Almost 12 months has past since I started this blog on a very technical note. Perhaps I should get a bit more personal.. now you'd like that wouldn't you?
Where does one start?
Where I live nowadays; warm, sunny Darwin. A land of opportunity all of its own. A springboard for the those with careers and a sauna-like torture chamber for those more wrinkles than hair on their head. A place I love to be, but at times despise for it's ability to wring the living water of you.
Living in the upper part of the Northern Territory, known locally as 'the top-end', teaches you many things. Above all though are living with other cultures and appreciating that a short-drive will take about an hour or two. The multi-cultural nature of Darwin is surprising for those who have grown up in the more southern parts of Oz. In my last long-term job, I was a minority as an Australian-born employee in the engineering department. But I've enjoyed the cross-cultural issues. Such as teaching Norwegian students our slang and even the odd bit of English. In return I learned bits of other languages. Interesting things like the "real" meaning of Mitsubishi's Pajero. I've also enjoyed learning some detail about the indigenous Aboriginal culture that lives today and how it interacts with the 'whiter' Australia.
All in all it's a great place to stay. If you like most other people traveling to the Top End, it'll be just for a little while. The population is quite transient and hence many employers salivate over people who stay here for more than 12 months - perhaps with the exception of the seasonal tourism industry.
Here's looking (with binoculars) to the next post.