Birthday Festival: Part One

Tonight I celebrated my birthday with my family. It's still 12 days away, but since I'm leaving on Tues to go to Tampa, this was the only time to celebrate. Hey, I don't mind a two-week-long birthday festival! Birthday two will be in Tampa with Kate, Lauryn, and Casey. Birthday three is in Ecuador with Rob, Tim, and Pip. For 8 years prior to last year, my birthday fell during exams and I ended up having small, stressed out birthday dinners. So this year I don't really feel bad about celebrating more than once.

My parents cooked lobster and filet mignon, which are my second and third favorite foods (eggs benedict is first on the list), and considering the only seafood I ever cook myself is canned tuna, it was quite a treat.

I also have a new baby for my Apple family, an amazing little green beauty of an ipod nano. I'm in love! This little guy replaces my secondhand Ebay iPod mini circa 2003 that I've had for the last three years. I loved that mini, but the battery has decided to quit on me.

Robbie gave me Stephen Colbert's book I am America (and so can you!). What I've read so far is hilarious, and I'm pretty excited to make it my coffee table book in Melbourne and share Stephen Colbert with the aussies.

Happy Black Friday!

I survived the longest airplane journey of my life and have finally made it home! The total travel took 53 hours and I sat in airports in:

Perth
Kuala Lumpur
Taipei
Los Angeles
Las Vegas
Atlanta
Richmond

Ugh. I am never again booking the cheapest flights I can find... next time I'll splurge to go more direct, it was miserable! But all over now and I made it to Richmond Va. thanksgiving morning at 8:30am. It's really great to hang out with my family again, we have so much to talk about- my family are serious talkers, we can do it for hours, so much to catch up on, and it's just nice to see my house again.

Plus, right now Richmond is cold but the leaves all changed late so it's absolutely gorgeous here. The leaves are bright colors and falling to the ground, everything is bright orange and red and yellow. These is a photo of my house and one from the backyard.






Thanksgiving day itself was a bit of a blur, and I was sleeping by 7pm. But that meant that I was chipper at 6am this morning to hit black friday shopping. Black friday is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US, the day after thanksgiving everything goes on massive discount in every store but only between 6am and noon... so it means getting up at the crack of dawn! Some people even show up earlier and wait outside the door. Such warriors. I met up with Carlee, bought a bridesmaid dress for E's wedding, and some stuff from H&M, my mecca.

Oh, and I've been here just over 24 hours and have been to Starbucks twice. Ahh America.

Going Home

So here we are, after 10 months of expat life, and in five days I’m going home. It’s something that anyone who lives far away from home deals with, and it’s not as simple as it sounds.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited. VERY excited. But also nervous. I haven’t been in the US for a long time, much less at home. What if I don’t fit in anymore? What if nobody is excited to see me? Or what if it’s a letdown, and I feel like I have no home anymore? What if everyone forgot about me or moved on in their own lives?

Certainly I’ve changed. These past 10 months have been the hardest, most stressful and most challenging of my life, and that says a lot since I’ve thrown myself into some pretty out-of-comfort-zone situations in the past. But I’ve learned a lot and probably changed in a few ways too. Even something as insignificant as my accent has changed. I have adapted to Aussie culture. My sense of sarcasm has been heightened and my sense of blatant enthusiastic excitement has been toned down. I’ve had to redefine myself as a student again after well over a year out of college, redefine myself as half of a serious couple, and find out what it means to define myself as a foreigner and American (and all the mental stereotypes that come with that) outside of my home country.

Moving here shook me to my core, and forced me to look at the way I identify myself in a completely new light. Who am I really? What is my identity? Everything I was at home (daughter, best friend, PR professional, independent single girl, highschool friend, college roommate) had no meaning here. My identity in their eyes was Rob's girlfriend, international student, American, stranger.

Going home will be a re-evaluation of the last 10 months and all of my successes and failures in trying to make the biggest changes of my life. It’s going to force me to look back and see what I could have done differently, and hopefully what I’ve managed to do OK at.

It’s so much more than a quick trip home.

summa dayze

Summer is finally here in Perth. Everyone else calls them 'stinking hot days' but I love the intense heat and I think that deep down everyone else does too. We've had a couple of days over 100 F and it's still only the end of springtime. But Perth is great in the summer, everyone chills out (it's too hot to stress), goes outdoors to parks and pools and just relaxes. Every weekend there are barbecue parties to go to with kiddie pools and cold drinks. And the beaches are the best places to get a break from the heat. And outdoor drinking at night to round it all off.

That and music festival season is making me wish I wasn't going to be travelling for the entire summer, but then the crisp Virginia fall/winter and Ecuadorian/Peruvian jungle saunas are pretty enticing too. I just want to have it all!

Go Howard, Eskimo Queen, and especially Matt Corby

I just want to say that I’m going to miss Australian Idol. They’re down to three contestants can’t believe I won’t be here when they choose a winner (never mind that I won’t be here when they choose a Prime Minister on Nov 24^th) and I’ve somehow managed to get attached to the show. Ok, what I really mean is that I’ll miss Matt. I know he’s 16. But the boy can SING!

Whatever, it’s a cultural experience. And #22 Eskimo Queen let me down miserably today in the Melbourne Cup, I need someone to throw my support behind, someone that doesn’t go for nylon track suit-ed power-walks every morning.

Red Bull Air Race

This weekend the Red Bull Air Race Final is in Perth. This means that a bunch of little airplanes compete to fly around an obstacle course through rings and between posts sticking out of the river. It happens all over the world, but the Finals are taking place in Perth.

This also means that tomorrow, all of Perth will go down to the grassy parks at the edge of the Swan River and barbecue, picnic, drink beer, and maybe watch a plane or two. It's great because since most of Perth is there, it's like a giant social event.

My house is in a primo spot for watching the race- in fact right now i'm sitting in my front yard in the sun (in my bathing suit) and I can see the planes flying above my house.

Tomorrow we're throwing a barbecue at my house, complete with kiddie pool and sprinkler (despite water restrictions that make sprinkler use illegal between 9am and 6pm... I'll play 'dumb foreigner' if the cops show up).

If you can catch it on TV, look for me!!

Holidays are the best

Australians definitely know how to celebrate just about anything in style, but when it comes to Halloween, it is best left to the Americans. Sat night I went to a halloween party thrown by an american friend who's been here in perth for a couple of years. She did a great job, complete with jack-o-lanterns, candy corn, rice crispy treats, and amazing decorations. Because I so easily get excited about new things to try here in australia like cadbury's chocolate, allen's lollies, party mix, Arnotts, tim tams...., I hardly realize the things I miss about the US until I see them again.

