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What I have learnt in the last month

In the last month in Sydney, I managed to learn a number of life lessons, some silly, some really valuable, I will try and share these with you today. 

The more things change, the more things stays the same is very true and can be applied to almost any situation, so the traditional gender roles will apply regardless of the continent you find yourself on.  I will still be responsible for laundry, my husband with numerous degrees cannot operate a washing machine, tumble drier or iron.  We live with the creases and kids can wear a pair of pajamas at least three times before it needs a wash.  

Anything that involves labour should be appreciated, you can buy a dress on sale in Australia for $5, and a cappuccino will set you back $4,50. Common sense tells you this is not possible, yet it is, you see the minute someone in Australia makes your cuppa, at a minimum wage of something totally ridiculous  like $40 000 per annum you pay, clothes are made in Chinese sweat shops, so its cheap. 

Woolworths in South Africa is the bestest place on earth, they chop, peel, dice and cook for you. Woolworths in Australia is just another retail store. 

Filling up a car with petrol is an unthankful job, South Africans must tip petrol station attendants more, heck, give them minimum wage if you must, in Australian dollars.  It is smelly and confusing and not as easy as it looks. 

Cleaning the house is only fun for the first ten times that you do it, after that, lets just say your standards are dropped ever so slightly.  Cobwebs, where? No Liam, there should be a ring around the bath so we can see where the water must go...just dry the plate a bit better Gerhard, its not that dirty.  

Public transport is amazing and possible.  Gautrain must be embraced, busses and all.  However, if you do drive, embrace the gigantic parking spots in Gauteng where you can fit a bus. 

The correct spelling of busses and forrest is in fact buses and forests.  Sorry Australians, I had to google this. 

Home really is where the heart is and I simply cannot live anywhere else than amongst friends and family in South Africa.  I miss Sekai too much, I miss Liam's school, date nights, fancy restaurants, going to work and gym everyday without my kids, affordable childcare, affordable houses with more than one bathroom for a family of four. 

Yes, we are leaving Sydney tomorrow, back in SA on Sunday.  We live on the edge and we fly by the seats of our pants...who knows, we might try Kazakstan next, there is nothing boring about us...

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