Deaf Anthology #57: "G'Day From Down Under"

Joan: "John, found your travelogues."

John: "I was a travel editor of the Silent News before pursuing a career as a screenwriter."

Jason and Jeffrey: "Would you read it to us tonight at bedtime?"

John: "Mates, will also show you guys some souvenirs."

It's eighteen hours flight from Milwaukee, Queensland, Australia. I obtained my U.S. Passport from the local post office, and the visa from the Australian consulate in Chicago. I exchanged American dollars into Australian currency at First Wisconsin-Milwaukee. United Airlines inspected my baggage and visa (not the credit card) in Los Angeles. They're satisfied that I'm not planning kangaroo hunting in the outbacks.

It felt good when I arrived in Brisbane: I didn't want to watch Cher in "Moonstruck" again that I have to put up with on my flight. Some movies are with subtitles but unfortunately they're in Japanese.

I rented a Holden (GM-Australian fleet) from Avis. I noticed that the popular car around is the Ford Falcon. In Australia, the steering wheel is on the right side and you drive on the left side of the road. I had no problems except when I made a left turn once, after the traffic light changed. I learned that "bastard" (friend) have a different meaning in Australia, and "lift" is an elevator.

I stayed at the Travelodge in Brisbane. In my room was a minibar, it's stocked with "Foster," their beer.

On Australian television, I noticed that you can watch NBC's "Today" after midnight, and the USA Today newspaper is sold at a Chemist (drugstore) at $2.50 an issue.

The only thing that is expensive is the Kodak film so when you travel abroad, bring it with you and wait until you return to develop it.

At Queen Street Mall, I ate an Aussieburger at Hungry Jack (Burger King) where beef come with beets. Also there, went to see "Crocodile Dundee II" before its release in the states. I notice the scene of the Hoyt subway station in New York City on screen. Hoyt is the distributor of the film in Australia while Paramount is the distributor here in the United States.

The purpose of my trip to Australia was to attend World Expo 88 in Brisbane in observance of their bicentennial. My deaf brother took me to the New York World's Fair when I was ten. Buster, my brother, was a linotypist with the New York Times. Since then been to Expo '84 in New Orleans and Expo '88 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

At World Expo '88, the theme is l "leisure" so the forty nations that participated exhibited themselves in that manner. The most popular, Switzerland, demonstrated skiing whereas you can actually ride in a ski lift within its pavilion and go downhill on their artificial snow, they also provided instructions.

Queensland is a tropical state. Its seasons are opposite ours, when it's winter here, it's summer there.

In the pavilion of the United States of America, they demonstrated various sports on their outdoor court such as basketball. Australians can pitch a ball and a radar gun will measure its speed. It's in metric so don't ask me how fast I've thrown a ball. In one area, they show videos of our Major League, NFL, NBA, etc. Australians play cricket and football (actually soccer) .

I visited the Queensland Deaf Society, purchased their sign language book. Their ASL is different from our ASL. One example is that two hands are used in fingerspelling (British commonwealth) whereas we use just one. The signs are the same in New Zealand. I studied and practiced their fingerspelling before visiting the Stafford School of the Deaf outside of Brisbane. I signed "Me American, M-I-L-W-A-U-K-E-E" I couldn't understand what's the excitement is all about but was told that they are familiar because they watch "Happy Days." Yes, I met the Fonz once. Since arriving back, I got a letter from one Deaf pupil, wanting me to send him our ASL textbook after seeing "Project X"

One day I drove to the Gold Coast, to gamble at the Jupiter's casino. I learned "Two Ups," their form of gambling. I ate at McDonald's; unlike McDLT, their McFeast is already put together. Shopping is different in Australia, as they have hypermarkets, where you can do all your shopping in one place, including grocery at K-Marts and Targets (an Australian business entity). I returned to Brisbane after filling up with pedro (gas) and sat in a whirlpool on the rooftop of our hotel.

After a week in Brisbane, flew on an Australian airbus to Sydney. I stayed at another Travelodge on the Rocks, the first landings of the British. Originally, Australia is a penal colony as most have convicts as ancestors.

At my hotel, the Australian scouts demonstrated their skills and shown videotapes of their recent World Jamboree.My hotel is on the harbour (harbor) across from the famous landmark, the Opera House. We are also next to the Harbour bridge (known as the "coat hangar" locally) where Paul Hogan ("Crocodile Dundee") once worked.

I went on a 2-1/2 hours cruise on Captain Cook, where they serve coffee. I also went up the Sydney Tower to observe the city from its decks. I enjoyed most of my time at Darling Harbour where I ate at Uno, a famous Chicago pizza eatery in Sydney. There is a Power house museum, there are plenty of things to do, places to shop, fine restaurants in this entertainment district. There also an aquarium, arts exhibition. A great place to hang out, especially at night. A huge Australian flag with its Southern Cross in the middle, and a monorail transport us back downtown.

Ate at the waterfront restaurant within a view of the Opera House on my last night Down Under.

I had to pay a $20 departure tax and a $5 immigration fee to leave the country. they want to lighten up your wallet a bit. Then I was on my way to San Francisco, to stay with my Deaf sister for the rest of the week, after the hassles of customs in Los Angeles.

It was quite an experience for me and now I'm looking forward to the next world's fair to be held in Seville, Spain four years from now, as they will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus discovery of America.

G'Day from Down Under.

Jason: "I heard that you've been flushing the toilet the first thing when you enter your hotel room."
John: "Yes, I wanted if it's true that the water flushed down the drain counterclockwise because of gravity, everything is the opposite below the equator, so I can't resist the temptation."
Jeffrey: "It was your first time out of the country?"
John: "Actually, have been to both Canada and Mexico, so it was first time overseas for me."
Joan: "That's enough, boys, time to hit the sack."
John: "We ought to take the boys to World Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain since they are now old enough to join on our adventure."
Joan: "I agreed, let's get back to our Spring cleaning"
John: "I will scan all the documents and store them on CD to save on storage space."
Joan: "You wouldn't want our attic be a fire hazards, full of clutters."
John: "I would rather think of it as our family treasures."
Revised (5/08/08)
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This is Smokey, stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology. Good night, Deaf America!