot more to settle in like file for public health care, get a drivers license, and open a bank account.
I’ve been driving a few times and am starting to get the hang of it. I was so nervous (and so was Amanda) on my first drive. Our car is a standard, so it made it even more stressful. It feels awkward sitting in the right of the car and using my left hand to shift gears. The blinker and windshield wipers are also opposite so there have been a few intersections I notified the cars around me that I am turning by flipping on the windshield wipers. A true sign of a yank learning to drive in Australia!
I went to Macro Whole Foods the other day and it was quite an experience. Macro is the closest equivalent to Whole Foods and Wild Oats. They have had a store in Sydney for years, but have expanded over the last two years to 8 stores in Sydney and Melbourne. They are about a third of the size of an average WF/WO, but have a lot of the same features: prepared foods, classes, naturopaths on hand. Of course I went directly to the Personal Care section. For Toothpaste, there are a only a few brands. There were some familiar brands such as Jason, Aubrey Organics, Alba, Dr Bronners, Giovanni, and most surprisingly, Badger! Jason is the only US brand with a presence in the TP subcategory. They have 2 SKU’s of TP. The rest of the TP were Australian and European brands. The biggest surprise was the planogram for the entire personal care section. They had a lot of space devoted to it, but they POGed by brand and not category (except Oral Care). I had to look in three different aisles to compare shampoos. Jason with the 2 TP SKU’s had an entire shelf, but was completely butt-ended. Must have been 10 facings of each SKU butt ended. Maybe Macro has a merchandising manager position open?
I’ve noticed that the cost of living is more expensive here. In some cases, you can get things cheaper here. Lamb for one!! But there are so many things that cost more here. It’s just a matter of getting used to, and I’m sure I’ll feel differently once I have a job and some income. We got our phone set up the other day and it is much different here than in the US. The monthly cost is minimal, but you get charged for every call you make. Cell phones are even more. Again, it is just a matter of getting used to it.
Amanda and I went to our nephew’s basketball game last weekend. He is almost 12 and plays for a representative club. Youth sports are big here, but instead of playing for your school, you play for a club. Each major suburb has a club that has teams for all age groups. Some of these clubs also have professional teams, so it is conceivable for a basketball player to start with a club at the age of 6 and play with them all the way to the pro’s! There is a baseball club in our area and I am thinking of volunteering as a youth coach. Baseball is just starting to take off. The Australian women’s baseball team won the Gold at the last Commonwealth games.
I also learned first hand how powerful the Australian sun is! Amanda and I went to Philip Island on Thursday. (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF8&z=5&ll=-25.335448,135.745076&spn=31.154942,45.834961&om=1)
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/
The island is best known for the “Penguin March”. Each night at sunset all the penguins come out of the water and waddle up the beach to rest for the night. Unfortunately, we did not have time to wait until sunset. I had SPF 30 on all day and I still got sunburned. When I got home I had a 101 temp and felt awful. Took me a day to get over it and now I am fine, but still a bit red. I think I will keep a t-shirt on at the beach for now on.
I met with Colgate on Monday for a “getting to know each other” meeting. It went well, but nothing concrete came out of it. I’ll definitely keep you all posted.
I hope you all survived the Valentine’s day blizzard! I’m sure Whole Foods in Portland was not happy about the weather! I think they were meant to have their grand opening on Valentines Day. Bummed we left just before they opened!
That’s all for now!
Matt
I can’t believe we have been here for 2 weeks so far! Everyday we are getting more settled. I applied for a Tax File number which is similar to our Social Security Number and once I have it I will be able to do a lot more to settle in like file for public health care, get a drivers license, and open a bank account.
I’ve been driving a few times and am starting to get the hang of it. I was so nervous (and so was Amanda) on my first drive. Our car is a standard, so it made it even more stressful. It feels awkward sitting in the right of the car and using my left hand to shift gears. The blinker and windshield wipers are also opposite so there have been a few intersections I notified the cars around me that I am turning by flipping on the windshield wipers. A true sign of a yank learning to drive in Australia!
I went to Macro Whole Foods the other day and it was quite an experience. Macro is the closest equivalent to Whole Foods and Wild Oats. They have had a store in Sydney for years, but have expanded over the last two years to 8 stores in Sydney and Melbourne. They are about a third of the size of an average WF/WO, but have a lot of the same features: prepared foods, classes, naturopaths on hand. Of course I went directly to the Personal Care section. For Toothpaste, there are a only a few brands. There were some familiar brands such as Jason, Aubrey Organics, Alba, Dr Bronners, Giovanni, and most surprisingly, Badger! Jason is the only US brand with a presence in the TP subcategory. They have 2 SKU’s of TP. The rest of the TP were Australian and European brands. The biggest surprise was the planogram for the entire personal care section. They had a lot of space devoted to it, but they POGed by brand and not category (except Oral Care). I had to look in three different aisles to compare shampoos. Jason with the 2 TP SKU’s had an entire shelf, but was completely butt-ended. Must have been 10 facings of each SKU butt ended. Maybe Macro has a merchandising manager position open?
I’ve noticed that the cost of living is more expensive here. In some cases, you can get things cheaper here. Lamb for one!! But there are so many things that cost more here. It’s just a matter of getting used to, and I’m sure I’ll feel differently once I have a job and some income. We got our phone set up the other day and it is much different here than in the US. The monthly cost is minimal, but you get charged for every call you make. Cell phones are even more. Again, it is just a matter of getting used to it.
Amanda and I went to our nephew’s basketball game last weekend. He is almost 12 and plays for a representative club. Youth sports are big here, but instead of playing for your school, you play for a club. Each major suburb has a club that has teams for all age groups. Some of these clubs also have professional teams, so it is conceivable for a basketball player to start with a club at the age of 6 and play with them all the way to the pro’s! There is a baseball club in our area and I am thinking of volunteering as a youth coach. Baseball is just starting to take off. The Australian women’s baseball team won the Gold at the last Commonwealth games.
I also learned first hand how powerful the Australian sun is! Amanda and I went to Philip Island on Thursday. (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF8&z=5&ll=-25.335448,135.745076&spn=31.154942,45.834961&om=1)
http://www.visitphillipisland.com/
The island is best known for the “Penguin March”. Each night at sunset all the penguins come out of the water and waddle up the beach to rest for the night. Unfortunately, we did not have time to wait until sunset. I had SPF 30 on all day and I still got sunburned. When I got home I had a 101 temp and felt awful. Took me a day to get over it and now I am fine, but still a bit red. I think I will keep a t-shirt on at the beach for now on.
I met with Colgate on Monday for a “getting to know each other” meeting. It went well, but nothing concrete came out of it. I’ll definitely keep you all posted.
I hope you all survived the Valentine’s day blizzard! I’m sure Whole Foods in Portland was not happy about the weather! I think they were meant to have their grand opening on Valentines Day. Bummed we left just before they opened!
That’s all for now!
Matt
2 comments:
OMG - using your left hand to shift? I'd never be able to do it!
I guess I'd have to get an automatic.
So, you haven't hit anything yet?
Hey Matt,
No summer here in Maine yet! At 4:20 p.m. it is only 8 degrees F here but, with the wind, it feels like -11F!
Be sure to take a photo of your car showing the number plate when you get your camera equipment.
Have you set up your "Maine" room yet?
Regards, Paul Christian at Tom's
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