Great Ocean Road

Within my first few days in Geelong, I had found a brochure for a tour of The Great Ocean Road. It described a long but scenic drive along the coast. The bus picked me up early in the morning and most of the people on the tour were independent travellers, so it made making friends for the day super easy.

We started at the most famous surf beach in Australia, Bells Beach. It’s surrounded my massive cliffs and looks very intimidating if that were to be the first place you learn how to surf! They hold the annual surf competition there and apparently the small town swells with people and the farms become populated with tents.

Passed the beach we saw about 30 wild kangaroos jumping around , we couldn’t stop for pictures because we were on a strict time schedule that had already gotten off to a late start. So although I don’t have a picture of a kangaroo, at least I saw a whole bunch in the wild of Australia.

The coastal drive was incredibly beautiful and everyone on the bus was in really good spirits, dispite the morning cold and windy weather. Our next stop was at a naturally inhabited Koala Park. They were hanging in the trees eating eucalyptus with no sort of captivity. It was really difficult to capture them in a picture because they were so high up in the trees. They looked so cuddly and cute!

Just off the main road on the drive was a beautiful rainforest called the Otway. We got out of the bus for a short walk around part of the Otway. I’ve never seen such beautiful trees before. It looked like some place where Big Foot lives. The smells and sounds in this rainforest were delightful and I would have loved to have seen more.

The main attraction was the 12 apostles. There are actually only about 8 left now but they are large parts of the cliff that got separated and stand alone on the beach. They are being demolished at at fast past due to the waves, rain and windy. The Australian government are thinking of replacing the missing ones with some sort of fake plastic modelling, so I feel lucky to have seen at least some of the real ones. Standing down on the sand and looking up at them was a magnificent way to view them.

Yes! we even saw a Koala!

New Home

I feel happy and comfortable in my new home with my three lovely Canadian roommates, in Geelong.
Our home has a lemon slash sometimes lime tree and an orange slash sometimes lemon tree.
Did I mention we also have a big back deck and a hot tub?

Furoshiki for me!

I met my new Australian/Egytian friend Erini in my Primary teaching program. I thought she was adorable when she sat down for lunch her tupperware wrapped up in Japanese cloth. Erini spent two years living in Japan and took a few classes on Japanese traditions.

I went into Melbourne to meet Erini for a coffee in a cute cafe in a rainy alleyway on Sunday and tried another coffee with a name I had never heard of.

I got back to school on thursday and she gave me some homemade cookies her mom had baked and wrapped it up with my very own Furoshiki!

How lovely!

Coffee and apple pie

After three full days observing classrooms at an Australian Primary school my fellow Canadian friend Rosa and I decided we should treat ourselves. I splurged on a $4 skinny latte and she got a delicious apple pie. It was a cute little area that closes around 6pm so we made it just in time to sit outside and enjoy a little sun.

I mean i KNOW you'll like me!

Job interview


I decided I didn’t like the idea of working in the mall, even though the bus time schedule corresponded nicely with those hours. Everyone was only looking for Christmas staff and I wanted something I could have until June when I leave. I took a walk down to the waterfront in the city and put my resume in at three different restaurants/bars.

There was one in particular that I thought looked really lovely. It looks like a very large home that over looks the harbour. I went in and was introduced to one of the owners who I think is from Turkey. She was a tiny woman covered in flour. She had such energy and strength it was almost intimidating. She didn’t look at my resume and told me to come in on Friday for a ‘trial’ two hour shift with no pay. She said that after the two hours, if I like the job and she likes me then I can stay and begin to be paid. I said to her

 “ oh I think I’ll like it here and I think you’ll like me”

She responded, “You think? No no no, you have to know! You have to be confident!”

(in a strongTurkish accent)

“okay, I know you’ll like me!”

“yes beautiful, that’s more like it!”

I really enjoy her because she starts every sentence directed at me with “okay gorgeous…okay beautiful” It’s rather lovely.

I went for the trial shift and got the job. It feels nice to know I will have money coming in.

