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!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Monday, January 8, 2007
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!)
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!)
Saturday, January 6, 2007
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
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
Monday, January 1, 2007
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!
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!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Arrived in New Zealand--Kristin
Just a quick note to let everyone know we have arrived....in New Zealand. We are staying here until January 4th to enjoy a few days of relaxation before we start getting set up in Perth in earnest. After a quick tour of downtown Auckland, a walk along the coast, and a long hot shower, we are feeling human again. We are staying this week with friends from vet school, Pete and Amanda. They have immigrated to New Zealand, so probably have lots of great advice to offer...(if we can stay awake for it tonight).
We aren't going to be able to check skype for a little while, but will be returning phone messages shortly (Marty...I know its been weeks....we will get back soon, but yes it's too late to get together for walleyball!).
Photos of NZ and more philosophical stuff later.
We aren't going to be able to check skype for a little while, but will be returning phone messages shortly (Marty...I know its been weeks....we will get back soon, but yes it's too late to get together for walleyball!).
Photos of NZ and more philosophical stuff later.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Saying Goodbye--Kristin
Wow. what a week. What a fun, frantic,full, horrible, emotional, roller coaster of a week.
On Tuesday of last week, Nathan and I decided that we were "on schedule" enough that we could indulge in a road trip to surprise our friend Hilary Peterson for her (gulp) 30th birthday. After some secretive calls to Eric (while he was "cleaning the garage.) We arranged to meet at a restaurant in Pittsburgh on December 7th.
On December 6, we drove to St. Charles sold my saturn, then piled into Nathan's car on the first leg of our road trip (we knew we had to get past Chicago before we crashed for the night). The next day we set off early through sun, then snow, then sun, then snow, (darn lakes!) to arrive in Pittsburgh at rush hour on the day of the Cleveland Browns v. Steelers football game. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Eric and Hilary had not arrived. We settled in to wait for the surprise--hiding behind our menus for their arrival. At about 7 pm, the hostess led Eric and Hilaryto a table for 2 only to find 2 people setting at it. When we lowered our menus, Hilary was so shocked, she couldn't breath. After a few minutes of recovery, we talked the night away, got a tour of their new house, and laughed some more about our crazy road trip.
At 6 the next morning (ugh) we hopped back in the car, to drive back to Madison, WI. At Madison, I met with the Director of Development for UW Vet School to get tips for my new job. The next day Nathan attended a conference, and then we drove back to Rochester. We finished our road trip stretch with a drive to Waconia and Chaska on Sunday the 10th. I had Christmas with my best friend Connie (tearful and laughing the whole time), while Nathan visited with his Grandma. Nathan's mom had a Christmas feast--halibut, shrimp, porkchops, asparagus, all of our favorite things--while we visited with Grandma Halvorson, Martha, & Dick.
Monday was packing, so far we were right on schedule.
Tuesday changed everything.
At 7:30 am, we got the call that my Grandma, Olga Smith had passed away. It was hard to know how to feel. I was sad, Grandma was a wonderful, upbeat, wise woman, who despite a diagnosis of lung cancer in September was still very healthy, mentally was sharp as a tack, with her hearing and eyesight only slightly diminished. I miss laugh and smile and ready conversation so much. At the same time, I knew she did not want to live through pain of a long struggle against lung cancer. Because of our move to Australia, we had said our goodbyes--told each other how much we loved each other, and appreciated our time together. I was sad for my mom, who had an incredibly close relationship with Grandma despite the 400 miles of distance, knowing that she would be coping with this loss at the same time I would be moving. I was glad for the opportunity to attend the funeral, to remember with my family, to be there to support each other.
Nathan and I soldiered through the day, attending meetings, signing papers, making plans to leave for North Dakota to attend the funeral. The day was a blur. Until we arrived at Sontes at 5:00 pm. It was our LAST leaving party (we started having good bye parties in July, this was our 6th!). Surrounded by theater friends, work colleagues, our friends from church, and so many others, we were comforted, we laughed, we hugged tearful goodbyes, we invited visitors and made travel plans. It was a wonderful night.
Wednesday, Nathan and I completed our packing, drove to Blue Earth with our last load of things for the storage unit, before having dinner with my sister Julie, her daughter Crystal and Crystal's son Spencer. The funeral meant we would have to postpone the big family Christmas we were planning on Saturday, so it really meant a lot to me to get to say goodbye to Julie, Crystal and Spencer before we left.
Thursday, we finished the cleaning (I hope our new buyers don't look to closely in the showers!) and then drove to North Dakota for the visitation. While the reality of Grandma's passing was difficult, the energy and enthusiasm of my family joined together in an improptu reunion was uplifting. We met after the visitation for dinner, which was as full of jokes as sad stories, as full of laughter as of tears.
