Sunday, October 25, 2009

HFDU - 13th Edition

Originally sent: February 3, 2004

Hi everyone! I hope that this edition of HFDU finds you all well. I feel like it's been ages since my last email, but it was just under a month ago. So, I have a few things to update you all on and hope that this edition is no more boring than all of the previous editions:-)

In the Holiday Edition I forgot to mention the Christmas Party at work! I couldn't believe it after I re-read the email, but I think I was still on a high from all of my travels during the holidays. The Christmas Party was fabulous! My company rents out an entire floor of banquet halls/ball rooms at the Grand Hyatt hotel across the street from our building, picks a theme for the evening, and then decorates each room differently, so that it's like walking into different worlds every time you go to a different room. The party starts at 1pm and officially ends at 7pm. This year the theme was Alice in Wonderland, and it was complete with white rabbits, the Mad Hatter, Alice, the Queen, and all of the other storybook characters. I truly cannot describe how elaborate this party was, but there was a casino room, a Mad Hatter's tea party, an oyster/karaoke bar room, heaps of games, drinks, and nibbles, live bands, a partner "Pop Idol" competition (which was absolutely hilarious!), and the list goes on and on and on........

To sum it up, the Melbourne office outdid itself again, and I'm just looking forward to the next ball now! I did get up on stage and sing a little karaoke in front of a few co-workers and others that I didn't know, and managed to survive. It was a great evening! Oh, I forgot to mention that for the "after party", my company rented out the entire nightclub below the Hyatt for the evening so the dancing continued on into the night and the wee hours of the morning. A great time was definitely had by all!

Another weekend a few girls and I drove down the beach about 1 1/2 hours to a town called Rye, and went horseback riding. We went for a combination bush/ocean ride and had a great time! I have always wanted to go horseback riding on the beach and this was my chance . There is nothing like cantering at full speed on a horse along the beach with the waves crashing right next to you! It was exhilarating, and a little nerve-wrecking, but "Big Pat" (my horse) treated me well and was a good ride. All of us were extremely sore in the thighs and bum for the next couple of days, but it was well worth it. I definitely want to go again soon, I miss being on the back of a horse!

One of my co-worker friends, "C", who's from Scotland, had some friends over from the UK and so we decided to take them out for a night on the town. After a nice dinner and a stop at the Vodka Bar, we ended up at a duelling piano bar. For those of you who have never been, they are SO much fun! I had been to one before and loved it, so we stopped in and ended up staying there until nearly 3am! It's just great music, dancing, and a very lively atmosphere.. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has never been as the pianists are usually VERY entertaining!

I also experienced my first hen's night (bachelorette party) over here. A manager that I work for is getting married and her friends rented an apartment on the river for the evening and threw a great party! They had a smorgasbord of finger foods and every drink imaginable, complete with a "bartender" (I'll leave that one up to the imagination). We had a great time dancing and were enjoying an evening with the girls. And everyone was very well behaved :-)

Overall a really fun night, but I must admit that C and I left at midnight when the other girls were getting ready to go out to the clubs. That was the same day that we had been horseback riding, so needless to say, we were exhausted (or as the Aussies would day, "knackered")!

Softball is going really well. Our team seems to be really improving as the season goes along and we still have only lost one game! The girls are all hitting pretty well now, and I think everyone is just a lot more comfortable with the sport. Our season ends at the end of February and I think that I'll be a bit sad now on Wednesday nights. Coach is really excited about the playoffs and we finally got matching team shirts, so we'll at least be looking good when we play from now on!

Speaking of sports, the Australian Open just finished here yesterday. I have never been much of a tennis fan, but we stumbled upon some tickets to the first round matches and ended up getting to watch Andre Agassi (which is good because I didn't know many other players at the time). I've decided that once you actually understand the game, and especially when you get to see it live, it's actually quite a nice sport and definitely full of tension and suspense. Although, I didn't realize that they are so serious and particular about noise. C and I ended up buying quarter final tickets and got to see Andy Roddick play, which was very exciting! He ended up losing, but it was a great 5-set match and I was proud of Andy for putting up a good fight for the U.S.A.! I also did not realize how long the matches could last into the night. Both nights we were there we didn't leave until midnight, which when you are working the next day, is a bit exhausting.

We also just had a national holiday, Australia Day, which I think is similar to our independence day, although I think it's more just the forming of Australia as it's own country rather than independence. A lot of people seemed to stay around Melbourne for the long weekend, as did I, and it was great to relax. I did go see the celebration and fireworks at Federation Square, a large entertainment-type complex and that was enjoyable. They had people from all over the world (as Australia is extremely multi-cultural) performing, and C and I have now been inspired to learn how to belly dance. We'll see if that actually happens, but it definitely would be fun and great exercise!

Let's see what else........the new apartment is going well. Still haven't hung anything up on the walls yet, but I'm at least organized. I really enjoy living by myself again, and my part of town is great as well. I'm within walking distance of one of the most famous streets for cafes, shopping, drinks, movies, etc. so that's definitely a perk. I went to the nursery last weekend and got some plants, so at least there is something else "alive" in my apartment besides me. My family is planning on coming for three weeks at the end of June/beginning of July, so I can hardly wait to show them around, and just see them! I may even get a trip to Fiji out of it as there is a free stopover in Fiji if you fly Qantas. B is excited to take my dad to a footy game so that he can explain Australian footy to him, and I think dad is equally excited to learn and experience it! B is back in about 2 1/2 months, and I'm definitely counting down the days......

One last thing, last night I went to a Super Bowl party thrown by an American couple who plays on my softball team. They are permanent residents of Australia now so they understand the Americans need to watch the big game way down here. They taped it on our Monday morning while we were working, and then replayed it while we enjoyed pizza and American beer (Budweiser - that's all you can get down here & it's not easy). We missed out on the great American commercials though, as they played Aussie ones here and they were not nearly as exciting. I must admit that I was a little bummed to miss out on the Super Bowl when it was in Houston, but such is life I suppose. It's not like I would have gotten a ticket anyway!

Well, that's about it from down under at the moment. Just taking life a step at a time. I still love driving around in Pajy, especially in the summer with the roof open. The Grape Grazing Festival at the Yarra Valley wineries is coming up and we are planning a day away there, as well as our Group Retreat, which I've heard is a lot of fun. So, I'll be back next time, most likely with more adventures, but I do miss everyone at home and am starting to get food cravings. I specifically crave Mexican food, ribs from Houston's, and boneless wings from Wings 'N' More at the moment! Although, my cravings tend to change by the week.

P.S. These are a few things that Australia does that I think the States could learn from:

Assigned seating at movie theaters. Takes away the hassle and the hurry, and rewards you for being smart and booking online during the day! You don't have to rush to the movie. It's genius!

Booze buses. The cops here set up road blocks at random at night and stop and breath test every car that passes (takes 30 seconds & all you do is roll your window down and blow into a device). Not only that, but they block all of the side roads so that you can't escape once you see the road block. Australia is very serious about drunk driving and has a blood alcohol limit of .05. I got stopped the other night on my way home from a girlfriend's house for dinner with 2 glasses of wine in me and I was soooooo nervous! But, of course I got through as that's not enough alcohol to be anywhere close, but it's still scary!

No tipping & tax included. It is so nice to go into a restaurant, order food, know exactly how much it's going to cost you to get out of the restaurant, and not be hurried by the wait staff because they are trying to move in the next set of people to get more tips.

HFDU - Holiday Edition

Originally sent: January 7, 2004

Greetings everyone! I hope that this email finds you all well rested from the holidays and ringing in the New Year with good health and happiness! I know I just sent an HFDU out just before the break, but I have time at the moment to talk about my holiday travels so I decided to do it now rather than later when I get busy with work. So, here goes......

I spent Christmas in Sorrento, a small beachside community near where the bay (where Melbourne is located) meets the ocean. It's a phenomenal place, with water so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom perfectly! I have never been one to be too adventurous in the water because of sea creatures and the like, so this was refreshing for me because I was able to know what I was getting myself in to! There were around 15 people in a rented beach house, and most of us were company employees from other countries. At Christmas dinner (which was a huge feast by the way) we had 8 countries represented, and no one from Australia: Germans, Swiss, French, Scots, Kiwis (New Zealanders), English, American, and South African. A great combination, and we had a great time!

I spent most of Christmas Day on a boat enjoying the sun and watching the guys wakeboard. Very relaxing and totally not how I am used to spending Christmas. I was a bit homesick in the morning when I woke up to no Christmas tree, no stocking, and no presents (I had opened them all ahead of time!), but once everyone got up we put Christmas music on and had brekkie, and I felt much more in the spirit of Christmas! On Boxing Day (Dec 26th) we spent the day hiking (bushwalking) in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, which is the piece of land that actually "separates" the bay and the ocean. It was beautiful, and we walked along the beach just before high tide, so there wasn't a whole lot of beach left & it was a bit of an adventure! I spent the remainder of that day taking a nap in the hammock :-)

After my 4 days in Sorrento, I headed back to Melbourne just to spend the day and then catch the ship to Tasmania for a couple of days. Me and a girlfriend loaded up the car and got on the ship, stupidly without seasick tablets. And yes, we both got sick, but I managed to not throw up. My friend on the other hand was not as lucky! The ship docked in Tasmania about 6:30am (we left at 9pm the previous evening), and we then proceeded to have a very adventurous day! We drove for nearly 2 hours without seeing a soul, because we decided to take a back road more "scenic" route rather than the highway on our way down to Hobart. This left us driving about 40 kilometers on a dirt road (this is supposed to be a highway mind you!), not seeing a petrol station for hours, without our morning coffee for hours, and keep in mind that we were both still not feeling too well from the ship.

