New cyber-cafe -- and no USB ports to upload photos. They do, however, have electricity, so that's different from the other place right now, and fractionally more important.
Today we learned that some things are universal. When you're late for church, no matter what continent or hemisphere, the lights are all red, the driver in the fast lane is going 10km/H below the legal speed limit, and you take the wrong exit off the freeway. These are the facts, and they are immutable.
It's cooled off to about 100 degrees today, and the power (and air conditioning) is out in the holiday accomodations, so here we are at the cyber-cafe. Some days it's actually too hot to go to the beach. Other than the weather, which is as big a focus here as it is in Minnesota, everything is progressing apace -- Kris is next to me phoning people about kitchen tables for sale, and we're anxiously awaiting our final move tomorrow into the new place. Our last move was from one holiday spot to the other, and it took us a whopping 40 minutes, including cat. New Mannix record!
Anyway, I think we're going to drive out to look at some couches, but more later!
-nm-

Happy Australia Day!

Australia Day marks the days the First Fleet (British Ships) sailed into Port Jackson and Sydney cove. In Perth the whole city turns out for a fireworks show over the river with the City in the background. Despite being VERY HOT (41.5 C (roughly 106) at 5:00 pm!) it seemed like everyone had pulled up a picnic on the river shore, greeting stangers walking by with HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY. The "skyshow" was amazing. Felt good to be an Aussie.

The picture on the right is Thrombolites.
These "Blob Rocks" are the highlight of Nathan's Australia Day. Impressive huh? Thromobolites are mineral structures left behind from a microorganisms that are thought to be the oldest living thing on the planet. These are thought to be the key to producing oxygen for the atmosphere. Australia and all its creatures are old, old, old. But sometimes old isn't very impressive.

Updates -- again.

Argh. This is the third time that I've written this (I'll need Kris to show me what i'm doing wrong), so you get treated to the disorganized photos and a brief update.

Update: Nothing much, just that we bought a car, sign a lease on a house tonight, got social security cards, signed up for national health insurance, Kris is working hard, I got a job offer, and the cat arrived (in one piece, although starved for affection).

Photos -- I'll try to get these on this time.

In no particular order:

Us outside Casa de Freo (temporary housing) with our 10th anniversary wine from Jess and EB.

Sunset over the Indian Ocean, with comet visible. Note: This ocean is warmer than the Southern by about 12 degrees, good for bathers, and less hospitable to sharks -- a good combo.

Black swan in the park, with Perth in the distance. Lots of really nice parks!

Beer in the park. They have free to use outdoor barbeques at most of the parks, and lots of folks head down to cook dinner outdoors and have a leisurely and social meal.

It looks like these have loaded in reverse order -- please bear in mind that i'm a novice. But the photos are okay, huh?

More soon!

First Week at Work, Murdoch University--Kristin

I started my first week at work at Murdoch University Veterinary Trust. Although the people I work with are amazing, (interesting, dedicated, friendly) I am a little daunted by the size of my task. The Vet Trust has some big plans (major improvements) and I can barely get my head around it all. It's not just learning a new job, its learning a new education system (how things are funded, what students pay) and new cultural attitudes about money and giving. I am sure it will sink in, but I come home every night with reading...my head full of questions.

Nathan's main job this past week has been finding us a place to live. AND he has succeeded--even though it is a really daunting task. Perth has less than 2% rental vacancies at the moment, and an odd system for renting. There is no central clearing house of rentals (each real estate agent handles each house seperately in each suburb). So if you are searching for rentals in 3 suburbs you need to visit 3-4 real estate agents in each suburb to find what is available. It's listed on-line in one place, but lots of the properties there go to fast (by the time you search on it its gone). But 10 minutes ago, we got a call that we have been approved as renters of a lovely 3 bed 1 bath unfurnished home in a suburb only about 1 mile from the beach, and 10 miles from my work. We had planned to find a furnished apartment but they are rare and it almost doubled the price of our rental. The hardest part is that the landlords consider anything not bolted in furniture (including the fridge and the washing machine)...so now that one decision is made we will face a multitude of others as we search want ads and stores for furnishings.