Friday, at 11:00 am, we attended Grandma's funeral. The service was lovely, but I think she would have been most touched by the music. All the grandkids joined together to sing Amazing Grace. Mardee's boys sang, "I can only imagine" a song about what heaven must be like. Listening to Josh, Andy, and Logan, I couldn't help but cry. Nathan and I followed the boys, singing Softly and Tenderly. Following the service and internment, we met at the church where she was surrounded by the friends she had made in her 94 years of devoted church membership.
Saturday, we looked through photos with family before having to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to my parents, with this painful reminder that life is short and unpredictable, was probably the most difficult thing I have done as an adult.
When we left for England, I didn't think about leaving Mom and Dad or leaving MN, I was afraid about living overseas. Then I was scared for me. I didn't think about mortality. Leaving this time, I am confident that Nathan and I will have a wonderful time in Australia, but I am more aware of what I will be missing in Minnesota. I know that Australia is only a day away, and that we will be calling frequently, and seeing each other a couple of times a year. But, I will miss golfing with my dad. sitting around the kitchen table with my mom. getting together with my brothers and sisters for birthdays and holidays. seeing Spencer, Sam, Owen, Marianna grow up.
Now we face more goodbyes. Goodbyes to Nathan's mom and Grandma, goodbye to Alan's family, goodbye to Nathan's dad, his sister's family. While I can not wait to arrive in Australia, saying goodbye to those we love in the US is so hard. But in saying goodbye, I find myself doing something that non-demonstrative Minnesota Lutherans usually don't. Telling the people in my life how much I love them.
On Tuesday of last week, Nathan and I decided that we were "on schedule" enough that we could indulge in a road trip to surprise our friend Hilary Peterson for her (gulp) 30th birthday. After some secretive calls to Eric (while he was "cleaning the garage.) We arranged to meet at a restaurant in Pittsburgh on December 7th.
On December 6, we drove to St. Charles sold my saturn, then piled into Nathan's car on the first leg of our road trip (we knew we had to get past Chicago before we crashed for the night). The next day we set off early through sun, then snow, then sun, then snow, (darn lakes!) to arrive in Pittsburgh at rush hour on the day of the Cleveland Browns v. Steelers football game. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Eric and Hilary had not arrived. We settled in to wait for the surprise--hiding behind our menus for their arrival. At about 7 pm, the hostess led Eric and Hilaryto a table for 2 only to find 2 people setting at it. When we lowered our menus, Hilary was so shocked, she couldn't breath. After a few minutes of recovery, we talked the night away, got a tour of their new house, and laughed some more about our crazy road trip.
At 6 the next morning (ugh) we hopped back in the car, to drive back to Madison, WI. At Madison, I met with the Director of Development for UW Vet School to get tips for my new job. The next day Nathan attended a conference, and then we drove back to Rochester. We finished our road trip stretch with a drive to Waconia and Chaska on Sunday the 10th. I had Christmas with my best friend Connie (tearful and laughing the whole time), while Nathan visited with his Grandma. Nathan's mom had a Christmas feast--halibut, shrimp, porkchops, asparagus, all of our favorite things--while we visited with Grandma Halvorson, Martha, & Dick.
Monday was packing, so far we were right on schedule.
Tuesday changed everything.
At 7:30 am, we got the call that my Grandma, Olga Smith had passed away. It was hard to know how to feel. I was sad, Grandma was a wonderful, upbeat, wise woman, who despite a diagnosis of lung cancer in September was still very healthy, mentally was sharp as a tack, with her hearing and eyesight only slightly diminished. I miss laugh and smile and ready conversation so much. At the same time, I knew she did not want to live through pain of a long struggle against lung cancer. Because of our move to Australia, we had said our goodbyes--told each other how much we loved each other, and appreciated our time together. I was sad for my mom, who had an incredibly close relationship with Grandma despite the 400 miles of distance, knowing that she would be coping with this loss at the same time I would be moving. I was glad for the opportunity to attend the funeral, to remember with my family, to be there to support each other.
Nathan and I soldiered through the day, attending meetings, signing papers, making plans to leave for North Dakota to attend the funeral. The day was a blur. Until we arrived at Sontes at 5:00 pm. It was our LAST leaving party (we started having good bye parties in July, this was our 6th!). Surrounded by theater friends, work colleagues, our friends from church, and so many others, we were comforted, we laughed, we hugged tearful goodbyes, we invited visitors and made travel plans. It was a wonderful night.