Once we made it to Hobart, we discovered that we had a flat tire, but were fortunate to have a nice young man offer to change it for us, followed by his lecture that we should know how to change a flat tire. I told him that I did know how, but that he was much more efficient at it! The rest of our trip in Tasmania was much smoother. We got to see the winning yachts dock from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, do some small town shopping, and stop at a raspberry farm, cheese farm, and chocolate factory! Yummy! My one observation about Tasmania is that it is absolutely beautiful! I will definitely go back at some point for a proper holiday and stay for much longer.

After I got back from Tasmania, I took the train to a small country Australian town where another friend from work lives. It was nice to have a change of scenery and actually spend time with a family since I have not been around one since I left home 6 months ago! We drove from there down to Lakes Entrance, which is an area along the coast of the Tasman Sea where a whole heap of lakes come together and enter into the sea. It is such a beautiful place, with little waterways and beaches that are only accessible by small boats, so needless to say they are very secluded. B's family has a holiday house in Lakes Entrance and he has promised me that we will spend many weekends down there when he gets back from London. I can't wait :-)

I spent New Year's Eve in the actual town of Lakes Entrance watching the fireworks. After that, we spent the entire next day exploring the town in the daylight, eating the freshest fish & chips and spending some time on the beach. A great couple of days! Then, another girl from the office came out and joined us and we spent a day in a small gold mining town exploring the gold mines and learning about the history of the town. I really had no idea about the complexity of the mines and how deep they went into the earth. I was truly fascinated by it and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Got some pretty cute pictures with us girls in our hard hats too!

The next day we went down to Wilsons Promontory National Park and went on a beach/bush hike. It was about a 4 hour round trip hike, a bit exhausting, but worth it for the beautiful scenery that we experienced. I also want to spend a good week there as well camping, fishing, hiking, laying on the beaches, etc. I just keep adding to my list of places to go and I only have 16 months left!

I was relieved to get back to Melbourne and continue to get my new apartment settled. It's still unorganized, but I'm getting there slowly. I had a minor disaster on Christmas Eve with a flood from my neighbor's apartment, but that has been resolved. No more trips planned for me for a while, as my busy season with my big client is about to start and I will not have time to go gallivanting around much. I am planning a trip to the Outback at the beginning of June and rumor has it that my parents and a couple of friends may be coming in June/July for visits, so I am definitely looking forward to that!

Sorry for the long, detailed email. Just wanted to share all of the new places that I have been with you. I would really love to see and hear about all of your holidays as well. Thanks to everyone who sent Christmas cards and holiday wishes. It was great to get pieces of home during the holiday season. Take care and I hope to hear from everyone soon!

Best wishes for the New Year!

Friday, October 23, 2009

HFDU - 12th Edition

Originally sent: December 23, 2003

Happy Holidays! Well, I have been asked by several people when the next edition was coming out, so I decided to send one out just before the Christmas break. The past few weeks have just flown by and I had to take a few minutes to remember what all I have been doing!

Greek lessons are going really well. A few Greeks at the office are impressed with my ability to pick it up so quickly, although most of the credit should go to my fantastic teacher (a co-worker) and my mother, for the genetic gift of a good memory. I'm really enjoying it, and feel very accomplished when I actually can carry on a bit of a conversation. If any of you know Greek, just shoot me an email and I'll see if I can respond properly. It will be good practice (although I doubt any of you know Greek!). Speaking of Greece, my Aussie boyfriend B (who's Greek), is in Greece for Christmas visiting relatives that he has not seen in years. A nice change of scenery for him from dismal London, and he's so excited to be there. Wish I was there too......

Driving is still going well. I've become very comfortable with Pajy and driving in Australia, and just love to drive around everywhere! The freedom of having a car is unexplainable, especially after relying on trams for 5 months. I still have yet to take the top off as it's a bit of a task, and I'm afraid that it'll start raining or something and Pajy will get wet! I'll get brave enough though one of these days. The sunroof satisfies me for now :-) Softball is also going well. We have only lost one game, and are actually a pretty good team. I have a lot of fun with my teammates as they are non-work folks and really could care less about accounting so it's a nice break.

Some other big news -- I moved out of my beach front apartment and moved into a one bedroom by myself. Long story, but I'm much happier without my flatmate, and it's been great for me to be on my own. She was a handful! So, I've been moving over the last week or so and am getting all settled in my new place. Now if I could just figure out some way to get my cat over here to keep me company I'd be all set! I realized, again, during the move how caring and giving the Aussies are. I had so many offers from people to help me move, give me old furniture/tv's/etc. and work was more than willing to give me some time off to get all settled. I had to hire a moving truck to fit the mattresses and fridge, and it was a sight to see me driving that thing! My father would have been proud!

My activities with the Starlight Children's Foundation are still keeping me busy. We had a Starlight Sailing Day last weekend. We took a lot of the kids down to a sailing club and sailed for a couple of hours in the bay then had a barbie (barbecue). I have never really been sailing before and I loved it! I got to steer for a while, then took my shoes off and hung my feet over the edge the rest of the time. We saw dolphins and heaps of seals and the weather was just perfect! It was a great experience! I've also met my first Starlight wish child and she has told me what her wish is, so I am in the middle of coordinating it for her. She is such a little angel, and the first thing that she wanted to do was to take her doctors and nurses away with her! Such an unselfish little girl with a sweet heart. I'm glad that she is getting a wish and will love to hear all about her experiences when it's over!

We had our Group Christmas Party a couple of weeks ago and it was fabulous! We hired a party boat and cruised around the bay for about 4 hours, then had an after party for many hours after that. Imagine about 100 accountants together on a boat with no escape, an ample supply of alcohol, a DJ, and some digital cameras. You can imagine the entertainment! It was great to get away socially with all of my co-workers and be festive! The Company-wide Christmas Party starts in about 1 1/2 hours and will likely last all afternoon and evening as well. Apparently this is the most amazing party of the year so I will definitely have to fill you in when the next HFDU comes out. And I will likely have some good photos from that as well. I'll load up all of my pictures at one time when I get back in the office in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of being out of the office, Bali is not happening (refer to flatmate situation above!), but I have made alternative, and more exciting travel plans for the holidays. I am spending Christmas with several other international rotation folks in Sorrento, on the coast, in a hired beach house. Am really looking forward to this as I'll get to play in the water, relax, and spend Christmas with others who are away from home. Should be a great time! Then, between Christmas and New Year's me and a girl from work are taking the cruise ship over to Tasmania with Pajy, to go exploring for a few days. I think it's great that the cost of the ship and the car are about the same price as a plane ticket, but you have the car already so there is no extra cost there. I've heard that Tasmania is very beautiful, so am anxious to spend a few days there! And Tasmania is one of the states of Australia, just by the way. (I didn't know that before I came down here!).
On New Year's Day, another group of us girls from work are going on another road trip to a popular holiday destination known as Wilson's Prom (short for Promontory), which is a protected nature area with lots of sights to see! I'm just glad to get out of the office for a couple of weeks and relax some. Hopefully then I can come back to work all refreshed!

Well, I managed to stay well in Australia for nearly 6 months, and then right before the holidays I get sick! I've had a horrible cough and runny nose now for over a week so I finally broke down and went to the doctor today. Hopefully I'll get well soon as I don't want to be ill for all of my trips! Again, I wish all of you happy holidays and best wishes for 2004! Why don't you all make it a new year's resolution to take a trip to Australia this year? What a grand idea! And I'm anxious to hear about all of your travels and holiday experiences! Take care.

HFDU - 11th Edition

Originally sent: November 30, 2003

Hi everyone-- This email will basically be a summary of all of the adventures that I had with my first visitor "T". She just flew home earlier today, and we did so many interesting and enjoyable things that I had to send out another edition detailing everything that we did. Besides, it was the first time that I really had the chance to travel outside of Melbourne since I've been here. Forgive me if this is a long one, but you can't cut a weekend in Sydney and a drive along the Great Ocean Road short!

T and I had a fun-filled two weeks. She attended Greek lessons with me, went to my softball games, and we organized dinners and drinks with other work folks so that she could sit around the table and listen to all of the Aussies speak! Greek lessons are actually going well! I think because I am so eager to learn, it's easier for me to pick it up. It's really quite an interesting language and apparently I'm mastering the accent quite well! Softball is also going well too. The team is great and we've won 2 games and lost 1 so far. I've managed quite a few battle scars so far, but it's definitely been enjoyable! And, our refreshments during the game include beer, vodka cruisers, and Doritos, so sometimes the games are quite interesting :-)

Before we headed off the first weekend for the Great Ocean Road, I picked up my car! Having wheels again is one of the most liberating feelings that I have had in my life. I definitely feel more a part of the city now and have no restrictions. It's a great little SUV too -- a black Mitsubishi Pajero, 4WD, 6 cyl, soft top with a sunroof too -- and it's a standard, which means that I had to learn not only to drive on the left side of the road, but to shift with my left hand! I surprisingly picked it up rather quickly and feel very comfortable driving around Melbourne now.

