Lollies and Mail

I had a delicious lolly the other day. What is a lolly you ask? Not a lollipop...it is the general term for any type of candy. I figured this out from a kid on the tram. School had just been let out and there were little Jonahs and Ja'mies running around in their various uniforms, trying to get home, get to band practice (many carry instruments), or go to some sort of sporting practice. I always eaves drop on the kid's conversations and literally it seems like they go to
Summer Heights High. In my mind I will say, oh there is a Jonah for sure, when I see a kid pick on another one lugging around a musical instrument bigger than himself. Or i'll notice a Ja'mie as I listen in on a convo about facebook chatting and how she cannot be bothered with it anymore, and I quote, "if you want to talk to me, you can call my mobile...until then just leave me alone". Ja'mie for sure.

If you do not know about this Jonah/Ja'mie nonsense that I have been reffering to...they are characters in an Australian tv show, Summer Heights High. It was made popular in the US on HBO... It is one of my favorites, very funny.

Anyway, back to the lolly. A pack of them were delivered to the commercial real estate company that I temped at this past week. The delivery "dude" had tatoos covering his arms, he was wearing a bike helmet, and he looked like he had just woken up. I was staring at a "bike pusher" or maybe it is a "push biker". Someone who delivers small envelopes by bike within smaller distances. As I finished writing this blog, while waiting for a tram, I looked up and a push biker, working for the Australian Post, pulled up right in front of me...so for your viewing pleasure: (Notice the bag on the back for the mail)

There are many pick ups and deliverys made throughout the day so I was always curious as to what, I mean who, would appear from the elevators next.

Another guy was wearing a padded leather jacket, boots, and dark padded pants. He had long strangly grey hair and sunglasses that he never took off. He was a motor biker (I could be wrong on these terms). Using his motor cylce to deliver. He takes a very important document that needs to be delivered within the hour to be signed...he never said a word to me. They usually never do...just in and out either dropping off a package or picking one up. Hopefully these packages all got to the right places, because I certainly was not going to try and get involved with this "method" they use for mail.

Sometimes I would sign something confirming delivery...these people requiring signatures wore uniforms...they were the normal "UPS" men that I was used to.

Mail time kept me entertained. Who knew I'd be in Melbourne temping at a real estate company enjoying mail time.

Day 22

So I have been in Australia for 22 days now. So crazy how time flies!
This past week was very eventful. The highlights:

• Learning the non-side-effects of goon (for me)
• Dancing at a bar called Cushion
• Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with lots of Irish
• Hitting the beach in St. Kilda (where we live) for 3 days straight. Picture below is a random that I took while laying out. Taken with my i-Phone.

• Eating in Richmond with fellow American, Jenny (we met her through her little brother, John Martin)
• Starting another temp job as a receptionist at a commercial real estate agency
• Going to the Australian soccer final! See picture below...this is the stadium located in Docklands...they play aussie rules football, soccer, etc. at this stadium. Taken with my iphone...I am still trying to figure out what to do with my pictures from my camera considering I do not have a computer....suggestions would be appreciated.

The game was Melbourne vs Sydney. It ended with a shoot- out and Sydney ended up winning. They are bitter rivalries, competing to be Australia's best city. I haven't been to Sydney yet, so I cannot judge yet, but Melbourne has been amazing so far! One of my favorite things is how diverse the culture is here. You can get Thai, japanese, coffee, hamburgers, and anything else you would want all on the same block in the city as well as in most every suburb. Everywhere in Melbourne are bars you would never know about because they are down dark alleys and behind random doors. (sounds so safe right ha). Below is a visual of the alley we strolled through.

Go down this alley, turn left...

Go to the end, turn right...

Then, walk all the way to the very end of the long alley...

Past the art work...

And when you cannot go any further...You are there...Walk in through the door on the left

But another cool thing about the night life here is how they go all out to decorate their bar/club. We went to 29th Apartment (a bar) and it indeed was filled with apartment decorations. We sat down on kitchen stools and drank around a wooden shaped ironing board. The dj booth was a bath tub, and the dance floor was equipped with a bed, very nicely made. Another cool themed bar was fully decorated to look like an Insane Asylum/Hospital...it was called the Croft Institute (see pictures above to see the path to the Croft Institute). There was a creepy operating table/bed in the bathroom. Another bar, called House, I think, looked literally like we crashed a house party with couches and paintings and a dining room table.

