You have to expect things to be different so far away from home. And they are. Surprisingly, though, there are more than a few things here I wish I could just infuse back home. Don’t get me wrong…this place has its share of problems/issues too. It’s just some differences are kind of surprising and a nice change. For example, it seems from all our dealings with people of any authority that most everyone here is a PERSON first and foremost. Their primary job is not to figure out how you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes or scam the system. It seems that they are primarily there to help you.
One example...arriving in Sydney. We go out through security and collect our bags. In addition to our 3 little kids and 5 carry-on bags, we now have our 10 large checked-in bags. We go through customs. No issues. Then we get in one of the lines for quarantine. Johanna (our 2 year old) announces that she has to go pee. There is no bathroom in this area. She still doesn't give us a ton of advanced notice so we feel pressured to figure out a solution sooner rather than later. A security guard says, "No problem, I will just escort you two back through customs and security to the bathroom, wait for you, and then escort you back to your family." OK!! THANK YOU!
Another example…customs issues with an incoming package from my sister (which is another story). One phone call to Sydney…guy at the other end takes time to hear my story. He tells me exactly what to do to resolve the issue – where to send my email, what (out of the whole story I told him) is relevant to the people who will get my email. He told me what would happen next. I did as he said. A short time later I get a reply to my message. “Carolyn, Thank for your email. Your goods will be released shortly.” DONE. Amazing. There just seems to be an underlying trust here. And lack of red tape.
When Paul and I went to get our driver’s licences, we expected the worst. When I moved to Alaska from Calgary, it took almost a whole day to get a new licence. I had to wait in line, study for a test, wait in line, take a written test, wait in line again, paperwork, photo, payment, wait for printing. Now we were 2 people, with 3 little kids to keep occupied. We were not optimistic. A little paperwork, a short wait, very quick eye test, payment, photo, DONE. We were all completely done and out of there in probably 40 minutes!!
In my opinion, if anyone should ever have to do a driver’s test it should be people who have to learn to drive on the other side of the road. We are just a hazard out there. Well, I’M a hazard. Case in point…on the way TO the Motor Vehicle Registration I came close to pulling out in front of oncoming traffic. I was distracted. I was looking left to make a RH turn, just like I had done countless times before. My subconscious was fully in charge. I would have pulled out in front of the quickly moving, very close, oncoming traffic on my right had Paul not been in the car and yelled at me. Whew. That would NOT have been good. Thank you so much, Love.
Some other things are just different. And confusing. And sometimes asking other people to rid you of your confusion just confuses them. Fueling up. The car is finally approaching empty and I have to figure out what to put in it. I find a station and pull in beside the building to figure it out.
First I pull out the manual. Not immediately obvious what the answer is. I guess they assume you know what you are doing in that department. Hmmm…I’ll just pull up to the pumps and ask that nice gentleman over there. I pull up, think to first open the cover on the gas cap and look for directions inside. There is a sticker. Great! It says “Ethanol (E10) Fuel Suitable”. I look at my options. They are numerous…Gas, Unleaded, Diesel, PLUS ULP, Premium 98. Hmmm...
OK, back to Plan B. Let’s ask. The nearby gentleman doesn’t know. He thinks I can use Unleaded, not sure about the PLUS ULP. Uh oh. OK, plan D? Let’s go inside and hope that the person behind the counter is a little more knowledgeable. I tell him what is printed on the sticker inside my gas cap cover. He says I can use the PLUS ULP. OK.
When I go back in to pay for the gas I ask him what the difference is between Gas and Unleaded. Gas is a lot cheaper and I am wondering if they still have leaded gas here. It is right in the line with the other pumps. He says, “You mean Unleaded?” I ask again. He says, “You mean Unleaded?” This is starting to sound like my first “Who’s on First?” conversation. I tell him that’s ok…I’ll Google it. I ask Paul. He thinks Gas is actually gas, like propane, not gasoline. Oh! I guess propane doesn’t require a special, separate area here. It might not even require special training to operate.
The theme? I guess they just leave you to it here and if you don’t know what you are doing…well, your story might end up in the next book of Darwin Awards.
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