Weekend re-cap and my first day

Wow. I haven't written since Friday. A lot and not a lot has happened since then. I'll start with Friday night.

Friday night was the houses combined house-warming and for Kirsten's birthday as well as a celebration of the other housemates birthdays which were a month or two ago. Lots of people came and I had a bit of fun, but most of the time I just wanted to leave but I couldn't. I went out and socialised though and had some nice enough chats. I like Kirsten's friend Tina a lot. She's lovely. Towards the end I had a really nice drink with The Germans, as Kirsten calls them, Kat and Lena. Kat is with Stefan and Lena is their friend visiting. They made an awesome drink with muddled lime, 1 shot of vodka, 1 shot of lime cordial, and lots of crushed ice. I had two of those and didn't leave enough time to get sober before I went bed. I wasn't drunk, but feeling buzzed. I was hungover in the morning. Not fun. It sucked because I got into bed at probably 2 or 3 or something but couldn't sleep because I was worried someone would come into Kirsten's room with me in there and harass me. I put my heavy suitcase in front of the door but I was still a bit paranoid and completely aware of what was going on despite trying to nap. It didn't. So Saturday I was very tired.

On Saturday we cleaned the house. I was meant to go to a trial at Kamel but was feeling sick, and had been a bit sick, so I called up and canceled. I haven't heard anything from them since then. Hmm. I don't mind though because it will be better to get a job in the suburb I end up living in. It's easier that way. If I ever find a place to live that is. I want to live alone if possible. After the cleaning, Kirsten and I went to The Great Northern nearby for some chips and a coke/diet coke. The others joined us [Sandi, the other housemate, and her new bf Nick, Stefan and Lena] then Tom [Kirsten's bf] and two of his friends came along. We didn't stay too long. Home after that and a pretty early night. Kirsten stayed over at Tom's for the night so I got the comfy bed. I've been staying on the floor on lots of blankets and a thin camping blow up mattress, which is fine, but the bed is comfier. I have it again tonight too.

Sunday I slept in and it was bad because I found it hard to sleep last night. Once I got up and had some breakfast I went into the City. I wanted to find a backpack for Uni, and I did. I went to this Traveler and Souvenir shop and got a simple backpack for $20. Great! It does the trick. I also went to the National Gallery of Victoria. I didn't see all of it as it was an extremely hot day so I will go back another time and see the rest. I wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens but once again the heat zapped me of any energy so I went to the Victoria Gardens just across the road from the NGV. Then I went back to Kisten's. Later that night she went for a run with a friend and I came along and rode her old bike. It was nice and refreshing as the weather was still nice but the wind in my face as I rode was beautiful. I loved it. We went around this pretty big circuit twice not far from the house. Then I tried to get to sleep and failed.

Today I had my first day of Uni! I thought I was going to be late but the tram driver was awesome. They kept dinging the bell to make cars get out of the way. I still don't understand why on earth they should be allowed to drive over the tram tracks the same way the tram goes. It's ridiculous! It's totally insane and I think it should be dis-aloud. Anyway, I got to the classroom and the lecture hadn't started yet but almost everyone was there. I sat in the back. The lecturer introduced herself and we all did the same. The other students have amazing backgrounds and at least two did a Bachelor of Archaeology at LaTrobe. I'm so jealous. Maybe there's a postgraduate course in archaeology I can do. I'd love that. Then we got into the lecture. Well we read through the unit outline then got into the lecture. We have 3 assignments, one of which I have done part of a draft for tonight, and I'm worried about the last two. The first one should be easy enough to knock off, but it's the others I'll struggle with I believe. I'll get some help. This unit isn't all in the classroom though, which is exciting. We went to the Deakin Art Gallery in the afternoon and will be doing similar excursions on almost each other day we're there. We have 6 days and on 5 of them we'll be out in the field. Pretty exciting. We had a look in the small Deakin gallery then went outside and saw the many sculptures around the campus. Yet another hot day so I struggled. I went on the computers for a bit after the 'lecture' ended then went home. Got off the tram and caught the train but I'm not sure it was much of a time-saver, although the tram was going extremely slow. Kirsten made a too-spicy-for-me curry and I did some homework!

