It's now nearly the end of January 2008 and I've had 4 of the best months of my life here in WA.
The Green Corps job was fantastic. I worked with a group of 7 young people who were funny, intelligent and really sweet. I got to work outdoors everyday - building fences, planting trees, weeding, learning about the Australian native environment and so on.
I then went to Thailand and Cambodia for 3 weeks just after Christmas.
Unfortunately I think my time in Australia may be coming to an end soon. I have the choice to do 3 months of rural, seasonal production work to get my 2nd year visa. However, I'm not sure if that will work out or not. If not, I plan on going back to the US for a while and see if I can find anything over there... hmmm...
Weather is beautiful here. I'm staying in Fremantle at the moment and for the next 10 days. I'll go back to Bunbury after that for a couple more weeks of work and then maybe take a little bit of time to travel, work on my tan, soak up the end of the summer sunshine here.
I'll definitely post again when I know what my plans are for the next 6 months/1 year.
Lots of love
xxx
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Tuesday 25 September 2007
Southwest Australia
Hi All,
Am currently living in Bunbury, WA and working with the Green Corps as a Team Leader! You can check it out here if you're interested in finding out the type of things they do: http://www.greencorps.gov.au/
After I left Perth, I spent a couple of days in Fremantle. It was nice enough there but I just wasn't really feeling the good vibes. The hostel I stayed at was full of backpackers who just worked a day or two, here and there in order to make money to buy alcohol and drugs. It was just a constant party every night... way too full-on for me! I do like my sleep :)
So I headed on down the coast to Bunbury. The main reason I stopped here was because I worked with a lovely girl in Sydney called Jo who is originally from here. She still has family and friends here and she put me in touch with them so I thought it would be nice to drop by for a couple of days and say hi. Obviously a couple of days has turned into 10 days and a full-time job for the next 3 months :)
Bunbury is great - it's tecnically considered to be a city but it's way more like a town. It's small and quiet but big enough that it has things to do. But best of all, I just get really good vibes here. As soon as I got off the train and sat on the bus into the town centre, I had a gut instinct that I'd like it here and want to stay. I'm also staying in the loveliest hostel. It's run by a great Kiwi couple who actually live in the hostel too. There are also quite a few people who are living here while working which is great for a couple of reasons: firstly, you get to actually make friends with people and not just see them for a day or two before they move on. Secondly, it means that there isn't a really full-on party vibe and you don't feel like you're getting sucked into a life of constant drinking and waking up at 2pm!
In terms of the job, the more I think about it, the more I realise how lucky I am to have landed it. It's a good one :)
I just got offered it yesterday and I'll be starting on Thursday. It's a three month contract with the Green Corps. I'll be working as a Team Leader which means that I'll be supervising a group of 8 young people between the ages of 17-20 while they do environmental work. As far as I'm aware, it could be anything from planting trees, weeding, fence-building, helping with animal conservation etc. So this means that I'll be working with a team of young Australian people, learning about the Australian environment and landscape, working outdoors and getting paid for it! Speaking about getting paid... the pay is great - it's more than I was earning in Sydney and as far as I'm aware I also don't get taxed as much as I did over there (but even I did, it's ok because I get almost all of it back when I leave here anyway - yay!) And to top it all off... I get every second Friday off and still get paid for it. SWEET! Ooo and I also get to drive a 12-seater bus :)
So, although the weather here is horrendous (rain, thunder storms, freezing cold) I'm doing well and feeling positive.
Lots of love,
xxxxxxxx
Am currently living in Bunbury, WA and working with the Green Corps as a Team Leader! You can check it out here if you're interested in finding out the type of things they do: http://www.greencorps.gov.au/
After I left Perth, I spent a couple of days in Fremantle. It was nice enough there but I just wasn't really feeling the good vibes. The hostel I stayed at was full of backpackers who just worked a day or two, here and there in order to make money to buy alcohol and drugs. It was just a constant party every night... way too full-on for me! I do like my sleep :)
So I headed on down the coast to Bunbury. The main reason I stopped here was because I worked with a lovely girl in Sydney called Jo who is originally from here. She still has family and friends here and she put me in touch with them so I thought it would be nice to drop by for a couple of days and say hi. Obviously a couple of days has turned into 10 days and a full-time job for the next 3 months :)
Bunbury is great - it's tecnically considered to be a city but it's way more like a town. It's small and quiet but big enough that it has things to do. But best of all, I just get really good vibes here. As soon as I got off the train and sat on the bus into the town centre, I had a gut instinct that I'd like it here and want to stay. I'm also staying in the loveliest hostel. It's run by a great Kiwi couple who actually live in the hostel too. There are also quite a few people who are living here while working which is great for a couple of reasons: firstly, you get to actually make friends with people and not just see them for a day or two before they move on. Secondly, it means that there isn't a really full-on party vibe and you don't feel like you're getting sucked into a life of constant drinking and waking up at 2pm!
