Vickiepedia

Aussies pronounce the alphabet H as “heych” instead of “eych”. So does it mean that they’d say “an A”, “a B”, “a C”… “a H” ?

I always thought I was one of those super-cool, mega-flexible, multi-cultural type of people. The truth is, I’ve been affected by my culture much more than I cared to admit. The truth is, one simple question Western people ask one another daily would stump me.

“How are you?”

I can’t really speak for the rest of the Hong Kongers, but generally speaking, unless you know the person personally and haven’t seen them for quite a bit, you don’t ask them how they are. Cashiers say hi, they don’t ask how you are. Neighbours don’t necessarily know one another; they say hi if they’re particularly friendly, they don’t ask how you are.

“How are you?”

I feel like crap. I’m stressed. I’m loaded with Uni assignment. I’m hungry. I’m tired. I’m PMS-ing. I have period cramps. “Good! How are you?”

Lecturer: Remember, no sandals or thongs in practical classes. Everything must be covered up.
Vickie (only half paying attention, suddenly alert): But… how do you even know if somebody is wearing a thong?!
Girl next to Vickie: Erm, thong shoes, maybe?

Oh. Ohhhh!

In the country of frequent droughts and no long showers; of crazy magpies that make noises like little kids in distress; of much overpriced non-unmetred broadband internet access; of toilet water that twirls counterclockwise (still pending confirmation); where somebody is supposed to get her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Sydney Uni plus a girlfriend and live happily ever after in the end — Australia — Vickie, surviving with the help from family friends, not making many new friends, currently renting from family friends’ friends’ friends… wow, I’ve lost track of what I originally wanted to blog about.

P.S. My cheap cereal looks like hamster food, but it’s oh-so yummy, with a tinge of freedom!

And here I am! The wonderful, cloudless country in the other Hemisphere, where there’s more UV than Ozone, where July is cold and January hot, where you could almost experience four seasons in one day, where water in the toilet bowl twirls counterclockwise (pending confirmation), where Vickie would be staying for the next 4 or 4.5 years. Bingo! Australia!

The flight was mostly pleasant (but that belongs to another entry when I have proper internet connection after I find a proper place to rent *sigh*); homesickness hasn’t got me much since the parents have really helpful friends over here; AMD Diablos… that poor thing took some minor injuries (pictures pending) even with all that “handle with care” and “fragile” stickers. Otherwise, Vickie is cool.

Although speaking of homesickness, Trusty #1 and Trusty #3 must be suffering from it — I couldn’t turn them on no matter what I do! Argh! Must resist getting a new vibrator!