Also, daylight savings has begun. Hellooo daylight until 9pm! There's been a lot of controversy about daylight savings here, this is the second year of a three year trial for daylight savings. I am a HUGE fan, it's still light when I get up but it's also still light well into the evening. There's more time to spend at the beach. You don't have to eat dinner in the dark. Restaurants and bars open up onto the footpaths. I love it. And it means summer is here!!

Speaking of, Christmas decorations are out in full force in the shops and I already ate my first candy cane. Just in time for beach weather. This feels weird.

Wearing jeans to work. Maybe even sweat pants.

Next year I’ll be job-less upon arriving in Melbourne. And after spending some time settling in (read: doing all the furniture buying, errand running, applying for blockbuster memberships and new-apartment-new-city setup stuff) I’ll be on the job hunt.

Except, for the first 5 months of my time in Mebourne during the final semester of my masters degree, I’ll be looking for CASUAL WORK.

I haven’t really done casual work ever. Well, at least since I was 15 and worked in the snack bar at my pool. But I was quickly upgraded to lifeguard and then waterfront director at summer camp. I had a tech-advice-consulting job in college, and office work in Perth, but I’ve never done REAL casual work.

You know, working in a clothing shop, bar, café, restaurant, etc etc. And I’m getting my chance next year, for 5 months, before I turn PR professional again.

My top favourites at the moment:
Fitness Gym (free membership!!)
Making coffee at a café (I love coffee… a lot…)
Florist (arranging pretty flowers all day will make anyone happy, right?)
Bookshop (I would just read all day)

Definitely nothing involving cooking food, scooping ice cream, or spending every single Friday and Saturday night working.

Anyone have any other good ideas?

On the up and up

Just back from Melbourne (ok like a week ago) and I'm happy to report that the city rocks. The best part: it's a real city. There are trams running down the streets, tall buildings in every direction, dingy little apartments, graffiti, and beggars and homeless people.

Somehow Perth missed the boat on some of these things, and while it's a beautiful place with amazing parks and gardens and shiny clean streets, it's not a REAL city. Especially not to someone who lived in New York before arriving.

I spent the first four days on my own, before Rob and his family arrived and the family madness ensued, and walked around the entire city and all of the places we're thinking of trying to find an apartment. I walked, drank coffee, shopped, and walked more. And I came to the conclusion that I want to live in either Fitzroy or Richmond (how's that for irony. possibly my address will contain Richmond once again).

Here's a photo of my favorite street in the city... Brunswick Street. Kind of East Village-ish but slightly less alternative, more boutique-y.
So now it's just a matter of finding that dream apartment when we get there in February! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Ah, and the real reason for going to Melbourne. Rob's dad's 50th. Big party. It's amazing how 150 forty and fifty year olds can manage to get pretty crazy. Here's a photo of me with Rob and cousins Jared and Dylan.

Melbourne here I come!

It just became summer in Perth yesterday, I spent the afternoon at Cottesloe beach! Perth is an OK city in the winter, but it really shines in the summer. Gorgeous beaches, parks, and everything is outdoors.

Just in time for the warm weather, though, I'm headed to chilly Melbourne for the week. Rob's dad is having his 50th birthday party and I'm going along for the ride... but a few days earlier than the rest of the crew so that I can spend four days on my own wandering around the city that is about to become my home next year.

This means researching suburbs to live in (Richmond, Carlton, Collingwood, and Prahran top the list at the moment), lots of shopping (woohooo!!!!), and lots of cafe sitting and coffee drinking. My fingers are crossed for decent weather so that I don't have to spend the entire time shuffling in the rain from one indoor location to the next and can see the city properly.

This all means that when I get back next week I'll be in the midst of end-of-the-semester hell, all assignments and presentations due at the same time, but it'll be so totally worth the pain!

speak to me

I just realized I didn't have open commenting (so that non-blogger members can post comments) enabled on my blog! That was the whole point in leaving vox.

Now you can all comment, bloggers and non-bloggers alike.

Go nuts : ) I'd love to hear from you!

my skype love affair

I really like skype. The more I use it, the more I love it. I remember the first time I used it to talk to Rob on the other side of the world, and it seemed strange to be sitting in front of a webcam talking at a screen to a video image of someone far far away.

But for long distance relationships everywhere, Skype is such a good way to get to speak to and see those you love when they're so far away.

I talked to my parents and Robbie this weekend. Thanks to skype, I now know that:

- Robbie's neck brace is even cooler than I had imagined
- My mom wears crocs!
- They have an awesome new refrigerator
- Robbie grew a fro

It's so good to be able to talk to them 'in person' instead of on the phone.

If you have skype, find me! We'll chat...

sports agro

First, let me say I am ridiculously competitive at sports. A lot of things, really, but sports in particular. Growing up, my brother and I were banned from playing board games in the house because 9 times out of 10 a full-on brawl would ensue. Naturally I was bigger and kicked his butt : )

But I still haven't managed to get over this competitiveness thing. I can't swim in the same lap lane or the lane next to Rob at the pool or I kill myself trying to out-swim him. In yoga class I always try to out-bend the person on the mat next to me. I'll reach deadly speeds trying to snowboard faster than the other guys on the mountain. It's really not healthy.

Unfortunately I also really like playing sports, especially with other people, on the weekend. Last weekend it was tennis, this weekend it was squash, etc. And every time I lose, the game suddenly is a lot less fun.

So what really drives me crazy is when people make this big point of telling me how horrible they are at a sport, how they haven't played in forever, or don't even know the rules, and then turn out to be really good. And I lose to them. It happened today, and I am still touchy about it. I think I need to focus more on individual sports. Or try therapy.

Go Pies

Last week I officially became a Collingwood supporter. (For the Americans, this is an Aussie Rules Football team and the Grand Final (Super Bowl) is in two weeks so football fever is on.)

There are several things which led this to happen.

1. Rob’s family would disown me if I supported any other team.

2. Rocca, one of the players, has a brother who played for Collingwood but is now playing for MY football team in the US (Philadelphia Eagles) as a punter.

3. They made the finals. And beat West Coast. And I was at the game.

4. I’m moving to Melbourne. And what fun is supporting a WA team (go Freo!!) when I’m living right next to the MCG?

5. I’ll be attending all the games next year anyways if I want to see my boyfriend on the weekends.

6. I wear a lot of black and white already.

7. Dale Thomas is cute.

8. Rob promised to join Facebook if I became a Collingwood supporter : ) Look for him on there this Saturday.



Also, congratulations to Elizabeth on her engagement to Justin!!

Whew

Robbie is out of the hospital and back in Richmond recovering for the next couple of weeks. Thanks everyone for your support! I'm looking forward to my visit to Richmond for thanksgiving even more than I was before.

