Farmer Ted, on station...

Well it finally happened. Your Farmer Ted has officially become, er, Farmer "Aussie" Ted after having emigrated to The Land Down Under. Here for a few years.

It's really odd thinking about being an American in Australia after all the posts I've written since my first "Observing the Aussies". Will I continue to observe these differences? Well, from my vantage point on the porch of the station, I certainly hope so. Even though Pinchy (a great mate from Sydney) seems to think I'm developing a rather lopsided view of this land by not living in the great state of New South Wales and more pointedly, Sydney.

But I don't think it's going to be a problem since it keeps smacking me in a face with rather a lot of vigor. For example, what are those round rubber air-filled things your car drives on? Here they are called "tyres". Something which caused giggles amongst my American co-workers here for meetings since the last time we saw that in the US it was a reference on The Discover Channel to an extinct city in Phoenicia.

Truthfully, I'm enjoying being here. I've gotten the usual "We're gonna visit!" from my countrymen all the while knowing they won't (after all, being American I know that and count on it). I've also gotten several stunned "So you really DID do it!" from my Australian friends along with an offer of their liver to help me keep up in the pub (see my post "They Make the world go round...").

I think I'm gonna make it after all.

- Farmer Ted