Signs of Spring

It is a beautiful spring day in Melbourne, and so I thought I would write to my friends today. We are adjusting to our new surroundings more and more all the time. For me, there has been a bit of a culture shock, even though we generally speak the same language. But as we meet more people with similar interests and make more friends, the cultural divide gets smaller.

Melbourne really is a lovely city! The trams are similar to San Francisco trolleys, and the trains are a lot like the ones you find in Chicago and Boston. The bay is gorgeous, and I can't wait to frequent some of the area's beaches! It is almost swimsuit season...here they call them "bathers" (pronounced "bay-thers").

To save money, we have been eating in more often than eating out. I forgot to pack my favorite cookbook, but it should get here soon (thanks mom!). Instead of ground beef (minced beef), we find that minced lamb is cheaper and we use that in our spaghetti sauce. It makes for a richer flavor as well! There is a large Greek population here, and the gyros and kebabs are fabulous. Dolmas are only about $2.00 each. Yummy!

I have solved my former coffee dilemma - Lachlan's mum kindly gave us her coffee maker. It is almost exactly like the one we were using in Wisconsin, a Braun drip-filter "normal" coffee maker. We have found a few coffee bean places and purchased a bag of Sumatra coffee. It really hit the spot, and for a moment I felt like I was back in America enjoying a good cup of coffee again.

FLORA AND FAUNA

We went to a family reunion in a national park in the Dandenong Ranges. I got a few photos before the batteries went dead. The beautiful birds were eating out of our hands! After the gathering we went to see "Puffing Billy," a very old steam engine train that goes through the mountain range. It looked very much like the little engine that could.

There are so many parks in Melbourne, it is a nature-lover's dream. The Royal Botanical Gardens are fantastic, and they are located right in the middle of the city. But my favorite park is the Fitzroy Gardens. It is a lot smaller than the RBG, but it has a certain charm to it. There is an area that has a miniature village with tiny houses, gardens and lights. Then there is the "fairy tree" that has carvings of fairies along the massive trunk of this tree. Then there are ponds, and flower gardens, and large open areas to have a picnic. And the park dips down below street level, so it doesn't seem like you are right next to a busy intersection.

NEWS FLUSH (OR HALF FLUSH)

I thank those of you who wrote me back to let me know your thoughts on Hurricane Katrina, Iraq, and George W. Bush. That is what a democracy is all about. We should all be free to tell each other what we think about current events, and hopefully work together toward creating a better place for ourselves and for future generations. There is always room for improvement. Do not be stagnant and just accept things the way they are, unless you're happy with everything that's been going on.

KANGAROO JACKIE

Now that we are in the city, we haven't had any more kangaroo chasing adventures. But the possums have become her new quarry. Since there aren't any squirrels in Australia, the possum makes a good substitute. Jackie is now trying to learn how to climb trees so she can play with the possums. She gets about six feet up and falls back down again. The possums just look at her from about 15 feet up the tree and watch her put forth her best effort and fail every time.

WORK-A-BERRA

Lachlan's part time job has been extended through Christmas! He is still looking for a full time job, but this at least takes some of the pressure off. I have also been meeting other musicians and I landed a job playing in a production of "Les Miserables!" There are ten performances in total, and they start later this week. This is one of my favorite musicals - I saw it three times in Chicago when I was in high school - so it is a thrill to actually be a part of it. I am also being considered for a violin teaching position with a private music school across from Melbourne University. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

MOVIE REVIEWS

The Proposition
I'm not sure if this movie has been or will be released in the States. It is an Australian film starring Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential), and written by Nick Cave. It is set in the outback during the "wild west." The movie was given very high ratings by the film critics here, so we thought it was going to be one of those epic westerns. Unfortunately, the hardcore violence and extremely depressing storyline left us feeling pretty disappointed. Actually, it made me want to take a shower, as all of the characters were greasy and sweaty the whole time. I guess it was a very realistic portrayal of the time, and I'm glad I wasn't there. I can't recommend seeing this film.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

More hugs across the ocean,

B.