My brother Robbie is in the hospital right now, he sustained a spinal injury during lacrosse practice and had to go into surgery last night.

He's out now and is doing ok, and it looks like he will fully recover, but please keep him and my family in your thoughts, it's been a rough couple of days, on that side of the world and on this side too.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! It's not so fancy right now, but if I spend any more time on here today during work I'll be fired from my job.

Its all very exciting/stress inducing

For those of you in the US, get excited, because I'm coming to YOU! Dates for the trip at the end of the year are finally coming together. (Actually, what that means is I've gotten off my lazy butt and finally organised flights and bought tickets).

Here's a rundown on the trip:

21 Nov: Leave Australia for the US
22 Nov: Arrive in LA, then Richmond VA
4 Dec: Arrive in Tampa, FL
11 Dec: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

Things get sketchy after that (still haven't booked flights, procrastination) but we'll be in Ecuador and Peru, possibly Boliva. Then,

2 Feb: Leave LA for Australia
4 Feb: Arrive in Perth

It gets better. I then have 3 days to sleep/pack/watch TV/take long showers before Mom and Dad Morgan come to visit. One week of Perth sightseeing extravaganza and then

13 Feb: MOVE TO MELBOURNE!!!

But all of that stress inducing packing and moving is for another blog entry further down the road.

Its all very exciting/stress inducing

Friday night I went to an album launch for a local band called Sam Carmody at Kulcha in Freo.

This local band just happens to have one of my friends, Petrina, as backup female vocals and maraca shaker extraordinaire. They managed to pack the house and sell out the entire venue, which, according to the folks at Kulcha, doesn't often happen (I think they're the type of place that counts on the sounds of music floating out the doors and inticing random crowds to wander in).

Sam and the band were fantastic, and what impressed me is how experienced they sound, and how complex the sound of their music is, for a band just starting out.

So I’m doing my promotional bit, and giving them a 5-star review. Check em out on Triple J Unearthed: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=10877

They’ll have more shows in Perth in the next few weeks, and a MySpace page soon as well.

Kulcha, you impressed me as well. What a great venue! Now all they need to do is start putting on live music on summer evenings and opening up the balcony so that people can groove to music and enjoy the masses wandering down the café strip.

What, this accent?

Saturday night I went out in Subi with a good American friend, and something really astounding happened.

Allow me to set the scene:

Said friend and I are in the bathroom in The Red C and are exchanging conversation when a girl washing her hands looks at us and says "oh my god are you guys Americans?" She goes on to explain that she is visiting a friend in San Antonio and wants to know where the good clubs are.

Me: Umm... you mean in San Antonio? Or in America?

Her: In America! The really insane clubs, like raver clubs.

Me: Well, New York and LA probably.

Her: And in the US, are there lots of hot girls? I mean, will I have lots of competition? Girls in Perth are hot!

Me: (thinking to myself, "duh, you're looking at em" : ) Um yeah I guess so.

Her: You know how you can make lots of money in Perth? You should be a stripper. You'll make around $1000 a night.

Just as things were getting a little out of hand, two more girls walk in.

Girls: Wait, you guys are Americans? Oh my god I just love your accent. You have the most gorgeous accents.

So that's the astounding part. This NEVER happens. Most people worldwide think the American accent amounts to the sound of nails on a chalkboard. Loud and screechy. And some of my proudest moments are when someone says to me "wait, you're american? you don't have an accent!"

It's nice to hear lovely things about Americans every once in a while. Helps dull the pain of the constant thrashing of Americans that goes on daily, to my face.

Enter Classes

The first week of classes is under way. I'm starting to remember what it felt like to live at Curtin, have zero free time, cram down dinner at 9pm, and drop into bed at 10:30pm completely exhausted.

I'm excited about my classes this semester, mainly because they're a lot less marketing-focused and a lot more PR-focused. My quick trip into the life of a Marketing postgrad last semester convinced me even more that I'm much more Comm and much less Biz. Luckily the PR program at Curtin is run through the Business school- its the perfect mix of practical, real world, business focused while still being a communications course.

Now if only it would stop raining every time I walk between campus and my car.

Adventures Up North

I’m baaaack!

The trip up north was incredible. Rob and I volunteered at Ningaloo Reef Retreat, an eco-resort in the Cape Range National Park which consists of 5 luxury tents with ensuite bathrooms and miles of private beach on all sides. In exchange for veggie chopping and dish washing, we stayed/ate/kayaked/snorkelled for free on a beach about 15 metres from Ningaloo reef for 2 weeks. Here's a photo of our beach:

I swam with things I thought never I wanted to swim with. Like:

Sharks. Big ones. White tipped reef sharks, apparently harmless to humans. But they were still bigger than me and could take a bite out of my naked leg.

Rays. Blue spotted lagoon rays and one giant manta ray. I kept having flashbacks to the Steve Irwin incident and picturing a singer shooting through my chest.

Moray Eeels. They sit in the coral with their big mouths wide open waiting for something edible to swim by.

And some things I always dreamed about swimming with, like:

Nemo. Clown fish swimming in the anemones.

Sea turtles. Awesome.

Amazing corals.

Octopuses. Not of the blue ringed variety, thank GOD. And believe me, I was on the lookout after a guide explained that they cause sudden death and are also the size of a golf ball.

And we some some pretty amazing animals as well, like:

Breaching humpback whales off the coast.

Whale shark.

Emus.

Kangaroos. I know, big deal, but it’s still pretty exciting for me, I’m not from here after all.

Oh yeah, and incredible beaches, gorges, cliffs, and sunsets. But I won’t pretend the trip was a complete breeze.

Downsides:

They said there would be a staff shower at the camp. They should have been more specific. I would call it a small, 5-litre sized sack of water with a hole in the bottom so that it can be strung up in the sun to get ‘warm’ and then stood under to ‘shower’ in the open right next to the guests enjoying the communal eating area. I didn’t ‘shower’ for 2 weeks straight, a new record for me. I literally had salty dreadlocks, Jack Sparrow style.

Rob now knows I can shriek like a five year old girl when a kangaroo hops 1 metre in front of the 120 kph car. I try to keep things like that hidden from him.

On the last day of the trip, pre-14 hour drive home, Rob put the passenger side window all the way down and it stayed there permanently.

I lost a running shoe in Exmouth, Rob lost his wallet in Kalbarri.

Road trains. (American translation: tractor trailers with 3 trailers behind them, making them nearly impassable.) They make me feel like a 15 year old driver with my learners permit gripping the wheel scared for my life.

Petrol is more expensive than my soul.

Happy Birthday America!

Today is a very special day. The fourth of July. American Independence Day. Hooray!!! And while I have spent the last 6 months learning to embrace my inner australian-ness, I'm taking today to celebrate every bit of me that is American.

