I can’t believe it, 21 years old. My last significant birthday for a while, but who’s counting anyway. Its pretty ironic that I’m becoming of legal age back home while here in australia considering I’ve been legal here for 3 years. Back home people generally line up at their local watering hole waiting for the clock to chime twelve midnight so they can enjoy their first totally legal alcoholic beverage, then often are seen stumbling home shortly after, a caring friend under either arm. Over here the 21′st birthday doesn’t hold the same significance legally but their is still some tradition, I have to imagine this stems from American cultural influence. I recently learned from a friend that the 21′s here is celebrated with friends and family and includes a number of toasts ripping the Birthday person for many of the hilarious/stupid things they have done over the years before concluding with small nice bit at the end. Curiously the most common thing I have heard from people about their 21′st is that they can finally travel to the United States.
ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps, tomorrow essentially Australia’s version of Veterans Day, however it specifically commemorates the lives lost during the Battle of Gallipoli, in Turkey during WWI. This battle holds a particularly special place for Australians because it is considered by many as the first time they went to war as an Independent Nation. The highlight of the holiday is a dawn patrol service, starting between five and six am, followed by a memorial parade through the city. Not exactly the most convenient the morning after your 21′st birthday, I reckon we may still be partying and carrying on, who knows though, it might be a good excuse for an all nighter. Anyway…Happy ANZAC Day Eve!