Tina's wanderings around the world

It's the day before Christmas and here in the work office, there is very little work getting done, though they insist on employees remaining until 3:00 pm. So here everyone sits at their desks, awaiting the clock hands to reach their final destination. In my "free" time, there has been a bit of Googling and listmaking on my part. With positive affirmations recited in the mirror this morning and more positive affirmations sitting in my email from my ever-wise brother, happiness reigns supreme today. (Notice another positive affirmation? In the present tense, mind you!) The list of the day was a "happy songs" list. My old iPod contained the beginnings of a "happy songs" playlist but was unfortunately erased when my iPod failed (miserably) over a year ago. It's time for this list to be reincarnated--big time! Songs that need to be added: Don't worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong The Remedy by Jason Mraz Beautiful D...

After countless revisions of my resume and cover letter, and responding to far too many selection criteria, the day has finally come--I have a new job!! Not just any new job. I must have filled out 20+ job applications in the last few months, which is no easy feat considering the depth necessary for application materials in this country. Several of these positions certainly required more experience than I currently possess (though the jobs could certainly have been learned). Many of them were regular executive assistant positions, either at non-profits or with a large salary that would compensate for my exit of the third sector. I even sent my resume to a bakery or two, accompanied by an enthusiastic email. For so long, to no avail. No requests for interviews or additional information--not a single phone call was received. Until two weeks ago. It was around 6:30 pm and I was home for the day when my phone rang with an unknown number. It was the Sydney Theatre Company asking me to come ...

This has easily been one of the laziest work days in the history of my professional career. Which, might I mention, took three steps backwards upon stepping foot in this country. And since stepping foot in this office, I must have taken another ten steps backwards. Through requests for more responsibility, project work and hours, I have received less work, fewer projects, and have banked diminished productive hours. The universe must be trying to teach something that I simply have not grasped yet. As such, today has been spent prospecting a potential workplace, shopping on etsy (have I mentioned this addiction a million times yet?), reading The Australian and reading blogs. Other days find me re-issuing my cover letter to submit in online job applications, sifting through recipes on allrecipes.com, and on occasion reading stories from CNN or The Seattle Times (though the latter often makes me too homesick, so it's a rare indulgence). Every once in a while I punish myself by looking...

The life of Tina--how is it going lately? Mmm, things are here and there. I think that somewhere amidst my travels, I lost my excitement button. I don't seem to get excited about much anymore! Some extra effort will be added (as per the previous post) to be positive and upbeat. Positive point number one--we can go swimming in our backyard! A few weeks ago, after a particularly filling evening at my favorite Spanish tapas restaurant, Encasa, my belly was feeling overloaded. It was one of those days where a food hangover ensues the next day. Now, physical activity has somehow made it to the bottom of my to do list and I was feeling a bit guilty about it, so we made a pact to go for a run on Saturday morning. Our new neighborhood is particularly hilly (as can be expected in the harbor) and our little loop from our building up to the local park, out past the point, down past Dawn Fraser pool and a short way along the "board walk" is pretty tiring. We looped twice (with a gian...

Life has been a bit down lately and I've spent a good deal of time crying and complaining, so in an effort to create positive change, it's time to adopt a gratitude attitude. At night before (and while) falling asleep, I try to make a mental list of things I'm thankful for as part of my nightly prayers to the universe. But I think a waking list would be a helpful instigator of energy conversion. Here we go, in a completely random and non-prioritized fashion. I'm thankful for: the cd I'm currently listening to that was made especially for me by my sister for my birthday quite a few years ago. It's full of childhood songs and snippets that she put together especially for me. Rescue Rangers, Princess Bride, Sesame Street, Care Bears, Les Mis (with Goo Goo White lyrics floating in my head)...it always makes me feel better. the internet. Especially internet at home. I'm so happy to be reconnected with the world! loving emails from my mom and brother. my new cooki...

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin This is a book about a vagabond of a man, drifting about life working only as much as it takes to cover his travel and climbing expeditions. He grew up with missionary parents in Africa only to return to his country of citizenship and not quite fit in with mainstream America. On a trip to climb K2 in Pakistan, he failed to reach the summit and got lost on his way down, only to be welcomed by a village that would become his second (if not his first) home. Inspired by the generosity of these people who had so little, he vowed to return to build a school. He has built over 55 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, trying to provide learning and an educational alternative to the extremist madrasses (religious Muslim schools) that were a breeding ground for terrorists. Schools instead of bombs, tolerance and understanding instead of war. That's how he rolls. Here's an effective non-profit, for you, and thank the universe for ...

