Australian English 101

This morning is the beginning of my second full day in Pinjarra here in Western Australia. The people are great and from the minute I touched down in the airport I've been picking up on the easy-going, laid back, conversational nature of folks here. The pastor and wife with whom I am staying are sociable, kind, learned, and hospitable people, and the folks I've met so far at the meeting house (literally called that in this case) are also very friendly.

Yesterday morning when I spoke to the ladies' group I felt the time went reasonably well. I didn't feel as good about the meeting last night, however, as I stuttered and stammered throughout that particular talk, which I was giving for the first time (going too long in the process). Things will go smoother next week when i give it again.

I'm being exposed to a lot of  Australian English/slang already. Just a few of the dozen or more new terms I've begun hearing already:

Barrack - cheer or root for a sporting team or someone in general (eg. rugby league or Aussy rules football)

Biscuit: Cookie

Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine

Maccas (pronounced. "mackers") : McDonald's

Mob: Group of person or things (not necessarily unruly).

Rockmelon: Canteloupe

Tomato Sauce: Ketchup

Anyway, in spite of the obvious differences, it'll still be easier to learn some of these terms than my present task of learning the Taiwanese language, which I need to take a little time to tackle now that I'm finished with this blog entry.

Road Project Progress

You must be thinking by now: "Wow, life sure is exciting in Western Yunlin." Not. Before they starting breaking up things on this side yesterday, here's what's been happening on the other side of the road from July 6 to the present. Maybe it'll be paved when I get back.

No Way to Have Team Meeting at My House This Week...

As I sat commiserating with my neighbors last night, I commented that it feels like a war zone here. In all fairness to all the places around the world where people are truly suffering,  including Odessa, India where Indian Christians are being mercilessly targeted now, actually, we're just dealing with a inconvenient construction project, but the ceaseless noise of drilling and shoveling has given me a headache that won't stop. And all the dirt and dust!

As of yesterday afternoon, I have no way to park my car or my scooter in front of or inside my house. To get out to the street requires a leap of faith (no dirt bridge for me yet). Sweeping and mopping is also a futile endeavor. Water is turned off during the day, and after they're done with the water pipes the electricity people will come for several days to turn off the electricity.  The road construction, which began a couple of months ago, is not scheduled to be finished until shortly before Chinese New year.

Thankfully, I'm scheduled to leave Taiwan on Monday and not be back for a month. And if before or after that time I need a place to hang out, our recently-relocated office is only 5 minutes away. But I feel for all my neighbors, especially my sculptor friend who works in front of his house.

Before you leave this post, enjoy a free headache on me by viewing the attached video of yesterday's fun.

Cowardly Indian Ringneck

Tonight I let all three birds (Indian Ringneck, which I previusly falsely identified as a Green Conure since I only knew the Chinese name, Monk Parrakeet and Yellow Lovebird who returned after a three month absence-- I am now virtually certain it is the same bird) out for a little exercise. The Ringneck likes hanging out on the ceiling fans, which I have been good at remembering to turn off first!

Pretty obvious from this clip which I took later which of these two birds is the boss, even though the lovebird is 1/3 the size of the Ringneck! Although it wants to come over to me, whenever the lovebird is on my shoulder, the Ringneck is too afraid.

More on Healer Songwriter

Here's a well-done video of the song I mentioned in my last post.

And the sad story which broke earlier this week, as told on an Australian newscast.



I can see why so many of the deceived are angry. At the same time, it sounds like the father, the pastor of another large megachurch, might be going into protective mode as well. Hmmm.... father-son issues to be resolved here? Reminds me of what I've been reading lately in The Shack.

"When they kept on questioning him, [Jesus] straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7

"My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted." Gal 6:1