Things always seem to work out Beautifully...

The thing that I have learned from traveling is not to worry when things don't seem to be working out...because worrying doesn't solve anything. And things will always work out eventually somehow. Maybe not how you want them to or what you expected them to, but there is a reason for that I suppose.

When I first came to Melbourne, or Preston (suburb city) rather...I was a bit unsure about the location because I am about a 30 minute tram ride to the city. I was hoping to find work in the city, but working in hospitality most places would require me to work later than the tram line runs. So that was a bust. And then all of the cafes require barista experience...which I have, but not very much. I began to look for work in Preston and absolutely No one is hiring because it is just after the holidays and they are letting staff go rather than hiring more. So I began to search online and found "promotional" work, which actually ended up being door to door sales....no thanks!


So I finally came across a job working in a drum and percussion store as a personal assistant. and Got the Job! It is called the Drum Palace and my boss calls me the Princess of the Palace :-) The guy I work for is very interesting and I am learning a lot from him! He has a huge collection of music and music videos, so during our lunch he has been introducing me to new music. Yesterday we watched an old video of The Doors....SO interesting! I had no idea that Jim Morrison was such a complex character, a poet at heart. Anyways, this job is a great opportunity for me and I am so glad to have it.

You can check out the store on www.drumpalace.com.au


So I have grown to like the small city of Preston. I try to go for a walk or jog as much as I can and always find something new. There is a cute cafe up the road where I like to go get a cup of coffee and relax while writing in my journal. There are several really good op-shops that I like to go see if I can find some interesting peices of clothing. Buying clothes is my weakness I have discovered. But atleast I like second-hand! It's cheap :-). Also, if you enjoy Asian food...Preston is the place for you. Well Australia in general has Tons of Asian food places compared to the states, which makes sense because Asia is so close. But MAN, I miss my mexican food...


The city of Melbourne is fantastic for cute cafe/coffee shops, shopping and the night life. I really do like it here, but honestly I wouldn't want to live here...only visit. The weather is absolutely nuts. I have heard people say that it is a place of 4-seasons in One day and they were Not Kidding! It will be freezing, then rainy, then hot and sunny and then super windy all in the same day! Last week it got up to 110 degrees (F) and then yesterday it was down to 53 degrees....it's Wack! I miss the Gold Coast and being close to the beach and beautiful weather everyday.


Australia Day is coming up next week (which is kinda celebrated like we celebrate 4rth of July from what I gather)!!! And you know how much I love the 4rth of July, which I have missed for the past two years due to being out of the country. Bummer! So I am really excited to celebrate Australia Day. AND I will be spending it in Perth! I have been dying to see Perth and have a friend over there to stay with and show me around....and whome I may or may not have a little crush on. ;-)


So I have looked into extending my visa (only because I can and Only once, so why not?!). I am able to extend it, but once it is activated it runs for a year. SO I have decided to extend it, but come home fore a bit before I come back and spend more time here.


SO my plan is as follows...
March-May: work on Riversand Vineyard in St.George, QLD
June: Zach comes to visit! we'll be going to Cairnes and that area
July: Dad comes to visit! we'll be going to Western Australia and that area
So I will probably stay out in WA until I have to leave in mid-August and COME HOME!


**if the funds are suitable, me and a friend were talking about flying to San Fran...borrowing another friend's van and road triping to SC. How fun would that be?! that is just a thought bubbling in our heads...but who knows, just might actually happen!**

UPDATE

I am now back in Melbourne after a wonderful holiday season. I spent Christmas with a good friend of mine and her family in Bendigo. Bendigo reminds me a lot of Rock Hill and my friend's family reminds me alot of mine! So luckily, I didn't get to home sick. The weather was beautiful and we had a great Christmas meal outside in the yard. Christmas eve, a bunch of us went out to a local pub to have some drinks and watch a band. Good fun! New Years was quite the experience...I went to a B&S which is basically a huge party (there were 1500+ people) of country people who bring their trucks and we tailgate all day and then from 8pm-3am go into the event where there is food, drinks and entertainment all included in the ticket. For some reason it is tradition that people sneak in food dye and saturate everyone in colors! Luckily I didn't get it to bad, but did have a temporary green streak in my hair, a bit of blue on my face and blue arms! It was a lot of fun! It was weird doing the countdown and not watching the ball drop in time square. I asked my friends here if they had anything like that and they had no idea what I was talking about!


I like Melbourne, but I do miss the Gold Coast A LOT. It was hard to say bye to all the good friends I have made and to my fellow work people. The weather there is much better than Melbourne and it is prettier. I miss being so close to beautiful beaches. I havn't seen the beach here yet, but it is on my to-do list. My main objective so far has been trying to find a job. I am having the worse luck! It is bad timing for the hospitality industry becasue most people are letting staff go from the holidays rather than employing more. Lame. I had two interviews yesterday for "promotional staff" which both ended up being door-to-door sales people! I hate to be picky, but that is something I am SO against. I have another interview tomorrow for an office assistant position in a music store which would be great! So hopefully that works out. :-) Wish me luck!


The city of Melbourne is pretty easy to navigate and the public transport is fantastic! I take a tram to get into the city from where I am. I like it here, but not as much as I thought I would. I am starting to realise that I am less of a city girl than I thought. I miss the coast.


**I am going to try and go to an internet cafe to upload pictures soon, because my internet here is just Way to slow.**