So The Freeway Commute Is A Little More Challenging...

Week 3 began with a commute into the office in my backwards car. I am almost used to the stupid turn signal. I only turned the wipers on once this trip. For those of you who think that Charlotte has problems with roads, you should try to drive here. I went 10 minutes out of my way looking for Warringa Highway (according to my whereis.com directions), only to figure out that all of the signs say "M1," not "Warringa." But I figured it out, figured out how to get turned around, and managed to drive across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with no major difficulties. The biggest problem I am coming across is the width of the lanes here - a little more narrow. Now imagine trying to center in the lane when you are used to sitting on the left-hand side of the lane, and you'll understand my problem. Luckily I managed to stick in my own lane.

And because I know everyone wants to ask, I will address it here and now: yes, I have accidentally driven on the right (wrong?) side of the road. Once. And it was on a little side road when I was trying to turn around and go back to the M1. There was no one else coming down the road, no dividers, no lines in the road, and I just went towards the right without thinking. I figured it out pretty quick and corrected. So hopefully I have addressed the question on everyone's mind.

Anyway. I got to work, and parked in the "Car Park" next door. I headed up and got to work, only to be taken into a couple of meetings first thing. Ahh, now life is starting to feel a little more normal again! So I left the meetings with directions to a client, and was sent out, hoping that the CFO was ready for me to show up there. My directions included things such as "stay to the left - the speed limit is 100 there," "go up and over" to get around the airport, and "pull into the car park." One of the directors laughed as I wrote "go up and over" down. I told her if I wrote it down, I would remember it. Sure enough, it worked...

I got to the client, and the CFO was in a meeting for 2 more hours. So rather than driving the hour back to the office, I set up my computer and waited on him to show up. I want to thank those of you night owls who were emailing me late last night (this morning my time). It helped me pass the time some, plus it really made my day to hear from so many of you. I also worked on a couple of little things during my wait, including reading through a report on the client's business and controls. While I was really just doing it to pass the time and get a little info on the client, it ended up being a good thing. I made some comments from it to the CFO, and I think I managed to win him over a little bit. Not that everyone isn't enamored with me from the start with the accent and all. :) (And yes, I did have someone ask me where I was from today when I spoke to him. Although I don't think I am going to get tired of that question - it is kind of fun.)

Okay, so from the earlier comment about getting directions, I guess you figured out I got to drive 100 today! Actually, it was up to 110! Relax. Kilometers per hour. There are two things I think are funny about it: The first is that speed cameras work. I don't even know if they really have them around here, but there are several signs out to warn you about them. Apparently, the people who drive here are scared of them, because very few people speed. (Including me - I stuck to the speed limit!) If it is 100 KM/H, people are doing 90. The other funny thing is that people talk about how fast the speed limit is, as shown by the director's comment when he was warning me about the 100 KM/H speed limit. For the record, 100 KM/H is equal to about 62 MPH. But people get really wound up when it gets that fast, and I have yet to see anyone go about 110 (the speed limit in one part of my drive). If you take all of the people who speed in the US, and switch it from going over the speed limit to going under the speed limit, you have the Sydney drivers.

So things I have learned today:
1. The "car park" is not a garage. I drove into the client to find that there was no parking garage. Apparently a "car park" is anywhere you park a car - either a garage or a parking lot. Good to know.
2. It is expensive as crap to drive here. I paid $12.60 in tolls to get to the client and back today. Add that one onto the $38 I paid to park in the car park next to the office for a whopping 2.5 hours. The sad part is that there is a $49/day max, which you meet after 4 hours. Add to that the fact that petrol here is $1.55 per liter (about $5.85 per gallon), well, I don't think I am going to complain too much about traffic or gas priced in Charlotte for a while. (I said "for a while.")
3. Aussies don't sing while they drive. At least, not that I have seen. In fact, I don't think they sing at all while listening to music. For the huge number of people who walk around town with their iPods on, I have yet to hear anyone sing out loud on the street, in the train, on the bus or ferry, wherever. Everyone stays quiet. This one has been an interesting challenge for me. For any of you who have had the privilege of being in the car while I belted one out, or for anyone who has happened to be in my house while I was in the shower, you'll know that I have a hard time keeping it in. So in some ways, it is nice to be in a car by myself so that I can sing along with the radio, and not have to keep it in while listening to my iPod.
4. I like Aussie radio. Random, and lots of fun American songs. Although I found it funny that the very first song I heard yesterday when I turned on the car radio was Kylie Minogue. And when I went to the grocery store later in the afternoon, I heard "Land Down Under" playing in the store. I don't know why, but I find it mildly entertaining.

Well, unfortunately since I do not have to take public transportation for the next 3 weeks, I will not have access to my favorite mX paper. I am a little bummed about that one. But I will try to listen to the radio and get some good stories for you guys. Havaleh, you said you're big on these stories, so you will have to let me know if these new stories will suffice until I get back on the train. Here's the one I have today:

There is a guy who plays AFL (Australian Rules Football) for one of the local teams. If you have ever seen AFL, you will understand... These guys are hard core. They beat the crap out of each other with some of the hardest tackles you will ever see. Yet they don't wear any pads or helmets or any of that sissy stuff that the NFL players wear. These guys are tough.

So this guy has been suspended indefinitely because he has tried to punch two guys in the last four matches he played in. In fact, the suspension was because he tried to hit a guy at a game over the weekend, not because he did hit him. This guy has already been suspended 7 games this year for knocking out another guy. Isn't that part of the rules of the AFL? Beat the crap out of your opposition? I think he should come play for the NBA, but he might be a little too wimpy. Why? Because of the reason he is suspended. It is at the recommendation of the team psychologist. That's right, folks, the guy is a having his head examined. And why? Because his anger management issues are due to the fact that he is working through some "personal problems" believed to be related to his girlfriend. Seriously??? Man, even the "tough" men here are pansies!