G-Day everyone and Happy Australia Day!
Merr' is at work, and before starting my nightly homework assignments I thought I would record how I was feeling especially homesick today as I was reminiscing over the 16 or so years I spent growing up in Melbourne.
Our home page is set to http://www.msn.com.au/ and it is my window to my home from up here in the United States. It has all the news programs and sporting updates you need from Aussie Rules Football to 60 minutes. I just watched a segment on how thousands of people from all over the world chose Australia as their country of citizenship. There were kids singing the vegemite song and congregations singing waltzing Matilda, not to mention dozens of yobbos spontaneously yelling "Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!"
So what do we do on Australia Day? Well it is an anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, the unfurling of the British flag at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Like the 4th of July celeberations in the United States, we have parades, people become extremely patriotic and the menu mainly consists of 2 things: Snags and Beer.
I am very grateful to have lived in the United States for the past 5 and a half years, however It has been the hardest thing I have ever done. But I recieved the blessing of serving a mission in Columbus, Ohio and I fell in love with Merridee and she was brave enough to marry me! If only I could take her home to Melbourne so she could see how beautiful it is and enjoy 'the serenity'. I just know she would love it there. Hopefully that isn't wishful thinking and it can become a reality some day soon! Maybe I can win the lotto and move any of her willing family members there so she would be more willing!
I've included some youtube links for entertainment purposes, nothing like a good laugh!
Also a few quick trivial points:
- Australia is the largest continent occupied by one nation and it is the least populated.
- Population is approx. 20 Million (just under the population of Texas alone!
- Australia is the only english speaking country to have made voting copulsory in federal and state elections. Statistically 95% of all citizens vote, the other 5% cop a fine!
- The secret ballot box-the most prized symbol of democracy-was pioneered in Victoria (the state I am from) in 1856.
- Australia is one of the most governed countries on Earth with one politician for every 20,000 Aussies.
- The first life-saving club was founded in Sydney, NSW in 1906.
- Microsurgery, the bionic ear and the pace-maker were all founded in Australia.
So even if you plan on living here forever, make sure you at least make one visit down under! You won't regret it! Hooroo...
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-AU&brand=ninemsn&vid=bdee4adc-ac2b-43dc-bb44-0756fd8c1d5b - New citizens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGxG6r6I7i4 -A recent Vegemite commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jp-vn-HiM - Delta Goodrem's "Lost without you"
We recently saw her and she is amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_hqosNvv5E - Aussie Rules Football
This link is a picture of the house we lived in back home in Melbourne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzvQdcBTQmM - Aussie version of Jingle Bells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy_TB6onHVE - this will get you there!
http://www.ausinternet.com/ettamogah/aussiewords.htm - Common Aussie Slang
If you can't click on the URL's then just copy and paste them up the top on your browser!
My sister and I when we were young'uns, and me at the zoo in Columbus.
Don't mind the wet spot in the middle of my back, It is from her washing out the coloring. 