In terms of the job, the more I think about it, the more I realise how lucky I am to have landed it. It's a good one :)
I just got offered it yesterday and I'll be starting on Thursday. It's a three month contract with the Green Corps. I'll be working as a Team Leader which means that I'll be supervising a group of 8 young people between the ages of 17-20 while they do environmental work. As far as I'm aware, it could be anything from planting trees, weeding, fence-building, helping with animal conservation etc. So this means that I'll be working with a team of young Australian people, learning about the Australian environment and landscape, working outdoors and getting paid for it! Speaking about getting paid... the pay is great - it's more than I was earning in Sydney and as far as I'm aware I also don't get taxed as much as I did over there (but even I did, it's ok because I get almost all of it back when I leave here anyway - yay!) And to top it all off... I get every second Friday off and still get paid for it. SWEET! Ooo and I also get to drive a 12-seater bus :)
So, although the weather here is horrendous (rain, thunder storms, freezing cold) I'm doing well and feeling positive.
Lots of love,
xxxxxxxx
Thursday 13 September 2007
Post Sydney Post
Sydney is now a place of the past for me... for a while anyway.
I left early on Thursday morning last week and set off to Uluru (Ayers Rock) with Sherene and Susan. It was beautiful there. The weather was lovely - very hot and dry - and the rocks were stunning.
Arrived in Perth on Monday afternoon to glorious sunshine and heat. Sadly it was not to last and it was pouring rain the next morning (and is still damp and cold even now). Perth is small and quiet. I think it's probably the type of place that is best enjoyed in the warm weather. The WA Museum and the Art Gallery here are both great though. I've started to really appreciate Aboriginal culture and art much more since I left Sydney... not much of it to be found in the Eastern Suburbs :)
I'm off to Fremantle today and will stay there for a couple of nights before I head on down to Bunbury and then on to the Margaret River. Been thinking about taking a trip up to Broome, but that might have to wait until I earn a bit more money!
xxxx
I left early on Thursday morning last week and set off to Uluru (Ayers Rock) with Sherene and Susan. It was beautiful there. The weather was lovely - very hot and dry - and the rocks were stunning.
Arrived in Perth on Monday afternoon to glorious sunshine and heat. Sadly it was not to last and it was pouring rain the next morning (and is still damp and cold even now). Perth is small and quiet. I think it's probably the type of place that is best enjoyed in the warm weather. The WA Museum and the Art Gallery here are both great though. I've started to really appreciate Aboriginal culture and art much more since I left Sydney... not much of it to be found in the Eastern Suburbs :)
I'm off to Fremantle today and will stay there for a couple of nights before I head on down to Bunbury and then on to the Margaret River. Been thinking about taking a trip up to Broome, but that might have to wait until I earn a bit more money!
xxxx
Wednesday 5 September 2007
Moving On...
Ok, I know. I've been too slack with the updating.
Quick rundown of my life in Sydney:
Visiting Uluru first and then on to Perth, for who knows how long....? Might come back to Sydney, might not...
Still missing all my lovely people back home - getting a few homesick pangs lately. Nothing serious though! It'll all be over too soon and I'll be back home before I know it.
Lots of love,
Jen
xxx
Quick rundown of my life in Sydney:
- Working in the Entertainment Quarter which was great. Worked with lovely people and had some big nights out with a couple of the girls from there. Worked on reception mainly and I can say without prejudice that generally speaking, Australian women are RUDE on the phone! (No offense to any of the fabulous Aussie girls I know and love, who are always sweet and polite!)