Needless to say, Australia hasn't been all fun and games (haha). Like I said I have been temping at a real estate company and have to wake up early, take the tram to the city and do the whole 9-5 thing. Working there has really helped me learn even more about the city and all the different areas you can live. There is so much more to Melbourne than I even realized and I am excited to explore more!

Did I spell things wrong? Did something not make sense? I am too lazy to proof read.

Goon

"I'm going to get some goon...anyone want some?"

"Yeah! I'll take the soft dry white"
"Yeah can you get me the fruity"
"I'll take the soft dry red"

"ok so 4 goons it is. I'll be back with the goon"

So goon is the cheapest alcohol here...8 dollars for a whole thing of
boxed wine. Similar to franzia...when I say similar I mean the same.
They claim goon to the aboriginals means pillow, which is what the bag
of wine on the box looks like. I'll gave to start "slap the goon" or
"tour de goon". (Miami was such a fun school)

Other little new sayings
How you going? ...not how you doing
Good on ya...good for you
This is my partner...usually means girlfriend or boyfriend, not that
they are gay.
Cheers! ...thank you.

I had my first temp job on Monday. I did filing for Victoria Legal
Aid. Very easy job, and they must have needed the help because I filed
all day, from 9-5. But as I was leaving the boss signs my time card
and says, " ok Katie (they actually have a hard time saying my name so
it sounds like kayeee)...but anyway he goes ok Katie, good on ya mate,
good on ya, hear you go mate, cheers mate".
And of course all i do is say ok thank you in the most American way I
could ever sound...it was funny how both of us noticed how different
we spoke. Eventhough it is still English, it is still very different.

St patrick's day is Wednesday! I'm very excited because most of the
people living in the share house are Irish. So it will be fun to see
them in their "element".

By the way, we really like the share house. Like I said before it is
like a frat house. It's rooms sleep 3 each, the kitchen is fully
stocked with a microwave, panini maker, pots/pans/silverware/plates/
etc. There is a computer as well as free wi-fi. A covered porch off
the back where you can lounge. The main living room has maybe 10
couches all put together around a large flat screen. Next to the flat
screen is a huge box of DVDs. Overall the share house is a great time.
Always something going on and people are so nice and helpful. For
instance yesterday, one of the roomates gave me a number for a data
entry job that you can do and be paid cash on the spot. Too easy!

We are currently planning our first trip along the Great Ocean Road
for Easter. We will be driving...on the left side of the road. The
driving might be the hardest thing for me to get used to! I literally
never know which way the cars are coming when I try to cross the
street. I have to look both ways 6 times. Which makes me look
ridiculous and paranoid. But better safe than run over!

Miss everyone so much! I have been really slack on picture taking so I
will try get better this week! Love you all!

Rain, Hail, Sun, etc.

This past weekend was so fun and so random. Fun because I'm in Australia,
and random because of the crazy weather. What they say is true, in
Melbourne you can experience all 4 seasons in a day. Friday it was
sunny so we went to the beach. All of a sudden the sun dissappears and
gets cold. We walk home and just as we get inside it starts to hail!
It hailed and the wind blew for a while, then stopped for the rest of
the night. Word is that since the "storm of 2010" as it is called, 8
people have died because they fell off their roof. I haven't fact
checked because I do not care to but wild story either way.

Saturday we go to the Future Music Festival. It is an all day event
packed with bands and djs that I mostly have not heard of...but none
the less a guarenteed good time. The day started out sunny and hot. It
ended up pouring down rain and turned so cold. We had to leave b/c the
place ran out of ponchos for sale! Still, no matter what the weather, it was a good first weekend.

Now to my next order of business. We have moved, temporarily, into a
share house. A share house is basically a hostel, except it is a
house, with less rooms. It's like a sorority house. It's all girls
and supposedly one guy. I cannot figure out who this token guy is,
because next door their is a share house with guys...so between the
two houses, there are lots of people coming in and out. We are the only
Americans, so we are surrounded with lots of accents. They all are
pretty nice and are just doing their own thing. Some work at night,
others in the day. I am still on my job search and one of my "house
mates" hooked me up with Esther, from a staffing company. I went to
the interview and met Esther, who was so cute and nice, not what you
would picture with a name like Esther. I guess she has
helped (or tried to help) most of the people in the share house. Ha I
guess some of them were lost causes. There will be more to come on
this share house and job situation. Hope everyone is doing well! Miss you all!