I'm proud of the fact that I sit in the back of taxi cabs even when I'm the only one in the taxi. I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwitches. I say 'zeee' instead of 'zed'. And tomayto instead of tomaaahto. I like rap music and always will. The list goes on.

So tonight I'm throwing a 4th of July party at my house, with sparklers and baseball and french fries and Budweiser. And all the aussies will learn how to celebrate like Americans.

Run Run Run

I haven't gone for a serious run since January. I jogged to the river twice, I think I played soccer three times. That's the total of my running in the last 6 months.

And then last night I ran 8k. That's 5 miles. And today I'm hurting. But it felt so good to push my body like that! My friend is trying to talk me into running the 12k City to Surf fun at the end of August, and last night was training session one.

The most disappointing thing? Apparently spending an entire semester swimming laps has no effect on anything other than swimming fitness. Definitely not running fitness. And really, which comes in more handy?

Decisions...

So after much deliberation (much, and participation in a chilly 6:30am marathon walk to South Perth for some 'time to think') the big decision has been made and we're moving to Melbourne in February.

I'll be finishing up my Masters at RMIT or Melbourne University, and Rob's soul will be owned by the corporates- strategic business management consulting- with Accenture.

It's going to be a great move, and I'm psyched to get back into work in a big city like Melbourne. There is- gasp- actually WINTER in Melbourne. And just in case some of you are geographically challenged (don't deny it, you know who you are) here's Melbourne on the map:

More timely news is that my last exam is Wednesday, there is lots of celebrating to be done, and I'll be leaving in just over two week to go up north to Exmouth and Ningaloo for 2 weeks of remote nothingness. No mobile phones, no internet, nothing. It'll be fantastic.

Everything you always wanted to know about Marketing but were too afraid to ask...

People often ask for an explanation of "Marketing." So, here it is:

· You're a lady and you see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, "I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Direct Marketing.

· You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and, pointing at you, says, "She's fantastic in bed."
That's Advertising.

· You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call him and say, "Hi, I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Telemarketing.

· You see a guy at a party, you straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, "May I," and reach up to straighten his tie, brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say "By the way, I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Public Relations.

· You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says,"I hear you're fantastic in bed."
That's Brand Recognition.

· You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He fancies you, but you talk him into going home with your friend.
That's a Sales Rep.

· Your friend can't satisfy him so she calls you.
That's Tech Support.

· You're on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you're passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated near the center of the block and shout at the top of your lungs, "I'm fantastic in bed!"
That's Junk Mail.

First Day of Winter, Perth Australia

23 degrees C / 73 degrees F and the day spent at the beach. It was a day in which I was reminded why I love it here.

New Developments

I am well aware that I am long overdue for an update. It's like putting off a long email reply... the longer I wait the harder it is to post something. But no time like the present to update! Those of you with RSS readers, lucky you. Those without, sorry you had to keep checking back in and reading about EuroVision!

This week has been eventful. At work, I've been helping organise a Careers Fair aimed at postgrad business students, and the whole thing goes off this Thurs night (hopefully without a hitch!)

The end of the semester is near, I'm currently halfway through my last week of classes. Exams start in two weeks. The life of a student is rough- I work weeks AND WEEKENDS. Injustice. But gimme 3 weeks and I'll be a third of the way through a masters degree.

Rob is in Melbourne then Sydney today and tomorrow for interviews with the Reserve Bank and the Productivity Commission. These interviews, plus contract negotiations with Accenture, will determine the city that I'll be living in come February of next year. Needless to say I'm on the edge of my seat. It's between Sydney and Melbourne, and I can honestly say either city would suit me fine. PR work in Sydney and Melbourne will be easy to find, and unlike Perth will be focussed on consumer-based companies instead of resources and govt. Hopefully we'll know within a couple of weeks.

Off to class! Stay tuned...

EuroVision 07. I live for this.

Last night was one of the best nights in television watching. The 3 hour long EuroVision Song Contest Finale 2007. For you poor deprived souls, I'll summarize. EuroVison is a yearly contest in which the best of euro-trash bands/artists from each European country compete in the cheesiest, most horrible, glam, english-as-a-second-language-but-I'm-singing-in-it-anyway contest for best song in Europe.

Oh yeah, and hugely political. As in, if Finland doesn't give full points to Sweden there is a possibility of outbreak of war the next day. The Eastern countries vote east, the Western vote west. It's fantastic.

This year, Serbia won (c'mon, the lead singer girl could have passed for a slightly overweight 30 year old man). My vote goes to Ukraine and the man with a star on his head (runners-up).

Please watch, enjoy, and appreciate bad European trash club music at its best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awVHDMDAu0A

The gems of Perth

Last Friday night, I had a crazy night out. And there were zero bars, no drinks, and mostly wildlife involved. As a thank you, my boss Christy organised a night out for the approx 20 volunteers who hauled boxes and served lunches all day for free at the Curtin Careers Fair (god love em).

The night out was a tour called "The Seven Wonders of the East (of Perth)." Basically, a friend of hers runs mystery tours which visits all the secret spots he discovered growing up east of Perth. Mystery meaning that the secret locations are undisclosed until arrival.

These were:

Alfred's Hamburgers: a roadside dinner with an outdoor fire pit serving AMAZING burgers of strange varieties. Mine was Alfred's special: egg, bacon, cheese, burger, pickles, all served between three layers of toast.

Airport land: snuck onto airport property and stood at the end of the runway at Perth airport and watched the jets fly 100 metres overhead and come in for a landing (lets pretend this wasn't illegal and that hopefully no one working for airport security reads blogs)

Abandoned train tunnel. Exactly that- dark, abandoned, muddy, with a chance of hiding kangaroos.

Scenic overlook over Perth in Lesmurdie.

The windy road down the hills in Lesmurdie. 180 degree hairpin turns down the side of a nearly-mountain, all with a view of Perth.

Fast Eddy's: Nothing tops a night off like midnight sundaes.

So this all got me to thinking: if I organised the same sort of thing in Richmond, Va. what would the secret locations be?

I could go on and on.... Church Hill, Belle Isle, the Gutenberg Cafe, Maymont Park, Westview, the Bottom/the Slip...

Life Lesson: Don't talk about sex in a job interview (particularly if you need a visa by Monday)

A new full-timer is being hired at work- which benefits me because one more member of the team will let me work on even bigger and better things in the next few months. Hip Hip for increased responsibility.

And new hiring means interviews- one of which I was lucky enough to listen in on. I had heard tales of bad interviews, heard that they do exist, but never seen one up close. Until Friday. And let me tell you, it was physically painful to watch this take place. I'll recount the particularly painful bits here for your reading pleasure:

Interviewer: "So, can you tell me about a time when someone said something against you and you had to defend yourself? Like perhaps when you worked on something and you thought you had done a great job but someone spoke against you and said that you didn't, and you had to defend yourself?"