Tomorrow should be good. I need to get up and leave earlier to be able to get myself something to eat for lunch. There wasn't much available at Uni and I'll have to go to the cafe early to secure an apple and cinnamon muffin. Today I got a blueberry one and it was nice but not the same. I want to buy a salad or something so I'll have to go in a lot earlier than I did today. That can be done. I didn't like the stress. I can't remember where we're going tomorrow afternoon but it should be good. Then I'll have Thai Culinary for dinner. Mmm.

There are a few more houses I need to have a look at online. There is a bit of a crappy looking one in Richmond. The ad says it's good for older people or something but I may as well take a look. You can grab the keys from the real estate and go to town. There is one in Elwood that looks nice but Kirsten says that's ages away. I remember going to St Kilda with Amy in 2005 and loved the area but I seem to recall that Elwood wasn't that far away from there and the tram ride didn't seem to take all that long. I guess we'll see. Sarah knows a guy [Nick Cupit] who is moving to Melbourne soon and looking for someone to live with. He went to our high school and apparently knows me as I have served him at thebeach, not that I remember, but Sarah and I talked on the phone about it and us living together. I'd rather my own place, at least I think so, but I might get lonely. Then again I might feel resentment living with others, regretful. There's no need to be scared. I'll be busy enough and can go and see my friends when I feel sad. I don't want to impose on Kirsten and her flatmates for too much longer. It's been a week already! Crazy. Hopefully I get the Hawthorn house for $150 a week in Mary St but I've started looking at what's closer to $200 but still under. The Elwood one is $165 I think. Hmm. I'll see what happens.

Moved to Melbourne update

Success! I have finally gotten onto the internet here in the YHA Melbourne Central back packer's and there is no one else around to spy on what I'm writing. That's the worse. I'm in a small lounge room with two computers and a couch facing the TV and it's not private at all. I wanted to write in here but I hate the fact that people can be watching me doing this, which I am slightly embarrassed about when other people are watching, so I am really glad I'm alone!

So, it's Saturday and I arrived in Melbourne on Thursday. Holly and I were on the same flight, me in the middle and she was up the back, but we caught the Sky Bus together, had chats, then went to the back packers and dropped my bags off. They weren't ready with my room quite yet so I went back that afternoon and checked in properly. The place is great! It's the best one I've been in. The rooms are nice and have personal bed side lamps attached to the walls. The bathrooms are amazing, although there are only 3 showers on the floor, one of which isn't working as it has no tap handle. There is a toiled right next to my room though so it's very convenient. I met a lovely Canadian lass who is leaving today. She's heading back to New Zealand to study until June/July then back to Canada. We were going to hang out today but she had to check out and I suppose she had to give her key back so she might not be able to get back up to our floor. Might not see her. The other two in the room, one of which left last night I think, are weird and annoying. The traffic is pretty loud, which is a bit hard to deal with, so I didn't get much sleep on Thursday night. I caught up last night though. Very pleased about that.

So, Holly and I hung out for a few hours, did some window shopping, had a tea [Holly] and a milkshake [me] then went to where her job interview was. It was next to the ANZ Bank Museum so we had a quick look in there before she went in. After that Amy called me and we met up 15 minutes later at Riverland, a cute place next to / under the bridge next to Federation Square alongside the Yarra River and I met her boyfriend Cal. We had a pint of Bulmers each and had some lovely chats. I'm going to a hula hoop class with Amy sometime! I can't wait for that. Then they both went to work and I went to the back packers to check in. After that I went to my room, then got some dinner at Thai Culinary. I had a lovely Pad See Ew noodle dish, similar to what I have at Cool Thai, but not the same unfortunately. I doubt I'll find something as good as I have at Cool Thai. Sad. I got invited to the Thursday night free pub crawl by one of the roommates and I went for a little bit but I'm not a drinking fan so I left and watched some of a DVD. I met the Canadian roommate and we had some nice chats.