Most of you realize that Nathan and I usually dread making these sorts of purchasing decisions. Its a sign of our determination to get settled here (and Nathan's hard work) that we are making progress. But I am really looking forward to February when we can relax after work. A house means internet at home and better comms with everyone--that I am also looking forward to!

No Snakes (so far...)

Well, it's been 6 days, and no sign so far of poisonous snakes, ticks, spiders, octopi, shells, scorpions, crocodiles, jellyfish, or sharks (except for at dinner -- capet shark is yuuuummmy). I am a little disappointed, and I'm sure Kris would be disappointed, too, if she would come out of her tinted bubble.
The struggle to rent a house goes on. More on that when I'm feeling more charitable towards the real estate system here. For once, though, it is not our indecision holding up the process, but rather an inability to actually view any properties.
Other than that, things are great. 91 degrees, and so sunny that I got a sunburn in 15 minutes at 9AM. Heeellllloooo melanoma!
I'm going to step aside, while Kris adds a photo or two, but there will be more, and more regularly, when we don't have to buy our internet time in 30 minute chunks.
(tomorrow is Kris' first day at work -- wish her luck!)

Perth--At Last, Kristin

We arrived in Perth! It was a little more stressful this time, as our travel genie, finally ran out of magic. On the morning of January 4, Nathan and I got up early to pack our clothes and head for the airport for the final leg of our journey (MN, PA, MN, ND, MN, CA, NZ, AU!). Somehow our clothes had exploded and would not fit back in our suitcases. After quickly stuffing whatever wouldn't fit into a garbage bag, we hopped in the car to find that the journey that took 1.5 hours to leave the airport took, 2.25 hours to arrive at the airport. Then, we pulled our items from left luggage (storage) at the airport, stood in a long line, only to find that the bag weights which were okay getting into NZ were not okay getting out. In front of 200 or so people, we had to repack our bags. They weighed every single bag (even our carry on). Then when we got on the plane, it had mechanical difficulties!
Stressed we arrived to find the customs people really easy going, and my new boss, Vicky Dodd's picked us up from the airport! They were delightful and our travel frustrations melted away. (Until we saw our room at the hostel 8X8 with a double bed and 5 bags!) Have to dash as they are meeting us today for a tour of the city & surrounds. Pictures soon I promise!--Kristin

Happy New Year, in New Zealand--Kristin

Happy New Year! For our New Year's Resolution this year, we've said "New Year, New Country" We'll check that off the to do list in a couple of days. In the meantime, we've been enjoying New Zealand, which is so different from Australia.

1. New Zealand is one of the youngest land masses geologically--which means rugged mountains, active volcanoes, steep hills and valleys. Australia is on one of the oldest masses--flat and still.

2. New Zealand has nothing venemous. They make up for a lack of indigenous peril by inventing new ways to die, such as bungee jumping from anything over 12 feet high. Austalia, on the other hand, is much touted as having poisonous spiders, snakes, jellyfish, octopi, shells, ticks, and ravenous crocodiles and sharks, and therefore residents get their adrenaline rush from having made to work in one piece.

3. New Zealand is lush, green, and the North Island is well known for its farm produce. Australia is having its worst drought in 1000 years. BYO water if you're heading to Eastern South Australia.

4. New Zealand is a consistent mix of the Maori and primarily British immigrants and descedents, who get along relatively well and consider themselves kiwis all. Australians still have some racial tensions with the aboriginal peoples, as well as the large influx of people from asia and the pacific islands (30% of the population of perth is newly arrived).

5. There's snow in New Zealand, with regular skiing. Not so much in Australia.

And on, and on, and on. For two countries that we in the Northern Hemisphere tend to speak of as one larger entity, they are really quite different. If we hadn't left the power cord for our new digital camera with the mountain of luggage in the airport, we would be able to show you some of the photos. Alas, you'll just have to wait for the movie.

Well, we're off to look as some victorian gardens and hike a volcano -- more updates later!