My First two weeks in Tasmania

First I'm in love.
The scenery here is to die for and despite the cold I can't help but take a walk along the river everyday. Tasmania wasn't part of my original plan in Australia and I am so glad that I haven't stuck with any plan or I would have missed the one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

Second I have the best job.
   I stark work at 5 EVERY night. And so far it hasn't really felt too much like a job. It's more like helping out a welcoming family run their restaurant and pub with their friends. Locals come in every night and just enjoy hanging around the bar. They also feed me and the food is delicious.

3 my car hates it here.
The glow plugs broke and it will cost me about $1200 to fix. Thankfully I have a job to pay for it as I had a total of $100 upon moving to Tasmania.  Unfortunately my first two weeks wages have gone to paying for this and I am still broke.  Broke but happy so who cares, right?  I was worried I would have to ask mom and dad for help but that is only worst case scenario.  I want them to focus on how to get Jasper here after he graduates.

4 it's about who you're with

To add to the beauty of Tasmania  (or I guess Deloraine) the locals are some of the kindest people I have met. I met a retired photographer in a thrift shop today. We then had coffee so I could ask him about his work photographing Tasmania for their board of tourism and places he recommends to go. We then went on a tour of the local area. Everyone I have met here has been this welcoming and I feel so at home despite the bitter cold.

5 It is COLD.

it's only the end of autumn and I am freezing my butt off. They say it gets easier as you get used to it but I'm not sure about that yet . I had to go and buy warmer clothes as the ones I packed weren't sufficient.  I'm quite proud of myself as its my first shopping trip here in Australia and I only spent $38. Got a pair of boots, 2 jackets, and some long sleeve shirts. All I need now are some gloves and a warm hat.  

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

And so far Tasmania has made me feel wonderful and so very welcome here.

Waiting: Moving to Tazzie!

In line to get on the Spirit of Tasmania II

I left home extra early to make sure that I had plenty of time to find where to get on the ferry and how to load my car on it.  thus I got there an hour early at about 3pm. So I parked and waited.

An hour later I saw some cars lining up to board so I pulled out of my parking spot, drove 30ft to my spot in line and waited. 

about 10 min. later we all started moving through customs where we gave over any gas or propane (to be returned later) and let them know of any food we were bringing over. Then we all drove to where they sort the cars by size before they load them and waited.

After waiting a bit there we were finally directed to drive onto the ferry. It was a bit scary driving on a little bridge over the ocean onto a ship but I did it no problem! after what felt like a long, twisty tunnel we all started parking. Expecting instructions on what to do next a bunch of us looked around for official people and waited.

Instructions never came so we locked our cars and headed upstairs following signs to where we would be seated. After climbing 7 flights of stairs and walking through several halls I finally found my seat, got comfortable and waited.

Instructions finally came over the intercom asking those of us with cars to please turn off alarms as the rocking of the ship can set them off. So back down the stairs I went and well, my car isn't on any of the levels that staircase went to so back up 4 flights I went. I tried another staircase and 5 flights later it wasn't that one either.  Seeing someone official I asked for help finding my car to turn off the alarm. He was very helpful and thank goodness I was one of the first people to board because the man knew exactly where it would be. So 4 more flights of stairs to go and my alarm was turned off and back up 7 flights of stairs to sit in my seat and wait. 

Next to me were some nice backpackers who would also be touring tasmania so we killed some time talking about where we might go. as we waited some more.

The view from my seat.

Finally some time just after dark we started moving. We were really moving. up, down, sideways, lots of rocking. The storm we sailed through wasn't an incredibly vicious storm but it still had some strength so I was motion sick. I did breathing exercises while watching the swells go by the back of the ship from my seat, tried to sleep and waited for the sun to rise and for Tasmania to appear. 

Eventually the sun started to come up as we docked in Davenport, Tasmania. What a relief! The intercom came on and informed us that passengers without vehicles would be disembarking the rest of us would need to wait for our car levels to be called to get off the ship. And so we waited.

Being one of the first on the ferry meant one of the last on. That was ok as I was in no rush to get anywhere and drank my tea while I waited for everyone else to get off till my level was called. I then got in my car where they told us not to turn on our cars till they told us to. So I sat back and did some more waiting.

Finally I was directed off the boat where we were all bottle necked into one lane to get either go on our way or where I went to the area to reclaim my propane bottles where once again I waited.

After I met up with my seat-mates at a cafe for breckie and to figure out where to next. After enjoying a nice break I hopped into my car and drove through some of the most beautiful scenery i have ever seen. I knew then that I made the right choice in coming to Tasmania. 

I then arrived in Deloraine, met Pete, was shown my room and took a nap. At 5pm that night I started my first shift at the Bush Inn Hotel.

Work in Melbourne

     So as the hype of a new restaurant faded out for Pigro, where I was waitressing, wore out I got less and less hours and soon wasn't making enough to cover rent anymore. The hunt for a new job was on. I was back on Seek and Gumtree and even put an add out myself for waitressing work.

