Hello! Once again all my good intentions to post in a timely fashion have come to... well, another late blog post. To be fair, the computer in our house has been out of commission for a week or so now, so all my computer time has to be stolen by using a house mate's laptop, and has been mostly limited to work-related and essential communication only. I wanted to do another big picture post, but seeing how I just got an email from my parents wondering what I've been up to since they haven't heard from me in ages, I figure I'd better stick to news first, and do pictures later if there is time.
Earlier in January I arrived back to the glorious humid heat of a Queensland summer, and while sometimes it's maybe a little too hot, after the frigid temperatures in Seoul I am not complaining. I was back at work with USM my first weekend back, and seeing all those triathletes sweat it out made me - oddly enough - want to get back into it myself. I am only working on call for USM now, no longer working at the bike shop and therefor not commuting to work as much I was before, so I have much more free time and energy to train. I just started the training with the Carina Leagues Triathlon Club, and while I am still getting used to the 5:30 AM workouts, it's good to be back at it. Yesterday I did about 120km on the bike with a little swim and run in the middle, complete with torrential rain for part of the ride, and strong wind for some great surf to swim in. I was completely exhausted when I got home, and missed my swim this morning so I could sleep in, but am looking forward to getting back into shape.
I have also, finally, got to do what has been on my list since I arrived in Australia: go surfing! Now that most of my weekends are free, I took the opportunity of having mutual days off and went with a couple housemates to the Gold Coast. One of them grew up in the area and has a couple extra boards at his mom's place, so I got surf tips and the use of a board for free! It was once again pouring rain when we started, and I probably wasn't as careful with my sunscreen application as I should have been... I was wearing a long sleeved shirt on top but only bikini bottoms and no shorts, so I have some nice burn lines along my bum from paddling around on the board all day, which later turned out to be sunny! I did OK for a beginner, even managing to stand up for a couple seconds, but the paddling is tough on the shoulders and I am looking forward having another go in a few weeks when hopefully my triathlon training will have improved my fitness.
I was also invited on another trip to the Gold Coast, and with all my free time, who was I to turn it down? No surfing on that overnight trip, but after swimming at the beach, over-dosing on lollies and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, and going to Movieworld, I felt like I was on holiday. I think we must have gone on the Superman ride at least three or four times :)
However, during all this time I have luckily had enough time to job hunt, since it became clear pretty quickly that I was going to need more income than I was getting from USM to get by. I was off to a good start with a lucky spot from a housemate in the classified add - a talent agency was looking for people to sign up as extras for film, TV, and catalogues, and within a couple days I had had an interview and was on their list.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of regular work with them, and as my bank account shrank to an uncomfortable low I started to panic a bit. But I found a job before so I knew I could do it again... it is amazing what you can find if you just ask. After some disappointing browsing of online classified adds I simply asked at the reception of the pool I train at if they were looking to hire, and got rewarded with phone numbers of swim coaches and the canteen manager. Not knowing if I had the energy for coaching, I called the canteen manager and am happy to report I will have my first shift this Wednesday. It turns out that she has mobile food vans that she sells from at the triathlons USM Events runs, so we had a connection right off the bat. She does other events as well, so I will hopefully be able to pick up some casual work at those events, or when there are other competitions or events at the pool and they need someone extra at the canteen. I'm actually happy about not having regular hours, since all I am looking for is a little extra work now and then for some extra cash, but not a job that will tie me down and prevent me from going on the odd getaway here or there.
So, in general, life is good, I have enough money to get by and enough free time to enjoy myself. There are no plans for any grand adventures across the continent or anything like that in the immediate future, but my time and budget should allow for trips around the area or maybe a road trip or two. I also have to start thinking about what will happen when my visa runs out, though I am putting that off for the moment. It is possible to renew my visa here and extend my already extended stay, which has crossed my mind in the past few weeks. But I would also really love to go to New Zealand, and there again there is the decision of how long to stay - get a working holiday visa and find work, or just a short visit and then home. I still have some time to think about that, but you can be sure to see updates here whenever I get around to making a decision. In the mean time, I think I will take advantage of this uncharacteristically cool evening and walk to the shops for groceries, and hope it doesn't storm on me on the way.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
There and back again...sort of
Wow, it's been a while. First things first - Happy 2010 to all!! Let's see if I can keep a new year's resolution of blogging more often!
When I left home in 2008 I wasn't sure when I would be back (or if), but I did have some vague idea that I might come home at the end of 2009. I did go home for Christmas, but I wasn't officially "back". I realized some time ago that it would be a waste of my Australian visa to leave so soon, especially since I am enjoying myself down under and have a job to keep me going. Also, I still have not been to New Zealand and it seems like passing up a perfect opportunity were I to NOT visit it - I'd probably never forgive myself for passing up the chance to go there, particularly since it's a country I have been wanting to visit for years. So, since it seemed once again that I wasn't sure when I'd be coming home to stay, I decided that I would take what time I could at the end of December to go home and see my family and friends.
Despite the initial shock of feeling cold weather for the first time after spending over a year in tropical or sub-tropical countries, it was amazing to be home and wrapped in comfortable familiarity, especially at Christmas. It's strange, but with people who you are really close to, it's so easy to pick up where you left off it almost feels like you never left. But then later as I looked back over some pictures with my family it almost seemed unreal how long I'd been gone. In fact, before I went home I designed a photo book featuring pictures from all the places I went. It was quite something to go through all my pictures - with so many memories and crazy experiences packed into the past year and bit I had forgotten some already.
