And not a creature was stirring
By Y | November 11, 2013
I was having coffee with a client today at a cafe and then everyone went quiet. I had a look around to see what had happened and then remembered it was the 11am on the 11/11. That’s great that so many people respect it.
Topics: Culture shock, Hmmm..., What the...? | No Comments »
Happy Halloween!
By Y | October 31, 2013
And for those who don’t celebrate Halloween, Happy Thursday!
Topics: Holiday | No Comments »
Everyone needs a special toy
By Y | October 12, 2013
I came across this from a local newspaper here the other day:
Return Flipper to its rightful owner!
I don’t know what’s more disturbing: that someone actually had the balls to steal a vibrator or that someone had the balls to put it in a police report. Either way, poor Flipper is out there buzzing away without its mistress, probably so lost and so very confused!
Topics: What the...? | 1 Comment »
Technical difficulties
By Y | September 12, 2013
When I went to write a post about my first time voting in Australia, I discovered the website had a virus. MJ got rid of it for me as I was ready to burn down the site and start again!
Anyway, now that we have new PM and the election is over I don’t have the energy to write about my voting experience. It was weird using a pen and paper to tick off my choice rather than using an electronic voting booth but I loved that I could go pretty much anywhere in our town and vote. I didn’t have to go to my local school to do it. I could have gone across town to do it if I felt so inclined.
There was a lot more I wanted to write but it’s late and I’m tired. Maybe I’ll come back another time to finish the post. I can say, though, that I’m glad the election is over. Let’s see what the new PM has in store for us.
Topics: Hmmm... | No Comments »
Tax time
By Y | August 27, 2013
It’s tax season in Australia now. The financial year is from July 1 to June 30 so now everyone is scurrying about getting their documents in order and hoping they don’t have to pay the tax man any more money. I just did mine. MJ and I, even though we’re married, file separately in Australia. That’s how you do it here. You don’t file Head of Household or Single or whatever the categories are in the US. You file individually here. They still want to know how much your significant other made but whatever he/she does on his/her tax returns doesn’t come into play with yours. Not sure if that’s good or not. I don’t care. I did my taxes for the country I live in, a few months after I did taxes for a country I don’t live in. I had hoped to claim the tax preparation fees of my American taxes on my Australian but my accountant just looked at me as if I had an extra head. Oh well, I tried.
Topics: Hmmm... | No Comments »
Kangaroos have 3 vaginas!
By Y | August 9, 2013
And they’re always pregnant! One joey in the pouch and another waiting to be born and enter the pouch. And you thought you had it bad, try being a female kangaroo! She will never know what is it like to use the bathroom without someone watching her.
Topics: Random Stuff, What the...? | No Comments »
Australian in America
By Y | August 6, 2013
I saw this article posted on Facebook and found it accurate and funny, except for the politics and guns. Never in all my years there did I hear someone bring up politics with a total stranger or in random conversation. I’ve encountered more people talking politics here than I ever had while living in the States. Also, I didn’t know anyone, other than my uncle who liked to hunt from on occasion and one person who lived in bear country, who owned guns. I know at least one person here who has guns and has an extreme gun fascination. I’m pretty sure I might know someone else who has a gun here but for some reason I’m drawing a blank and can’t think of that person’s name.
PS I’ll ignore the gibe about the Jersey Coastline because I haven’t been there for awhile and I don’t know what damage Hurricane Sandy did to it last year.
PPS And I so miss the diversity… and the drive thru banks. Why do I miss the drive thru banks? It’s not solely out of laziness but working 2 jobs plus having 2 kids with their own daily schedules and trying to fit in a quick, hassle free trip to the bank ends up being quite painful, especially on rainy and tantrumy days.
Topics: Homesick, NJ, Places to go, USA, What the...? | No Comments »
Ignorance or racism or a bit of both
By Y | July 19, 2013
My grandparents were born and raised in Puerto-Rico, then, as adults, they moved to NY where my mother was born and raised. When you first look at me, especially in Australia, you know I’m not quite Caucasian, there’s something else. Tanned olive skin, dark hair, dark eyes, and a slight accent more than just American. I speak Spanish and English. But I’m American. I’m as American as apple pie.
Yes, I live in Australia, and yes, I was born in NJ and yes, my grandparents were born in Puerto-Rico…none of that changes the fact that I’m American.
Puerto Rico is a commonweath territory of the USA. Also when someone is born on American soil, that person is American. This is all basic, common knowledge in America or at least I thought it was, but then again, I remember that I also learned this in school. I’m just appalled by all the negative comments regarding Marc Anthony (not only does he sing Spanish songs, but he also sings English songs and he was married to Jennifer Lopez who is also Puerto-Rican American!) singing “God Bless America” at a baseball game. Are they really that stupid or are they that racist? I’m assuming a bit of both, as some of them referred to Marc as “Mexican” just because of his skin so I’m assuming they didn’t know he was a born and raised Nuyorican, even so, when in doubt, before tweeting negative comments, people should really do their research. It’s scary that there are so many crazy, racist, self-entitled pricks out there that think the world wants to hear their crap.
Topics: Culture shock, Hmmm..., USA, What the...? | No Comments »
Taxes
By Y | July 11, 2013
A few months ago I had discovered that I had been non-compliant with my American taxes while living in Australia. Yes, even though I do not live nor work in America nor do I get any revenue from America, I still have to do my American taxes. EVERY. YEAR. I was behind on my taxes for 4 years! I panicked and immediately thought I was going to get deported. At any minute, the fuzz was going to bust down my door and arrest me and my family. I had visions of going to jail for tax evasion. Yea, me and Wesley Snipes. I did my research on the internet and cried. Why do accountants speak another language? I tried to locate any accountants in Australia that could do my taxes. I couldn’t find anyone. Finally I was able to find an accountant in the USA that was experienced with doing taxes for and from people overseas. After a lot of email to and fro, and a rather large accountant bill, I am now up to date with my American taxes.
For a couple of months, I was blissfully done with taxes. It is now July and the start of a new financial year for Australia which means now I’m preparing to do my Australian taxes. It’s ridiculous that we have to do 2 sets of taxes. I don’t live in the US and I don’t live in another country just not to pay taxes in the US – I don’t make a lot of money.
I really hope they change the taxation laws soon. I don’t want to do 2 sets of taxes every year for the rest of my life and I don’t want my boys to have to do the same when they’re older.
I came across this video today that explains Citizen vs. Residence based taxation that I thought might be handy for any Americans living abroad. Don’t make the same mistake I did thinking that I didn’t have to do American taxes even though I didn’t live there anymore.
Topics: USA, What the...? | No Comments »
Happy 4th of July!
By Y | July 5, 2013
It was the 4th of July here yesterday but it wasn’t really Independence Day until today in America. I had hoped to still celebrate by doing the best American BBQ in Australia in Winter but it didn’t work out. I had to work and it was cold and rainy all day so we did the next best thing, we went to McDonald’s for dinner. Anyway for Australians and Americans who want to know what the 4th of July is about:
Both videos are about 10 minutes each. Part 1 of 2.
Part 2 of 2.
PS. America is not 2013 years old!
Topics: History, Holiday, USA | No Comments »
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