Don’t cry over split spring rolls

I worked another wedding function last night. This time, there were no meals, just finger food, a live band and an open bar. The 260 guests had all arrived and were working their way slowly into their first drink of many that night. After I had made sure all of the guests had a drink in their hands, my next task was to take a gigantic plate of spring rolls out on one hand, while holding serviettes in the other. This is quite the juggling act, especially because the plate is always insanely heavy and imbalanced as people pick off the plate and grab for serviettes.

One man asked me for another beer and as I turned to answer him the whole serving platter when up in the air and came down all over the place almost in slow motion. I’ve never been able to say I’ve had a room of 260 people all stare at me at once…now I can. You could have heard Tibetan Buddhist monks thinking it went so quite! I wanted to teleport myself out of that room, however, I have not yet mastered that technique.

My lovely posh British co-worker came to my rescue with a huge smile on his face and comforting words, then another bartender came over and told me not to worry, he had once spilt a whole tray of drinks on a man. My boss told me it was all my fault and I was super close to being fired I’m sure, but the party was way too wild and they needed to keep me on, clumsy or not. I was obviously embarrassed beyond belief and the common comments of the evening were “ohhhh wow be careful here she comes!!! don‘t drop it now!!!…just kidding love it’s alright!it‘s alright, only teasing.” I love the Aussies and their sweetness (my boss isn‘t an Aussie). One man told me he wanted to give me a big hug. So I guess I ended up with a lot of sympathy, oh human nature is rather lovely at being kind to people who make a complete tit out of themselves.

Joni left to go meet her friend in the suburbs of Melbourne and I continued the day by getting lost walking around before deciding to jump on the free city tour bus to get my bearings.

Have to start somewhere

I started close to Federation square, where there are three distinct and different bridges crossing the river filled with riverside cafes and restaurants. I met three guys from Louisiana and we began talking about the different places in Australia we had been. In the middle of answering one of the guys questions, the bus driver yelled into his microphone “be quite! Some people want to listen to the tour!” I was so embarrassed and questioned whether I should jump off the bus, but I stayed on until we reached The Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The shrine and the surrounding park was very beautiful. I took a walk through the park, instead of paying to enter the gardens. On my walk there were a few open old stone structures that looked like open gazebos made from stone. They were really beautiful and in one of them there was a wedding take place. The wedding looked so beautiful in the park and they had a White Stripes song playing “we are going to be friends.” The park had so many palm trees and beautiful ponds and flowers.

Indecent exposure

I made my way back to the side walk along the relatively busy street and saw an older couple having a picnic. At least that what I thought they were doing. They were lying very close to the side walk for very one passing to see. The older man was doing 'something' to the lady under the picnic blanket with his hand. It was probably the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Worst than Korean flashers for sure

Kangaroo Fanny Packs

I spotted the most ridiculous “Australian” fanny packs I’ve ever seen! It was the best $5 I’ve ever spent! Joni got one too, however, I’m not sure we bought them because of the same reasons. I think she thought they were super cute, whereas I thought they were really ridiculous!
 

Melbourne/Melbon

Christian rock music never hurt anyone


My first Saturday in Geelong I decided it was time to leave the small town that they call a city and hop on a train into a real city. I ran into some of the other girls that live in the Reformed Theological College and one of them, (Joni from China) told me she was also heading into Melbourne in search of a present for her friend. Some of the other girls wanted to go into town for a coffee and said they would drop us at the train station. The car ride was convenient and kind, I didn’t even really care that there was Christian rock playing in the car and all the passengers were singing along to the Christian lyrics except for myself.

Train ride into Melbourne

Joni and I got on the train and sat down for the hour long trip into the big city. Everyone on the train were dressed up in their finest for the Melbourne Cup (horse racing). I had seen the outfits being shown on morning television in Australia. The men were all wearing nice suits and the women were all wearing extremely flamboyant hats and feathers on their heads. All of the shops in Melbourne were full of women buying these massive and beautiful head decorations. I was so tempted to buy a massive hat just from seeing so many women looking so glamorous wearing them.

