W.A. - Waiting Always

Fremantle, Western Australia.....terracotta roofs, palm trees, rocks and red clay, "New Frontier" land?, cappuccino strip, Aboriginal artwork, sunny days, freezing nights, busy afternoons turning to empty evenings, extended holidays, closed shops at 5, unreliable transport.....waiting always.

The past three weeks in Perth have been...well, unexpected. Emily, Chris, Josh and I rocked up to Perth expecting a small, surf-life type city and I can't begin to tell you how wrong we were. Driving 3700 km from the east coast to west coast basically makes one feel like you have entered a completely different country.....and considering the vastness of Australia and the fact that over half of Western Australians haven't traveled outside their own state or would even care to, pretty much confirms this feeling.

How do I describe my first impressions of WA compared to the bustling city life back in Melbourne?? SLOW. Everything (and by this I literally mean EVERYTHING but the occasional bottle shop and few pubs) closes at 5....so if you want food to feed the family or need money to pay the bills, better make sure you're out of work before then! Holidays last dayssss on end. The four of us arrived in Perth around the Easter holiday. This definitely put a damper on job searching when most of the town was shut down and the exact same parade and festival went on 3 DAYS in a row....I almost went crazy thinking the days were beginning to repeat themselves. Every other house on my street is under some sort of renovation - and I'm pretty sure will continue to be so for months on end. It seems like Aussies simply decide to work only when they feel like it. The Aboriginal community is huge, accents are much harder to understand...and I've learned that Western Australians do NOT like it when I boast about the East Coast!

Emily, Josh and I live in a suburb called Fremantle. Yes, the group of four became three - Chris left for England about two weeks ago when circumstances led him to feel the need to go home. I won't even get started on that one, it's been a tough situation to handle....but the three of us are coping with the sad goodbye. Fremantle is good for two types of people: A. the retired or B. the travelers needing to save money. There's not much to do here but enjoy a hot cappuccino in the afternoon or have a bbq at night, so for now - Emily and I are working and saving. I'm currently employed at one of Australia's best known breweries, called Little Creatures. I Love it! It's probably the best (and hopefully one of the last) hospitality jobs I will ever have. Located in the heart of Fremantle's harbor, it offers gorgeous views to sit and enjoy a refreshing pint and bucket of chili mussels on a sunny Sunday afternoon. (Nice advertising, huh?). They employ backpackers from all over the world, which gives a fun atmosphere and amazing people to get to know. I'm also currently bartending for the first time in my life...I'm not the best, but hey - I told you western Australians were patient people!

The next four weeks won't be the most exciting of times, but will be much needed for the coming adventures. I'm joining the bandwagon with this slow paced town, enjoying bbqs with both new and old friends, saving some cash, and waiting. This month has been full of ups and downs, hellos and goodbyes. Em and I have to say another sad goodbye in July, as Josh heads back to the freezing, maple-syrup covered land of Canada......we'll miss you!!! Then it's back to the original two, or shall I say - amazing duo, as Em and I set off for our final, two month chapter in Australia....GET READY!

"We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are."

It's funny how you can find yourself in one of the most, gorgeous serene places that you've ever been, yet still find things to stress out about. One of the lessons we all tend to hear on repeat again and again throughout childhood is "live in the now", "worrying is like a rocking chair - it won't get you anywhere", "don't waste today"..... well, I've always found myself struggling a bit with this concept - especially since I'm an annoyingly-so, detail oriented, worry wort...

I came back to Melbourne in January and began my job search for dietetics/nutrition positions once again. After many, MANY returned resumes and seemingly repetitive talks with dietitians...my job search didn't go anywhere. I am slightly embarrassed - because I truly wish this wasn't the case. When it came down to it, people just weren't willing to give a position to someone with a year working visa verse an Australian resident. (Or I should've sucked it up and taken the Australian registration exam back in November...but I won't get into that!) On the other hand, this experience has changed me in many ways I never imagined possible. Being so far from home and 100%....okay 95%....self-sufficient has made me much more independent and self-confident than I ever was before. My views on life and where I want to go/what I want to be are constantly challenged. I hope to not take things in life for granted and to always be passionate at what I do - whatever that may be. I am constantly surrounded by health articles, news casts, simply day-to-day signs about nutrition. As I might have mentioned before, it's so interesting to see gluten-free options in most restaurants, dietitians at almost every fitness club and simply general knowledge on the subject. At least once a day I see something I want to look up or learn about...and in that way I like to think of nutrition as still a big part of my life.

I've spent the last three months in Melbourne working/worrying about finances and yet at the same time trying to live up my time here as much as possible. Coming back from holiday with little savings left and a flat not quite ready to move into can be a bit stressful. I am lucky, however, to have the incredible friends and support that everyone needs when life and job searching gets a bit rough. One of my housemates noticed I was beginning to worry too much about my job situation - it was pretty much eating away at me, making me miserable. He made me realize that dwelling on the situation was never going to solve anything or make me happy....so I needed to do something about it. I'm in Australia - an amazing, gorgeous, wild, scary, ever surprising country! Make the most of what you have and live your life. I feel like the luckiest person to have found myself where I am today...so yes, jobs may not be ideal - but I'm surrounded by friends in a wonderful country I've yet to see only a fraction of!

