Let's look a gift horse in the mouth

So, once upon a time, it was easy to travel outside the borders of the United States because the dollar was strong [at least in most places].  Suddenly, however, Ruthie and I find ourselves worrying just exactly how much we're going to get screwed by the dollar dropping in value.  In the time it took for us to fly across the ocean, the exchange rate dropped the US dollar by about a tenth.  Sure, that's not much, until you apply it to our living quarters allowance, and suddenly you're talking about $300 in difference in allowance per month.

Am I really complaining about this?  Yes, I guess I really am [read: I am totally aware that I could have way worse things to complain about - but I don't, so I'm grateful].  Never before have I been really concerned with what's going on in DC.  Sure, there was talk about a shutdown months ago, and I was a little annoyed.  But now, I'm overseas, in a country that I can't really afford on my own, and there's talk of what the impacts of a default might be and how the Government will pay its non-essential employees [me]. C'mon guys - get it together.  Meanwhile, the Aussies need to stop their inflation. 

In other news, Ruthie and I have now spent two days house hunting and car shopping.  You might think that shopping for these two things in a foreign country might be less tiresome.  You'd be wrong.  I'm exhausted.  And we haven't even bought anything.  We saw two apartments and five neighbourhoods yesterday, and a huge used car lot today, and we haven't even begun to make a final decision.  Well, Ruthie's pretty convinced about the neighbourhood in which we're living, but we'll see if the houses/apartments are available and not total crap.

For the LOST nerds out there, we flew across the ocean on flight 108 [if it had been 815, I might not have gotten on the plane], and we drove into Melbourne on Hume Highway. 

Also, on the way into Melbourne, we got asked if we were Canadian.  We giggled and tried to explain that the difference between Americans and Canadians is the "eh".  I don't think the girl at McDonald's got it. 

Yes, we stopped at a McD's.  It was at a highway service station, and we needed fuel [both food and petrol].  There are also 7-11s on just about every corner in the CBD [I'm actually drinking a Coke Slurpee now], and Subways about every other block in the CBD.  Oh, and Domino's, too.  We've only tried the McD's so far - we'll see how the rest compare to back home eventually.  And for the record, my nuggos were a little over done, but it's not like I never had that problem in the States.

House hunting resumes tomorrow - maybe car and phone shopping, too.

-EP

PS. Ruthie made noises about possibly writing a blog post earlier today.  I'll believe it when I see it ... [fingers crossed]