Joni and I got off at Southern Cross station and made our way onto a tram to take us over to Queen Victoria Market. It is a huge market with seafood and fruits spanning two blocks of the first floor. There are lots of Australian souvenirs being sold and some apparel, as well as tons of boomerangs.

And my favourite part were the Borat Swimsuits.

I wonder who actually buys them?

My first impression of Geelong

Leaving Sydney for Geelong was a touch scary as I had no idea what to expect.


I caught my 10:30am flight to Melbourne and was greeted upon arrival by a Deakin University student holding a massive DEAKIN sign. Her name is Thavishi, from Sri Lanka, works at McDonalds and has been at Deakin for two years. I learned that people from Sri Lanka are either called singly people or Tamils. She was wonderful!

On our drive through Geelong City, I almost burst into tears when she announced ..“and this is downtown” I was like “oh this little street?…oh grrreeeeaaaaaat”

Thavishi was really kind and took me to my $75 crap motel the school had arranged for me to stay at (at my own expense) she then took me to the campus I will study at (which I could walk around in less than 5 minutes)

I asked the ladies at International Student Services if there were any other options for temporary accommodation. They went though a list of other crappy and over priced places I could stay in this marvellous suburb they call Geelong.

Finally she said…"oh there is a place for $38.40 a night with a dinner included in the price that is a five minute walk from campus!”
I was thrilled and asked “where is this place? I’ll go tomorrow!”
Everything got arranged and once again Thavishi got into the DEAKIN car and drove me to the place to check out where I would sleep for the remainder nights until I find a place to live.

We get to the location (residence) and to our surprise, it is a type of college for people who want to study the bible in hopes of someday becoming a minister. I almost started crying! But the lady who welcomed us was really kind and showed me the Standard room I could move into starting the following night.

 The room was basic and reminded me a lot of what first year in residence in University is like. There was a shared kitchen and shower room. All of the girls live on the stop floor and the male students were on the bottom. There was a “no alcohol” policy and quite time began at 11pm. She showed me the dinning hall and told me that all the residents eat together in the dinning room and one of the students will lead us in a short prayer and grace before we eat. Dinner is Monday through to Friday at 6:30pm.

I was really overwhelmed with all this news and Religious living conversation, but there was something comforting knowing I’d get to eat with a room full of people. The highlight was when the lady showed me my room and about eight rooms down she said “and this is where me and my husband live, so if there’s any trouble we’re not far away.” And I thought my life was balls.

By the end of that afternoon I was ready to jump back on a plane headed for anywhere but here.
I was opening up my bank account at a popular Australian bank and felt like saying to the nice lady “you know what!? Never mind about the account I’m not even going to stay here I’m leaving as soon as the next plane takes off.”

Thavishi took me to the grocery store to get some food and I picked up some dried dates. Eating them made life feel a little sweeter. She dropped me back at the glorious motel and I decided I should take a walk to the waterfront and try my best to give this small town a shot.

It was 6pm when I started my walk and absolutely every shop “downtown” was closed! There were some bars, restaurants and cafes open, even a few kind of nice looking ones. I finally got to the Waterfront and decided it’s quite pretty. There were two young teenagers making out as if the world was going to end, it was so gross, but then I thought about where they live and how boring their lives must be and how making out was probably the only thing that keeps them from doing drugs or going insane and so I cut them both a little slack. The walk was more for exercise to be honest. I feel if I am going to live here and not have much to do, then I at least have to stay thin. However, the walk was interrupted every 5 minutes with a 10 minute wait for the walking light to begin to flash. I thought Seoul was brutal for the length of time it takes for lights to change to allowed pedestrians to cross but this is way worst.

I have now accepted the fact that I have not yet given it a chance and deep down inside I really know it will be okay and that I’ll be happy here immersed in books, teaching Aussie kids and writing papers.

Dolmades for the very first time

Today, after sitting in classes from 9-5pm, I rushed home to put on proper work out clothes to power walk to the closest fresh fish shop in hopes of a healthy dinner. I arrived outside the shop at 5:55pm and the closing sign said 6pm, but I wasn't allowed in because they had already started closing.

