Driving: No Easy Task

     The other day I was relaxing with a couple of ball players out here at a friends pool when we all saw a snake the size of a human. That was enough motivation for us to leave the house, or as my friend's landlord said, "Get on up, and get on out!" So, we decided to take a road trip, and I was the designated (rookie) driver. I borrowed someone's car and was driving for a good hour.
     It was only my second time driving and its safe to say I was more nervous driving in the Darwin city traffic than I've ever been before a win-or-go-home playoff basketball game. Consequently, my hands were gripping the wheel nice and tight. I'm still not used to the wheel being on the right and the driving being on the left. Nor do I like that the wipers are on the left and the blinkers (or "indicators" as they call them here) are on the right. I definitely messed that up a couple of times thanks to muscle memory. The way we select either the right or left blinker is also the opposite from how its commonly done in the States. Nevertheless, had I been in the countryside, I would have been delighted to practice developing these new habits at the wheel. However, driving in this city is not my thing, especially when I don't know where I'm going and I've never experienced the roundabouts of Australia. It also doesn't help that drinking and driving is legal in the Northern Territory. Yes, that's right -- you are allowed to drink while you drive as long as your blood-alcohol content is less than .05 (no I will not be trying this). Therefore, the
percentage of dangerous drivers on the road is probably and logically greater than in the other states of Australia where opened alcohol containers are a major no-no. However, I did manage to get myself and the two others with me to our destination and back without getting involved in anything remotely close to an accident. I successfully stuck to the speed limit (which is measured in kilometers), filled the car up with gas (petrol out here), and eluded 100% of the numerous Aussie's diagnosed with road rage.
     Cars honking at one another in Australia remains a customary part of the status quo and is generally just as common as guys tweeting #turnup or girls Facebooking about how all guys are the same in America. Patience is clearly optional. I've heard a few hot heads yell at others for driving cautiously and impeding all rushed drivers from speeding. The usual seems to be, "You bloody prick, stupid idiot buggah, move outta the way!" Or the more sarcastic, controlled drivers demonstrating peaceful frustration succumb to asking a rhetoricle question: "Hey bloke, have you ever driven before?" What is most important for my own self-esteem is that no such questions were asked of me....at least none that I heard. I got around safely, and heard not a single horn honk my way. This means I can call driving experience number two something of a success.

More Lingo & More About The Team

I thought I'd reveal a few more patterns of the native Australian tongue with you:

• Mosquitoes are "muzzies" around here....and there are three different kinds of mosquitoes. The other day I went to a national park and saw 100 + red mosquitoes, but was not bitten by any. Thank God for that. 
• If you take a nap you "have a sleep." 
• Best friends are "best mates."
• Australians do like to use the word "bloody." For example: "There's heaps of bloody crocodiles in the bloody ocean." 
• "O's" are pronounced with an "au" sounds. I asked the general manager of my team if I could print out copies of something. He responds: "What? You mean caupies? You can go to Caupie Time to do that."
• They don't ask if you've graduated from college, instead they ask if you've finished University.
• "References" are "referees" out here. 
• They use the word "whilst" in replace of "while."
•  "Footy" is Australian Football. If you want to ask someone if they are going to watch the game, it's proper to ask, "Are you going to watch the footy?"
• I still have yet to hear someone say "you're welcome." I find myself saying "no worries" now too, much like the Australians do. It's also rare to hear a "thank you." People love to say "cheers" instead (which I think I've already mentioned in a previous blog). I'm joining in on that lingo.
• If a man has a wife he has a "misses." When Derek introduced me to his friend's wife, he said, "This is my friend's misses."

The Team:

I've gotten to know many of the players a little more. There are two guys from the Philippines, two Americans (Jermaine and I), one from Great Britain, and one from Indonesia might be joining our team. The rest are all from various parts of Australia (both southern and northern Aussie).

The two from the Philippines are Malix and Aldren. Malix is the perfect role player. He clogs up the middle on defense, rebounds the heck out of the basketball, and voluntarily sets screen after screen for our scorers. He reminds me of Ben Wallace back in his glory days when he was playing for the great Detroit Pistons, though Malix has a better offensive game in the post. Aldren can do it all. He posts up and he runs the wing. He's very versatile. The man's got footwork like the Black Mamba. He's one of those crafty guys who will throw three pump fakes at you and reverse pivot three times in the same possession. I like his game.

I've already told you about Jermaine's game and you all know me. Jermaine and I, moreover, just got another roommate. His name is Matt Fagg, from Southern Australia. He's a small forward who can also play shooting guard. His basketball IQ is very high. I already love playing with him because he's constantly moving on offense, and just knows how to play the game (which makes my job as point guard much easier). He loves to come off screens and shoot, but is not limited to a shooter. He can put the ball on the floor, and slashes as well.

Sam, who I've already mentioned, is someone I can officially label a shooter. He's our Shane Battier/Mike Miller of the team. I'm sure his stroke will help me rack up a few assists.

We've also just picked up a guy named Lucci. I have no idea what his ethnicity is. Some people tell me he's from Australia and some tell me he's from Indonesia. I'll have to clear that up with him. I'll call him a hybrid for now. But that dude can hoop. He's about 6'6, and is possibly our most athletic player. He can probably play any position on the court if asked to.

At guard, we also have Jarrod, who like Sam, is a shooter. He's a southpaw who can knock it down from deep. He can shoot, and he's not shy about it. The man likes to pull the trigger. He can play point guard as well but is more comfortable at the two guard position.

Needless to say, I've got weapons in front of me. I just need to come in and run the show and make everybody else better. Our team, which finished fourth in the division last year and failed to make the playoffs by one game, should get back to where it was a few years ago. Like I've already mentioned in an earlier blog post, our team won four straight championships before it slipped this year. It will only be a matter of time before we're right back in that position. The season is now less than a month away, and you know I'm counting down the days.

***I will probably give updates on the rest of the players I have not yet mentioned in a future post.