quicko: selection criteria

So a major difference between applying for a job in America versus Australia is the whole concept of selection criteria.  In America, you keep a good resume up to date, and you work decently hard to write a good cover letter for each different application.  In Australia, you do all that PLUS you also address a list of your prospective employer's selection criteria -- generally about 8-10 rather precise requirements ("thou shalt give multiple examples to show thou ist the best team player the world hast ever known").  It is expected that for most of these (with the possible exception of "thou shalt be able to use MS Office to perfection") you'll come up with at least a paragraph if not three addressing these with pertinent examples from your professional life thus far.  All in all, the selection criteria document generally ends up being 3-4 pages and trumps the cover letter in terms of importance, though both are still required.

All that to say:  job applications here are way more intense.  Sigh.

photos: we're ENGAGED!!!!!

quicko: parcheesi

Australians don't seem to know -- or even know of -- Parcheesi.  When the American photographer (not me!) made a joke about "say Parcheesi" instead of "say cheese" nobody else got it (though they all pretended to.  I saw through them and discovered the truth.).

quicko: s'more s'mores

For curious Australians:  here's a good insight into the mystery that is s'mores.

quicko: slang regarding kids

There's a fair few lexical differences when it comes to things to do with kids -- this list isn't comprehensive, but it's a good start. The site in general is full of general fun facts about Australia, too!

Here's a quote to get you started:

"Want to see a Yank blush? Ask them to "nurse" your baby. It's another of those words that have a completely different meaning in different countries.

To an Aussie, you're asking them to hold your baby, but to an American, they think you want them to breast feed the baby. And yes, this did happen to an American visiting a new mum in the hospital. She was quite flustered and we didn't know why until she finally told us. Could have been worse. We could have asked her husband first."

photos: it's beginning to look a lot like advent!

Thanks, Mom, for my special Advent decorations!

photos: happy thanksgiving

We had a belated Thanksgiving this year on the Sunday after.  It was a ... partially traditional menu.  I did win the battle for turkey (over lamb), and we got pork thrown in for good measure.  I made stuffing and (burnt) applesauce and brought cranberry sauce, and we also had a green bean salad with radishes, roast potatoes (in duck fat, though I think most of that stayed in the pan), corn on the cob, a bean salad and tabouli.  For dessert, I made (burnt) gingerbread and apple crisp with (melted -- we seem to have forgotten to close the freezer) ice cream.  All in all, we were all full at the end.  Thankful for good friends to help me celebrate the holidays I miss most!