After having said all of last year that I would return to my home country of Australia this year, I never expected that it would be so early in the year. When my dad approached me about the possibilities of coming back for my brother's birthday, and the dates seemed to fit perfectly into the way my year was shaping out, there was no reason not to go.
So on the 2nd of May, I climbed aboard an Aerolineas Argentina jet and 18 hours later, with a stopover in Auckland, I was in Sydney airport. What mixed feelings that brought.
Waiting at the Sydney airport.
For one it was great to be back in the country where I was born, with so many things so very familiar. However on the other hand I was now far from my home of Argentina, and the people that I cared so much about.
The shocks of Australia after being away so long...
Noting the "Aussie-ness" of This Place
The first thing that struck me was the strong Australian accents everywhere that seemed to flow out of virtually every mouth. Not only that, but their idioms and sayings also seemed strange after an absence of almost three years.
With the customs processing done, I made my way to the domestic airport where I discovered an Aussie food shop. My first meal was a good old steak sandwich and chips, washed down by a Bundaberg Ginger Beer. It was fantastic to enjoy these foods that I had not had in so very long.
Next was the junk food binge, with Cheesels chips, a V-energy drink, Mars bar, and my favourite chocolates, Maltesers. I was back, and loving every bite of it.
The speed of cars and aggressiveness of the drivers has surprised me too, as has seeing so many Aussie cars on the roads after not seeing any for so long. Lasers, Falcons, and Telstars, with Escorts and Commodores and dozens of "utes" are all great to see, but just seem so unusual.
Culture Shocks
The first thing that really struck me was when I handed over a large note to purchase something inexpensive. In Argentina this sort of purchase is often rejected because the shop attendant does not have the change or does not want to give you change to your large note.
When my note was accepted without delay or question I was shocked and amazed. My head told me that this was Australia and things are like that here, but my experiences had conditioned me to expect the hesitations that have always come with this sort of action.
Then, when I purchased my steak sandwich, I was handed a large blue tag that looked electronic. When I enquired into what it was, I was told that it was a buzzer that would flash and beep to let me know my meal was ready to pick up. Leaving the counter and sitting down, I kept studying the thing and wondering where they get the sort of money to have something so frivolous as this.
The turbo-jet plane going to Canberra.
I'm Back
So now I am back, and loving the rugged beauty of this land, the idioms of the language, and the friendliness of our culture. It is great to be back here now, and I am looking forward to catching up with all of my friends and family soon.