I got a call for a job the next day and the day after that I went in for training to do door knocking.  Job is to go around a set up area and look for houses that may have not switched their halogen light bulbs to LED lights, as the Australian government has banned them and is funding their replacement, and get them to convert.  It is a LOT of walking but I get to see some parts of Melbourne I would have never seen without this job and the people I work with are super awesome.

     Now remember that add I put up?  I got all sorts of emails for top-less waitressing, being an escort, nude modeling that kind of stuff. Some people were super dodgy. I even got asked to let someone practice massages on me and get paid for it. Lol not going to happen. 
     I did get a few legit offers from people for waitressing work. One was for a hotel/bar in Tasmania.  They even had a place for me to stay rent free and parking! I thought I wouldn’t be able to visit Tasmania time and money wise but with a job there I will get to go. I am super excited to start. Tasmania is beautiful and I'll be out of the city and hopefully I'll feel better when my sinuses aren't being bombarded with pollution.

     Ill miss everyone I met in Melbourne but hopefully ,when I head through again in July, I'll get to see them again. 

"Wherever you go, you take yourself with you" -Neil Gaiman 

I have been many places now and I am loving the self that I bring along and cannot wait to take it to more places. Now off to Tasmania!!!

Melbourne

At work I met Terri. Terri is British and traveling with her friend Jesse. Both are artsy and we had lots of fun together out discovering the city.

Melbourne royal botanical gardens.

 


At Club 23 for Terri's going away party.

Unfortunately Terri and Jesse had to move on like most backpackers do and I was back to making friends with people on the train. Which is actually quite fun. You can meet some amazing and interesting people if you aren't too afraid to strike up a conversation. The people at my new job are all super friendly and outgoing. Most are also backpackers so it's an easy group to get along with and Wednesday Parma nights are fun.

I still get along with my housemates which is awesome.  I got to go to an AFL (footy) game and have picked a team to support.  The game was surprisingly fun and not nearly as boring as American football.  It may have helped that Melbourne, Dan's and now my my team, won the game.

"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate" -Linda Grayson 

this quote is for Dan. You are more than just a housemate you are an amazing friend. Thanks for the midnight rescue, your delicious dinners, and keeping the house stocked with chocolate. I'll miss you  and Sean when I move to Tasmania, I don't think I could have found better housemates. 

Some Aussie Things I Have Learned.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYLES!!! This post is for you. I am sorry I cannot be there for your birthday but this blog post is dedicated to you. I hope you enjoy buddy!


First some Aussie slang for you. This is just some of the words I have now had to add to my brain's dictionary so that life here is just a little less confusing.

USA	Strayn (Australian)
Lemonade	Squash
Flipflops	Thongs
Johnny	Johno
Cookis/crackers	Bickies/biscuits
Afternoon	Arvo
Guy	Bloke
Truck	Ute
Trash can	Rubbish bin
Bathroom	Toilet
Tradesman	Trady
Party week after HS graduation	Schoolies
Beer koozie	Stubby holder
Gas station	Servo/ petrol station
Candy	Lollies
Vons	Woolworths
Red neck	Bogan
Mcdonalds	Maccas
Mosquito	Mozzie
Thrift shop	Op shop/ salvo
Good job	Good on ya
No lies / the truth	Fair dinkum
How are you?	Howya goin?
Would you like some tea?	Wanna cuppa?
Ketchup	Tomato sauce (dead horse)
Electrician	Sparky
Cantaloupe	Rockmelon
BBQ	Barbie
Great/awesome	ripper
Lots	Heaps
Cheap wine	Goon
Make out	Pash
Food	Tucker
Thanks	Ta
Sausages	Snags
Hiking	Bushwhacking
No problem	No worries
Beer can	Tinny
Sketchy	Dodgy
Sheets and such	Manchester
Comforter	Dunna
It’ll be ok	She’ll be right
Booze	Grog
Australian rules football	Footy
Expensive	Dear
Chicken	Chook
Middle of nowhere	Woop woop/ never never
Shopping cart	Trolly
Wasted	Pissed
French fries	Chips
Potato chips	Potato crisps

Now for some cool australian animals!!!!

A koala

Some dingos. They were so cool. Much smaller than I thought they would be. I even got a kiss on the cheek from one! I felt so special.  

More of the dingos. they loved me and I loved them. 

They look like nice and friendly dogs. They are not. their only loyalty is to food and their trainers make it very clear they can be quite aggressive but will stay FAR away from humans in the wild. 

I think you can guess that this is a kangaroo ;)

an emu

this is the #2 deadliest snake in the world! An eastern brown snake.

I don't remember what the rest of these are called.  

I took these pictures all at Healesville australian animal sanctuary. These animals were incredible. Some of the birds weren't even in cages they were just happy to wander the area and follow people around (probably hoping for some food). 

How they sing happy birthday in Australia:

Happy Birthday to you

happy birthday to you

happy birthday dear Myles

happy birthday to you!

hip hip, HORAY!

hip hip, HORAY!

hip hip, HORAY!!!!!

I hope you have a ripper of a year. Can't believe you are so old already! 

LOVE and miss you so much. Now have an extra slice of cake for me ;) tell mom I said so.