Last month, a group of us traveled to the Great Ocean Road. It is about an 8 hour journey, starting 2 hours south of Melbourne, along the shore. Travelers can find themselves stopping at surf towns, along remote beaches or high cliffs, or at one of the many tourist attractions. With the ocean on your left and rainforest on your right, I couldn't imagine a more gorgeous drive. We spent the weekend "learning to surf" (I use that term loosely because I was absolutely terrible), petting a koala on the side of the road, exploring The 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park and stopping at beach towns along the way. It was exactly what I needed to put everything back into perspective and stop worrying about what's ahead of me. I had an incredible weekend that reminded me of why I came to this country in the first place. I may not be able to change the job portion of my life - but I can make sure that I am fulfilling everything else I came here to do. Challenge myself as an individual. Explore other cultures and their values/ideals. Make lasting friendships. Discover the strange and beautiful places. Question my goals. Follow or even change my dreams.....pet a koala, shake hands with a kangaroo, and learn how to surf!!!!!!

Life is all about balance. If one part is down, make sure you are doing everything else to the best of your capability. As annoying and as corny as I sound - no one likes a 'debbie downer' or 'negative nancy'. Next time you find yourself stressed...go for a run, try something new like hot yoga (shout out KJ) or boxing, get a drink with a friend, or go to your favorite cafe and relax with a coffee. This blog is for my family. As much as I miss you soo soo much (the downside to this adventure....), I promise you that this year will be a year that I will always look back on as something that has forever changed me. UPSIDE :)

Miss you all. My next post: our upcoming adventure. Google Perth...hint hint.

Good Arvo!

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body; but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, red wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming..."

There are a few obvious cultural differences I learned and was quick to adapt to when I first moved to Australia. For one, coffee and alcohol lingo. As a lover of both these types of beverages, this was a must.

Many times I've tried to order a standard coffee with skim milk, but failed and ended up with an extremely bitter espresso or long black (espresso with water). Now, my wiser self knows to order a cappo or a skinny mocha because let's face it -the Starbucks cheap coffee that I used to crave is known as "watered down processed coffee" (as my workplace so kindly put it) and no one is going to serve this. Since coffee knowledge is a must in order to work in hospitality in Australia, I've been given numerous lessons at work....so now onto bigger and better things! I can make a cappo, latte, mocha, mochachino, long black, short black, affogato, baby chino....I can even make them strong/weak/hot/skinny...impressed yet?! Just still working on the burnt milk I get criticized for once every other day...

Alcohol lingo is pretty simple. Pitcher = jug. I've gotten used to it, but unfortunately - the "jug" jokes em and I get every so often by creepy men while waitressing aren't quite so funny. A pint of beer here looks smaller than I think it should be, but this is probably due to the fact that a pint averages to about 8 AU dollars...so watch out, your spare cash can disappear pretty quickly! Schooner - glass smaller than a pint. Pot - looks like a toddler's size cup....and yes, I judge any man who orders this.

Other cultural differences I thought I'd get used to pretty quickly, but unfortunately still haven't quite caught on...

1. Driving on the opposite side of the road. This will be interesting when we rent our car in two weeks...but what really gets me is the driver being on the right side of the car. I STILL, 3 whole months later, try and hop into a cab on the wrong side! I've definitely scared cab drivers one too many times for my liking. Also, passing people on the sidewalk has the same rules. Over and over again I play the game with the person walking towards me of who will pass to the left or pass to the right....haha let me tell you, this can get pretttty awkward.

2. I love the Aussie accent, as well as the English and Irish (when I can understand them). But some words are sooo funny! Aluminum is pronounced "AL-YOU-min-ME-Um" and my personal favorite - Oregano, which is pronounced like origami with an "0" at the end. When I move back home, I don't think I'll ever continue to say tomato sauce instead of ketchup, or prawn instead of shrimp....haha but for now I've conformed just so I don't have to deal with the judgemental stares.

3. Different sayings:

• "How you going?" This took me long enough to figure out that people were asking me "how I was doing" rather than a mumbled question asking where I was heading...
• "Ta. Ta" Ummmm excuse me?!? I was completely confused when people nodded there head at me and said ta....now, I feel bad how during my first days of waiting tables I reacted with a weird, confused look before walking away. "Ta" means thank you.
• Aussies shorten everything. Brekky = breakfast. Footy = football. Arvo = Afternoon. Stubby = short beer bottle. Swimsuit = swimmies. Standard rule of thumb, take off the ending of a word and add a 'y' or "ies" ending.
• Beautiful. You? BEAUtiful! The sunset? BEAUtiful! This sausage roll? BEAUtiful!!!! Aussies love this word, and especially when it comes to describing food!
• "What's the craick??" This is Irish, but I decided to mention it anyways. I'm pretty sure it means "What's the fun?" or "what are you up to". I've recently learned that when there's not much going on a good response is to say, "ehh, not much craick mate". Or I think this is what you're supposed to say....I'm still working on it.

The reason I came to write this random blog - Last month, I started working at a catering company called Food & Desire. The company is well renowned and holds events for many celebrities and upscale business parties. (Kasey Tympanick - I think this should be another reason for you to come visit!) The main venue is this BEAUtiful building in Albert Park - palm trees line the front entrance, a deck wraps around along the backside, and it's location is perfect...right on the lake with a breathtaking view of the skyline of Melbourne CBD. In the times I've worked there, I've catered for weddings, bat mitzvahs, disco balls, cocktails parties....and everytime I've experienced the feeling of "holy crap, I can't believe I'm here right now". I've had so many different experiences - from funny misunderstands and awkward conversations...to fist pumping at a music festival...bartending at a beach wedding by St. Kilda pier...to listening to the Australian Girl's Choir at an event during sunset over Albert Park lake...these are moments I would have never gotten to have if I wasn't here, right now. SO...even though I like to complain that I have to go into work on a Saturday night or that it's not going to snow this Christmas or that I miss my family....how great can life sometimes be?? So next time you're stressed at work or worried about getting your holiday shopping finished in time...take a step back and a deep breathe, you may realize that your day might not be so bad after all!

Cheerio, g'day, cheers, good arvo and talk to you soon! xo