Last weekend we headed off on the Great Ocean Road, which proved to be one of the most beautiful drives that I have ever been on! It's starts off on one of the famous surf towns along the beach, Torquay, and continues down for several hours with gorgeous views of the turquoise water and great surf. Our first stop was in a little town called Anglesea that is famous for its kangaroo-populated golf course. We made our way on to the golf course and managed to snap some good close-up shots of the wild roos, most of whom were lounging lazily underneath the trees. What a cool experience for two Texans! These pictures are also posted on the website.

Next we stopped in another quaint seaside town, Lorne, had lunch at a local fish 'n' chippery, did a little shopping, and enjoyed the views. I can't explain how beautiful the drive was in words, but it's definitely a recommendation for anyone who comes to Australia! On the other side of Lorne, we went for a 3 hour hike in search of Cumberland Falls in the National Forest. We soon discovered that the falls were virtually nonexistent because of the drought that's affected Victoria for the past 3 years, but the hike was great and we got to cross the river hopping rocks 4 times each way, and only got wet......about 8 times :-)

We stayed the first night in a bed & breakfast further down the GOR in Apollo Bay, had a nice dinner, coffee and dessert at a pub, and then headed out the next morning for the Twelve Apostles and other rock formations. Although it was cold and rainy that day, the drive to the Twelve Apostles was amazing! The GOR goes inland for about an hour through the Otway National Forest. We were driving through hills and forests, and it reminded me of what I imagine Scotland or Ireland would look like. We continued past the Twelve Apostles and saw other famous rock formations like the Arch and London Bridge, before deciding to head back to Melbourne via the inland highway that night. A great experience, and a must for anyone that comes to Victoria!

That Saturday night was the Rugby World Cup Final, and T and I watched the Australians get beat in overtime by England. It was a great match and kudos go to the Aussies for putting up a good fight! On Sunday we grabbed another girlfriend and headed to the wine country for a day of winery tours and tasting. The perfect girlie afternoon that resulted in us buying too many bottles of wine, most of which T took back to the States with her.

This past weekend we flew up to Sydney and had a fabulous time! We stayed with one of my other Houston co-workers "C" who is on rotation there, and her new husband "D" (who happens to be an Aussie!). T and I were both completely awestruck by "the Harbour City". We took a harbour cruise and saw all of the sites, including the nude beach (shocking!), from the comfort of our vessel. We honestly had to pinch ourselves as we walked past the Opera House to realize that we were actually there! We had dinner just down from the Opera House overlooking the water and were enjoying every minute that we were there.

Saturday morning we got up and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is the largest bridge by weight in the world. It was an unbelievable experience! I didn't even know that you could climb the bridge, and before I knew it, we were at the summit looking out as far as we could see at the entire Sydney skyline and beyond, focusing on such sights as the Olympic Stadium! The entire experience took 3 1/2 hours, and is definitely something that I won't forget! Another must if you ever visit Sydney.

T and I met an English man and his Aussie girlfriend during the climb, and ended up spending the entire afternoon sitting with them at a pub in the Sydney sunshine. It was a neat experience to meet complete strangers and spend the entire afternoon with them. I think that's definitely a skill that I have acquired since I've been in Australia as I couldn't see myself becoming friends with total strangers in Houston. Saturday night we picked up some fish 'n'chips with C and D and took them to the beach to eat. It was a great evening, and a great weekend away! There are many differences between Sydney and Melbourne, but both cities have great things to offer.

Well, that basically summarizes T's two weeks in Australia. I know that she loved it and has already added more Australia sites to her list of places to go! She kept making the comment that she was supposed to make her list shorter by coming here, but now there are many other places around here that she wants to go, so her list actually grew instead! Maybe that will encourage some of you to plan a trip down here. I promise that you won't be disappointed! Especially now since I have a car and love to drive everywhere :-)

And, I do have a bit of news for you all. Some of you already know this, but I have been dating an Aussie bloke, "B", for over three months now. Dating someone was the last thing on my mind when I got down here, so it definitely wasn't planned. It just happened and he is wonderful! Unfortunately, the timing was not optimal as he left to go to London with work until April. So in the meantime, I get lots of pictures of London, he gets lots of pictures of my adventures down here, and we miss each other terribly. There seems to be theme starting........Texan women, Aussie men.......hmmm. I've put some pictures of us on the website as well.

Hope all is well back home. I hear that the weather is getting cooler. It's definitely going opposite here. Yesterday it was 38 degrees C in Melbourne, which converts to 100 degrees F. That's hot! Luckily, I was in Sydney, and I think it was only 28 degrees C. Christmas decorations are plentiful and the big tree in the city is up and twinkling at night. I made pumpkin pies today (a little late!) to take to the office tomorrow morning for a late Thanksgiving celebration. We'll see how they go with the Aussies! And, me and the other Texan down here are cooking a proper Thanksgiving meal for the Aussies next Saturday so hopefully they'll appreciate and enjoy it.

I've definitely taken up enough of everyone's time so I will close now by saying that I hope everyone is well and that I would love to hear from each of you, especially around the holiday season when I will be missing home more than ever! Take care and keep in touch.

HFDU - 10th Anniversary Edition

Originally sent: November 16, 2003

Well, it's time for the 10th Anniversary Edition of the HFDU Series. Not that it is going to be any different, but it sounds cool at least! A lot has happened in the last two weeks that I felt warranted another edition a little quicker than normal. So, I hope that this edition finds you all well and getting in the holiday spirit!

Most notably over the past two weeks was a party last night for which I was a co-host. Considering that there are two Texans in Melbourne, we decided a while ago to throw a Texas theme party for the Aussies, as they have some interesting perceptions of what Texas is really like. So after some frustrations locating proper country music, proper decorations, food that could pass as "Texan-style" and some very interesting costume ideas, we pulled this party off last night with flying colors. It turned out fabulously! Almost all of the Aussies rented costumes for this party and most showed up as cowboys & indians, so they must think that we are still outlaws or something! We provided them with line dancing lessons, supplied them with margaritas (which the Aussies do not make right!), and had a good old-fashioned BBQ. I have added some pictures from the party on the website for your amusement, and so you can see the crazy Aussies all dressed up in their best "Western attire". I must admit though that it was a bit nostalgic listening to George Strait, Robert Earl Keen, Tim McGraw, & the Dixie Chicks last night. Almost felt like home, then I realized that it was over 90 degrees in the middle of November! In a nutshell, the Aussies are always up for a costume party, and they definitely appreciated the effort that we put forth to give them a true Texas experience!

I've also added a picture of the tram that I ride to work on every day and one of Collins Street, which is where my office is located. Notice that the Christmas decorations are already up! As soon as the big tree in the city is complete, I'll be sure to take a picture of it and pass it along. Yesterday was the hottest day so far this season (90+), and gave me a good dose of what is yet to come this summer season! I was pleasantly surprised the other day to discover that Starbucks here also has gingerbread lattes for the holidays! It seems a little strange to drink a hot gingerbread latte in the middle of the summer, but be guaranteed that I will. What a relief - I was afraid that was just an American thing!

This past Friday night we had a work group social function and went lawn bowling! I had never been before, and that was obvious during my attempts to play, but it was a great evening out socializing and relaxing with co-workers. Of course, we were the youngest people at the bowling green BY FAR, but I think the elderly regulars were enthused to have some eager young players for once! We played a round robin tournament, but my team didn't even make it past the first round! Maybe next time......

I also had my first experience with the Spring Racing Carnival a couple of weeks ago, and boy was it a good one! Me and a group of girls got all dressed up in our dresses, hats, and big flowers and went to the races on Oaks Day, which is Ladies Day at the races. Of course many people now call it "Blokes Day" as all of the men show up to see all of the women so there are just as many blokes there as there are women! The weather was beautiful and we sat in a corporate marquee tent eating and drinking all day. I don't think that I have ever had so many mimosas in my life, but champagne is a staple at the races here. I only bet about $30, and of course lost it, but the day was better spent socializing and people-watching. Unfortunately no digital pics of that occasion, but rest assured that it was a great time!

My company also had a night out at the movies where they rented an entire theatre out for a special screening of Matrix Revolutions. It was great to get free tickets and kind of neat to watch with all people that you know. Needless to say, there were several popcorn fights going on during the movie, but that just made it more entertaining and eventful! I think it's great that my company does stuff like this as it really does make you feel more appreciated, and doesn't take all that much effort on their part!

