Mateship

As usual when I say something, something else must come up and prove me wrong. It makes me think about it while I'm sitting at beloved Starbuck's - thank you mankind for inventing such place -, sipping on my caramel and cinnamon frappucino and reading today's paper.

Referring to the remark in my last post about "mate", I came across to a very nice piece of writing which goes as follow:

"Mateship is one of the values we as Australians hold most dear. Mateship crosses any boundaries set up by gender, or by ethnic origin, or political affiliation, or bank balance or street address. A mate can be your husband, your wife, your son, your brother, or your best friend. Or the digger behind you on the battlefield. Or a near total stranger. It is the great equaliser in Australian society. It is not an exclusively Australian expression, but you will hear it used most often here, and in all kinds of contexts. It is mostly, but not always, a term of endearment, and it underpins our notions of and belief in, an egalitarian society.

We believe in equality, irrespective of race, religion, gender or national origin. Every man or woman succeeds or fails in this nation according to their personal dedication or their personal worth. They succeed or fail irrespective of their birth, or their birthplace, or their racial origin. We value our prosperity, our tolerance and our compassion. We are straightforward and largely self-reliant and as we have shown repeatedly, ever ready to provide help wherever it is needed." (John Howard, Friday, Sept. 15th, 2006).

It is 100% true. It might be irritating at first cos they say it so frequently but it truely gives a sense of familiarity and brotherhood. Luca, you had better think twice before ranting and letting it all flow out.

Deeply apologetic.

Good news. Yesterday I decided to put an end to what seemed to be an endless and pointless roof search. So I drew a list of all places I had a look at. And I made up my mind. Obviously I contacted Laura at least five times before.

Ladies and gents, I am pleased to announce my new flatmate's name is Helen - not sure about the spelling though, I will enquire and let you know -. The flat looks really nice. It's on two storeys and is rather cheap for being so centrally located. It's on Broadway which is fantastic cos it is close to either all places in the City and all buses to work - it won't take more than 20 minutes to get there: great!

The Chinese girl has her own room downstairs while I'm staying in the kitchen/living room upstairs which she claims she has hardly ever used. She used to live with her best friend who decided, alas, to get married and left the apartment. I hope we will get along well. This way I won't be bothered every time she happens to come upstairs. She's gay-friendly and has queer friends as well which is good. I would like to take her out to dinner some day next week so we can get to know each other better. She works in a hotel and is at her last semester at uni - studying similar shit as me - so I figured it as she is pretty busy. We'll see.

Anyway, I'm moving in tomorrow after 6, I already gave notice to the hostel guys.

I think that's all for now folks.

I just want to say thank you for all the emails I keep receiving and sorry if my reply is not prompt. I will catch up with it soon, but not now cos today the sun is hining bright, breeze is blowing gently and I'm off to the luna park in Kirribilli. Or shopping, haven't decided yet. Or maybe both...

Anyway, Cheers!

P.S. As promised, I post here some pictures I've taken with my mobile. For some unexplained reasons my camera seems not be working at all. They're not top-quality photos but I like them.

Sydney, Day Two.

I slept 16 hours. I did not know I was even capable of that. I esteem myself very much.

So my day started a little past 1 pm and looks almost over. I made calls and checked out some flats. I like a couple. I hope I will make up my mind soon, pick the right one and get it over with. I like the city. I love the people. I am already learning my way around. At least downtown now begins to look familiar. I am writing from the same place as yesterday, just to have some points of reference, you know.

I am realizing just now how awefully far away I am. Thrilled!

I have very good news. I have graduated.

I passed the exam with a miserable - but extremely precious - 19 - for those who are not familiar with the Italian examination system, the minimum required mark is 18 out of 30. I could not care less.

This is officially the last time I have to express profound concern about university-related bullshit. V. happy and gay.

Just one last funny remark is about this Australian vernacular. I should get a T-shirt with a nice clear writing on it: "DON'T CALL ME MATE!". They don't say sentences like Thank you or Please or You're welcome. The have a suffix the attach to absolutely everything. It all becomes Thank you, mate or Please mate or You're welcome mate. They even give you the change saying: 2.50 'ate. They don't even pronounce it correctly!!!

Enough with bullshit.

I'm starting to worry about some close "friend". Actually ex. Ex-boyfriend I mean. I sent him a message when I was in Milan, saying I wanted to meet up and say goodbye and he didn't reply. I thought he was in Amsterdam for Madonna's concert but indeed he was not. I sent him a message when I was in the airport lounge waiting to board. I sent him an email saying I'd arrived alright. Silence. I read his blog - meaning at least he is still alive - and I understood he must be feeling very low. He's a wreck. That's what love makes you sometimes, I suppose. Evil sweet creature.

Sydney, Day One.

I'm in Sydney at last. The journey seemed infinite, endless really. I'm very happy and excited. Dead tired, but glad. Everybody here speaks so nicely. All the troubles I had a few days ago in Milan seem to have disappeared. Gone. It feels like a long time ago.

I didn't say anything about the nightmare that was last week.

I took the first exam alright. The second one was really hard and I'm not sure I passed it. I hope I have otherwise all the effort I had put into writing the thesis properly becomes absolutely worthless. I presented the final paper to my professor who was positively surprised and praised my job (!!!??). He said I should expect 3 or 4 points for it (out of 4). Jawdropped. The graphs must have made an impression...

Hence it all comes down to that damned exam I had on Wednesday. If the bastard hasn't flunked me, then I've graduated.

Anyway, the city looks really nice. I saw the Opera House from the airplane just before landing. That was so cool. Now it's showering. Nice way to say "Welcome!". I'm in an internet cafe in Oxford Street, near Hyde Park, which happens to be The gayest spot in town. I just noticed a very cute mate walking down the street who winked at me. Obviously I immediately winked back and turned around to see if he was looking back. He did, if you're interested. :)

The rain just stopped. The wind has not. I'm going to check three flats out this afternoon. I'm starting to feel rather jetlagged. My legs hurt and are sore. I haven't found a properly drawn map which includes all bus lines so I have to walk, which is fine cos I get to see the city, but it's really tiring as Sydney is impressively large. Pelting with rain again.

I'll ask this nice sir here where I can find something interesting. Alternatively there are a few dildo shops whose owners seem to be very keen on talking and giving directions to a lost mate. Haha.

I've received mail from Finland - which made me very happy - and from Italy - which makes me think whether time has suddenly dilated and people already start missing my exquisite being.

I know I should be all happy and cheerful and blahblahblah - which I am!!!! - but I can't help thinking today is 9/11. I'm walking around these high skycrapers and feeling a bit quirky and creepy. Wonder what it must feel like for those who lost someone five years ago.

Enough with negative thoughts. Let's talk a little about my hostel, which is the most freezing one I've ever lodged in. There are no windows, just holes in the walls with a net against flies and mosquitoes. The Japanese guy who seems to have been living there for a while said they never installed them. But I'm not sure cos I doubt my listening skills when it comes to uneducated foreigners. Yes, I'm a jerk.

I'm off to don't-know-where.

Later.