Wednesday, Nathan and I completed our packing, drove to Blue Earth with our last load of things for the storage unit, before having dinner with my sister Julie, her daughter Crystal and Crystal's son Spencer. The funeral meant we would have to postpone the big family Christmas we were planning on Saturday, so it really meant a lot to me to get to say goodbye to Julie, Crystal and Spencer before we left.
Thursday, we finished the cleaning (I hope our new buyers don't look to closely in the showers!) and then drove to North Dakota for the visitation. While the reality of Grandma's passing was difficult, the energy and enthusiasm of my family joined together in an improptu reunion was uplifting. We met after the visitation for dinner, which was as full of jokes as sad stories, as full of laughter as of tears.
Friday, at 11:00 am, we attended Grandma's funeral. The service was lovely, but I think she would have been most touched by the music. All the grandkids joined together to sing Amazing Grace. Mardee's boys sang, "I can only imagine" a song about what heaven must be like. Listening to Josh, Andy, and Logan, I couldn't help but cry. Nathan and I followed the boys, singing Softly and Tenderly. Following the service and internment, we met at the church where she was surrounded by the friends she had made in her 94 years of devoted church membership.
Saturday, we looked through photos with family before having to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to my parents, with this painful reminder that life is short and unpredictable, was probably the most difficult thing I have done as an adult.
When we left for England, I didn't think about leaving Mom and Dad or leaving MN, I was afraid about living overseas. Then I was scared for me. I didn't think about mortality. Leaving this time, I am confident that Nathan and I will have a wonderful time in Australia, but I am more aware of what I will be missing in Minnesota. I know that Australia is only a day away, and that we will be calling frequently, and seeing each other a couple of times a year. But, I will miss golfing with my dad. sitting around the kitchen table with my mom. getting together with my brothers and sisters for birthdays and holidays. seeing Spencer, Sam, Owen, Marianna grow up.
Now we face more goodbyes. Goodbyes to Nathan's mom and Grandma, goodbye to Alan's family, goodbye to Nathan's dad, his sister's family. While I can not wait to arrive in Australia, saying goodbye to those we love in the US is so hard. But in saying goodbye, I find myself doing something that non-demonstrative Minnesota Lutherans usually don't. Telling the people in my life how much I love them.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
For those of you who are curious, here is the update.
It was a big day yesterday -- Kristin's family came over from Elmore and my mom came down from Chaska to help us load up the worldly belongings that were either too sentimental or too practical to part with and drive them over to a storage unit in Blue Earth. It was a pretty busy day and a half, but we are left with an empty house, sore backs, and a load of gratitude for those who were able to help.
Travel stuff: We are leaving Minnesota (really -- tickets and everything!) on Dec. 18th, at an ungodly hour of the morning. Arrival in SFO, then a couple of days visiting with Alan and Masami and the boys wherever we find them. A couple of days in Fort Bragg with dad, and then Christmas eve through the 27th with Deb and Tim, with a celebration of Debbie's 40th birthday (observed).
Jake's itinerary is a little more complex, and has caused much anxiety and wringing of hands. He goes to LAX on the 15th, Sydney on the 20th, and comes over to Perth after the mandatory quarantine is finished in January.
The 27th is the day -- after 4 years of planning, saving, spending, and stressing, we fly from San Francisco to Auckland, NZ on the 27th for a little vacation, then on to Perth on 4th of January. Address in Perth will change 2-3 times in the first few months, but we'll keep this site updated.
I was hoping to be witty, entertaining, and informative, but only had energy enough for 1 out of 3. -nm-
It was a big day yesterday -- Kristin's family came over from Elmore and my mom came down from Chaska to help us load up the worldly belongings that were either too sentimental or too practical to part with and drive them over to a storage unit in Blue Earth. It was a pretty busy day and a half, but we are left with an empty house, sore backs, and a load of gratitude for those who were able to help.
Travel stuff: We are leaving Minnesota (really -- tickets and everything!) on Dec. 18th, at an ungodly hour of the morning. Arrival in SFO, then a couple of days visiting with Alan and Masami and the boys wherever we find them. A couple of days in Fort Bragg with dad, and then Christmas eve through the 27th with Deb and Tim, with a celebration of Debbie's 40th birthday (observed).
Jake's itinerary is a little more complex, and has caused much anxiety and wringing of hands. He goes to LAX on the 15th, Sydney on the 20th, and comes over to Perth after the mandatory quarantine is finished in January.
The 27th is the day -- after 4 years of planning, saving, spending, and stressing, we fly from San Francisco to Auckland, NZ on the 27th for a little vacation, then on to Perth on 4th of January. Address in Perth will change 2-3 times in the first few months, but we'll keep this site updated.
I was hoping to be witty, entertaining, and informative, but only had energy enough for 1 out of 3. -nm-
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