Friday was a sleep in day. I got some breakfast in the city, then went to Big W and got some shampoo as I had forgotten that I deliberately didn't bring my bottle as it was almost empty and that means when I go back to Hobart to visit I won't need to take any with me. After that I came back here and had a nap, then got up for my appointment to see Kate, a friend of George and Katie's who works at the Police Museum. We had a coffee/hot chocolate and a crumble lemon yoyo and talked about Uni and volunteering and houses. She's so nice and said if I ever need help seeing places that she can drive me and not to worry about asking her. There's nothing to go and see though so that's a shame. Then her colleague Monica came down and we had a nice chat. She's also doing the Diploma of Museum Studies via Deakin but is finishing it off this year and she does one day of volunteering at the Police Museum and one day, Thursdays, at Mission to Seafarers. She took me on a tour of the Mission and I'll be doing some volunteering there with her next Thursday! It's such an amazing place. It has a beautiful chapel and is still used for seamen/seafarers to relax and have a drink, play some pool, and use the internet. There are also functions done there [they were setting up for a wedding whilst I was visiting] and is an amazing apartment for a Chaplain to stay in as well as one for the caretaker[s]. I met Cally[?] and I'll be doing some hospitality functions work with her, paid work. I'm not sure how much work and how often but it's a start. She asked off hand if I had my RSA and I said yes and she asked if I'd be interested in work and I said yes and that was that! They said I was sent from Heaven or something like that. The previous volunteer had to leave or something so the timing is perfect. It's such a cute place and I'll get to do similar work to what I did at the Maritime in Hobart. Some of the main museums here get you started out the front, then you work your way out towards the back and the kind of work I'm interested in. Apparently the Mission will be useful for class assignments, Monica told me. I can't wait! That night I went back to Thai Culinary then watched another movie and chatted with the Canadian girl. Not sure we actually introduced ourselves. Haha.

Today I got up fairly early feeling pretty refreshed, although last night the girl who moved out was so annoying. She may have moved into another room but she was doing this at 11pm back and fourth out the door which has a loud slam and she kept her bed side lamp on and it was shining in my face and lighting up the whole room. How rude. She came back an hour or so later and turned it off. She did it again in the morning. Poo poo. Glad she's gone. So this morning I had a nice shower with my new shampoo, which didn't smell as it usually does [contemplated taking it back]. I read some catalogues that the Canadian girl left for us to check out letting visitors know what's on and where it's happening. Then I went to get The Age newspaper to look for jobs and houses but nothing took my fancy. First I need a place, then I will look for a job near by. I don't want to do hospitality but I'd rather go in and see the place before applying, and know how to get there and whatnot. So that's step two. Now I'm here and not sure what to do. I think I'm seeing Jess this afternoon but I'd like to go to some gardens and other museums at some stage. Tomorrow I'll go to the Campberwell markets with Amy and Cal then on Monday it's out to Deakin! I can't wait to get there and check it all out. I might only be going on Monday and Tuesday depending on the activities on the other days. I need to get my ID card and go on a tour, or take myself on a tour. There are some library tours available so that'll be fun. I can't wait!

I actually love being here. I love that there is so much to do, that I'm in a fantastic city, that I have many friends here that want to hang out with me, that there are trams, the weather, and so many other little things. I am surprised at how much I like it. It's nice that I do. Now I just have to find a house! Eek.

Leaving day

I am completely crazy. At least that's what I was thinking last night and this morning, but now I have drilled it in that I can always go to Melbourne instead if Sydney doesn't work out it's not so scary. I've been talking to Jan and Fra about it all morning while they helped me pack. It's my sister's fault. She cried last night after I dropped her home from the movies and it made me cry and think that I'm crazy for leaving everyone fabulous behind. It is crazy but I need this adventure. Sometimes I feel brave but last night/this morning I felt stupid. I will give it a week and see how I go. I can always come back. I need to enroll in classes like Burlesque and Pole Dancing and Yoga to keep me busy.

I have just changed my Deakin enrollment and I got a class reader in the mail so I'm actually getting excited about it. The course wouldn't be that bad and I'd be out in the field looking after cultural heritage. I could definitely go on archaeological digs! I'm warming to the idea of Melbourne even though I'm not a huge fan of the city. Amy did show me a great time when I was there last and a lot of my friends are there so it wouldn't be too bad at all. It sure would be a lot of fun, especially if I could move in with Holly and Ruben.

Stuff with packing wasn't going so well but Jan and Fra helped me with that and I'm pretty close to the maximum weight. It'll all be okay. I can treat going to Sydney as a little holiday, although I would love to go to the Uni there. The city is fantastic, and I'm sure it'll treat me well, so I'll stick with the plan to check out houses and look into jobs. I will be able to survive at the back packer's for a while, a week definitely, so I'll take it as it comes. Knowing I can come back in a week is making it less sad.