My blogs lately have been rather scarce, but there is a reason! Internet. Or to be more specific, a lack thereof. We've been in our new place for two weeks now and the internet conundrum continues. People from the states, please take a moment to appreciate your internet at home! Let me tell you a thing or two about internet in Australia. For starters, there is a limit to your internet activity. Forget about streaming videos online, and beware to those uploading their photos--only so much can be done per month! During my first week in Australia, I spent full days online, emailing, uploading pictures, and when online socializing ceased, I streamed season two of Grey's for company. When the internet started going slower and slower, I got frustrated and almost desperate as my only mode of immediate communication was being removed. I came to find out that I had used up all of our internet cap and we wouldn't be getting more usage for a few weeks. Oy! So long Youtube, so long Gre...

I attended a lecture last night at the Opera House (yay, my first time attending an event in the Opera House!) given by John Pilger, an Australian journalist and the 2009 recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize. He talked about censorship of the media, crimes committed by the super powers of the world (naturally a lot of America-slamming, which is pretty common) and he talked about Australia and its culture and role in all of this. I found truth in his assertion that Australia remains silent. To compare, I would say that America is ignorant. Americans are ignorant, with the media reporting a skewed version of current world events, a version that is particularly skewed when America is involved in these events. This has a major trickle down effect and reaches its nasty claws all the way down to the education of children. We know that Hitler and the Germans committed atrocities during WWII, but what do we really know about the treatment of Japanese-Americans (and dare I say Asian-Americans i...

Check this out: http://www.sarahlorden.com.au/buy_detail.asp?id=1971#container This is our new home. We looked at some pretty crap places over the course of the last month and a half, but I think we've ended up with the best possible solution. I never imagined I would actually get to live in a building with private waterfront access. I also didn't think I'd be living so close to the Masterchef croquembouche man's bakery (Aussie reality cooking show...awesome...). I am ecstatic about the new place, and I will finally feel happy to host visitors. That is, as long as they're okay with sleeping on an air mattress in the living room. :) We get to move in next weekend, so we'll be in a new home by Halloween. It's such a relief! A massive thank you to everyone who put out positive apartment energy for us--it worked!

I love food. This fondness has been increasing steadily over the past two years and it has been manifesting itself on a regular basis. Even outside of the oven! This morning I decided pancakes sounded really good, so we broke out my cookbook from Jessi and whipped up a batch of pancakes (ever conscious of the necessary additions of vanilla and cinnamon to the recipe). While I was whipping up the batter, Marcus set to cutting up some strawberries purchased amidst more apartment hunting yesterday. We were walking about wasting time in between viewings and real estate agent visits when we passed a guy sitting on the side of a very busy sidewalk surrounded by punnets of strawberries. Random. I began to avert eye contact and try to walk by, as per usual when people try to invade my personal space and sell me something on the street. But as we walked by there was no forceful sales pitch. Instead, a very small, unconvinced voice drawled out a hesitant, "Strawberries?" I was so surpr...

I rarely leave the house without a book in hand, and end up going through books fairly quickly. But I find that as soon as I've moved onto the next book I mostly forget about the previous books that I've read. You've seen me make a few book lists, but I think that for memory retention it would be good if I captured some summaries and opinions on the books as well. I think future Tina would some day like to go back to see what I've read. So here are my attempts at recording my literary world. The Beautiful and the Damned, F. Scott Fitzgerald This book is about a young couple in the 1920's, the man the grandson and only heir to an old New York tycoon and the woman a fabulously stylish, lazy, non-house wife type. Neither works and they spend their time gallivanting in the country clubs, partying, and spending the interest generated from the man's trust fund. That is, until they have a run-in with the reformist grandfather and he strikes them from his will. Unwillin...

Real estate agents are my new worst enemy. They are despicable creatures on a power trip who, as it would seem, enjoy making life much more difficult than it needs to be. So. The latest and greatest after our weekend of viewing six (count them six!) apartments on one day--well, there's no great to speak of. We put in applications on three of the different apartments with our fingers crossed on two (one of them had a double-wide oven, it was like a dream come true!). Monday rolled around and we heard back from the real estate agent for the apartment with my dream oven. We had made it to the final application stage with a preferred application. Woo hoo! Tuesday morning comes and we discover that our application has been approved and they want us to come over and put the deposit down that day. More positive news! We asked if it would be possible for us to come over the next day to put in the deposit but they refused, saying we had to go to the office that day. Whatever. Marcus made a...

