Bad blogger

...to say the least! Now its effectively two full years later and wow have things changed!!

So I'm still in Australia, still living in Elizabeth Bay - only now I live alone in a studio that overlooks Sydney Harbour. I absolutely ADORE my studio!! Jen Grech, Jen Kaminski, Cheryl Karp, etc etc have all gone back home now. This city really is a city of transients. You come, you play for a while (some of us longer than others) and then you head home to reality. I think its safe to safe that none of them were actually 100% ready to leave - but then again now that I'm here almost three years I can attest to the fact that its a lot like living in Neverland, and you're Peter Pan. Eventually its time to fly out the window! I mean, this place is unreal.. its all go, go, go, play, play, play all the time!

No time to blog, obviously.

So now I've been working as a recruiter at Robert Half for about a year and a half. Recruitment, if you didn't know, is probably the hardest form of sales in the world. I've sold a product all my life, but that product doesn't continually change its mind, make its own decision, or not return my calls. Not to mention you have about 30 minutes to learn your product (the candidate) before you need to get on the phone to clients and tell them all about how good they are and why they want them in their company when they never told you they needed anyone in the first place. Quite interesting really... and then should you get a buy in from the client you then have to go back to the candidate and sell them about why they want to work with the client (Stock exchange listed, work/life balance, blah blah)... and hope real hard that they go for it. And IF they do, then you have to negotiate salaries! If they DON'T.... you'd better have an equally qualified/available candidate ready to backfill the client with.

Phew!! I'm exhausted just writing it. SELL SELL SELL SELL. Certainly beats talking someone into $10 more for a Mustang or convincing them they really need that insurance.. sheesh.

Anyways, so now Jen G lives in Copenhagen (random), Jen K lives in PB (standard), and CK lives in Scottsdale. So weird how life works and now people you used to spend every waking moment with, you barely speak to anymore!! Its good to know that your best friends don't really require constant check ins. I reckon I could not speak to any of those kids for a year and be able to hop right back into the swing of things like it was yesterday. Oh and of course facey helps.

So, next week I'm going to Thailand with Michelle Sanford, Nick DeLillo, Tiffany N-something, and Ashley Arata. When I booked these tickets a year ago I assumed it'd be just Michelle and I so I'm elated that we have others coming from all over the place!!! The planner in me is panicking because typically I have it all sorted with an itinerary etc..but I keep getting advised to NOT plan in thailand and just sort it when you get there. So, should be an adventure. Good thing is, I'm renting my apartment in Sydney to a nice couple from Boston whilst I'm gone which is completely paying for my trip!!! I mean, had I known this was an option I'd have gone on even more holidays!! I've rented from randoms before (Jen G - do you remember staying at those peoples house in Austin, twice, and Manhattan?? how random!)

So far this year has been manic. Kyle Bickford and Jen K came for a visit in Jan which was AMAZING, went to Tamworth for the Australian Country Music Fest which was AMAZING and my work mate Emma Richardson got married and her wedding was AMAZING. Now, just sitting on my little white couch in my little Lizzie bay flat waiting to meet everyone in Hyde Park for Tropfest which is basically a big FREE event in the park where everyone brings blankets and picnics and they show heaps of short films.

Always too much going on in this city, and I still feel like I need to do everything.

Yup.

I'd like to say I feel completely at home in Sydney now. And I can see myself living here for a long time. I just love it. The people and atmosphere are just amazing, and I've even made some friends!! Phew. Last Wednesday we celebrated Australia Day by drinking booze and jumping off piers at Clark Island. To get there, we were told to depart from McKell park...and when you map McKell Park from my house in Elizabeth Bay...its just a few centimeters apart - so we decided to venture there on foot. Big mistake. We loaded up multiple bags and coolers full of towels and booze and headed on what ended up being a mile walk uphill in 95 degree temperatures. Woooow. You'd think I would have lost some weight by now right?! I mean, even going to the store requires a walk! I have no car?! Whats doin?? Anyways, not gonna complain I know I have it pretty good.

About 4 months into my job and I feel like a skylight pro at this point. If anyone needs any information on skylights or solar powered roof ventilation - let me know! lol. I'm awesome.

Tomorrow I get to wake up and head out for a super facial...something about LED and microdermabrasion?? Who knows, I got it as a scoopon (which, btw, I'm addicted). I shall be glowing!

Since I talked to you last there is just too much to write about. We've got a new roomy Jen Kaminski who is awesome and wants to do just as much as I do. We've even gone to Melbourne together already ($60 round trip?!) to see some girlfriends, and the Australia Open!! It rocked. I try my damndest every weekend to set out on another outdoor adventure. This weekend I think I wanna have a barbie at that McKell Park I was talking about earlier, super cute and you can jump off the pier!! Why must I insist on jumping off everything?? love.

Settled.

