quicko: what's the buzz?

What's the latest in the Sydney cultural scene these days?

--The Sydney Festival is on this summer, but it doesn't look as great as in summers past.  The festival first night, for instance, has been diminished significantly and now seems to revolve around a (albeit kind of cool sounding) rubber duck in Darling Harbour ... but nothing else.

--The St. George's Open Air cinema is going to open up again soon!  It's one of my favorite special summer treats, though I don't think their line-up has been announced yet for this year.

--The Short and Sweet festival is just closing their auditions for actors, which I think means it'll be running around February 2013.

--There's a Dr. Suess exhibit on at the Opera House -- which would be an awesome spot to pick up a real Dr. Suess print if you happened to have a spare $1000 lying around.  (If you do, would you mind picking me up one too?)

quicko: fairy bread

I've mentioned it before, but this time there's a photo!!

photo: it's jacaranda time again!

photo: pretty clouds at sunset

Obviously the photo doesn't do this remote justice, but it gives you an idea:

quicko: caring for your ex-pat

It recently was brought to my attention that most people who haven't been ex-pats or close friends with ex-pats haven't got a very thorough concept of what ex-pats go through.  I've been thinking I'd like to write up a bit on the topic, but this is very much just my initial brainstorm.  There's so much to consider and think about and I'm just barely scratching the surface here, but I figure the first thing to do is simply to be aware of the issues ex-pats face.  Working out how exactly to help ... well, let's leave that for another day for now.  For starters:

Things That May Be Difficult for Ex-Pats

I.  Physical
   A.  Government/Visas
   B.  Money
         1.  Expenses
              a.  Plane tickets home
              b.  International phone/communication costs
              c.  Work restrictions can lead to less income
         2.  Navigating differences
              a.  Exchange rates
              b.  Differences in banks/accounts/etc
              c.  Getting money transferred
              d.  Taxes/international taxes
   C.  Medical
   D.  Moving
   E.  Employment
   F.   Phones/internet
   G.  Culture/habits/what is "obviously" the "right" way for things to happen
   H.  Stupid "little" stuff
         1.  The light bulbs don't change the same way
         2.  Organizing time to talk with friends back home
         3.  Time zones/daylight savings time/etc.
II. Emotional
    A.  Missing family/friends
    B.  Not having a network of family/friends -- having to build it up
    C.  Everything under "physical" creates STRESS! and is actually emotional as well

quicko: politics

Okay, this is a general note for Australians:  I know you find it strange, I know you disagree, I know you're just curious, I know you don't mean to be rude, but:  it is rude to ask an American who they voted for.  If I want to tell you, I will.  If I don't, it is none of your business!!

quicko: things i'm getting really tired of australians saying to me

--Are you Canadian?
--Well, you certainly still have your accent!
--Who'd you vote for?