My life down under has been just a little stressful as of late. I'm in the middle of three important processes which are taking a bit longer than anticipated and my patience and optimism are on the decline. Process number one: apartment hunting. Process number two: job hunting. Process number three: the masters plan. Marcus and I started apartment hunting before I was even granted my temporary residency--about five weeks now. In that time we've seen some decent places, but nothing that really strikes home. The main things we're looking for are a good location (a place I feel safe walking home to at night), close proximity to public transportation (preferably a train line, but regular buses will do), a balcony or courtyard, and a good number of windows for light. You know, to be perfectly honest, we're not asking for much and we haven't been super picky about neighborhood. (Although I am shying away from the inner-inner-city apartments...too many people, too much cri...

I decided to do myself a service and take this body of mine for a jog the other day. It was a lovely spring day and after a stressful day at work, I decided that physical activity would be the best remedy. I walked over to the Erskineville footy oval and began my intense two and a half circle route. (I still hate running. I only run to warm up my muscles for a nice long stretch. Mmmm.) I had very nearly completed my first full circle when I felt something crash into my ponytail. I looked back to see a magpie flapping its wings menacingly and a fellow runner snickering. On my second round, my fellow runner (who had surpassed me at this point) picked up a stick and threw it at the magpie, giggling wildly. I wondered if maybe I hadn't been hit by this man's stick before. On I ran, wondering if it was the bird or the stick aimed at the bird. I sat and stretched, watching the birds wearily. Then on my walk across the field, I saw another girl pass into "the area" and sure...

I saw a bird dive and actually hit a lady walking down the street this other morning. Beware the attacking magpies! (I think it got part of her sandwich.) I got approached by another Hyde Park weirdo the other day. I was on my way to the train station, waiting for the pedestrian light to turn in my favor when someone moves into my bubble and says, "Uh, hello." I turned to find a tall, colorfully tattooed, semi-scary man with a nazi mullet standing next to me. Tattoo man: I think I saw you looking at me across the street. Me: Um, okay. TM: So what's your name? Me: (one eyebrow flaring) I don't particularly give my name out to random people I meet out on the street. TM: Well, a first name isn't private information in my book. Me: Okay. Well this is my book. TM: Do you want to get to know me better? Me: (embarassed for him smile creeping onto my face) That's okay, I have a boyfriend. Do I have a sign on my forehead that says "Come talk to me"?

I am a 26 year-0ld with roommates. I find this to strange because I formerly imagined that I would have roommates only during college, thereafter living by myself and then with my partner. And yet here I am, living in a house with three other people and dealing yet again with roommate issues. I'm about done. My first roommate was back at UW. Oh dorm living...I don't even begin to miss you! My roommate was lovely, actually, a second-gen Vietnamese girl named Thu. She shared her bar fridge, TV, and visitor blow-up mattress with me. She also shared the homemade food her parents sent back with her after weekend visits. So yum. She was this lovely girl that now, even more than then, I appreciate having lived with. She was always tidy, quiet in the mornings, and courteous. I had no idea how I lucked out. My second roommate was in Vienna, and I lived with a local Austrian university student named Julia. She was also lovely, spoke fluent English (and thus I didn't have to embarass ...

I started this particular blog months and months ago but never got around to finishing it. Australian English has a life of its own and although I'm attempting to make this list as inclusive as possible, I won't come near to encompassing all of the differences. Let's just jump right in, shall we? I think we'll start with the classics. Australians do in fact say: g'day mate barbie (as in, "Let's throw a shrimp on the barbie!" Ha! The accent has begun to creep into your brain...) love bloke blimey slag bloody hell mum shag They also use words that we have in our vocabulary, but don't use nearly as much: reckon heaps (substitute for lots or many) hey (they use this in the same context we use "huh" or Canadians use "eh") cow (this is used as a very bad name to call someone) I never foresaw this, but they even call two letters by different names: z = zed h = haych (like "h" but with an h at the beginning...kinda makes sense...

