This blog entry from a Canadian exchange teacher with his family in Melbourne is a fun read. Her encounter with people on the bus who open up to her, recognizing she is from away. Her willingness to engage with people leads to interesting connections, and some storytelling from everyday folks with fascinating tales to tell.

wieberobertsawaydownunder.blogspot.ca
Everyone has a story. How much more fun would the bus ride be if we could listen to, and share, stories on the journey.

“Starting around March 1, 2012 possible matches will start to arrive in my office.”

That sentence from a December 21st letter has been quoted my me and my wife to our friends, family, and colleagues when they enquire about the status of our application. We have tried to remain somewhat stoic about the process knowing that it isn’t a sure thing, and that word was not forthcoming until then.

Now, it is March 2nd and the visits to the mailbox have had a heightened sense of anticipation. We know that it may still be weeks or even months before word of a match arrives, and the following sentence in the letter serves to temper things further:

“At that time the file is forwarded to your principal, your superintendent and yourself to examine.”

Any one of the three recipients can suggest the match is less than ideal and we’re back to waiting.

Nevertheless, the level of anticipation is heightened now that March has arrived. At the moment, when we think of the exchange, we think in terms of the entire nation – we picture the outline of Australia and imagine the aerial views of famous landmarks. Once we know the exact location, the school, and the exchange home, our visions will change in scale. We will picture the town, the streets, the school, rooms in the house, the neighbourhood. Then, I think, it will seem far more real. It is one thing to imagine the Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and Ayers Rock when imagining living in Australia. It is quite another to imagine the neighbourhood park, the school parking lot, and the local grocery store.

When all is said and done, we’re still waiting, but it does feel different.

… the loonie, named for the aquatic bird on the one-dollar coin, touched a 15-year low of C$1.0689 versus Australia’s currency, known as the Aussie. The pair was equal on Oct. 4.

http://www.businessweek.com/

Good news for Aussies coming to Canada, but not so good for Canadians like us. Watching the currency exchange for the right time to convert some savings is all at once exciting and frustrating. As the value of CDN currency continues to slide against AU dollar, there are a lot of coulda, shoulda, woulda’s running through my head.

Following the market to time a larger transfer of savings is wise. Realistically though, rate changes over the course of the year will have more of an impact on our bottom line with day-to-day purchases. Dollar cost averaging  in that respect garners neither the best nor the worst results, so che sera sera.

I really don’t fret about it too much, yet I do want the best value for our dollar. Besides, it gives me something to think about as we wait to hear about possible matches.