Wow, I'm almost as bad at this as I am at my diary!! (which, btw is actually a calendar out here...) Anyways, where to start... Jen and I are totally settled in our quaint 2 bedder in Lizzie Bay. I even got her to go for a jog with me yesterday after work...we ventured through Rushcutters Bay over to the edge of Double Bay and spotted jellyfish and the Harbour Bridge, which I didn't think you could see from our place so that was a nice surprise! We made sure to make it back home to catch the premiere of Gossip Girl (which I'd already seen months ago in the states) only to find out that you have to have cable tv to even get the station. What a let down.

I'm absolutely loving the city. Australia will have to kick me out or deport me to get me to leave. I honestly couldn't imagine having to pack up our place to move back. Although, Jen and I think sometimes about how it would be nice to be able to go back to our place for say, a week to see everyone and make dinners etc. I guess it doesn't work that way though. I'm struggling to find health insurance but until then I've held off on the cliff jumping and what not. Probably wasn't the best idea to do that in Jamaica come to think of it! Yikes.

I work for a company called Unique Daylighting in Chatswood, which is in North Sydney. Every day I walk to Kings Cross station to hop on the train to Town Hall Station, then again to Chatswood, and then catch the 136 bus. Interesting! But I get to really see the city life. I wear suits with Nike's and a backpack, and stare at the ground listening to my iPod like a real Sydneysider...and I pass the Opera House and Harbour Bridge twice daily. Beautiful.

Last weekend was interesting! Carly (Katies friend from Adelaide and my new fave!) was in Sydney for a class and her, her friend Cody (FUPA) and I caught the bus from my place to the Opera Bar to meet Edward and some of his mates. I think I offended them by being an obnoxious American but he swears I was fine. I definitely poured Edward and Codys drinks all over them. Classic. I don't remember what happened next but I'm pretty sure it involved me forcing everyone to go to a strip club in the Cross, walking home barefoot, and screaming at an Irish guy for not being Australian. So things for me are starting to feel more like home. I miss having close friends though, its like you feel like you need to prove to people that you are 'cool' and/or 'worth it' as they already have their core group and aren't necessarily looking to expand. With time I suppose...I like me!!

Anywho, Its now December and all the swimsuit and flip flop ads are christmas themed which is really odd. I also have almost 2 weeks off for the holidays which is UNHEARD OF RIGHT?! this time last year i was AT WORK xmas day from like 9am to 9pm!!! They say some things happen for a reason right....and I'm much happier. Now, if I could only convince my friends to move out here on a whim like I did... OR AT LEAST VISIT!! ta for now...

2 weeks in

Sorry its been so long since I've written! Since the last I had talked to you, I had taken off to Australia with Jen, Gary, and Ruby. The past two weeks has been quite the adventure to say the least! Our east coast tour of Australia will forever be in my mind as one of the most fascinating experiences I've ever had in my life. Now as I'm writing this, the boys have gone and Jen and I are sitting in our hostel soaking up the internet we haven't had and trying to piece together some kind of life here down under for the next 12 or so months. As soon as the boys started packing this morning in our hotel room it became all too real that now it was time to grow up and face reality. However, in the middle of my search for jobs and apartments my mind randomly reverts back to all the memories we made since arriving here that Tuesday, August 28th...

First we arrived in Sydney and coerced Dora at the Europcar International Terminal to upgrade us from our Hyundai Getz into something that would actually fit all 6 of our suitcases. I don't know what we were thinking, driving on the left is hard enough without having to fiddle with the stick shift on the wrong side!!! Ruby drove first and after making Dora take 27 shots of us all piled in we were off, on the left, into downtown Sydney. (Sydney CBD, as the locals call it) We spent the day walking around The Rocks, soaking up all the surroundings from the opera house to the harbour bridge and finishing it off with a nice meal of Kangaroo and Crocodile at Wolfies. It was a good day. The next day we took a cab over to Bondi, one of the worlds most famous beaches. From there we walked at least 5 miles to the Westfield shopping center, enjoyed a VB and Tooheys new, then proceeded to get into the most dangerous cab in the entire world. We almost ran over at least 7 pedestrians, hopped a few curbs, and went the wrong way over the Harbour bridge. Twice. All the while the cabbie was saying 'shit shit shit' under his breath. Let me out here, its fine.

The next week or so was a compilation of hotels, hostels, and hours and hours in the car. We visited Surfers Paradise (Ripleys, and the ultimate perfection of Phase 10 - which I won both times), Brisbane ('thats a completely different bridge' and nutella calzones) then eventually up to Airlie Beach - the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. It was there we realized that Americans simply do not travel enough. The term 'on holiday' in the states means a 3 day weekend, christmas break, etc. The thought that the rest of the world takes months and weeks off at a time to experience other countries, cultures, languages....is baffling. Who are we to think that we don't need to experience these things?? I learned about 6 years ago that these such things are vital to our well being and growth, and I hope that now Ruby understands the same thing. Talking to people from Ireland, Scotland, Holland, etc....hearing them shout the words to all your favorite songs, teaching you new words (slap the goon!) watching them try to learn your card game and letting them teach you theirs...all very important activities!! Now I understand the importance of saving and preparing for your family etc, but to me experiencing these things is just as important. Maybe I just started a little bit late...but I recommend it to anyone. In just about 2 weeks the four of us have seen and grown so much and its memories that we will never forget and some people may never get to have. I'm so glad that, as scary as this journey is, I get to embark on it and experience it with such good friends - and I look forward to making many more!!! (please refer to my fbook page for photos of our 2 week tour!)