Other miscellaneous items.......I finally ate kangaroo the other night at dinner. It was actually really, really tender and delicious! I had a kangaroo steak, and it was a bit gamier than beef, but not overwhelmingly so. I have to admit though that every time I took a bite I pictured the little guy hopping around and that was bit strange. I think with beef, chicken, pork, or other meats, you don't really think twice about the animal as you are eating it, but kangaroo it was a little different. If you make a trip to Australia at some point, you must try kangaroo. Probably nowhere else in the world can you get it!

My softball season started out with a bang when my team, the Fawkner Park Pirates, beat our first opponent 28-1 this past week. It's great to have a group of friends outside of work, and several of the players are actually American, so that's even better! There are not many of us down here, so to find 3 on one softball team is amazing. I think this will turn out to be a very fun time for me!

I'm also starting Greek lessons with a girl from work next week. We'll see how they go, but I thought that it would be a fun learning experience (am I sure???)! All I want to do is be able to chat with people, but really have no desire to read or write in Greek.

I bought a bike and have been out and about a little on it, but I'm still quite nervous as I have not ridden one really in years. I try to stick to side neighborhood streets rather than main drags. It will be a good form of exercise in the summer of I can get comfortable enough to ride it along the beach! The Rugby World Cup is almost over. Last night was the highly anticipated Australia/New Zealand semi-final match. Watching that during the Texas Party with Aussies and Kiwis alike was an interesting scene! Today is the France/England semi-final, and then the final should be next weekend. What an amazing time it has been in Melbourne having all of the rugby fans from all over the world coming to this city to watch the World Cup! It was seriously an Irish invasion last weekend, but they lost and all went home. The English and French haven't left yet!

Well, I suppose that is enough for now. It's strange thinking that you are all gearing up for winter and a cool Christmas, while I am here watching the weather get warmer and the bay being filled up with kite surfers, sailboats, and the like! Such is life in the southern hemisphere though I suppose, and at this moment I would not trade it for anything.

HFDU - 9th Edition

Originally sent: November 4, 2003

Well, it's been a while since the 8th Edition, but it certainly is not due to a lack of activities. I must admit though that I have been quite busy with work and getting settled in here four months later. So what have I been up to over the past month........

I learned of a women only event called "Martinis and Manicures" that is hosted by a bar in the city. In a nutshell, you pay $15 for a cocktail and a manicure, and you get free makeovers, a goodie bag, and some quality hang time with a bunch of women in the process. I went with a friend from work and we have decided that we will definitely be attending on the first Tuesday of every month. It was a great stress reliever, and what woman doesn't enjoy a manicure?

We also had our group footy celebration night at a Greek tavern a couple of weeks ago. There were about 40 people, of which only about 8 were women, and after a full blown authentic Greek meal, we took to the dance floor for a little traditional Greek dancing. Luckily there were 2 guys in the group who are Greek, and there were not many other patrons in the restaurant that evening, so the rest of us had a ball learning how to dance Greek style! I loved it, and definitely intend to learn the lengthier, more complicated Greek dances at some point while I'm here. Melbourne as the second largest population of Greeks in the world outside of Athens. That's a lot!

The Rugby World Cup has been going on for a couple of weeks and so there are a lot of foreigners in Melbourne right now cheering on their teams. Even though footy definitely rules Melbourne, there is definitely no shortage of support for the Rugby World Cup. Especially the Australia, New Zealand, and England supporters. Someone asked me how the United States rugby team was doing any my reply was, "Do we have a rugby team?". After I realized that we did in fact have a team, I heard on the news that we won our first game in ages, which maybe suggests that we shouldn't have a rugby team????

Anyway, in addition to the Rugby World Cup, it's also the Spring Racing Carnival. This means that for the past 3 weeks, every weekend there have been horse races in Melbourne. A good excuse for men to get gussied up in their fanciest suits and women to doll up in their nicest dresses and coordinating hats. It's really a sight to see. So popular in fact, that the first Tuesday of November every year is a state-wide holiday known as Melbourne Cup Day. I'm not actually going to the races until this Thursday, Oaks Day, which is ladies day. It should be an adventure and I'll have to write about it in my next edition.

A couple of weeks ago the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation hosted it's annual Walk for the Cure around Albert Park Lake. I was really looking forward to this walk, only to see the weather forecast suggesting a wet day. Needless to say, me and some co-workers showed up determined to walk fast and stay as dry as we could, soon to discover that we were soaking wet, it was still raining, and there was no end in sight. So, we finished the walk and then took the rest of the day to dry and thaw. It was for a good cause though, so well worth it. And the rain helped decrease the shortage in Melbourne's water supply!

I applied for the Earthwatch Fellowship that I mentioned in the last edition. I should find out if I make the first cut in a few weeks. If I did get selected, I would get to spend two weeks in New Zealand studying dolphin behavior and activity. What a thrill that would be!

Angie (my flatmate) and I went to a cooking class one night and learned how to make various tapas and sangria. This lady holds them at her house and changes the theme every month, so we'll probably start going on a more regular basis. It's great because you watch her cook all of the food and then you get to eat it! I just need to try to make myself actually put the cooking lessons to use now. I always seem to think that's is a great idea and easy to do, but then I never do it!

Let's see - other exciting news.......my first visitor comes in two weeks and I'm thrilled! The weather should be nice and I'll have my car by that weekend and we are going to travel down the Great Ocean Road one weekend and spend another in Sydney visiting a friend from my same office back home who is on rotation over there. I am so excited to finally have a car and the independence to go wherever I want, whenever I want. Although, this past weekend I bought a bike. Me and a friend saw and add in the newspaper for a bike sale, and me, her, and her husband all bought one. I have not owned a bike for years, but am so excited to have it! I have not finished putting it together yet, but as soon as I do, I'll be out and about enjoying the weather and getting some exercise in the process. Speaking of exercise, I've decided to go ahead and join the gym down the street so that I can try yoga and pilates classes with my flatmate, and I am starting slow-pitch softball tomorrow. Should be great activities to keep fit and meet lots of new people!

Well, I've been through a few rough days down here, but nothing that I can't handle. I'm setting in and realizing that this is not just a vacation, but my life. Things are constantly changing and you just have to adapt! But, it's a learning and growing experience and I still would not trade it for anything. The Aussies continue to amaze me with their kindness and acceptance and everyone still has an open invitation to visit and enjoy this wonderful place!

Hope all is well with each and every one of you and I would love to hear from you all. I must admit that it is strange that the weather is getting hot just in time for the traditional winter holidays. But, I don't think that I'll suffer too much spending Christmas in the Australian heat and New Year's on the beaches of Bali!

HFDU - 8th Edition

Originally sent: October 6, 2003

Just when I thought things in Melbourne were getting routine.......

The last couple of weeks have been thoroughly enjoyable! My weekends are getting better and better as the weather improves! A few things that I need to share with you..........I survived my first Grand Final party. Whoever thought that the Aussie Rules Grand Final is not as big as the Superbowl is wrong!! I went to a Grand Final Party with about 150 other people and we had a great time. Most of the people who were there weren't even watching the match, but I tried to look at the screen every now and then in the midst of meeting heaps of people, dancing, eating, and watching everyone enjoy themselves. The game was actually not a good one as the Brisbane Lions beat the Collingwood Magpies, badly, for a three-in-a-row premiership. Needless to say, the Brisbane supporters were very excited, and I was proud to be part of the Aussie Grand Final tradition.

The Dixie Chicks concert was very enjoyable as well, as I felt at home when they started talking with the American accents. They performed an amazing concert, as usual, and me and my friend sang along with them the entire time -- I think we were the only ones who really knew the lyrics! It was humorous to see the Aussies try to dress up in country & western attire. It seemed that part of an outfit would look country, but then they would pair it with something else that totally took away the effect. Oh well, at least they tried!

I have experienced my first motorcycle ride, and have become addicted! I went last weekend with a friend along the beach for a couple of hours and totally understand the rush that motorcyclists get during a ride. It was nice to be the passenger and not have to concentrate too hard as I got to enjoy all of the scenery. My bum was quite sore after an afternoon of riding, but that didn't keep me away for long......this past weekend we went up into the hills for some more riding. I got picked up at 9am and we rode for an hour or so until we got to Healesville, which is a quaint little storybook town with a main street lined with cafes and fish & chip shops. They have an animal sanctuary just outside of town that is very popular, so we went there for a few hours and enjoyed seeing the animals in their natural habitat, and stretching our legs. I took some good pictures of koalas, kangaroos, and a baby wombat (my favorite), so check out the website for those.

After the sanctuary, we hopped back on the bike (I felt like a real biker chic at this point!) and drove up into the hills for a couple of hours. It was some of the most beautiful scenery that I have ever seen. Narrow roads lined with these super thin tall trees as far up as you could see, and lush tropical plants completely covering the ground. And to see it all from a bike was even better! Until it started raining - but at least the rain added to the high level of adventure for the day. We didn't end up getting home until 5pm -- that's a lot of motorcycle riding, and was one of my best day's here yet! Although, my body felt like a big cramp this morning when I woke up. I think I was using muscles to balance on the bike that I didn't even knew that I had.