Interviewee: "Well, this one time a guy said he had sex with me but he didn't, and I had to defend myself and tell everyone that he didn't have sex with me."

Interviewer: "OK, um, I guess I mean has something like that ever happened to you in a professional setting? In a job? If it did, what would you do to straighten things out?"

Interviewee: "Um, I would do dinner. Take them out to dinner so that they could see my face and we could talk to each other."

Interviewer: "Ok, so in this job you'll need to work with businesspeople and speakers visiting from big companies in Perth, have you ever worked with any businesspeople from companies before?"

Interviewee:" Um, yes I have, I just can't think of any names of those companies right now".

Interviewer: (Beginning to revert to easier small talk at this point) "So how long are you planning to stay in Perth?"

Interviewee: "Oh, I'm going back to Malaysia in three days- on Monday. My visa is expired so I can't stay any longer. So I was hoping you could give me a visa for this job so I can stay."

I'll stop there and simply say the interview was well over at this point. And I was doing my best not to crack up laughing. One candidate down, this should be interesting.

Out Bush

Last weekend I spent 4 days in Laverton, West Australia- a tiny isolated mining town in the middle of the outback with a primarily indigenous population. We flew in and out on the mining flights (aka tiny 20 seater propeller planes) into Granny Smith Mine (a gold mine) and caught a lift from there into Laverton. (See the map- Laverton is where the green arrow points to)

It's just what you would think- flat red dirt stretching as far as the eye can see, scrubby brush, and hot dry sun. It's gorgeous. There's something completely unique about that contrast between red earth and bright blue sky.

The purpose of the trip was community development- more specifically working with the kids in the youth centre to provide positive role models and safe activities. If you know anything about aboriginal communities in outback Australia, you know that it's not an easy place to be a kid. And while the situation is too complex to explain in black and white, there are many social issues that plague these communities and are in part due to the fact that the white Australians made some serious errors in moving in on their lands and communities.

It was important for me to see for myself, because from an American point of view it can be difficult to see why race relations between these two groups are so strained and the division between them is so marked. Life in Laverton is lived on a completely different socio-economic level as life in Perth. While I'm still not 100% clear, meeting the people, the kids, the police officers in the town, the teachers, and the local miners let me take part in some fascinating conversations which helped me to get a grasp on things.

And from a trip point of view, I nursed a baby kangaroo, dipped in a healing salt lake, swam in an abandoned mining crater, watched the sun rise and sun set, and met amazing people.

My thoughts are in Virginia

Its difficult to be away from home when tragedy happens. Its especially hard to be out of the country.

I've been watching the news about Virginia Tech on TV, and because I am from Virginia it hits hard. A large number of the students from my high school went to Virginia Tech, and it is one of the major universities in Virginia with the most students. Luckily I don't think I knew anyone who was killed, but I do know people whose friends were killed. And I know plenty of students at VT who are dealing with complete emotional shock.

What's especially difficult is that while I'd like to be able to mourn with my country and feel sad about what happened, I've had to watch the Australian news' take on the event, where John Howard says something like "It was tragic, we are quite sad, luckily our gun control laws in Australia mean it could never happen here, poor Americans."

And instead of being able to mourn the loss of the students, I end up being asked question after question about gun control and gun laws, and many Australians seem eager to tell me how they thing our gun laws in America are crap and how if we restricted guns things like this would never happen.

Its not that I don't know these things, and this conversation will happen in the US because of what happened. But when something like this hits so close to home, it would have been nice to be able to simply feel sad that such a horrible thing happened, sympathize with the students, and attempt to wrap my head around what happened before the political blame game begins.

What makes you truly happy?

Happiness is one of those things that we assume will just come to us. Who ever put massive effort into being happy? But an article in TIME yesterday explains that being happy is something you actually do need to work at.

Most interestingly, a lot of people report being out and about and thinking if they could just go home and chill out or watch TV then they will be happy. But other activities, like social gatherings or physical activity, actually make them happy while being at home leaves them feeling restless.

Things that make me really truly happy:

-laying on the beach

-going for a bike ride or playing a sport (running, unfortunately, has the opposite effect)

-good conversation with friends, regardless of the venue

-live music

-curling up in bed with a good book on a cold day

-experiencing something new for the first time, especially places

TIME's suggestions for finding your happiness:

*Be attuned to what gives you genuine satisfaction. Although many people assume that popular activities like watching TV are enjoyable, their own reports generally indicate that they feel more engaged, energetic, satisfied and happy when doing other things.

*Study yourself. To better understand their own happiness, Csikszentmihalyi says, people should systematically record their activities and feelings every few hours for a week or two. In recording your observations, try to focus on how you actually feel, rather than what you think you ought to be feeling or what you expect to feel. Afterwards, note the high points, particularly, and the low ones. Then try to adjust how you spend time according to your findings.

*Take control. Repairing unhappy conditions requires active effort. People often assume external conditions will change for the better or let chance determine their response. That's a mistake. "Get control," Csikszentmihalyi says. When things aren't right, "you have to put in the same effort you would if your business were in trouble. Just as markets move, life changes too."

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1606395,00.html

Itchy Feet

I'm on a 2 week semester break. I'm spending it writing papers, catching up on reading, and in the office. And polishing off easter chocolate. But it's painful for me to have 2 weeks off class and not making plans to travel. Two years ago this time in the semester I was off in Thailand eating curry and bungee jumping.

No matter, such is the life of a grad student as opposed to a study abroad student. Lets be honest, I've lived my study abroad days (twice) and I'm totally OK not going back to that place in life. BUT it's gotten me thinking about my next few travel adventures over the year. And the only thing better than actually taking a trip is planning one.

So I have some thoughts.

I would love to try a home exchange. Like Cameron Diaz/Kate Winslet home exchange. There's a pretty decent looking website: www.homeexchange.com. Which means that Rob, Adrian, and Bonnie and I will swap our pretty little house for one in a more adventurous part of the world. Southern India? Sri Lanka? Vietnam? Only trouble would be coming home to find all of our furniture gone, run away with by Sri Lankan thieves. Not good.

Another option is the road tripping/camping out trip up north. Up North means fantastic beaches (it gets warmer as you go north here on the south side of the planet) and beautiful gorges. Coral reefs. And humpback whale season. If we pile enough people into the car we can drive the 15 hours over the course of 10 days and see everything along the way. Possibly 10 days in the car/camping would turn out to be less vacation-like and more torture-like.

Options options!

Happy Easter!

It's chocolate bunny day! Ok, also Easter.