Ugh Geelong why does everything close so early? what do working parents do?

I decided the next best thing would be to go into "Safeways," a huge chain food store and get a box of frozen fillets. I found there were many boxes of breaded and battered fish that were very cheap (perhaps because it's all batter and no fish?) I finally found the plainest kind they offered and settled with that box.

I decided I should cruise the canned food section for some beets. Everyday this week, when my fellow classmates sit down for lunch, I can't help but get excited about all the different packed lunches. I was inspired to add some beets to my jumbled bean salad.

I was also looking for "dolmades." A classmate was eating these little vine leaves during lunch yesterday and |I had no idea what they were! (feeling really uncultured) I decided to buy a can and try them out.
A can of them was about $4 and I purchased the ones with pine nuts in them. It was delicious! Really strong in flavour but I'm very excited to see what an excellent contribution they will make to my bean salad tomorrow^^

i love long-distance-lovers mail

I came home exhausted from my first full day of school today to a table full of three pieces of mail for me.
I perked right up and was completely gushing at the thoughtfulness of my friends!

I opened Alyssa’s package first. To my delight, it was full of early Christmas knick knacks: Chai tea and my favourite Indian incense (to remind me of our beautiful time in India together) and she also included my favourite Korean chocolate “Peppero.” Thank you, you‘re wonderful!

I opened Amy’s cute package next that had “Happy Peppero day” written on the outside. I was hoping it would have some of my favourite chocolates from my favourite holiday I missed in Korea and it did! Along with a beautiful letter. Oh thank you Amy!

Last but not least, I opened a beautiful letter from Miss Picano with a heartfelt note and as always, very appropriate and thoughtful choice of stationary. Thank you darling!

I feel so lucky!

Japanese girls and a sunny day at the Opera House

It was my last day in Sydney and I decided I should make the effort on a fairly sunny day to see the Opera House. I think my fabourite part were all of the Japanese schools girls all holding hands in a line and jumping into the air on the count of three. It made me miss Asia so much!

You can't visit Australia and not try to Surf!

Myself and three other Canadian girls in my program at school decided it was time for us all to give surfing a try. I couldn't help feeling super cliche about the experience but it is something I feel everyone must try at least once while visiting Oz.

We caught the early morning bus to the beach 20 mins away from our homes. This beach is a popular surf spot called Torquay (pronounced Tor-key). This is where brand labels like "rip curl" and "Billabong" were born.

We had reservations with a shop to take us our for lessons for 2 hours with all of our rental costs included. It came to $55, which I thought was really reasonable!

Our teacher for the day was excellent and had us down on our boards and jumping up into our ninja stance about 10 times before we were even in the water.

I was almost out of energy by the time I had even got my wet suit on. I got up about 4 times and then came crashing down. It was really fun and exhausting at the same time.

Wish I could have gotten better pictures (ones of us all actually in the water) but I'll have to settle with the before and after shots.

The Ivy

Lucy, her friends and myself got a little dressed up and made our way over to The Ivy in Sydney.

Through a birthday party, Lucy had gotten us on the list for the evening. It was a huge building with many different areas and floors. The music was amazing but no one was dancing, everyone was a little too concerned with what they looked like for that kind of fun. There was one older gentleman all dressed up in his vintage suit and hat who was apparently famous for appearing at The Ivy every weekend. He was beside the pool on a small area that he had magically transformed into his stage and was dancing his little heart out. He was my favourite part about The Ivy experience, other than that, I would have been happier on the Bondi grassy pactch swigging wine out of a bottle.

Pie Face

I love looking at all of the different faces on these pies. This chain store was all over Sydney and it reminded me a lot of the key chains and phone danglers you can find in South Korea. One night after a lot of white lychee sangria and white wine at The Winery on Queen Street, Lucy and I made our way over to "Pie Face" so I could buy a huge cookie with a happy face. Delicious!