I have just nearly purchased a car over here and can't wait until I have it. I am very anxious to go exploring on the weekends and see different areas that are not as reachable by car. I test drove it this weekend, and it was an interesting ride, keeping in mind that I have not driven a manual since high school, and you have to shift with your left hand, so imagine the trauma that I was going through! But, I managed not to stall the car or hit anything, so I feel as if it was a successful test drive. And it's a fun sporty little car so I should have a good time with it.

I just learned that the Aussies don't really celebrate Halloween. I was asking around to see if there were parties/masquerades/trick-or-treating, and the general consensus was no. It's amazing that Halloween has become such a commercialized holiday in America, but it's virtually nothing over here. I'm applying for my company's Earthwatch Fellowship. Earthwatch is an organization that works for environmental causes, and my company offers two very lucky employees the chance to go on one of the Earthwatch expeditions. There are several to choose from, including koala ecology, study in the rainforest, tropical fish ecology, New Zealand dolphins, and a couple of others. I have decided to apply for the study of dolphins in New Zealand, which consists of a two-week expedition with all food, training, & accommodation provided, as well as the opportunity of a lifetime to study with these animals one on one. I fully do not expect to get chosen for the Fellowship, but I have to try. I think that it would be such a fantastic opportunity, and you never know.....they may think that putting an American in New Zealand is a great idea!

A few more fun Aussie facts:

  • The Aussies kiss you when they meet you (one kiss to the left cheek), or shortly after when they are more comfortable around you. It's less personal and intrusive than a hug to them. I have mastered this well and really enjoy it! Except I forget that you kiss instead of hug, so I usually end up doing both and some people most likely think I'm either weird or very friendly!
  • A bachelor and bachelorette party are called a Buck's Night and a Hen's Night. It sounded so funny to me when a friend said that she went to a Hen's Night over the weekend. What a fun phrase though! I think we should adopt that back home to add a little more creativity to our vocabulary.
  • When an Aussie uses the term "flat out", it means busy or fully booked. Someone asked me this morning if I was flat out this week and I had to stop and think for a minute.

I can see why the Aussies are so crazy about summer down here. The weather keeps getting better and I am spending more and more time along the beach jogging or just walking and watching everyone else. This weekend the bay was full of sailboats and windsurfers and it was entertaining to watch the windsurfers trying to stay up and performing some aerial maneuvers.

My friends at work were talking about New Year's Eve on the beach in bathing suits ("bathers"), and that seemed so strange to me. But, it's completely normal to them and they wouldn't have it any other way. Speaking of New Year's Eve, it's likely that I will be spending it in Bali! I'm excited about the thought, but will be even more excited when I know for sure!


Well, that's it for now. Hope everyone is doing well and keep those emails coming. No matter how much fun I am having down here, hearing from someone at home always puts a big smile on my face:-)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

HFDU - 7th Edition

Originally sent: September 23, 2003

Hello again all!
I hope this email finds all of you well and enjoying the last days of summer. I'm just getting geared up for my summer down here and am very much looking forward to it.

Most of you know that I made a whirlwind trip back to the States for a week, but I'm back in the game over here and getting settled again. It was strange being picked up in Australia and dropped off in the States. It's like two completely different worlds, but it definitely made me realize that Americans are so uptight and stressed about everything! The Aussies have a good outlook on life in that they don't worry about things that are not in their control. So, next time you feel stressed about something that you cannot change, just think to yourself, "No worries!".

Anyway, work is going well and I am staying busy. The social aspect of work is keeping me busy too! At the end of audits down here, the audit teams have these massive celebratory lunches that tend to last into the evening. These lunches come complete with awards and stories, which guarantee a good time. I have a couple of those coming up, so they should be enjoyable. We are also having a celebratory dinner for my group's Footy Team for winning the company Footy trophy. Since I was a supporter I get invited to that as well, so that should definitely be a good time. The Assistant Manager's in my office also have a Boys/Girls Night Out planned. The boys have split up the city (downtown) into zones and we have to stay in our respective zones until it's time to meet up. So, essentially the girls have a fun night out, the boys have a fun night out, and then we meet up later in the evening for some more fun. Oh, and the twist to all of this is that a list of dares is being compiled that has to be completed by each group prior to the meeting point. This should be interesting.....

I've decided to get a car. I don't know what yet, but I don't enjoy being stuck in Port Melbourne on the weekends, dependent upon good weather or a friend to go anywhere. I'm too used to the freedom of having a car and being able to go anywhere at any moment. It will be nice to be independent again, but I think that it will take some time for me to adjust to driving here on a regular basis. The roads still confuse me and parking petrifies me! It's mostly parallel, and at a least a few of you know that I cannot parallel park to save my life. The cars here are ridiculously expensive, so I'll have to let you know how the car searching goes. I hate car shopping!

We have a couple of big sporting events coming up soon. The Grand Final for Aussie Rules Football is this weekend (comparable to the Super Bowl for American football). For those of you who understand and know the teams, it's Collingwood vs. Brisbane. Needless to say, it will be a big weekend for footy fans! The Spring Carnival is here and the Melbourne Cup is coming up at the beginning of November. It's a Victorian State holiday when everyone gets off work to go to the horse races and ladies get all dolled up in huge hats. It should be quite the experience!

Other than that, my weekends have been a bit relaxed lately. Just going to the movies and hanging out with Angie and other friends ("mates"). I'm trying to plan a trip or two to Tasmania and maybe the Gold Coast, but it's harder to organize when I don't have a person down here with me to travel with, but I may be able to twist some arms of work colleagues and friends. Any of you are more than welcome to come visit too!! T is in for an adventure when she comes down at the end of November!

I had expressed interest to one of my friends here about stargazing since the constellations and stars are completely different down here. So, he has helped me find a good star map and has offered to take me out to the country to look at the stars! I'm very excited, although it's been awfully cloudy lately at night so we are waiting patiently for a clear sky. And, I'm toying with the idea of playing "mixed" rugby with my company. Although I have no idea how to play, I think I could pick it up rather quickly and it would give me some regular exercise during the week.

A few more things about the Aussies that may be of interest to you:
  • Almost every Australian woman has her hair colored.
  • Most Australian men have spiky hair (and a lot of it is colored as well!).
  • Even though the Australians drive on the left side of the road, they walk on whichever side they please.
  • The Aussies love toast.....with jam, margarine, Vegemite, whatever!
  • All pants here are low rise (very low rise!), even suit pants. But the shirts are not longer to make up for it, so there are lots of bellies showing!
  • Flip flops are called thongs, so are thongs.
  • They don't have grape-flavored stuff. No grape jelly, jellybeans, candy, soda, etc. If it's purple, it's blackberry.
  • All candy is called "lollies", but the snack bar at a cinema is called a candy bar.
  • Movie tickets are $14.
  • Bathing suit ("bathers") tops are not required on Aussie beaches.
  • When you order a lemonade, you'll get Sprite.....in the can.
Sorry that I don't have anything more exciting to share with you about Australia right now! Work is keeping me pretty busy, but I promise that I'll have more exciting things to share in the future. In the meantime, I would love to hear about what is happening in all of your lives so please write and let me know! Take care!

HFDU - 6th Edition

Originally sent: August 31, 2003

Hello everyone! Time for another update on life in Melbourne. It's amazing that you look at a map and see how far Australia is from the States, and think that it must be a completely different world. But in reality, it's just another place in the world where people live and has many similarities to home. For example, the other day I was watching on television Australian Idol and Australia's "The Mole". This is in addition to Big Brother Australia, which just ended a few weeks ago, and CSI, CSI Miami and the Law & Orders, of which I have seen them all since Australia TV is one season behind. In fact, the Bachelor 3 just started over here (the one with Andrew Firestone) and all of the girls at work are talking about who they think will win, and it killed them when I told them that I knew who won! But of course I didn't say anything because I couldn't ruin the show for them :-) I also saw American Pie 3 and Charlie's Angels at the movies the other night, so the movies are not too much behind. Anyway, my point is that it looks like Australia is going to drop off the globe, but it's really a normal place with normal people, and quite enjoyable!

I went to dinner the other night across the bay from Port Melbourne (my home) in Williamstown and it was neat to drive over the Westgate bridge and see the city from across the water. It was like a little storybook town with small little shops, cafes, and restaurants, and then the piers, lighthouses, and all of the boats. After that I went out dancing back in the city and we ended up at a Latin club for some salsa dancing! I'm not very good but I'm learning, and we got to enjoy the DJ (regular dance music) when the band was on break so it was a fun evening. I think I might take salsa dancing lessons at some point so that I actually know what's going on! Speaking of music, guess who I am going to see in concert in another month? The Dixie Chicks! Although I'm still a bit aggravated at them over their comment during the war, I need a good dose of country music and have a friend here that really wants to go see them so we're both excited to go. Talk about carving out a slice of America and bringing it down here......their first night in Melbourne sold out so they added a second night. LeAnn Rimes is also coming, as well as Christina Aguilera.

One thing I just learned is that Father's Day down here is in September rather than June as the Queen's birthday is in June and I guess they don't want to take away any of her glory. Mother's Day is still in May though. Also, spring officially starts here on September 1st, and the Aussies are so excited as that means summer is just around the corner. They seem to think that just because it's officially spring that the weather is automatically going to improve. I hope so! It has been awfully rainy and windy here lately. The other day I was running along the beach and saw the most spectacular full twin rainbows that extended from over the water to the city. It was one of those moments that you wish you had a camera to capture them, but then realize that the pictures would not have done them justice.

