Cultural Misunderstanding

Today at work a person called in looking for the email address of the lady in accounts payable. There is a letter Z in the address, but when I spelled it out they just kept repeating back “V” to me. This went on for a few repetitions, and I was starting to get a little annoyed, but I’m reasonably patient and decided to clarify by saying “Z as in Zebra”. Except in Australia, the word zebra is pronounced in a way that rhymes with Debra. The words came out and it was too late to catch myself, but then a second later I realized what the actual problem was. Z in Australia is pronounced “zed” not “zee”, so I sounded like an idiot not once, but twice. It was almost as bad as the time I started to say “flip flops” (an Americanism) then tried to switch to “thongs” mid word, only to end up with... “flongs”. 

Land Ahoy!

Summer is starting to wind down, and I’ve been finding it more and more difficult to wake up early enough to go for a run before work. I did manage to get moving this morning, and decided to follow the path along the Esplanade to see the sun come up over the ocean. As I rounded a bend, there were at least 100 people gathered around (at six in the morning!) and I saw a stranded fishing boat right near the shore. Apparently the crew is Indonesian, and all escaped unharmed, but I’m a little unsure how they managed to get stuck there. 

The surfers just went on about their business. There were five rescue boats trying to get it free (it was high tide when I was out) but apparently they haven't had any luck so far. According to the Sydney Morning Herald the rescue effort hasn't been too impressive:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cronulla-trawler-salvage-ridiculed-for-macgyver-approach-20130220-2eqzm.html

Good News!

I found out on Friday that the board has approved my attendance at the Major Orchestra Librarian's Association (MOLA) conference in Portland this April!  It's really nice having a job where they actually encourage the professional development of their employees, when two years ago I was a purveyor of food and drinks to rude people. As boring as a librarian conference sounds, I think it will be an amazing chance to meet some more experienced librarians, attend seminars about the most up-to-date issues, and learn a few more tricks of the trade. Of course it doesn't hurt that it will be in Portland, and I can fit in a trip up to Seattle while I'm here! Hopefully I'll be a bit more used to the plane ride by now.
Other than that, I've had a fairly relaxing Saturday. I went to the beach early because it's supposed to rain later, and witnessed a truly breathtaking spectacle: lifeguard fitness testing. Which entails twenty bronzed man-gods paddling out to a buoy and back on their surfboards, then running a lap down the beach in their budgie smugglers (speedos). Happy Saturday!

Super Bowl XLVII

After missing the Super Bowl last year, I decided to take the day off work so that I could watch it. After meeting up with a few guys from Hayden’s baseball team for breakfast, we down the street to Northies where they were showing the game. By the time they opened at 10am, there were already about 100 people milling around outside, with maybe 5 females total including myself. I ordered a bucket of Budweiser, which was sadly what they decided to put on special since most people here are under the impression that it’s all that Americans drink. I was kind of amazed how many people here seem to follow the NFL; it doesn’t hurt that it’s the offseason for footy I guess. Also, I was unpleasantly surprised when I found out they don’t show the commercials here, it’s all for local stuff. Rip off!  

Buds as far as the eye can see.