Day 14, Sydney, Australia,
February 15, 2009
One of the neat things about Australia is what they call certain shops. An auto body shop is called Smash Repair and small liquor stores that are attached to pubs are called Bottle Shops. And, news readers are allowed to use common slang. Here is a brief list:
School kids…schoolies
Members of a motorbike club…bikies
Politicians…polies
Truckdrivers…truckies
Surfers…surfies
This morning we are heading out to visit my friend Greg and his family. He was my best friend when we moved to the Sydney suburb of Rosebery in 1958. We met in grade two. After moving to Canada we lost track of each other. One day I received a letter which was sent via my sister who lives on Vancouver Island. Greg had married the cousin of my sister's best friend whom she had kept in contact with. We renewed our friendship when Jill and I visited Australia together for the first time to celebrate our 25th anniversary eleven years ago. Greg and Rosemary met us at the airport - we hadn't seen a picture of each other since 1962. Greg said he would look exactly the same with slightly less hair and I said I would be the guy with the beard and big smile. In the crowded airport, I heard a voice calling out, "Peeta, is that you?"
February 15, 2009
One of the neat things about Australia is what they call certain shops. An auto body shop is called Smash Repair and small liquor stores that are attached to pubs are called Bottle Shops. And, news readers are allowed to use common slang. Here is a brief list:
School kids…schoolies
Members of a motorbike club…bikies
Politicians…polies
Truckdrivers…truckies
Surfers…surfies
This morning we are heading out to visit my friend Greg and his family. He was my best friend when we moved to the Sydney suburb of Rosebery in 1958. We met in grade two. After moving to Canada we lost track of each other. One day I received a letter which was sent via my sister who lives on Vancouver Island. Greg had married the cousin of my sister's best friend whom she had kept in contact with. We renewed our friendship when Jill and I visited Australia together for the first time to celebrate our 25th anniversary eleven years ago. Greg and Rosemary met us at the airport - we hadn't seen a picture of each other since 1962. Greg said he would look exactly the same with slightly less hair and I said I would be the guy with the beard and big smile. In the crowded airport, I heard a voice calling out, "Peeta, is that you?"
