The boredom blues

Aussie phrase of the day: full-on = busy, intense, "My weekend was full-on" or "that girl is really full-on."

My weekend may have been full-on and Tuesday when I had three interviews, but the rest of this week has been a wash. I couldn't plan anything because the forecast was grim and rainy, but then the days would turn out fine. Today was supposed to be nice, but instead it has rained. You think the weathermen in the States are bad!!! I don't even think the weathermen/ women are meterologists. The people who give you the forecast on TV are there to look cute and read the forecast to you.. that's it! No training in weather whatsoever, just broadcast journalists. Trust me, I had one as a guest lecturer in one of my journalism classes.. she's just a pretty face, with nice hair, and cute clothes and half the guys want to date her.

So I got a few job offers this week, which I've declined. I was so desperate a few weeks ago and now that the calls are coming in I'm being picky. I have two more interviews next week, one of which I'm sure I will get. One of which I REALLY want because it is a non-profit housing organization. I've been interested in non-profit agencies since I was an undergrad getting my PR degree. It's something I think I can put my whole heart into since I also like helping people and have worked with Habitat for Humanity before. Maybe it will open the doors to where I really want to end up. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

I'm posting some photos of some wonderful things that I received this week from home. One is a card from my mom and the other is a beautiful picture frame from my friend Sarah that I just received today. Both the card and picture frame were handmade... just for me! How lucky am I? I have such loving and devoted friends and family that I had to share their handcrafted gifts with everyone! Sarah's frame also came beautifully wrapped in layers of colorful tissue, gift wrap, and bubble wrap.. it was like opening one of those Russian dolls! It also had a musical card with it. I felt like it was my birthday. Thank you mom and Sarah for your thoughtfulness. Your card and frame were true pick-me-ups this week!

On a final note: Everyone should read In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. It is a funny book about Australia that is written not only to entertain, but also talks about the different cities, regions and culture in Australia. I haven't read it yet, but it has been recommended to me by several people from around the world. My mom is reading it right now and says it makes you laugh out loud.

Among the fields of gold

Aussie word of the day: nappi = diaper, "The baby's nappi is wet."

There was no ocean diving last week due to inclimate weather that wasn't so inclimate, that was just the instructor's excuse not to go out. The weather last week was beautiful and perfect for diving, but oh well. Perhaps this weekend! Instead, Gail and I visited the zoo. It was much the same as any zoo and I've already petted the roo's and koala's, so was not nearly as enamored by them as I was before. The ferry ride across the Swan River to get to the zoo in South Perth was much more entertaining with a spectacular view of the city (see photo) and relaxing as well.

Spring has literally sprung south of the equator. There are wildflowers galore spreading their colorful glory across WA. As I rode the tour bus south of Perth this weekend to Albany the fields were blanketed in a bounty of golden spring wildflowers... I'm not sure Sting was talking about WA's golden fields of canola flowers when he wrote the song Fields of Gold, but it definately applies. Between the fields of gold were fields of sheep grazing in the morning sun, some wearing a full coat of wool and some newly shorn. The fields were reminiscent of home divided by tree lines and dusty (out)backroads. Only 2 hours south of the city and the weather was already cooler with a brisk sea breeze blowing inland from the Southern Ocean. The air was fresh and crisp like a perfect autumn day. There are also wild calla lillies, their leafy bushes growing along creekbeds and in the local gardens. This is a true delight for someone from America who has to pay a lot for a bouquet of the elegent white flowers.

On our way to Albany we stopped at a beach for lunch, then travelled up the hilly region to a lookout point for a panoramic view of Albany and the bay. Next stop was the Natural bridge and The Gap, a rocky area where millions of years ago Australia was once connected to Antarctica and is now somewhat reminiscent of the coast of Ireland (according to my Irish friend, Rory), with its rocky and green cliffs. We stayed the night in a hostel in Albany. It was my first experience in a hostel and will not be my last. It was pleasant enough, with shared rooms, toilets and showers. They even fed us dinner, which is unusual, according to my hostelling friends. There were 4 beds or 2 bunkbeds to a room. I shared a room with Debbie and Rory and a Pakistani guy named Rafik (Rafeek). At first I joked that Rafik would cut my throat in the night because I was American, but before the night was over we had made friends with him as we enjoyed a few microbrews at the local pub with the other people on our tour.

The next day we headed back to Perth with a stop at the Tree Top Walk. The Tree Top Walk involves a metal semi-suspended bridge that climbs and weaves among the tall Tingle trees. The highest point on the bridge was 40 metres or 132 feet high. Despite the fact that the bridge was made of metal and only semi-suspended it was still swaying and the boys were purposely rocking it more. I carefully braced myself on the narrow bridge while trying to hurry along as I struggled with a sudden fear of heights and an uncomfortable case of vertigo. I made it safely back to the bottom without throwing up or crashing hundreds of feet to the forest floor.

This week is semester break, but many people are putting in extra study time or working on projects that are due next week. The weather is also rainy again, so I may not do much this week aside from continuing my job search. I will email more photos to everyone as there were too many to post on the blog.