I have eaten a total of 40 little mini choc eggs, 1 Lindt bunny, 5 Lindt balls, and the ears off of my giant bunny. I'm on chocolate overload. Everywhere I go people keep giving me chocolate. It really isn't my fault.

Luckily, "A substance called phenylethylamine is found in chocolate and seems to trigger feelings similar to “falling in love.” There is also a compound in chocolate called anadamide that stimulates brain receptors in a manner similar to that of other addictive substances. Chocolate cravings may also be triggered when the taste buds tingle with the taste of chocolate. This sensation occurs because chocolate's melting point is 97 degrees, just below body temperature. When the taste buds are excited, endorphins are released from the brain. These endorphins are the body's “feel good” chemical." -Yale-New Haven Hospital

ha. It's all about endorphins. And chocolate=love.

*good thing too, because Rob just consumed his entire 10 inch tall white chocolate bunny in one sitting. What a trooper.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations

Corporate social responsibility is a key term with companies these days. Everyone seems eager to explain how their company follows CSR guidelines and triple-bottom-line accountability.

Alongside companies' desire to express themselves as a follower and participant in CSR is the recent growth of social media. Obviously the conversation between companies and consumers has grown dramatically thanks to social media, (eg. I can visit Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz's blog and call him an arsehole if I want to) but what about social media's effect on Corporate Social Responsibility?

I believe that social media breeds increased accountability, forces corporate transparency, and allows consumer to demand more from big corporations. Lets face it, the days of hand written letters of complaint addressed to "whom it may concern at McDonalds" were hardly effective. Nowadays social media lets consumers get together, talk to each other, and confront companies that aren't making a CSR effort.

But the question is, how exactly does social media allow (or force, for that matter) companies to become more socially aware and responsible? And how do public relations professionals fit into the equation? I think that social media lets PR people sit at the table with the decision makers at companies and gives PR the opportunity to influence a company's social responsibility strategy.

Any thoughts, ponderings, or examples you fabulously intelligent readers can offer up would be extremely helpful, as not only am I personally interested in this shift in corporate responsibility obligations but this is also the topic of an assignment I'm working on.

What better place to solicit opinions on social media than on my blog?

a sunday in Rotto

Now that it's warm in the states I'm allowed to do this and nobody can classify it as inhumane torture.

This is where I spent last Sunday- a little island off the coast of Perth called Rottinest Island. (aka Rotto) It's only accessible by ferry and no cars are allowed on the island so biking is the the main mode of transportation. The beaches are fantastic. This is just one of the many bays on the island- going left to right we have my towel, Rob, Rob's dad, Rob's mom, and Rob's uncle, his wife and her daughter.

Please also note the glistening turquoise water. Natch.

Twittering

After all this Twitter racket in the news lately, I decided to join to check it out. First of all, I don't quite get how it works. And secondly, it's becoming clear to me that it's only fun if you have friends on Twitter too.

So, beloved readers, if you're on Twitter please friend me. My Twitter name is cam1213. As of yet I haven't sorted out how to find my friends if they are already on Twitter so I'm all alone...

If you're not on Twitter, I'd love to hear why that is too. Is it truly as annoying as everyone says it is?

Things that will happen when Hillary Clinton becomes president

November 08 is fast approaching (or at least that's what CNN wants us to think). And when Nov 08 comes and goes, and Hillary is escorted into her chair at the helm of the oval office, several exciting things will happen for the nation, the world, and for me personally.

Why the day Hillary Clinton becomes Prez will live forever:

1. Spare me your wrath but I like the woman. Therefore, I will be quite happy.

2. A triumph for women everywhere, regardless of what your actual opinion on Hillary is (you really can't deny that a woman president is a great thing, even if you aren't a fan of the particular candidate)

3. I recently (by invitation of my brother Robbie) became a member of a Facebook group named "If Hillary Clinton Becomes President I will Move to Australia." Therefore, if Hillary Clinton becomes president there will be many of my friends as well as my brother moving to Australia and I'm quite happy about that.

4. Rob will join Facebook. He is vehemently against Facebook BUT has made a verbal agreement with me stating that he will not join Facebook until Hillary is in the White House (I suspect this is his way of giving the common colloquialism "when pigs fly" but I intend to take full advantage since pigs may not be able to fly but Hillary sure has a shot at presidency. His mistake.)

Lots of phones, one number

This is one of those "Why didn't someone think this up sooner?" moments. And also a little bit of "Why didn't I think this up myself? I'd be a millionaire." Unfortunately, the potential for me to gain millionaire status has passed (for now) but the world will be a slightly better place now, which I suppose is pretty great too.

I just read an article by David Pogue* of the NYT about GrandCentral.com, an internet service that consolidates all of your phone numbers (cell, home, vacation home, etc. etc.) into one number. So if I enter in all of the phone numbers that my friends and family can use to reach me (you know- the yacht, the ski chateau, the beach cabana, and my mobile) into GrandCentral.com the site will spit out one number which I can give to my admirers. And anytime someone calls this central number, every single one of my phones will ring.

Personally, I think this is genius. And when I actually do own all of the aforementioned properties (just give me time...) I'll be sure to sign up. For now, though, my one single mobile phone number is pretty much sufficient- I can't even see the point of paying for a landline at my house.

*I also lost a bit of respect for David Pogue based on his exceedingly cheesy video spot on the grandcentral.com website. C'mon man, you're a reporter. Not a infomercial spokesman. And from what I can gather, the New York Times sends him his paycheck, not GrandCentral. Perhaps someone can shed a little light on what seems to me to be a major conflict of interest.

All those ex's

It's been a while since I've relived my days at Bite. And by relive my days at Bite I mean do a little extracurricular ex-client media monitoring. I know. I'm a complete nerd.

But the point really is that it was tough to go cold turkey after I'd been constantly on top of every move these companies were making. And while I did (emotionally, and a full 2 weeks after leaving NYC) delete their names from my RSS searches, every once in a while it's nice to check in. Honestly, I really liked my job. A lot, if you couldn't tell.

It all started when I watched ABC's 4 Corners special documentary on SecondLife last night. It got me reminiscing. Heck, even a few things happened "in-world" while I wasn't watching with a hawk eye like I used to. Apparently the real estate market is booming and somebody exploded a nuke. C'mon, it was bound to happen.

From the looks of things, all those ex's are doing swimmingly. The blogger affiliate scheme is up and running at www.net-a-porter.com. Jack is still jack at www.thebar.com. [Although, I did have to pretend to be in America to get into the site. My Australian brethren will just have to live without!] And AMD and ZTE are doing just fine without me, natch.

