Uhhh...Say What?

So here I am, sitting in front of my laptop, doing a little correspondence/cyber catch-up with life outside small-time Oz when a disturbing discovery arises: I have a little international news going in the background via the fifty inch tv where I'm currently residing (yep. a fifty inch t.v. they have-but no air conditioner. I mean, come on), and a statement one of those crazy accented newscasters utters grabs my attention. Ahem- "The vatican celebrated International Women's Day today citing the washing machine as the ultimate liberator for women." 

Say What? 

I whipped my head around, intent to check that I had actually heard correctly-I mean, maybe I'm just imagining things. I have just worked three days of eight hour shifts waking up by 5am, and perhaps I've gone a little soft in the head consequently. Nope. This was the actual new story. Well, being the skeptical little bunny i am (you KNOW you can't believe everything you see on TV right?) I pulled up google to do a little research. Here are my findings:

-A recent article in recognition of International Women's Day in the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano made the claim, stating that the appliance had played "the most part in the emancipation of Western women in the twentieth century."

-"The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax" 

-Headline of the Article in Osservatore Romano (the OFFICIAL daily newspaper of the Vatican)

You have GOT to be kidding me. Of all the advancements made in the last century (we're talking women's suffrage, equal rights act, entering the workforce, legal rights within marriage, rise of women's higher education),how can one of the most influential entities in the world, not to mention one that I immensely respect being a catholic myself, make such an ignorant statement? I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the evidence is pretty damning. Let's just hope this is a slight miscommunication, or perhaps more a personal opinion of the writer than a stance by the Vatican. However, I'm still appalled of its appearance in their official media source to the public. Let's just hope this isn't an insight into their actual beliefs. 

On a side, yet slightly related note, today is ALSO Barbara Millicent Robert's 50th Birthday. Yep Barbie is 50. In case you were wondering, the old girl was born in Willow Wisconsin, a full two years before Ken. Although I wouldn't exactly link her with women's emancipation, I do have fond memories of Babs growing up. So Happy Birthday Barbie....here's to the next 50. 

Just a few bips and bops...

'I come from a land down under, where beer does flow and men chunder'-Men at Work

OK. I don't COME from a land down under, but I AM living there at the time being. In addition to currently appreciating Men at Work and their painfully catchy lyrics, I am now a Woman at Work.....

I have now officially been in Alpha, Queensland (my home for the next three months) for a week and so far I've helped to paint a house, woken up at 5am three mornings in a row, been on the losing end of an epic battle with the mozzies (that's mosquitos for you yanks-I have to apply copious amounts of 'bush perfume'-repellent-to try and fend them off), and sweated more profusely than I ever thought possible. Ah the life of luxury. After a brief training period in the ways of the 'chew and spew' (roadhouse-lovely play on words I must say) I completed my first shift today-it must be official because they gave me a key and everything. What does this mean? I start working a 9 day rotation: 3 mornings 6am-2pm (I started that today), then three nights 2pm-10pm, and finally the blessed three days off. 1 shift down, 5 more to go until I get to paint the town (AKA sleep). 

Anyhow, I'm going to wait to tell you more about my new residence after I get some visuals uploaded so stay tuned for that. For now, I thought I'd just share a few of my pictures and thoughts so far on the land down under:

1. Visiting Rockhamton-the beef capital of Australia-is like entering a time warp. Honestly. It's as though the city went through an industrialization period in the 60s, set up shop, and then thought 'eh. this is good enough for the next fifty years.' Seriously. I'm pretty sure not even a brush of paint has touched some of these buildings in that time period. But let's not be hasty. The hairdressers had looked like it had an upgrade-think Steel Magnolias and you get the picture.

2. I ate kangaroo. I know, I know. That was my reaction at first to, but I gave into curiosity, and let me tell you it was pretty darn good. A bit similar to venison; apparently it's also very nutritious so there you go. Sold.

3. I also ate crocodile. However I did not feel quite so guilty about that one. Those things are vicious. I bit like a cross between chicken and fish if you're wondering. Not as tasty as the cute one. Go figure.

4. Did you know saltwater crocs have hardly changed in 200 million years? Talk about consistency. We're talking age of the dinosaur style. Now that's what I call a survivor.

5. I have mastered the 'bush salute': the very technical and graceful manner of flapping your arms around your head to ward of the constant stream of flies/moths/mosquitos buzzing towards every possible entry into your body via face. Blech.

6. These Aussies come up with the craziest, most awesome names ever that are oh so much fun to say: Wooloomooloo (8 'o's in one name-that's inventive), Wagga Wagga, Boomahnoomoonah, Burrumbuttock, Toowoomba, and Tittybong (that's my personal favorite)

-note that most of these come from the Aboriginal influence so there you go. Culture.

7. Australia has snakes 50x more lethal than the cobra. And that's not even their most dangerous animal. 

8. The mars bar. For some reason this has always fascinated me since I always heard about it yet never really knew what it was. It's an American milky way. Kind of a let down really. Apparently a milky way here would be a three musketeer to us. So confusing. What ever happened to a little uniformity? Side note: The first Harry Potter book also has a separate American name-Instead of 'The Sorcerer's Stone' it is known to the rest of the world as 'The Philosopher's Stone.' It was renamed because publishers thought Americans wouldn't understand what a philosopher was. See what they think of us? Gah. 

Well that is all I have for now. You can check out a few sights I've seen as I've been a-wandering (I know. It rhymes. I'm a dork) through my pics link. My computer is being stupid and not letting me load up straight onto the blog for some reason. Oh the joys of technology....