Great day, and it got even better!

Today ended up being great!  I met Jo at Federation Square, about 20 minutes walking from the hostel I’m staying at.  We met up at 10am, and took one of the trams to one of the beaches here in Melbourne.  The tram took around a half hour, and took us through some neat side streets and we saw some neat houses and buildings! The beach was beautiful.  There was a huge beach volleyball club out practicing which was neat! Dozens of them, all dressed the same.  

The weather was slightly overcast today, a little humid, but about 26C so who can complain about that? We sat on the beach for about an hour, then decided ice cream was necessary! (My kind of friend!!) We walked along the board walk, and each got a drumstick, before sitting on a ledge to enjoy them while watching families and their dogs play in the water.

We made our way back to the tram and back into the city center before parting ways, verbally agreeing to meet back at Federation Square again tomorrow at 2pm to go to the “other bigger better” beach!  We both laughed at how old school, yet refreshing, it is to just verbally agree on meeting somewhere and hoping it works that we can both be there, without having telephones, internet, or texting devices to use to confirm passed the “see you tomorrow!” 

 

I had my bank appointment today to pick up my bank card and to set up my three banking accounts here for my year or two in Australia.  Next and final step is my TFN (SIN equivalent) which can be done online, and I’m set!  Jo and I talked also about the farming/agri work again today, and are looking into it more in the next few days.  She’s as determined as I am to work and make some coin this summer. 

Being anonymous in a new city is lovely.  Some find it scary, but I quite enjoy it.  I haven’t gotten lovely yet, and that may come – but for now, I’m totally enjoying being on my own timetable, doing what I need to and what I want to, when I want to! I still can’t believe how calm I’ve been about my “delayed” (not lost!) bag, that’s supposed to be here within the next two days.  It is a pain in the ass, especially because it has: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face stuff, tampons, toothpaste, and make-up, etc.  I am so glad I packed a few outfits and tampons and my toothbrush at the least, because tampons alone are upwards of $30-40 a box!  Toothbrushes are pricey too.  I bought a little tube of toothpaste for $5, because I couldn’t go another minute with hairy teeth. 

After the bank, I wandered around for another 4 hours. I made my way all over Melbourne, including all the way up to the State of Victoria Library where I snagged some free internet time on a computer there.  That building is HUGE!  So old and so beautiful!  I walked home, and on my way home, stopped at a place called Pie Face! It's a big thing around here and apparently it's a local favourite.  It's all about PIES! Meet pies, chicken pies, thai pies, curry pies, veggie pies, chocolate pies, everything pies!  I had one! They all have different faces on them, depending on what kind the are! It's pretty unique!

JUST HAD A KNOCK AT THE DOOR! GUESS WHO'S HERE?! MY BAG! Day is complete. Time for bed. I'm wiped! This jet lag is officially kicking my ass! :) 

LOVE LOVE LOVE!  

 

Making Friends

So here’s a goody! While sitting in McDonald’s yesterday afternoon eating my 10 piece McNugget meal, a girl who was clearly a European traveler was waiting for the bathroom to become free – but was waiting at the wrong door and looked confused… So I said, “bathroom?” and pointed around the corner to a door she couldn’t see with a little women’s bathroom sign. She smiled and said thank you.  While she was doing her business, I thought, “well she looks friendly. Maybe I’ll ask her about internet connections here and where else there is free wifi since this McDonald’s wifi is garbage.”  So I did. She was so friendly, and told me she had actually only just arrived to Australia two days prior.  She sat down, and we totally became friends! Hahaha! The power of friendly travelers.  Her name is Jo, and she is from Sweden, and is here on a working holiday visa like myself. We talked about why each of us are here, and what we plan to accomplish.  She has been dating a guy from New Zealand for the last two and a half years, and he’s coming to meet her here next week.  They have very similar plans to mine, except hers don’t include teaching.  We both want to work in agri/farming to extend our visas and she told me that there’s actually an option in certain parts of Australia right now that you can also get paid as well as have your visa extended because it’s harvest time!  Definitely exploring this when I get more situated.  Still wishing my backpack was here, although I am not overly worried. Yet.