Meanwhile, my new clients are big oil and gas companies here in Perth. Quite a switch. Fortunately, I've been lucky enough to help out with a great fashion event that a friend of mine is putting on in Perth called Unwrapped: The Marketplace. It's a fashion and design marketplace tied in with a series of local Perth arts and music events happening over the next 2 weeks.

See, I'm actually a huge nerd, and now the secret is out. Like you didn't already know.

Baby Fratelli

CDs have long been on their way into the circular file. And USB sticks are taking over. In bulk orders, branded USB sticks are nearly free, and in PR agencies they're often used as a compact way to send journalists home from an event with an entire press kit in digital form.

Now, the USB stick is changing the way we do music. And it's further proof that music is really just another digital medium that has moved on from the days of CD and record collections lining the shelves.

The Fratelli's, a [very cool] UK band, have released their latest single on USB, complete with video. The catch? They're not eligible for the charts since it's not a CD. But I doubt that will last long- the charts have already been forced to add download figures to their measurements.

Here's the story:
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21405584-10388,00.html

Housewarming Party

The preparations have been made. The moving in has completed. The barbeque has been installed. It's time...

Cluck Cluck Cluck

Yesterday morning I went into the city to visit the Department of Immigration. Which, is in itself a bit of a circus. They've got the whole "queue up to queue up again" thing happening. You get in a line to get a ticket and then get in another line to wait to go stand at a counter. Waiting around in one big room always seems to foster a bit of community: I was ticket J027 so J026 and I ended up watching bad 80's Australian soaps (Sons and Daughters) together for 45 minutes until our numbers were called, respectively.

I only needed a visa label in my passport, but some customers are not so lucky. Some are in for interviews or putting in complicated applications to bring their wife and children from the middle east to Australia. Imagine how nervous they must be, their entire livelihood hanging on one interview with an immigration agent to decide their family's fate. I have a lot of sympathy for these people since I can imagine myself sitting in that seat as well.

All this was very exciting, but by far the best part of the trip was ducking into Target to pick up clothes hangers. I ended up in what resembled a jungle scene of women in business suits racing around the women's apparel department grabbing at merchandise like their lives depended on it. The new Stella McCartney collection just opened one hour earlier (apparently) and it was like nothing I've ever seen before.

Picture: a platinum blond gay man/target employee running down the aisle pushing a wheely rack with silk tops and scarves yelling "I've got scarves!! This is the last of them, after these are gone there are no more! I've got the scarves!!" at the swarms of women. Who were, of course, clambering over top of each other to get at the scarves. It was comical. I wish I had a video phone because it would have qualified for a YouTube video. I mean, the clothes weren't even that cute. Sheesh.

White Teeth

I'm reading White Teeth by Zadie Smith right now. So far it's good, but it's one hell of a long book and really it's only because we don't have a TV or internet to keep me otherwise distracted. Still, it's a good book and I think I'm sufficiently hooked to read through to the end regardless of the TV/internet situation.

In the beginning of the book, before the first chapter, is a quote I really like- it could be misinterpreted to mean that we should be paranoid about our actions but I read it as take note of little things and opportunities in your life, for the little things that happen to you (or that you choose to ignore) could actually hold the weight of the world.

"Every little trifle, for some reason, does seem incalculably important today, and when you say of a thing that "nothing hangs on it" it sounds like blasphemy. There's never any knowing - how am I to put it? - which of our actions, which of our idlenesses won't have things hanging on it for ever."

- Where Angels Fear To Tread, E.M. Forster

Yep, it's been busy here.

Several exciting things have happened in my life lately. Due to a [painful] lack of internet access I've been unable to inform the blogosphere of these exciting developments. But fear no more, I am alive and well. Very well, in fact, and this is why:

1. I've moved into a house in Victoria Park, which is 10 minutes from university, a 5 minute walk from the river foreshore opposite Perth city centre (fantastic view), directly across from a gigantic park which has men in white playing cricket* on it all day every Sat and Sunday, and a 10 minute walk from an enormous cafe strip famous for its cheap asian food. I'm a happy camper.

*The cricket, apart from reminding me constantly that I am not in the United States, causes Rob to wake up on weekends at 7:30am and then shake me awake wake to tell me, excitedly and very wide-awake-ly, that the sound of cricket bats hitting cricket balls is coming through our bedroom window and it's time for a new day.

2. I'm employed for the full 20 hours allowable on my visa. I'm working for Careers@Curtin, which is the careers office at my university. My job requires me to help organize and advertise employer seminars on campus where big companies send their execs to come talk to Curtin students about why they should work for their big company* after graduation. It means lots of poster hanging, event managing, coordinating employer demands, and baby-sitting men in suits while they are on campus. Not soooo different from PR, really. It's a good job, it pays well, and I can run straight to class at the end of the day.

*Big companies in Perth means resource companies. Mining companies, Petroleum engineering companies, Western Power, Water Corporation, and engineering firms. My hopes for finding a job with a PR consultancy that represents companies other than those that deal in rocks, gas, petrol, water, or electricity are diminishing. I say "consumer and enterprise tech" and people say "what? like mining and surveying technology?"

3. Classes are kicking my butt and I'm enjoying it immensely. Most everyone has prior work experience. And many are working full time while studying. Curtin is 42% international students so most of my class are half international. International = Asian. Class discussions are fantastic, and I'm doing group projects with students from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and the occasional European. I'm the only American [not just American, the only North American] in my entire program. And I love it. I had some minor wavering as to whether a masters in marketing might be more beneficial in the long run but I'm steering back towards PR now that I'm writing supply and demand, export/import, foreign investment papers. Blech.

As you can see, life is going well. The only complaint- my house has no internet. Which is why my blog has been drastically deprived of attention lately. Soon that will change, as I'm on the case and my life without internet hardly functions properly. I'm a complete addict and proud of it.

PR and Social Media... Can't we all just be friends?

In Public Relations, social media is seen as a major new frontier. Along with that comes a vast area of uncharted territory, and in many cases PR professionals are running around trying to learn the rules as they go, unsure of where the line between ethical use of these new outlets and innapropriate use.

I think that in this case, PR professionals are being given a bad rap for doing what inevitably has to happen when something this big and new opens up- testing the waters. Setting boundaries. And this responsibility lies not only with the PR people, it lies with the creators, users, and regulators of social media. And, like in many cases, we should all strive to get along and set boundaries and fair use practices that let us all live happily together. Just as PR professionals should take care not to step on toes, the social media folks should step in to guide what is acceptable and what is not.

The CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) has just released its guidelines on the fair use of social media (see link below). While there are good points and suggestions (most of which follow common sense) many of the specific issues are not neccessarily addressed here. Evidence that while we can all try to set the rules, in such a changing landscape this is nearly impossible and the debate will continue to rage.