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Aussie word of the day: Tea = dinner, "What would you like for tea?"

Hello again, my faithful friends... it's been an extremely busy few weeks and I am finally getting some time to relax and write a little. Springtime in Oz is not impressing me much, there has still been little sunshine since I got here 2 months ago. Yesterday and today we were a little lucky and got to glimpse some sunshine, but the rain came back today.

I finally got some money last week so I could afford to enjoy the weekend catching up with friends and going to a bar in Subi. That's me and Debbie in the photo. Also pictured is me in my wet suit at scuba diving training this weekend. The safety training we went through yesterday in the pool nearly killed me, not to mention I was diving with a hangover from the night before - not recommended. I kept getting severe leg cramps in my calves and was a little freaked out at first.. it felt really unnatural and clausterphobic breathing entirely on a regulator. After we got adjusted to the gear and breathing aparatus, we equalized the pressure in our ears and went through a variety of safety procedures. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of the day. I'm looking forward to the regular diving we will do this week.. if the weather holds out.

I'm still looking for a job and honestly can't believe I haven't gotten one yet! I've applied to over 10 places, mostly admin. I'm going to start hitting up the cafes this week. The semester break is nearly here and I am more than ready for it! Just me, the sun, sand and ocean!

This weekend I am going south to the historic coastal town of Albany, where the trees grow tall and Western Australia's roots run deep. According to the Albany tourism Web site Albany is the site of the first European settlement in Western Australia and is steeped in early Western Australian maritime history. I know there is a ship wreck there that divers can explore, but I will not be diving it this weekend. So look for the Albany blog to come!

I will blog again this week after my under water adventures Thursday and Friday just to let you know that I didn't get eaten by a shark.

Almost home..

Aussie word of the day: Brekky = short for breakfast. A tv ad for Hungry Jack's (Burger King) the other day advertised "Brekky starting at 6 a.m."

G'day my warm weathered friends! Six weeks in and mid-term is nearly here (sigh). I'm busting to do some more travelling although I won't be if I don't get some money fast! This is the quest of the week.. I know you've all heard it before, but I swear this will be my last week without a job. I'm finally feeling the strain of no income and it isn't pretty... especially for my friends who have been kind enough to take pity on my (literally) poor soul.

Where did my money go? See above photo. A nice big piece of mud cake warmed up with ice cream and a capuccino, $10. My favorite Australian beer, Crown Lager (with the gold label), $7. Being a poor uni student who pretends she has more money than she does, priceless :) You can best tell this by the humongous, yet incredibly fake cz cocktail ring on the right hand. The photo was taken by my one and only American friend, Gail, last Friday when we were dining at The Brass Monkey, a favorite pub'n grub spot in Northbridge. I felt like having one last hoorah before I officially couldn't afford to eat this way anymore. We then hit up a hip and trendy new nightclub called The Saint in Scarborough (Scar-brah) Beach. More pix to follow. I couldn't afford the cab ride home so I stayed with Gail so she could give me a ride back in the morning. I will be repaying her with an all-you-can-eat sushi night in the city.

Saturday was my friend, Debbie's birthday where I stuffed myself silly with appetizers and snacks in anticipation of running out of food at home... you know, like animals that hibernate and eat shitloads in the off season. Don't worry, I'm not ballooning up.. yet. I'm still going to the gym and when I do run out of food, I can live off all the fat I stored up for days! Yesterday, was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm.. you know what that means! Hit the beach! I still didn't think the water would be warm enough, but it probably was and next time I will get in.

I can't believe I've been here nearly 2 months now and the reality of the end of term is bittersweet. Although, I will get to go home to see all my loved ones at the end of November - the weekend after Thanksgiving to be exact and will stay through Christmas and my b-day, some of my good friends who are only here on exchange will be gone when I get back and I will be left to seek out the company of new friends. I will also miss half the Australian summer, the better half, while I'm back in the States and will return when the temps are well above 100 degrees Farenheit.

Upon returning to Australia Dec. 30 with my dear friends Gina and her boyfriend Jolly (Chris), we will tour the eastern States (east coast by American terminology), and dive the Great Barrier Reef before I officially return to Perth to commence.. another 6 weeks of school holidays.. yeah!!! That's 3 months off between semesters! When I return to Perth in January there will be plenty to do before classes begin again. I will be settling into a new abode, preferrably a flat with new roommates.. not that I don't like the ones I have now. Maybe I will get a better job or at least some "work experience" to get into the field of journalism. Perhaps I will buy a car, a much desired entity amongst those of us who are just plain fed up on spending half their lives waiting on buses, trains, and cabs or subjecting ourselves to riding a bike to the liquor store to pick up some beer for the weekend and putting it in the cute little basket on the back. My friend, Debbie, who will be here the same duration as I am, bought an '84 Ford hatchback for AUD$400, which is like $300 American.. HA! It's a little rust-spotted, but it runs and that's all us poor uni students care about!

So I will see most of you wonderful readers in a few short months. Hope everyone had a safe and happy Labor Day!