DAY 8: THE NO PANTS DANCE

So I needed pants. Well, I had pants. Lots and lots of pants, just not the right pants. The pre-departure information told me that my internship required “smart-casual” dress. I assumed that meant khakis and a nice shirt – a safe assumption. So I packed four or five pairs of khakis and my gray suit for my interview. First day on the job and I am told I have to wear BLACK pants with a Macquarie polo that they provide. Perfect. I had five pairs of khakis, a pair of gray pants and not a single pair of black pants. Normally, not a big deal. In Sydney, a big deal.

Sydney is expensive. Very, very expensive. For instance, a Vitamin Water costs $4.50, a can of diet coke costs $2.50 and a pair of black dress pants costs anywhere from $90 to $500+. I headed to the Queen Victoria Building Shopping Center in search of a pair of pants that wouldn’t cost me one of the legs I wanted to put in the pants. I hate shopping more than anything – maybe more than terrorism (it’s close). I will go to a store knowing I have to buy something and still return with nothing and then I will have to go back and force myself to buy it. It’s terrible. I hate it. However, the Aussies made it a little bit easier on me.

I know I have said several times how friendly the Aussies are but it really is incredible. The first pair of pants I saw was on sale for $129 and that was one of the best prices I had seen. So I tried the Levi Denim store as a last ditch effort. I found a pair for $100 and was about to settle for them but the Aussie who was helping me could tell I didn’t want to spend that much money. I don’t know if it was my attitude, my body language or me saying that I didn’t want to spend that much money that clued him in. So what’d he do? Instead of just saying sorry or saying that the pants were worth $100, which would help his store (this is what would happen in America). He recommended I try a department store in another part of the city. He turned away business to make help me out! He even explained where to find the best deals in the store. So I headed that way.

Which leads me to another example of how friendly the Aussies are. They are incredibly willing to help. I carry my backpack with me everywhere I go and am often just wondering around looking up trying to take it all in. Basically, the only thing I’m missing is a flashing neon sign that says, “hey, I’m a tourist.” Anyway, I haven’t carried a map since I’ve been here. I can ask anyone at anytime how to get somewhere and they will stop and talk me through it or even walk part of the way with me. It’s astonishing. I don’t think anyone in New York or Chicago would do the same. So after some wandering and some inquiring I found the store. It was huge! I went up to the fourth floor and found some more pants. But thanks to the help from the Levi’s guy, I knew where to find the deals and sure enough I found the clearance rack tucked away in the corner. I found a pair of pants for $49.95 – more than half of what I was about to settle for. In case anyone is wondering, I wear a 97R Shortleg (thanks for those, dad) in Australia. I don’t know what that means beyond the fact that the R stands for ReallyReallygoodlooking – I think.

So I was ready to purchase these and then on the way out I saw these…

Green corduroys with ducks/quails stitched into them...

This is why I suck at shopping. I honestly spent 20 to 30 minutes contemplating buying these. I don’t know if I will ever have the chance to buy another pair of green corduroys with ducks stitched into them and you only live once. Can you imagine? The girls would have FLOCKED to me (get it? Get it? Like flocked as in came to me and ducks fly in flocks. Oh man, hilarious I know). I ended up talking myself out of it and the more I think about it the more I wish I would have but oh well. I might be back ;).

Why did I just waste your time with a blog entry about pants? Well, I wish I could make up some cool theory and make this all relevant to life or something but I can’t. So, I’m sorry. If it’s any consolation, I wasted my time too. What I can tell you is that the Aussies are really really friendly, I got the right pair of pants and if you ever have the chance to buy a pair of green corduroys with ducks stitched in, just do it. I have work tomorrow so I’m sure I’ll have tons of exciting things to share (sarcasm). For now, here are some pictures.


The Queen Victoria Building which is actually a huge shopping Center. Pretty impressive.


Sorry, I really did try rotating this picture. Obviously it didn't work. Just turn your head sideways and admire the architecture.

Cheers!