Perhaps I've been inspired by the book I'm currently reading ("A Fraction of the Whole" a newer Australian novel) whose author has injected all kinds of introspective blurbs that must have floated through his head at one point or another that he must have spent a lifetime collecting. I figure if I were ever to write a novel, I would want to write down some of my random thoughts so that at one point or another I could weave them into a character's thoughts. Hmm. Anyway, here are some of my own random snippets--thoughts and occurrences along with the ramblings that come thereafter. I was walking through Hyde Park the other day when a bird dive-bombed the man walking in front of me. Either the man was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't see it or he has nerves of steel, because he didn't even flinch. Lucky for him the bird skimmed two inches above his head. Then the bird swerved and dive bombed me. Must have been a magpie as they're renowned f...

Here is yet another newsline on an idiotic professional athlete here in the land down under: http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2009/08/31/1251570648647.html This kind of behavior is rampant, with drunken players getting drunken and rowdy and getting mixed up on the wrong side of the law. I know that professional athletes back in the states get into trouble as well, but I don't think it's nearly as bad as it is here. It may be that Australia's smaller population combined with a national reverence for sports makes sports news more prominent. I also feel as though it has to do with the general stupidity of the players and a lack of responsibility and respect. There are other stories involving players beating their wives and girlfriends, a coach punching one of his female staff members, rape, team orgies, etc. etc. The most notorious club to go to in the state is the Panthers Club, a giant club/bar/casino out west in Penrith where Marcus grew up. The Panther's Club as in ...

I know that anyone who actually reads this blog already got the email but--yay! I passed the first step of the permanent residency application process so I have another two years here! Without working restriction and I get to sign up for Medicare, too, which is comforting. There are all kinds of things to start rolling out and I've barely begun! It's all coming along, though. Marcus and I started the apartment search a few weeks ago and we've gone to see a number of places. There are some good options out there and we're lucky enough to be able to take our time to find the place that feels right for us, rather than scrambling to find a place because a lease has just ended. I'm fairly certain that our lease ran out a few weeks (or months) ago so we get to meander through apartment listings to see what strikes our fancy. There are a few key items we're taking into consideration: Must have an oven. This may sound strange, but I've come across a few places witho...

It's a beautiful sunny day outside, a little breezy, a few clouds dotting the sky and I decided that it would be a good idea to go outside for lunch. I decided I should do a little lunch time series and take pictures of my lunch spots for a week so people can see some of the beautiful areas close to where I work. I walked out the door, lunch in hand, ready to choose a spot. Um, forgot the camera. Oh well, let's continue on and have a nice outdoor lunch. I decided to revisit the stomping grounds of King George, as I walk by there every day and it's a beautiful little spot and it's time I conquer my fear of the king. There were a few people scattered about the area and I figured I would have a nice, quiet little lunch of reading and eating my sandwich. Halfway through the sandwich, I hear a throat clear behind me. "Um, hey, uuuummm, I know this isn't normal and stuff and it doesn't happen very often, but I uh reckon you're like really hot." I stoppe...

I was walking to work this morning when I noticed the sign at the Catholic church along the way said, "Happy birthday Father Barry. We love our priest." Sound familiar? It's the same message that was up when I first arrived in Australia. I can't believe it's been a year already! I would go into some sort of reminiscent babbling, but I did that for my birthday a month ago so that wouldn't be nearly as interesting as I'd like it to be. Marcus and I went into the Department of Immigration to turn in my visa application, and so far so good. I'm missing one form and that's the Australian background check. It doesn't say in the visa application that you need to do this, but when you make an appointment to go into their office they say you need to have this done. That was a little annoying, I mean, they might as well put that on the application checklist! But no matter, I'll send that out tomorrow. It would have been sent out already except that...

These pictures are from a month or two ago, but I thought they'd be fun to put up anyway. It was a bored Sunday and we decided to go for a scenic walk. This city has plenty of 'em!

I'm in the middle of finishing up my birthday writing for the year (which I've been working on during my lunch time all week) but that can wait just a little bit longer. I'm a little overwhelmed right now. Okay, whatever, I'm 26. It's not old, but neither is it young. I realized that I was 18 eight years ago. Eight years ago! I can say I've been friends with people for more than a decade (we moved around a lot so other than my family I can't say I have "lifelong" friends). When my friends started getting married, it was okay, normal, still a bit weird and I always thought, "Aren't we too young for this?" That totally disregards the fact that I almost got married at the age of 21 and refuted anyone who said that I was too young to get married. What's in an age? Besides, I'm mature for my age. Ha. That may have been true when I was younger, but now I just get called grandma and I seem like an old person. Well, I'm starting t...