Easter Down Under, End O' March 2013

So, Good Friday is a holiday here. All the stores are closed, including grocery stores. I was glad I checked that out Thursday morning. That way I knew I had to leave the university right after teaching my class (around 9) hop the tram and ride to the grocery store to get there in time to pick up a few things before it closed at 10pm. I thought I'd be the only shopper, but it turns out it's just like the US. Apparently having the store closed for the day means it's like shopping in the US before a blizzard hits. Busy, busy.

Easter is also a big school holiday weekend - it reminds me a bit of Thanksgiving. Schools close Friday, Monday and Tuesday. The university was closed those same days and it was a non-teaching week all this past week, so no classes. Lots of businesses close for at least 4 of the 5 days. Everyone leaves town. Several colleagues asked me, "Are you traveling for the holiday?" "Nope." "Good. The traffic will be awful!"  

The whole Easter holiday thing seems a bit weird for several reasons: a) because Australia hasn't struck me as an overtly religious or Christian country, b) we've only been in session one month of the fall semester - so we aren't really due for a break, c) it's autumn, and therefore NOT Easter, and d) the university doesn't really believe in holidays - we didn't even get Australian Labor Day off.

I went to Joel's church for Good Friday mass and my favorite kid was dressed as Batman. The choral Easter service at Canterbury Fellowship was good, too. We sang the version of  "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" I know (yay!). No trumpets or alleluia bells (boo.).  But the organ was fantastic and so was the choir.

Christ is risen!!