Had a great day of interviews with different folks in Australia. So, what have I learned?
- The Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff was in town today (on the right, saluting, next to Aussie Chief of Defence Force), messing a bit with my schedule but doing no real harm. Just funny that a Canadian military guy was crossing my path--one that I had interviewed for this same project a while ago now.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade [DFAT] building is the nicest government office building I have seen (will have to take a pic tomorrow). Well-designed, lots of space, just beautiful. Nothing really comes close (not counting legislatures, like Bundestag, US Capitol, etc).
- No gift shop at the Defense HQ. I surprised the person who is arranging my interviews and accompanying me when I regaled her about the shopping ops in the Pentagon. Nothing like it here.
- The defense buildings have a direct view of the parliament, so the city is oriented in an equilateral triangle with the defence HQ as one point, the parl as a second one, and the third being the War Memorial. So, Aussie identity is very much focused, I think, on the military.
- Got a great explanation of cricket over dinner with my guide/arranger. I gave her an explanation of ultimate. Which is far simpler. Now I have to figure out rugby and Aussie rules football. I don't need an explanation of the rules for men's field hockey, just for its existence.
Overall, an interesting day. A more complex picture than I had expected. Lots of new avenues to pursue as well. Good times. Tomorrow, I get to meet a couple of politicians, more foreign affairs types, the center on civil-mil relations, and a key academic. I do have a great job, don't I? And I didn't even mention the great beer.
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