Peter, Bjorn and John

On Thursday night I went to see a live band at the Perth Concert Hall. Just outside the main hall is a giant open balcony called Beck's Verandah with a stage and squishy purple couches with small side tables and lamps. All under the stars on warm summer nights. It's a fantastic venue, last time I was there (2 years ago) I saw The Black Keys. For me, seeing a band in a small venue like that, with the speakers blasting bass through my chest, is better than almost any giant festival atmosphere.

But back to the point. On Thursday night I saw a band from Sweden called Peter, Bjorn and John. In addition to being hilarious on stage (as Swedes tend to be, in their very Swedish way) they were a fantastic live act. Best I've seen in a long time. Just the right mix of cruisy and poppy and funky.

If I were you, I'd check them out. Perhaps a download or two. I'd recommend Amsterdam. It's really just one more reason I'm itching to go to Sweden.

http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn

Home Sweet Nonextistent Home

When I moved to NYC I thought I had met my match in the real estate market. I mean, 8 million people crammed into a tiny island all looking for shoe-box sized apartments? Believe me, it's nuts. But guess what- it gets better. If you're really up for a challenge try finding a place in Perth.

Case-study one: We search for ages. We find a very attractive little house. We go visit during open house. We put in our application and $300 deposit. We wait. Wait. Wait. Another open house for the same place goes on the next weekend [what?? you already have 15 applications, including ours, why another open house?]. We wait. The agent can't comprehend that all four people on our application want the same house, together. We get confused phone calls. We wait.

Still waiting.

Case-study two: Same as above, but this time application gets denied [after waiting] because we're four students and not a husband and wife with a kid and a baby on the way [how far should one go to find an apartment?... hmmm].

To top it all off, the Perth housing crisis is all over the news. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1850306.htm

The same news I troll through each day flipping through rental crisis articles to get to the property listings pages in the back. Ouch.

Oy Oy Oy

There had been a lot of controversy here in Australia over PM John Howard's comments toward Barack Obama's (potential) Iraq strategy.

For those who missed it [seeing as I am not watching American news, I'm not sure how big this has been] Howard made a statement saying that al-Qaida is praying for Obama to become president because his plans to pull the soldiers out would give them what they want. Of course, Obama had come-backs of his own.

More than anything, I think that America is a bit stunned to hear an Australia speak up in opposition. Americans tend to assume that Australia is in our fan club (and, based on Howard's lovey dovey relationship with George Bush, this isn't unreasonable). Right or wrong, American don't generally see Australia as a political heavyweight prone to throw criticism and opinions in America's direction.

While America sits asking "what? wait a minute, who's John Howard?," Australia is generally angered that Howard would say something so stupid and inflammatory. Regardless of personal stance on the war and withdrawal of troops, it's hardly ever a good idea to go making statements like Howards, and most people here agree that Howard was seriously lacking tact and good sense.

Gotta love those American/Australian relations. I think it'll all blow over, and we'll still be good friends.

You can read the entire article here

Zoom Zoom Zoom

It's more than a little hard to write this blog entry. What do you write about when you move halfway around the world and start living a brand new life? Plus, as I guess was always to be expected, the last week has been absolute chaos. But in case anyone was wondering, everything is going quite fantastically. I'm on vacation in paradise, but it's also my life : )

I'm safe and sound in Perth, I have a phone and a bank account and have been enrolled in classes so life is definitely starting to come together. The plane ride(s) were pretty awesome. And by awesome I mean I spent all 24 in-flight hours in a drug induced coma. And my poor wintery-conditioned body still doesn't know what to do with killer UV rays and 35 degree C heat. I mean, I left snowy DC and arrived in Perth wearing my puffy coat with fur around the hood. Sheesh.

The adventure du jour is learning to drive on the wrong opposite side of the road. In a behemoth SUV with zero visibility. I'm probably going to have an aneurysm before this is all over. White-knuckled on the steering wheel is an understatement. I still freak out a little bit when I turn left into the near lane and expect to be face to face with another car. And with Rob next to me backseat driving I feel like I have my learners permit again ("signal, Carrie, SIGNAL!" [apparently not turn-signaling will get you pulled over and fined. Who are these people? Aren't they supposed to be laid back?]). But eventually it'll be second nature. (right?? god lets hope so.)

See ya on the flip side...

You know how karma is a bitch? Well she is. She pulls stunts like making it 70 degrees all winter in NYC and then dumping snow on Washington DC on the day I'm scheduled to fly out. Thanks, lady. You're a champ.

So assuming I make it into my plane to LA, as of 5:30 on Wed evening the trip to Oz will be under way. When you're going to bed on Thurs. night (ok, approx 4am US time, during post-thursty thursday burrito time?) I'll be arriving in Perth on the other side of the world. So say a payer or raise a glass or toast your burrito to me because I'll need every bit of good travel karma I can get!

my love...

In 48 hours exactly I'll be leaving the country. BUT that's all too much to think about. So instead, I'd like to introduce you all to my new favorite thing ever. Enter, MacBook.

I am, and have been for the last 4 days, a proud owner of a gorgeous little white MacBook that looks something like this:

And if you know me at all you know that it's been a love affair from first sight and I can't stop looking at it and thinking "it's mine, all miiiiine....".

So, with the help of this little baby, I'll be blogging frequently. More frequently than I have in the last few days, I promise. What can I say, I've been inconsistent. I promise to be better.

Road Tripping

Today I made the long drive from NYC to Richmond. It's the beginning of the journey! Luckily it started off in a pretty kick-ass rental Chevy Impala. Right.

If you can picture me moving out of my 4th floor walk-up apartment, by myself, it's a funny picture. It's even funnier when you picture that I didn't have boxes to pack anything in. Luckily all that time I spent signing away my hard earned money and hoarding shopping bags served me well. I had everything I owned packed into about 20 medium sized bloomies, nordstroms, uniqlo, and macy's bags. It was quite a sight, and the little old ladies in my apartment were watching and laughing as I tromped up and down the stairs about 15 times (at this point sweating and covered in dust bunnies).

To add to the adventure, I had my first driving in NYC experience, which involved a lot of circling for a parking spot and getting honked at by taxis. I think the highlight was when I accidentally drove too far over the "walk" portion of the intersection and got flipped off. I don't blame the guy though, when people do that to me I want to climb on top of the hood of their car to teach them a lesson they'll remember. Which is don't drive into the walkway, ass. And don't mess with Carrie Morgan.

I also made one very important observation from the trip, brought to me by the fact that the iPod has made the CD obsolete and I don't own any. Which is fine until I get in a car. The quality of radio stations significantly diminishes the further south on I-95 you go. By the time I was in DC all I could find was country, christian rock, and political talk shows. Oh- and Clear Channel owns the universe.