ComicCon & Canadiana

I constructed this post sort of backwards to how I usually like to write. Normally I start with the weekly events and observations and then try to finish with fun weekend activities. Our lives are looking less like those of travelers (lots of of regularly scheduled events with very few barriers on our time) and more like just normal routines (events scheduled around work and other obligations, with influences from the schedules of others). This makes it much more challenging to write in a set format. So this post goes over last weekends fun activites first, then gets into the weekly highlights. I know this is a departure from my usual narrative flow, but hopefully its still cohesive.

After the 11 hour sleep I alluded to in my last post, I woke up last weekend full of energy and feeling amazing. Which was good, because we were headed to Melbourne ComicCon for the day. We got a decently early start, getting to the Con before 11. It was laid out a bit different to Halcon (our usual ComicCon) - rather than being on multiple floors, with each floor dedicated to a different type of activity (panels, stages, tabletop games, artist's alley, etc), it was all in a single massive room. For those of you that are curious, we did not cosplay for this ComicCon. Not because we aren't interested, but because we really aren't that organized. Maybe next year.

It was relatively early, but the place was already pretty busy. We decided to work through all the rows and booths methodically. And so began the all consuming task of looking at things, an activity that we would do all day. There was just so much to see! In addition to all the cosplayers and general people watching, there were booths for table top games, weapons, general merch, lego, armour, eSports (aka video games), fan art, books, comics, clothing, etc. Essentially, if it is anything to do with anything nerdy, they have it at ComicCon. By the time we got to the middle of the room, we had easily been there for 2 hours and only covered table top, general merch, lego, and weapons. We stopped in for a drink at the beer garden, while we people watched and admired cosplay. Then we moved on to artist's alley, where all the fan art and other strange oddities are.

We were both excited for Artist's alley, as we were hoping to find some new art for our place. In a strange turn of events, even though neither of us is particularly interested in taxidermy, we almost bought a taxidermy duckling (it had a hat and was adorable). Shortly after that, we almost bought a taxidermy bird! We were able to talk ourselves out of both with the logic that we shouldn't buy any taxidermized animals until AFTER we have a coffee table on which to display said taxidermy. Priorities. We did end up getting some art though! And I got a t-shirt with one of my favourite cartoon characters on it (Jane from Daria). After grabbing some lunch and making it through Artists alley, we headed back to the beer gardens to people watch over some drinks.

There were lots of people in cosplay that we recognized, and just as many in cosplay that we didn't recognize. We then played a few rounds of a game we made up on the spot that we creatively call 'name the character & what the character's from'. Essentially, we would name characters and their source explicitly based on their appearance. This was hilarious to us, but only really funny if you understand how ridiculous anime and nerd culture in general can be. Eg. the guy in the chef's apron with the sunglasses and gun was Sunglasses Gun Chef, from the Sunglasses Gun Chef Man anime. I swear this is all actually very funny for a small subset of people. The beer probably also helped make it fun.

Moving on.

On Sunday, Justin did the Australian version of an advanced CPR course. Even though he has the equivalent credential in Canada, he needed the Australian version. CPR is both the same (chest compressions are important) and not the same (drug dosages and timing) between countries. As far as I can tell, the cause of the differences are all sort of obliquely political and largely unimportant. But the course went well. He said it was him and a bunch of GPs who had all clearly never worked a cardiac arrest or actually done CPR in their lives. Nothing was new or surprising, and he had a fantastic rant when he got home about the use of epi and amio in cardiac arrests. It was pretty niche, but I enjoyed it.

This week we firmed up our plans for Canada day. As many of you know, Canada day also happens to be my birthday. Because of this lovely coincidence, I have grown quite accustom to getting a day full of parades, events, and fireworks. I love birthdays, especially my birthday. Obviously, Australia doesn't celebrate Canada day, so we have been looking for a while for things to do that are appropriately grandiose. Luckily, July 1st just happens to fall on a Saturday this year.

On top of my love of birthdays and birthday fireworks, there is another phenomena at play here. As soon as I leave the country, I become *incredibly* Canadian. It is actually pretty strange. At home, I would not describe myself as particularly Canadian: I don't have any Canadian clothing (hell, I barely own anything that's red), I don't really engage with Canadiana culture (I've never seen an episode of Trailer park boys), and I have zero interest in hockey (literally never been to a game). Yes, I obviously eat poutine and love The Hip, but that's because I have taste buds and respect a bop when I hear one (RIP Gord Downie).

When I'm at home, I would not say I'm a particularly Canadian-Canadian. But as soon as I cross a border, suddenly I am filled with an absurd amount of national pride. This isn't the first time I have experienced, or even realized this. The same thing happened on Justin & I's backpacking trip. I found myself constantly talking about Canada, or relating things back to what they are at home. I'm sure this is a totally normal thing, and it probably serves some useful psychological function when you are living in a literal foreign environment. But both times its happened, I've found myself surprised by the intensity of my Canadian pride.

My first Canada day outside of the country + ridiculous national pride + July first is on a Saturday this year = I'm looking to make my birthday a big deal. Justin was chatting about looking for something to do for Canada day at work, when one of his co-workers recommended looking into one of the local breweries. Turns out one of the brewing companies here is co-owned by someone who is Canadian (or is married to a Canadian, or once lived in Canada, or has some other vague connection to Canada). Every year, they do a big party for Canada day - complete with Canadian music, snacks, and cocktails. So obviously that is what we are doing. Its going to be Nanaimo bars & spicy Caesars all day! I will have more to say about this, kitchen parties, the Canadian t-shirts we ordered, and my strange national pride between now and then, but this is getting long so I'm going to try to wrap things up.

Here are some other quick highlights from this week:

- I did another of those science outreach presentations for a high school this week. I signed up for a bunch more in the coming weeks. I don't really have time for them, but its just so nice to be doing something that isn't sitting and reading. Plus they are paid, and it means I get to see all different parts of the city.

- I was supposed to take a course on how to do blood draws this Friday, but it got pushed until next week. I found this very disruptive as the course takes place in the lovely, beachy St. Kilda neighbourhood, and I had planned my afternoon and evening activities around it (Justin was working). Not taking the course this week meant I just had to work on Friday, like it was a regular day. In the end I split the difference, took an early day and still went to St. Kilda where I met up with a friend for a walk and then some drinks. Obviously we had to bundle up, as it was another frigid winter day: 17 degrees and sunny, without a cloud in the sky.

Overall, this week was a better week than the last few. The research is still going shockingly well. Our routines continue to settle. We have started to figure out our local 'go-to' places for coffee and lunch. Dare I say we even have friends, or at least the beginnings of such. There were multiple points this week where I would be chatting with people and they would say something along the lines of 'you sound like you are having a better week than last week.' So we are making progress.