I had such a great night last night. I met up with Andi in the afternoon after lunch with James, Sarah, Jan and Fra at Tricycle in Salamanca. We picked up Ivy and had some nice chats. They waved me off. I didn't feel like I was leaving at the time so it didn't sink in about not seeing them for a while. I know I'll be back a lot. It doesn't feel like I'll be that far away. After hangs with Andi I picked up Sarah, then Holly, then met Emma in North Hobart and we had Cool Thai for dinner. After that we went to Onba and had 4 drinks each and had some wonderful chats. I'll miss those girls. Emma will see if she can get a transfer from her job here at AAMI to a branch in Sydney and she might join me there in a few months, maybe. That would be fun if she did. Holly got me one of her Hiiragi tee's which I love, and I had hugs with both of those lovely girls/women. They are great friends. Then Sarah and I went to see Burlesque again and I felt guilty for not being home earlier to hang with family. Drat. Sarah and I said bye in the car until I ran out and hugged her again. We chatted and cried a bit. It was nice. Then I went home and thought how crazy I was being and now we're up to date. I can always go to Melbourne.

I am actually excited about the reader I got in the mail today. I can start studying! I'll see how I go in Sydney, and see if I get into the course or not, as I can always go to Sydney next year and do the masters in museum studies. That's definitely an option. I'll go on my little holiday, have a look at places, and jobs, and if it's not for me then Melbourne it is. I'll have more fun in Melbourne as I actually know people anyway. I'm up for fun.

It's scary that it's almost real though. I'm scared and it's making me want to back out of Sydney but this is what I've been dreaming of for a while now. And as I've said to myself before, just because I'm scared it shouldn't mean I stop doing things. I can't stop doing things because I'm scared. I'm not very good at writing. Anyway, I should go and spend some time with my aunts. Mum is coming home for 230pm and we're hitting the road at 3pm for 4pm at the airport. I'll leave at 5pm. Until next time.

Plans

I have just returned from the first Thai night with Holly, Helen and Munich and it was a success. Holly commended me for organising it, something I rarely do as my organising stuff never really gets a big response from people, and she said she couldn't have done it. For ages at work [thebeach] I wanted to organise a girls night, then I talked to Sara about it and she organised a movie night so fast. I guess it stems from my belief in my own abilities. There was talk of going out for drinks next time. That will be fun.

It is absolutely freezing here tonight. The weather has been so up and down, on and off freezing then lovely. I'm looking forward to Sydney as it's often quite warm there. I miss being there actually. I want to take another visit there before Uni starts next year [please let me get in] but as I don't have an event at the Uni to go to it would just be a pleasurable visit. I also want to go to Melbourne for a few days to visit people. Holly said I can come to Melbourne if I don't get into the Sydney course. The Uni there isn't pretty at all so I don't really want to go there. As a second choice it's not so good either... The girls said I should be happy with the second choice so I might have to do more looking. I am really hoping for Sydney though but that doesn't mean I'll get it. I hate waiting!

Thai for dinner!

I went to Andi's this afternoon for hot milo and chats. We talked a lot about relationships and friends and it made some things clearer to me about my relationship with Yorick. I hope I find the right guy for me. I'll probably have a better chance when I'm in Sydney [I'd better get there], as Andi said. It would also be better that I meet someone on my new path instead of dragging them into it. I think that sounds about right. My hair cut reflects myself 5 years ago but now I am more eager to make sure I find a partner. I was a lot younger then, and yes I wanted a relationship but 5 years on I really want one as I don't want to spend my whole life alone. I believe it will happen but I want that assurance. I will just have to wait.

Tonight is dinner at Suwan with Holly, Helen and Munchie. I'm really looking forward to it. I wish the weather was better so I could wear my new dress but as it is if I wear it it'll just look like I'm wearing a skirt as I'm sure to rug up as it's freezing outside. I could just wear my little blue jacket over the top but I will be cold. I'll go try it on and see.

I like house sitting but I feel a bit lonely as this isn't my life. I know once [if] I get to Sydney that I will, at times, feel lonely in my new life but it'll be mine. It will be a huge accomplishment and something to praise myself for. I like that I'm having this time to myself and in some little way seeing what it would be like to live alone but in other ways I am a bit lonely and wish I were in a relationship. I have much more work to do before I'm ready to be in another relationship though. And another thing, in Sydney I will have a lot more study to do so I will occupy my time better. Here I have been watching lots of the Tudors and have just finished the 2nd season so I'm a little bored. Luckily I'm about to head out to dinner and once I get back I can put on a movie or something to pass the time before bed. I will go and get ready.