We talked about all kinds of things.  When it came time for her to head to the supermarket, she asked where my hostel was.  Turns out it was right where she was going to be walking to catch the tram home.  So we went to the supermarket called Cole’s, and I bought some fruit and granola bars and soup and godddaaammmnnnit I felt like I was in first year again, in rez! But I love it.  It’s quite different but quite refreshing too. At 10am I’m meeting her at Federation Square, which is 6 blocks from my hostel, and we are going to a beach by bus for a few hours!  I will be posting pictures for sure! Apparently at night, there’s penguins out on the wharf!  I will have to return at night time I guess! 

I am excited to be in Melbourne, although I want my bag to get here and I want to get my TFN (social insurance number equivalent) soon, so I can start working and making money.  I have a bank appointment at 3pm, so will be back from the beach in time to get that accomplished, then I have no idea what’s up for the evening.

I can’t promise such frequent entries for my entire adventure, but I will try!  I can whip these little stories up in 5-10 min and it’s fun to share!

More soon!

Love! xoxox

Made it! But my bag... well, it didn't.

Well! I made it. One piece. But one piece missing. Hmmmm. What could that be? My 70L piece of checked luggage? Correct!

Having said that, I'm happy.  It was a reality check not having the bag, and a moment of "Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me to make sure my carry-on luggage has enough to get you by for a few days! Well - I'm good for clothes and a toothbrush and 5 days of underwear... but no shampoo, no razors, no make up type stuff, no brush, no toothpaste, no clothes besides about two outfits, etc.  Luckily, they have located the bag. It's still at LAX! As the guy in the Sydney airport said: "Oh bugga!" Oh bugga is right.

Needless to say, I carried on.  I got myself to Melbourne, and got a bus ticket to the YHA Hostel I plan to be at for the next few days.  The driver even gave me four extra tickets in a hush hush kind of way that are worth $17 a pieces "just in case" I needed to boogie around Melbourne! Making friends, as always.

The hostel I am staying at is in a great spot.  Walking distance from places I need to be in the next few days, which I fantastic.  Exploring downtown in any city by foot is always a hoot!

Looks like a dorm, huh? I bought a 10 day YHA pass which ends up saving me lots of money, and can be used at any of the 100 locations across Australia. They'll be used up quickly I'm sure!

Since I didn't have shampoo or anything, and the best case scenario is for my bag to be here tomorrow (CROSS YOUR FINGERS!), I just hopped in the shower for a freshen up and man did it feel good after those flights!  Threw my hair up in a bun, chucked on an outfit, and here I am at McDonald's about five blocks away using horrible wifi... but it's free, so I make do. Chicken nuggets taste the same here in case you were wondering. Whaaaat?! I needed something in my stomach while I let myself unwind from the last 30 hours and write this blog! :)

So I have a few important emails to send with regards to my bank appointment tomorrow, and for my teaching recruiters here.  Other than that, a chill night with a book and some music and my two "roommates" from France, Laura and Marie is about what the Doc ordered for me for tonight.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Leaving Minden in thirteen hours... WTF.

Clock says 12:04am.  It's now Sunday. I realize it's been too long since I've written, but I also recognize that writing a blog entry wasn't something I've been in the mind frame to write over the last two/three weeks, with wrapping up my life in London and spending a final week with my family and friends here in Minden. But I just hung up the phone with an American Airlines customer service fella, who reassured me that yes, I am in fact flying tomorrow with American Airlines, and that my eticket number is valid - they were just having networking issues. Phheewwwff!
So I sit here alone, well, with two Siamese cats - one extremely fat, and one extremely attention deprived (or so you'd think!) - in an excessively hot basement with my laptop and heavy eyelids.

But I can't sleep.