I got to catch up with nearly all of my family and most of my friends at some point during the two weeks I was home, and enjoy what turned out to be lovely, wet, west coast Christmas at home - big tree, turkey stuffing and all. I am grateful to all and anyone who came to see me at late notice or odd hours - it turns out that two weeks was pushing it in terms of giving me enough time to see everyone I wanted.
Now I am Korea, still visiting family in fact. Since I was going halfway around the world anyway I figured I should make the most of it and visit my brother in Korea. Due to his work schedule he couldn't make it home for the holidays, and you could argue that Korea is sort of on the way back to Australia anyway. All I can say is that it's a good thing I decided to visit Jordan after going home, because it's way colder here, and I probably would have died of shock rather than just caught a cold had I not been slightly acclimatised from my visit to Victoria. I had to buy a coat, fleece gloves and long johns at the markets here because the clothes I brought with me just aren't warm enough, no matter how many layers I have on. Despite the cold I have still managed to see some of the sights in Seoul, and hopefully those will include a visit to the school where Jordan teaches tomorrow!
I have less than a week left here in Seoul now, and then I'll be heading back to Brisbane, which I guess makes this more of a "There and back, and back there again" story. I will continue working for USM Events where I am now a paid employee (yeay!), and living at the same place as I was before, although due to visa restrictions I can no longer work at the bike shop. This should suit me fine though, since I've been wanting more time off to see more of Australia. I have about four months left on my current visa, so hopefully I should have time to go on a few trips, not to mention put to good use all my skills for traveling cheap and living on a budget!
It is possible to obtain an extension on a working-holiday visa in Australia, but I don't think I meet the criteria so I will likely leave once my visa runs out at the end of April. Besides, with all these hobbity references it can't be hard to see that I have New Zealand on my mind. I'm not sure how long I will stay there, it depends if I need to work or not, and if I do what kind of work I can find - we'll just have to see how things go.
If anyone wants to have a look at the travel photo book I created you can see it at www.blurb.com, just search my name and it should come up. I will try to get a link up on my blog soon. If you are reading this and are someone I met while traveling, take a look - you may be in it!
In the mean time I better get to bed if I am to face a class of Korean school children tomorrow. As for the pictures below, the first four are from Korea, and the rest are from Christmas at home, and visits with family and friends. Hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday season as I did. Blog to you soon,
Carla
When I left home in 2008 I wasn't sure when I would be back (or if), but I did have some vague idea that I might come home at the end of 2009. I did go home for Christmas, but I wasn't officially "back". I realized some time ago that it would be a waste of my Australian visa to leave so soon, especially since I am enjoying myself down under and have a job to keep me going. Also, I still have not been to New Zealand and it seems like passing up a perfect opportunity were I to NOT visit it - I'd probably never forgive myself for passing up the chance to go there, particularly since it's a country I have been wanting to visit for years. So, since it seemed once again that I wasn't sure when I'd be coming home to stay, I decided that I would take what time I could at the end of December to go home and see my family and friends.
Despite the initial shock of feeling cold weather for the first time after spending over a year in tropical or sub-tropical countries, it was amazing to be home and wrapped in comfortable familiarity, especially at Christmas. It's strange, but with people who you are really close to, it's so easy to pick up where you left off it almost feels like you never left. But then later as I looked back over some pictures with my family it almost seemed unreal how long I'd been gone. In fact, before I went home I designed a photo book featuring pictures from all the places I went. It was quite something to go through all my pictures - with so many memories and crazy experiences packed into the past year and bit I had forgotten some already.
I got to catch up with nearly all of my family and most of my friends at some point during the two weeks I was home, and enjoy what turned out to be lovely, wet, west coast Christmas at home - big tree, turkey stuffing and all. I am grateful to all and anyone who came to see me at late notice or odd hours - it turns out that two weeks was pushing it in terms of giving me enough time to see everyone I wanted.
Now I am Korea, still visiting family in fact. Since I was going halfway around the world anyway I figured I should make the most of it and visit my brother in Korea. Due to his work schedule he couldn't make it home for the holidays, and you could argue that Korea is sort of on the way back to Australia anyway. All I can say is that it's a good thing I decided to visit Jordan after going home, because it's way colder here, and I probably would have died of shock rather than just caught a cold had I not been slightly acclimatised from my visit to Victoria. I had to buy a coat, fleece gloves and long johns at the markets here because the clothes I brought with me just aren't warm enough, no matter how many layers I have on. Despite the cold I have still managed to see some of the sights in Seoul, and hopefully those will include a visit to the school where Jordan teaches tomorrow!
I have less than a week left here in Seoul now, and then I'll be heading back to Brisbane, which I guess makes this more of a "There and back, and back there again" story. I will continue working for USM Events where I am now a paid employee (yeay!), and living at the same place as I was before, although due to visa restrictions I can no longer work at the bike shop. This should suit me fine though, since I've been wanting more time off to see more of Australia. I have about four months left on my current visa, so hopefully I should have time to go on a few trips, not to mention put to good use all my skills for traveling cheap and living on a budget!
It is possible to obtain an extension on a working-holiday visa in Australia, but I don't think I meet the criteria so I will likely leave once my visa runs out at the end of April. Besides, with all these hobbity references it can't be hard to see that I have New Zealand on my mind. I'm not sure how long I will stay there, it depends if I need to work or not, and if I do what kind of work I can find - we'll just have to see how things go.
If anyone wants to have a look at the travel photo book I created you can see it at www.blurb.com, just search my name and it should come up. I will try to get a link up on my blog soon. If you are reading this and are someone I met while traveling, take a look - you may be in it!
In the mean time I better get to bed if I am to face a class of Korean school children tomorrow. As for the pictures below, the first four are from Korea, and the rest are from Christmas at home, and visits with family and friends. Hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday season as I did. Blog to you soon,
Carla
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