Is this really happening??

Ok so its kinda hit me this past week. I've been attempting to catch up with as many people as I can, while running errands to tie up things here in the States before I jump the pond. BTW, did anyone know I was a member of 24 fitness?? Hmmmm.... Monday I went to dinner with Truly and friends at the Strip Club (not what you're thinking...grill your own steaks!!), Tuesday we had a big Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, cranberry, sweet potato casserole, ambrosia, green bean casserole, creamed corn, etc etc... I saw all my besties!! Rachel, Ralph, Tynisha, Amy, Lisa, Ruby, Gary, Emelyn, etc etc!!! Em showed up with a pumpkin pie that said "happy thanksgiving, farewell teri" -- apparently VONs just happened to have it in stock bc she certainly didn't even know we were having dinner until about an hour before she showed. Impressed!! Also, equally impressed with Ralphs sweet potatoes with some kind of cognac cinnamon apple blend and marshmallow topping!! OH! and Amy's australian flag underwear, which she had no problem showing off after losing a few rounds of beer pong on the infamous table!! lol. Wednesday, reunion with all my old faves at Aussie pub. We used to ALWAYS go there EVERY wednesday for the 1/2 priced wings...mainly the spicy garlic and teriyaki. I'm hungry!!! I love my old peeps so much, and wish we could have continued the tradition this whole time! Either way, Dee, Ans, Sam, Mike, Alexis, Kadin, Ralph, Em, Kyle, Jessie, Jwright, Zak... Last night, Thursday, I went and met up at my favorite sushi place with Ash for 'rolls and reggae' -- 30% off all rolls before 7 and $.25 saki with the purchase of a large beer!!! Boo. The only thing I have missed is one more go-round at pbsc, steak ums after 4pm at bubs, noodle house....i'm sure there's more. I wonder if I will be posting this same thing about different places/people in a year?? "oooh how I'll miss the kangaroo steak with crocidile kabobs!!" lol. Either way, it really hit me saying goodbye to everyone. I'm really going to miss y'all and hope at least a few of you keep your promises and come out to visit me in koala land!!! mwah!!

10 days!

Ok so I'm officially packed and homeless at this point. Actually, for two days now. Two days and two different beds. Its really odd not having a home to go to.. you forget all the things that you TOTALLY take for granted...like, laundry..shower..your favorite dvr recordings... And living out of a suitcase that you know you will just have to repack is a pain in the ass too. I can't find anything. And honestly I don't know if its just hiding somewhere or if I've sold it. Regardless, I just stop looking and live in the same outfit. Then I start thinking, how is this going to work when we're down under? How will we do laundry? Will I have to live out of the suitcase, or will I have a place to keep my toothbrush etc in the bathroom?? And where are we going to keep all of our stuff?? I mean, Jen and I are both coming with two suitcases...and Mike and Gary will have one each... We booked an economy 2 door car for our 2 week excursion and there's just no way that 6 suitcases will fit in that thing. I think that as the time closes in its all starting to get more and more real!!!! Yikes!!

3 weeks till take off

So in getting more and more excited about our move (and trying to find things to do OTHER than pack and clean this house!!) I ran across an old friend that already lives in Australia. Here is a list of all the words they use that we won't understand unless we get some studying in...

Australian - American

Bonnet/Boot Hood - Trunk
No Worries - No Problem
Cheers - Thanks
Brekky - Breakfast
Stuffed - Tired
Arvo - Afternoon
Bikkie - Cookie
Chips - Fries
Trackies - Track pants
Sunnies - Sunglasses
Boardies - Board shorts
Bevo - Beverage
Tea - Dinner
Cuppa - Cup of tea
Hen/Buck - Bachelor/Bachelorette
Mate - Friend/Buddy
Good onya - Good for you/ Well done
G’day - Hello
Bloke - Man
Bloody - Very
Oi - Hey
Barbie - Barbeque
Esky - Cooler
Bush - Outback
Bottle shop - Liquor store
Pressies - Presents
Chrisse - Christmas
Winge - Complain
Footy - Australian Rules football
Heaps - A lot
Hotel - Pub
Lollies - Sweets
Middy - Normal size beer
Tinny - Small beer
Shout - Your turn (to buy)
Pash - Kiss
Piss - Beer (Been on the piss)
Skull/Skol - Pound your drink
Pokies - Gambiling/Poker Machines
Perroed - Drunk
Pissed - Drunk
Wasted - On drugs
Lift - Elevator
Bench - Counter top
Lounge - Living room
Ripper - Great
Rubbish - Garbage
Bin - Trash
Salvos/Op shop - Good will
Sickie - Sick
Sulky - Pouting
Spewin - Very angry
Very dear - Very expensive
Reckon - Think