Home leave*
When I take my annual leave to visit Singapore, my Aussie mates consider that a return to my homeland for a visit or home leave.
There are at least 30 nationalities on the office floor where I work. So, it is quite nature for people to ask, you are going home for visit - even through they know that I have no longer a citizen. - But it is still my homeland. (Which is true)
They is no sensitivity about loyality to Australia, except for a few old prima donnas who object to modern Australia.
I always wonder how Singaporeans feel about the ex-Singaporeans - worse than the FTs since we give up the country?
Not that I mind, since my hide has thicken to survive the Aussie culture .. and winter.
Vacations
Have anyone sign up for an overseas with your adopted countrymen, example, Aussies.
Personally, I find that it is fun (so long that there are not all retirees), because of the larrikins and "s/he will be fine" spirit.
Unlike doing the SA or Chan Bros tours where we rush everywhere, Aussie tours tend to be slow going.
There are a lot of leisure time and Aussies tend to read book by the beach/swim at the resort. Then, there are those who will go shopping or sightseeing.
If anything, Aussies are attentive when the "lecture" is on. They will resist snapping away but when the guide is explaining. When it is photo-taking, Aussies are pretty creative, making all kinds of poses.
The tours are usually more luxurious. Eg We will stay in a Venice hotel and not stinge on the cheaper Italian mainland hotel.
On the Nile cruise, we will use Movenpick cruise and relax by the sundeck while the Nile villages sail by. The youngsters will show off their sexy dance skills and we will dress up for a good time.
This is understandable - it takes longer time and distance when we travel overseas, and we would rather stay longer, eg 20-35 days tour packages, and experience the real thing.
I have seen hurried China tour groups and I cannot imagine if they are enjoying themselves or not. Eg Our breakfast is usually 1-2 hrs whereas the Chinese is 15-30 mins. The waiters prefer to serve us, even recognise that the Chinese in our groups are different from the Chinese in Chinese group. They fight with waiters over hot water.
Food
No Chinese meals because we eat local. But beer is a must at Aussie tours.
When a tour guide said that this is an Aussie tour group, No one look at the asian migrants differently, even if they are longing for comfort food like meat pies - we do slip off to the MacDonalds when we get sick of Moroccan or Turkish cuisine.
* A relic from the past -
Why 12 weeks paid home leave?
This leave when the POMs take the 3-week boat back to mother England for a 2 week stay and take another 3-week boat back to the convict land - downunder.
When I take my annual leave to visit Singapore, my Aussie mates consider that a return to my homeland for a visit or home leave.
There are at least 30 nationalities on the office floor where I work. So, it is quite nature for people to ask, you are going home for visit - even through they know that I have no longer a citizen. - But it is still my homeland. (Which is true)
They is no sensitivity about loyality to Australia, except for a few old prima donnas who object to modern Australia.
I always wonder how Singaporeans feel about the ex-Singaporeans - worse than the FTs since we give up the country?
Not that I mind, since my hide has thicken to survive the Aussie culture .. and winter.
Vacations
Have anyone sign up for an overseas with your adopted countrymen, example, Aussies.
Personally, I find that it is fun (so long that there are not all retirees), because of the larrikins and "s/he will be fine" spirit.
Unlike doing the SA or Chan Bros tours where we rush everywhere, Aussie tours tend to be slow going.
There are a lot of leisure time and Aussies tend to read book by the beach/swim at the resort. Then, there are those who will go shopping or sightseeing.
If anything, Aussies are attentive when the "lecture" is on. They will resist snapping away but when the guide is explaining. When it is photo-taking, Aussies are pretty creative, making all kinds of poses.
The tours are usually more luxurious. Eg We will stay in a Venice hotel and not stinge on the cheaper Italian mainland hotel.
On the Nile cruise, we will use Movenpick cruise and relax by the sundeck while the Nile villages sail by. The youngsters will show off their sexy dance skills and we will dress up for a good time.
This is understandable - it takes longer time and distance when we travel overseas, and we would rather stay longer, eg 20-35 days tour packages, and experience the real thing.
I have seen hurried China tour groups and I cannot imagine if they are enjoying themselves or not. Eg Our breakfast is usually 1-2 hrs whereas the Chinese is 15-30 mins. The waiters prefer to serve us, even recognise that the Chinese in our groups are different from the Chinese in Chinese group. They fight with waiters over hot water.
Food
No Chinese meals because we eat local. But beer is a must at Aussie tours.
When a tour guide said that this is an Aussie tour group, No one look at the asian migrants differently, even if they are longing for comfort food like meat pies - we do slip off to the MacDonalds when we get sick of Moroccan or Turkish cuisine.
* A relic from the past -
Why 12 weeks paid home leave?
This leave when the POMs take the 3-week boat back to mother England for a 2 week stay and take another 3-week boat back to the convict land - downunder.
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