This past weekend we had the Chartered Accountants Footy Day. I cannot describe to you how serious the guys took this day! Remember a few weeks ago we had the company Footy Day? Well, imagine that times about 100. All of the big public accounting firms and a few smaller ones, get together for a footy tournament. My company has won the past three years in a row so there was a lot of pressure on us this year! The day starts at 9:30 am and lasts until about 5 pm. All of the firms set up big tents with food & drinks and we hang out all day eating, watching footy, and cheering on our company's guys. About half of the team was from my group so it was fun to watch all of them out there. And......we won for the fourth year in a row!!! I would have hated if we would have lost because my senior manager was the coach and he would have not been pleasant to work with tomorrow!

Anyway, it's a reminder that the Aussies take their sport very seriously, but also that they like to have fun. What a great day it was! Speaking of sports, the Rugby World Cup is coming to Melbourne soon and it's Australia vs Ireland, so it's becoming madness around here as people are trying to pay obscene amounts of money for tickets.

I had an official interview with the Starlight Foundation this past week and as soon as they check my references and get by police check done, I'll officially be a wish granter! I'm excited, but very nervous at the same time. It's a big responsibility, but also something that I really want to do. Hopefully before long I'll have some good wish granting stories to share with all of you. I have some disheartening news though. I made PB&J sandwiches for my audit team last week, and they thought they were gross! Can you believe it? The staple of the American child's diet, and the Aussies couldn't believe that we eat them! So, they'll eat Vegemite sandwiches, but no PB&J. That just goes to show you the differing tastebuds between countries. They still like my brownies though!

I'm going to try something new. The Aussies have such a different way of pronouncing certain words that it shocks me. I'll try to describe it but forgive me if they don't make sense (note that the syllable in bold is the one that is stressed):

We say/They say
oregano: or-egg-i-no/or-i-gone-o
aluminum: a-lume-i-num/al-i-mini-um
pecan: pa-con/pee-can

Those are just some that make me laugh. Especially aluminum. It sounds so strange, but it's so normal to them.

I almost forgot.......I have my first visitor coming in November. Special thanks goes to my friend T for being the first to make the long trip down here. I am so thrilled to have another American to celebrate Thanksgiving with! The weather will be a little warmer T, and the Aussies will have no idea why we are buying a turkey & dressing in the middle of spring, but we'll have fun anyway :-) And this will give me a good excuse to rent a car and go be adventurous!

Well, I guess that's about it for Edition 6. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last days of summer back home. I love to hear about what's going on in your lives so please shoot me an email and let me know! And for those of you with kids -- just because I'm not there to hound you over new pictures doesn't mean that you can't still send some my way :-)

HFDU - 5th Edition

Originally sent: August 18, 2003

Well, it's that time again. I know I always say this, but I hope these are not completely annoying to you. Again, if they are or if you would prefer not to get them, please let me know and I'll gladly remove you from future editions! Now that the much anticipated Winter Ball is over, I have exciting details to share with all of you.

First of all, let me start out by saying that it was completely AMAZING! The Melbourne office really spared no expense to make the evening unforgettable and such a ball (no pun intended!). The theme was "Life's A Circus" and I'll just paint the picture of the ballroom where it was held: the ballroom was in the Crown Casino entertainment complex. You walk up in black tie attire and standing outside of the doors to the ballroom are clowns and characters on stilts welcoming you to the circus. The circus music is playing in the background and once you get into the ballroom, picture red and yellow everywhere: stars, balloons, streamers, etc. Oh, and about 1,500 other co-workers and their dates!

In one corner are jugglers, in another are more clowns, walking all over are various "side show acts", and in the center is an amazingly in-shape lady hula-hooping. Later on came flame-eaters, two very strong men (the Gemini twins) balancing on each other, a lady performing on a rope hanging from the ceiling, and more! Each table had a phenomenal centerpiece with a musical clown and many little decorations. Once we finished saying our hellos, the appetizers came out (chicken, duck, and salmon), followed by a break with another show/act, and then the main course (lamb and barramundi fillets). After that I think everyone had their dancing shoes on, so Lisa was off to the dance floor and pretty much never sat down again until the evening was over at 2am!

One thing I did not get the chance to enjoy was the carnival games in the back of the ballroom (they were too far away from the dance floor!), complete with tickets and prizes that you could trade them in for. Overall the evening was very enjoyable and much better than I expected! Unfortunately I did not think to take pictures of the fabulous decorations!

Let's see what else.......I have developed a dangerous affection for Freddo frogs and Caramello koalas. Freddo frogs are Cadbury's milk chocolate filled with a variety of things, my favorite being peppermint. And those if you who know me well know that I only usually only eat dark chocolate, so you know these must be good. I baked brownies one day for my audit team and none of them had ever had them before! Can you believe it? A whole batch was almost gone before lunch, so I guess they enjoyed them. Unfortunately now that's all anyone asks for these days. I think they were a bit disappointed when I told them they came out of a box and that you could buy them at the local grocery store.

Anyway, we have decided to have an Australian/American food day at my client so that I can try quirky Australian food and so they can have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! They've never eaten them before! "Jelly" to the Aussies is Jell-O to Americans, so I have to explain that it's peanut butter and "jam". They still think it will be gross, but I have a feeling they'll like it once they try it. I'm curious to see what I ended up getting fed.

And I have exciting news to share about Mexican food. I found a decent place to get some! Another secondee from Scotland lives in the suburb where I have been working and said that she had heard about a good Mexican restaurant there. So, we decided to meet up one night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, complete with margaritas and chicken enchiladas! I was so relieved to find some place to satiate my cravings, and probably will be making regular trips there. The only complaint that I have is that they charge you for chips and salsa, which would never fly in Houston. But, I shouldn't complain too much as the food is really pretty good.

I just learned that my group at work is having a disco/karaoke night in a few weeks, which I will definitely have to partake in! I've already spoken with my "Danny" for Grease's "Summer Nights" and hopefully we'll be able to pull it off. We're supposed to dress up, but for some reason I can't see me wearing the tight black leather outfit that "Sandy" wears in the movie, so I'll have to come up with a more conservative alternative. It should be a lot of fun though, and I will definitely report how it goes. My flatmate leaves for Bali this weekend for vacation so I will have the flat all to myself for 2 weeks.

Other than that my life here has become pretty normal and routine. I have yet to find a church, but have some feelers out there so hopefully something turns up. I found a hairdresser the other day which made me very happy, and I also treated myself to a massage for no good reason. It was nice to be pampered! I have learned the tram schedule backwards and forwards and even fall asleep on them sometimes in the morning. That's a little scary though as I could end up in the middle of some place that I'm not familiar with! There are still a lot of things that I want to experience, but I have started working somewhat long hours because of busy season, so some things are going to have to be put on hold.

I still am in awe every morning that I walk to the tram along the beach. It reminds me of exactly where I am, across the world in Australia, and I remember how lucky and blessed I am to have the opportunity to be here. And I still think Aussies are an amazing people! Please keep in touch and come visit!

HFDU - 4th Edition

Originally sent: August 5, 2003

Hello again all! It seems like just yesterday that I sent out the 3rd Edition, but I suppose it has been a couple of weeks. I hope this email again finds all of you well and enjoying the summer back in the States. The weather here has gotten cold, windy, and rainy, especially on my 10 minute walk to and from the tram stop in the mornings and evenings. I've learned the tram schedule though, so I can plan it to where I get there right when the tram does so I don't have to wait outside! I've struggled a couple of times with not having a car as there are times I just want to hop in a car and run errands, and I can't do it. It's hard for me to depend so much on others to get me places, but I suppose I'll manage as I know others do.

The past two weeks have been good. I feel more settled than before and have spent some good times with my group at work. One Friday night we had the Melbourne office's Social Club drinks night where my company rented out a bar for the evening and provided us with appetizers (which the Aussies call entrees) and drinks for a few hours. It was nice to mingle with everyone and meet new people and know that everyone there was from my company. I still am getting used to the increased level social activity with co-workers, but I love it! This past Friday night we had a drinks night with just my group so it gave me the opportunity to bond more with the people that I will be working with. It was also "results day" where everyone gets the results from the C.A. (Certified Accountant) exam, so needless to say, it was quite an event!

This past Sunday we had our company Footy Day where my group played other groups in the firm. It was a great day with everyone, including partners, bringing out their families to cheer on the group. And we won!! The Aussies take their footy very seriously so I was relieved that my group won "the championship". We now get to place the coveted office Footy trophy in our department for a whole year. My company audits one of the professional footy clubs here in Melbourne so we got to use their training ground for the game as well as their practice jerseys. That was a neat touch!

A spent an entire day with my flatmate this weekend just being girls. Picture this: low 60's, perfect blue sky with no clouds, heated seats in a convertible with the top down, and driving along the beach highway eating an ice cream cone. It was perfect! We were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We also went shopping for my ball gown and were very successful. I am really excited about the dress and can't wait to wear it in a couple of weeks. And it only took us an hour to find!