- On that note... met some lovely new people. Not that many, but the ones I did meet and befriend were Quality :)
- Went to Trivia every Tuesday... awesome. Nerdy, but awesome.
- Watched too much reality tv.
- Bitched about the weather (this country is cold and doesn't even realise it)
- Didn't swim in the sea - it's scary!
- Did all the main touristy things.
- Ate lots of yummy food - I'll never be able to enjoy a meal in any other country. The food over here is unbelievable yumyumyumyumyum.
- Abstained from shopping (until yesterday) which is difficult because there's a great fashion scene over here.
- Got my hair cut short! (well a bit shorter...)
Visiting Uluru first and then on to Perth, for who knows how long....? Might come back to Sydney, might not...
Still missing all my lovely people back home - getting a few homesick pangs lately. Nothing serious though! It'll all be over too soon and I'll be back home before I know it.
Lots of love,
Jen
xxx
Sunday 15 July 2007
Sydney Update
Everything is going grand here. Still working for the Entertainment Quarter, still living on Campbell Parade.
The weather has definitely changed for the better and it's nice and warm here now. The sun is incredibly strong and you have to wear sunnies to prevent sore, blinded eyes. It's lovely :)
Went to Sydney Aquarium yesterday and saw some seals and sharks and gigantic fish like Barramundi and Murray River cod. Scary stuff. You think that cod is a fairly innocent fish, minding its own business... not these cods. Apparently, they eat ducks and possums. Bleugh! Eeep! G.R.O.S.S.
In other news, I'm addicted to Australian Big Brother. So, so sad :( But soooo good!
Lots of love
xxx
The weather has definitely changed for the better and it's nice and warm here now. The sun is incredibly strong and you have to wear sunnies to prevent sore, blinded eyes. It's lovely :)
Went to Sydney Aquarium yesterday and saw some seals and sharks and gigantic fish like Barramundi and Murray River cod. Scary stuff. You think that cod is a fairly innocent fish, minding its own business... not these cods. Apparently, they eat ducks and possums. Bleugh! Eeep! G.R.O.S.S.
In other news, I'm addicted to Australian Big Brother. So, so sad :( But soooo good!
Lots of love
xxx
Friday 29 June 2007
Still here
Moved into a new place on Campbell Parade - right on the beach. It's nice and I feel very grown up and independent :) I'm working in the Entertainment Quarter of Fox Studios here in Sydney. It's receptionist/admin stuff but the people are nice and the pay is fine.
Also... it stopped raining: YYAAAAYYY!
Nice sunny days :)
Missing everyone quite a bit now that I've stopped and am back to normal life. I'll be back on the road in no time though.
Lots of love
xxx
Also... it stopped raining: YYAAAAYYY!
Nice sunny days :)
Missing everyone quite a bit now that I've stopped and am back to normal life. I'll be back on the road in no time though.
Lots of love
xxx
Thursday 14 June 2007
See... I'm not a slacker!
I got a job. Yay for me!
I'm temping. Not the best job in the world but perfectly adequate for my needs.
The weather has picked up a good bit here. There were storms last week that were the worst that New South Wales has seen for 20 years. It didn't stop raining for three days and there were terrible floods north of Sydney. It's still quite cold but the sun is out most days so that's good enough for me.
Got tickets for some films at the Sydney Film Festival. There's a John Huston retrospective so I've already seen The Maltese Falcon and I'm going to see The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The African Queen. Old school black and white looks great on a big screen :)
Life is a lot calmer now that I'm not running around from country to country so I don't have as much news. But I'll keep you all updated on anything exciting that happens.
xxxx
I'm temping. Not the best job in the world but perfectly adequate for my needs.
The weather has picked up a good bit here. There were storms last week that were the worst that New South Wales has seen for 20 years. It didn't stop raining for three days and there were terrible floods north of Sydney. It's still quite cold but the sun is out most days so that's good enough for me.
Got tickets for some films at the Sydney Film Festival. There's a John Huston retrospective so I've already seen The Maltese Falcon and I'm going to see The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The African Queen. Old school black and white looks great on a big screen :)
Life is a lot calmer now that I'm not running around from country to country so I don't have as much news. But I'll keep you all updated on anything exciting that happens.
xxxx
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