First 3 days = Success

I am in Melbourne! I made it! PIT>CLT>LAX>SYD>MLB! My bag made it 2 days later, no big deal, it saved me from having to lug my bag with me through Melbourne. So I absolutely love it and I have only been here for 4 days now. I must say, in the past 3 days I have been all business.

Day 1: I arrive in Melbourne around noon, and wait around for my bag...but I know that there is a 99% chance it will not come. I settle my claim with Qantas, and get on the sky bus to take me to the city. Then I hop in a cab to go to Nitsa's house. Nitsa is Condon's 3rd cousin, who has been so nice to let us stay with her and her amazing family. It is Nitsa, her boyfriend Glenn, and her two daughters Elly (23) and Sophie (18) in a really cute house about 2 blocks from the beach. I go into the city to meet up with Jill and Condon after they were done working. We catch up over Thooey's at a bar in St. Kilda. That night, Glenn made an amazing dinner. It was so nice talking with their family because they were so welcoming, not to mention the really great food.

Day 2: Wake up early, not feeling jet lag at all. I travel into the city with Condon and Jill on their way to work. Which by the way, the girls have been here for 2 weeks and they are pretty pro with how to do everything. So I first go and set up my bank account. Very easy process, i'll get my debit card in a week. Next I set out to get a phone...but deep down I want to figure out how to unlock my iphone from ATT&T, so I can just get a prepaid sim for my iphone. I have grown so attatched to it, but more importantly, it will be nice having it with us when we travel. I stop in a few different stores asking about iphone unlocking and 4 out of 5 say it is easy to get it unlocked, and give me an address. There was one nervous nerd who only talked about how illegal it was, but I do not see me going to jail over this. After lots of walking I finally get to this store that might be considered shady, as it was mostly a bunch of iphone/itouch cases and then a desk. The guy says he can unlock it in 30 minutes! Great success. When I came to pick it up he showed me how I can download ringtones for free off of this app he used to unlock my phone. Then he says "for $25 more dollars, I can download an app that would allow you to have any application you want.. for free". I thought about it, but then decided I don't want to run out on my luck with this iphone business. So after I got a new sim card and aussie number with a local network all was well. I went back to Nitsa's house and laid out on the beach for an hour, then met up with Condon and Jill to do some house hunting. I then had my first night out in Melbourne...we went to a bar that was having 90's music night. We will probably be back.

Day 3: I wake up and get ready with the girls because I have a meeting for a potential job. Jill had applied for the job...but found a job by the time the cafe had called her back. So with luck, she mentioned me needing a job, and got me an "interview". Mind you I planned on spending the day at the beach after this little meeting. I was wearing the same outfit I had worn the night before (I am still waiting on my bag from the airport). I go to the "meeting" and it turns into a "trial"... where I work for the day. So I get thrown into this positionless job, where they tell me to be a busser, then a food runner, then a salad maker, then a coffee deliverer. All the while wearing this dress...all the other employees are wearing the same blue shirt. Customers thought I was a damn customer half the time...until I would take their empty plate from them. Probably the funniest moment was when I was clearing off some plates with the dish washer, Ran-gee (that is how I will spell his name). I do not know where he is from, but he is foreign. As I clear this dish, I feel him smack me in the ass. I think to myself, "ok, sexual harrasment did not take long here...I have not even got the job yet". But I turn around and he is getting up from the ground...he slipped on the wet floor. I secretly thank the lord, he wasn't coping a feel. So I try to help him up...and instead of wiping the floor, he puts salt all over the ground and then goes back to the dishes. I laughed all day at this vision. The trial went well I mean I was completely qualified to clear people's plates...I am a pro busser. They said they will be in touch after they have a few more "meetings" aka "trials". Later in the evening we met up with a girl from Cleveland who has been living in Australia for about 2 years (her brother was a fellow Miami grad). She had lots of tips and was really helpful about jobs, housing, and stuff to do in Melbourne. It is nice being so far away, but being able to have nice people around to help out.

Day 4: Today...I am waiting for the sun to come out so I can hopefully get some sort of color. If not I will spend the day doing touristy stuff, where I can test out my new camera! Miss and love you all!