Last week I attended a Starlight Foundation meeting at my company's offices. Starlight is similar to the Make-a-Wish Foundation in that they grant wishes to sick children. So, I am going to be a wish granter! What a fun and rewarding opportunity, and my company supports it 110%. I'm glad that I was able to get involved with the community activities so quickly here as I would have missed that from the Houston office. The wish granting process is continual and whenever I make one wish come true, they give me another child. You do it on your own time and develop relationships with the children and their families in order to make the wish as special as you can. I am very much looking forward to this!

I discovered through another American that there is a USA Foods Store right outside of the city that imports non-perishable food items from the States. I thought that I would check it out to see if there was anything that I desperately wanted. The food was quite expensive, so I didn't buy much, but I left with a couple of cans of pumpkin pie mix (remember the Thanksgiving feast that I am cooking for all of the Aussies), a couple of cans of Rotel tomatoes, but no Velveeta cheese :-(, ranch dressing, Tony Chachere's (yea!), Crisco sticks (to make the best ever chocolate chip cookies), and my American friend grabbed some Reese's peanut butter cups and Dr. Pepper. It was fun to be in there and see what the store stocked based on the demands of the Americans in Melbourne. This store will have to become a luxury every few months as I'll go broke if I shop there all the time. Besides, I need to become an expert at cooking Aussie style for when you all come to visit! I hope you all like eggs because they put them on everything here.

Speaking of food, the Aussies eat a very late lunch here. For those of you who have worked with me, you know that I have to force myself to wait for 11:30 to roll around before I eat. I get hungry so early! My co-workers in the Melbourne office don't leave for lunch usually until 12:45 or 1:00 -- it kills me!! But, the good thing is that there is a lot less of the day left when we get back from lunch and the afternoon goes by very quickly. And I know I've said this before, but the food in Melbourne is fantastic. You can literally go to any place in town, even a hole in the wall, and the food is delicious! It's great because you can walk along a street shopping or jogging, and see a little cafe or Thai restaurant and just decide to stop in, and you know the food will be good.

Angie and I are all settled in our apartment and my shipment from home arrived so now the place feels homey and comfortable. Angie and I have developed the bad habit of staying up late at night chatting and learning about each other for hours! We feel like a junior high students at a slumber party, and then we realize that it's midnight and we have to go to work in the morning. We have fun though, and it's nice to relax at home and hang out with my flatmate! I have really started missing my girlfriends though. Although I'm developing friendships over here, it will take time to build the close relationships that I had back home. So girlfriends, you better come visit quick!!

Well, lastly, I've compiled another short list of Aussieisms for your amusement:

Aussie/American:
knackered/tired or exhausted
fringe/bangs (the Aussies really can't get used to this one!)
serviettes/napkins

Don't forget to keep checking the website for more pictures. I would love to hear from everyone so feel free to drop me a line anytime (hint, hint). Hope everyone is well and keep in touch!

HFDU - 3rd Edition

Originally sent: July 22, 2003

Hello again all! Well, it seems about that time again -- time for another email update. I hope that this email finds all of you well! I keep thinking that I am going to run out of news to share with all of you, but it just hasn't happened yet. They even seem to be getting longer......sorry.

Angie and I finally moved into our apartment this past weekend. What a neat place it is! The building is an old warehouse converted into apartments so there is a lot of character. At least one wall in each room is the original brick from the warehouse. I've put some pictures on the link below so make sure to check them out! I'm still waiting for my shipment from America to arrive so that I can contribute to the household decorations. Apparently they got stuck in quarantine because I sent over wooden pictures frames! The apartment has a great balcony with views of both the city and the bay. I went running along the beach the other morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. As soon as my roller blades get here, I'll be right along with the other Melburnians skating on the beachfront! Everyone here seems to have a dog so when you walk along the beach, dogs are running around everywhere, playing in the water and chasing each other. It's very relaxing to watch them.

I've gone shopping and eating along my new local street and have already picked out a few favorite shops and cafes. And, to watch the sun set over the bay is truly magnificent! The only downside of where I live is that it's a 10-12 minute walk to the tram stop from my apartment, and then another 25 minutes on the tram before I get to work. Although, that's not much different from my Houston commute, and at least I don't have the stress of driving in stop-and-go traffic!

Work is going pretty well. My group continues to amaze me with their kindness. They took me and another secondee from Scotland to a footy game (the second for A & I), but it was a night game so it was much more exciting. It was actually a massacre, with one team winning 128-62. There are pictures posted on the link below of the footy, so be sure to check them out. The Melbourne office also sent me to a small country town a few hours north of the city to work for a week. My company has a satellite office there and they needed some help for a week so I volunteered to make the trip. It was neat to see the country part of Australia but I was not thrilled about getting there on a propeller plane! Other than that, I'm about to get started on my large jobs at the beginning of August and those should keep me pretty busy up until November or so. Then it's time for Christmas and summer! I plan to get SCUBA certified in September, as a co-worker has a friend who owns a dive shop. My goal is to dive as much as I can while I'm down here, and dive the Great Barrier Reef (the Aussies simply call it "The Reef") before I head back home in a couple of years.

A and I made our way to the Crown Casino on Southbank one night, just to see what it was like and have a little innocent fun. I ended up winning about AUD 100, which is pretty good for only spending AUD 10. Also, there is no smoking in the casinos, which makes for a much more enjoyable evening. I still am getting used to attracting attention when I speak, but I don't think that the Aussies will ever get used to an American accent. I'm a little sad however, that I no longer am surprised by the Aussie accent, but I still enjoy listening to them. For all of you in the Houston office, an assistant manager from Melbourne is coming to Houston on a two-year rotation in October to work in the energy group, and he has a fantastic Aussie accent!

A few other places that we have been since I've last spoken to you: Belgian Beer Cafe (literally every Belgian beer imaginable is available there), Amigos Mexican Cafe (which was a disaster), St Kilda (again), and many other fun cafes and shops. I've also decided to start searching for the perfect ball gown for the much anticipated Winter Ball that I spoke about in the first email that's coming up in mid-August. I've heard that what you wear is a big deal, as the guys in the group tend to critique the women's dresses. Isn't that opposite of what happens back home?

I've tried to compile a nice variety of pictures from Melbourne, however, most of them have people in them. I hope that you all enjoy them and that they convince at least some of you to come down for a visit.

And here is some more Aussie lingo that I have picked up over the last couple of weeks:

Aussie phrase/American translation
rug up/get warm, bundle up (like for a late night footy game)
Righty-o/very good, sounds good (heard that one in the small country town)
rubbish bin/trash can
chook/chicken

They also use "mate", "cheers", and "no worries" all the time. A lot more than I thought they would.

My sister left to go back to Houston yesterday, so I think that it is going to start hitting me that I am down here on my own. As frightening as that sometimes is, I am still really looking forward to the adventures and the challenges of being down here alone. There is a reason that Melbourne has recently been voted "the Most Liveable City in the World for Expatriates". The tram/train/bus system is great and easy to learn, the people are friendly and helpful, and the food and wine are divine! Churches, on the other hand, are hard to come by. I have searched for one over the past few weeks via the phonebook and internet, and the ones that I have been interested in never answer the phone or look quite seedy from the outside. I discovered quickly that a Baptist church down here is not the same as a Baptist church in America, so I may have to just settle for something other than Catholic, which is the predominant religion down here. The Aussies overall are not a religious people, so my co-workers are having a hard time coming up with suggestions of churches for me to attend.

I've nearly mastered the art of walking and passing on the left side, and have gotten used to going to the left to ride the escalator. I'm still a bit uncomfortable riding in a car, and was really thrown off went I went through my first drive-thru (McDonald's). Everything was opposite! Oh, and an update on my mobile phone situation. One of the bars from the pub crawl called and said that they found the SIM card from my phone, but not the phone. So, after I retrieved my SIM card I managed to keep the same phone number, but had to buy another mobile phone, which I was not too thrilled about. Either way, I'm up and running again.

Well, that's it for Edition III. I hope these continue to be entertaining and informative and aren't boring yet. I also hope each of you is well and please keep in touch! Hearing from my friends and family back home helps keep me smiling down here!

Hello From Down Under Part II

Originally sent: July 14, 2003

Hello again from cold and windy Melbourne! Now that I have experienced by second week here, I have all kinds of fun things to talk about and some new jargon that almost got me in trouble! I left off last time talking about what we had done over the first week and my first impressions of Australia. I have now completed my first week of work and experienced my first-ever pub crawl and footy game, both of which were adventures.

I definitely feel very lucky to have been introduced into a group of people at work who were completely accepting of me, excited to have me here, and willing and desiring to introduce me to true Aussie culture and the ways of the office here. The main difference between here and the Houston office is that everyone here has a workspace, no matter what level you are. This means that it is quite a bit cramped. I share a cubicle area with four others, so I imagine that they will all get to know me more than they probably want to over the next two years. One of my cubemates is on rotation from Jordan and has been here for 2 years. He has been extremely helpful in getting me all settled in the office. Two of the others are "grads" (new staff members), one of which sits next to me and is a riot. He plays footy, so basically eats, drinks, and thinks footy all the time. The other one I have not met yet. The cube walls are low so you can see the entire floor, which makes it a comfortable and social environment. You always know what everyone is doing! When I post pics to the web, I'll make sure to get some on there from the office.