I am pretty sure that flying to Australia tomorrow might have something to do with it. I'm actually positive. Anxious? Not really. Sad? Hell no. Happy? Extremely! Worried? Not in the least. Excited? Most definitely. Missing my friends and family already? Abso-freaking-lutely.

The last few weeks can be summed up relatively quickly, I guess. 

With regards to work: I gave my two weeks, and left with a smile on my face.  They gave me a card, a cake, and an LCBO giftcard. There are some employees I'll miss more than others, but all have been great to me, and have kept my life in London "interesting."

With regards to my car: I sold it. The details are a bore to most, but the end result is - I sold the little bastard.

With regards to my apartment and leaving my lady roommate, Gail: that was tough. She became a friend very quickly. She treated me like a daughter, and was a mom away from home. I tend to have those kinds of ladies pop into my life no matter where I am in the world, and I know that keeps my mom happy! :) Gail has three cats and a little dog named Chico, who apparently miss me and still wait for me at the end of the day to come home... poor little buggers. They might be waiting a while!

With regards to my goodbyes in London: some were much tougher than others! I made a lot of friends through Matt.  He was a tough goodbye - which I had expected. So was his mom, who I can say is one of the world's sweetest ladies, with one of the biggest hearts ever.  His friends, who have become mine, are all so fun, and so caring... I'll miss them all!

With regards to my move home: GREAT SUCCESS! Right Dad? :) Filled the Volvo SUV to the roof, but was done in one trip. Not bad when that's everything I own. Have less, do more, be more! - Right mom? :)

With regards to my last week at home: amazing. Simply amazing. Time to actually relax was so required after the last little while, getting organized, moving, filling out paper work for Australia, selling the car, dealing with fixing the car before selling it (TOTAL B.S.!) yada yada yada... I spent lots of time with one of my best friends, Heather, who celebrated her 24th birthday on Friday! - What a hoot! :) I also talked lots on the phone with another bestie, Julie, AKA my Dingo.  I even got a great chat in with an old dear friend that I met on my exchange, Ellen.  I spent the better portion of three days with Allison, Joe, and my perfect, beautiful, light of my life, niece, Kinley. I didn't realize how much I could love someone until she popped out. It was so nice to be in their home with them, and to enjoy their company.  They treated me to dinner on Thursday, and Joe and I even made it out for one last honk on the fourwheelers and he made sure we found a little bit of mud to play around in! They showed me their lot, where they're planning to build their forever home. I can't wait to see what comes of that tree filled property in the next few years! The ideas and plans they have sound so beautiful!  I made my way down to Lindsay and visited my Grandma Lytle! I showed her pictures of Kinley and recent ones from my life and of the family, and she was just fit to be tied.  She is one beautiful soul, no matter what anyone says.  I got to spend lots of time with my parents, who are so great and so loving and supportive of me and my life. Mom is probably lying awake now, wondering why the hell my bedroom light is on still. Nah... who am I kidding? She tired herself out crying tonight. :( Sorry ma! I had a fantastic visit with Mama and Papa today too, with an extra special visit from Sean and Josie and their baby girl, Audrey.  Mama made us an incredible brunch, which filled all of us up to the brim. For those of you who haven't met the legendary Mama - she is one very special person in my life.  We had a few moments today that I'll never ever ever ever forget, that had us both in tears.  I'd share things we talked about and cried about, but then it wouldn't be so special. So I will leave it at that. :) I also had a special surprise phone call from my Grandpa Barry and Granny Carol all the way from Texas! Sounds like they've been having good weather until today, but are happy as ever down south!

Tonight was, and is pretty surreal... as I sit here, roasting beside the fire, I think about how lucky I am to have such a support network that constantly surrounds me.  I am a very lucky individual. That's an understatement. 

I leave Minden in roughly thirteen hours.  W.T.F.

I will be in touch! I WILL be in touch. I promise.
I will post pictures. I will reply to emails.

I love you all!

It may be a one way ticket - but I will be back.

Mom? ... I WILL be back.

Just started crying. That's me ending this for tonight!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!