OK. Close your eyes and compose your image of an Australian on a typical day in Australia. Think quick. Is it a fit, tan man in khaki shorts and dusty boots, walking through the arid outback in the hot sun? Perhaps a barefoot surfer in his Billabong tshirt? A young girl in her plaid summer school dress, shading her eyes from the sun with her wide-brimmed hat, standing outside of her open-windowed classroom?
Now, consider this young American transplant about to sit down to breakfast on a sunny June morning:
Granted, our heating system conked out last night. Tragically, it gave out on the coldest night that we have experienced thus far- a low of about 42 degrees Fahrenheit. But to be honest, I never imagined that it would get chilly enough so that I would have to break out my L.L.Bean wool sweaters and mittens. People told us to bring our "winter woolies", so we did- I just couldn't picture when I would wear them.
Actually, the weather here is still mild compared to what we experienced in Connecticut in the winter months. In June, July and August, the daytime temperature averages around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And in the strong sun, it can be quite warm. It just seems that Australians are not prepared for the chill in the air (or perhaps we Americans are just wimps). Most homes do not have central heating (we are fortunate to have central heat in our home when it is working!), and certainly no insulation to keep in any warmth. Many people rely on space heaters to warm up a central room or two, and then dash down the hall to their bedrooms and dive under the doona to have their night sleep. In winter in New England, you knew you had to bundle up to go outside, but you could count on it being comfortable when you stepped inside. Here, you don't know what to expect- I often see people wearing a scarf and hat indoors. Alternatively, I've also observed many people who strike me as underdressed for the weather- in shorts and t-shirts, or only dressed in a thin shirt while I am wearing a turtleneck, wool sweater, heavy fleece and wool mittens. Clearly my blood is too thin for a country that is milder than my own!
As one person observed to me, "We reckon ourselves to be a warm country, and therefore we spend 3 or 4 months of the year being chilly." So true. I always wondered why those UGG boots lined with wool came from Australia- now I know. I may even go out and buy a pair for myself.
The chill aside, I thought I would share a few pictures from a peaceful winter Sunday afternoon.