I also made my first "mistake" at work when I told my female partner that I thought the male senior manager that I will primarily be working for was "very spunky". She said that he would like hearing that I thought he was "spunky", as "spunky" here means sexy. So......I quickly clarified myself in saying that I thought he was bubbly and energetic. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one!

A and I were invited to a "pub crawl" on this past Friday night. I must start out by saying that I have never been on a pub crawl before, but it was quite an experience. Picture this: about 30 accountants starting at one pub right after work, staying there for about 15 minutes, and then moving on to the next, staying there for about 15 minutes, and so on, until you have completed the list of approximately 15 pubs (and losing several people at each place). You learn quickly that you can't drink at every pub, or you will literally have to "crawl" home (hence the name of the event). I endured it well and actually made it to the end, with only one significant detour. I realized that I had lost my new mobile phone at about pub #7, and so me and two very nice guys from my group back-tracked to the previous pubs looking for it, but with no success. So I learned a hard lesson but am working on getting another mobile phone.

On Saturday afternoon, A and I attended our first footy game with a girl that we had met the previous weekend and her footy buddies. I was feeling a bit withdrawn from American sports (particularly baseball), but I think that this will definitely be a suitable substitute for two years. What fun! I have total respect for the footy players because they are running constantly, enduring tackles with NO PADS, and they wear tank tops and very short shorts in the middle of winter! I have some pics of the game that I will post to the website as well.

Aussie Rules Football has been in Melbourne for over 100 years and there is such history to it. Part of that history is eating a meat pie at the game! I actually thought that it was very yummy, but tried not to think about what was actually in it (although I'm told it's primarily beef with a small amount of lamb). It tasted like a beef pot pie sans the veggies, in a pastry crust. I'm sure it was real healthy for me too, but calories don't count at footy games....right? Anyway, I also learned rather quickly that you do not "root" for teams over here. You "cheer" or "barrack". To "root" in Australia means "to have sex with". Keep that one in mind next time you travel down under!

On Sunday, we travelled to a local winery in the Yarra Valley with my flatmate Angie to celebrate French Bastille Day (their Independence Day). She knows the owner of the winery (who's French), so we attended the shindig complete with a traditional French meal and plenty of wine tasting. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and everyone there was pleased to have some Americans joining the festivities. We also stopped by one of the famous sparkling wine vineyards on our way out of the valley and enjoyed some more tasting. The Aussies sure love their wine! What a fabulous day! Pictures from that day will also be posted to the web, as soon as I get around to getting all of that set up!

Things that have surprised me so far:
  • The T.V. here is awful. Beverly Hills 90210 is about the most exciting thing that we have found to watch, other than footy.
  • There is A LOT of Asian food down here. I never thought that I would get sick of Asian food, but I am, and it's only been two weeks!
  • Burger King and Hungry Jacks are the same thing.
  • Although the Aussies have great public transportation, most of them drive everywhere. I'm still so excited that I actually have the option of public transportation, that I take the trams everywhere and don't plan on buying a car.
  • Everyone drinks beer and wine at lunch on Fridays, and then goes back to work. I still can't do that yet.
  • I think I've found a karaoke buddy. I discovered that a guy at work likes to sing too and knows all of the songs that I love to sing at karaoke! We haven't gone yet, but hopefully soon.

Angie and I move into our apartment on the beach this weekend, and I cannot wait to get settled and have pictures of our new place! It will be nice to be out of the executive apartment, but it has been convenient being a 2 minute walk away from work. Oh, and I practiced driving this weekend on the way home from the winery. It was a little uncomfortable being on the other side of the car, and the other side of the road, but I managed quite well. No major disasters!

Okay, that's enough of a novel for now. I hope you enjoy getting these emails, but if not, please let me know and I will gladly remove you from future issues! And I promise that they will not be sent every week for two years, it's just that everything is still exciting and new to me and I enjoy sharing my experiences with all of you! Please know that there is still an open invitation for anyone to visit. It's an exceptional place and I would love for everyone to get to experience it!!

Hello From Down Under

Originally sent: July 8, 2003

Well, I don't even know where to begin. The last week has been amazing -- full of anticipation, anxiety, joys, and disbelief! My big sis ("A") and I endured the 16 hour flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne rather well. I think I was able to sleep quite a bit more than her, so she may have a different perspective, but overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The jet lag didn't really hit us until about four days after the flight when we went to bed between 8 - 8:30 each night. Now that I have started work, hopefully my schedule will get somewhat more regulated.

When we arrived, it was a beautiful EARLY morning (7:30 am) and about 45 degrees F. What a nice change from the Houston heat! My first reality was that Aussies really do drive on the other side of the car and the road, so I was trying to climb in the "driver's seat" with the girl from work who came to pick us up from the airport. A and I were both very uncomfortable riding around as we thought that we were driving against traffic. After we were settled in to the corporate apartment, we met a manager from Dallas, who is over here on rotation, for lunch alongside the Southbank of the Yarra River, which runs through the middle of the city, and is within walking distance of downtown, or as the Aussies call it "the city".

That night we met my future flatmate Angie (an Aussie) for some coffee and discovered that my life was about to be very adventurous and probably comparable to a roller coaster ride, as she is quite spunky and fun! She is in television advertising and is such a hoot. She introduced us to some of the more colorful Aussies terms (see below). After we discovered that she had never had a pumpkin pie (Aussies eat tons of pumpkin, but never sweet), I told her that I would make an American Thanksgiving feast in November so that she could experience the glory of pumpkin and pecan pie. What fun that will be! She's already planned the housewarming party for our apartment (she's in to "themed" parties) complete with champagne and a chic-flic. Oh, and our apartment is on the beach. That should be incentive for visits from at least a few of you! We are planning to move in this weekend.

Anyway, A and I bounced around the city for the next few days, mastering the tram system and discovering that we were the ones with accents. It's amazing how you can make a conversation stop when you start talking. Everyone wants to hear the Americans, as we are a rare kind down here. We didn't stand out however, at the American Consulate General's 4th of July party this past Friday, which we attended with the manager from Dallas. It was nice to see that Americans over here still remember and embrace the spirit of home. We met some other great Americans who have promised to indulge our Mexican food cravings at one of the two Mexican restaurants in Melbourne. Yes, I said two. That's about all there is, besides Taco Bill's, which I don't think I will venture to try. I did try Vegemite however, the staple of the Aussie diet, but I won't be doing that again. Something about yeast extract, the salty flavor, and that icky brown color.......

We also went to the Melbourne Zoo, Acland Street (a street famous for bakeries and cake shops in nearby St Kilda), the Queen Victoria market, and a mattress store so that I could buy a bed. We also attended a "barbie" with a large group of co-workers who are all on rotation ("secondees"), and met folks from my group at work on Friday night for drinks. They are great people and will be super to work with. In fact, they have already secured my spot at a reserved table at the much anticipated Winter Ball in mid-August. The work environment already appears to be much different than back home. Everyone goes out together on Friday's after work for drinks, several guys play footy (which means that they leave early on certain nights for footy training), there is a Social Club that requires a fee, but has 80% of the office signed up, and a great overall outlook on the whole work/life balance concept.

If you want me to sum up Melbourne in a brief blurb, think Europe -- cafes, river, walking, trams/trains, culture, great food, and coffee, coffee, coffee. I fit right in, although the Target is a bit different than back home and I have yet to go to a Starbucks since I've been here. The cafes serve up better coffee and it's cheaper. I don't know what it will take to get some of you over here, but I promise that you will not be disappointed. I already have a whole list of places that I want to go and see: The Great Ocean road, wineries (one of which we are doing this weekend), New Zealand, Tasmania, scuba diving and oodles of other things. There is literally something for everyone!

I had to include a few famous Aussie phrases that should give you a good chuckle:

Aussie phrase/American translation
How ya goin?/How are you?
Are you happy to browse?/Are you just looking?
footy/Australian Rules Football (and yes, it is a religion over here)
pissed/drunk
worthy of perve/worth flirting with or hitting on (this is one from Angie)
brekkie/breakfast

Oh, and there are McDonald's, Burger King's, KFC, and Subway over here. The burger joints have an Aussie-style combo meal, which includes a burger with a fried egg in it. Haven't tried that one yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. And A and I have nearly killed ourselves on at least several occasions, as we look LEFT when crossing a street, but the cars and trams here come from the RIGHT. That will certainly wake you up!

I hope that each of you are doing well. I'm not homesick yet, but I'm sure that it is coming. For now, I am content learning about and exploring Melbourne and am embracing my first experiences in Australia. Unfortunately, busy season is about to start up at work, so my gallivanting will have to be put on hold until the spring time (October/November). As the Aussies so grandly put it, what a divine and brilliant place! I will get together some good pictures and post them on a website within the next week or so.