I stayed up all night in Sydney to be "there" for the speech - the moment - that inevitably changed the world [balance]. We are all safer people with a better future. I'm feeling "religious".
So I got a late start on the day. A big day. 4 job offers to decide on, three different cities, two different hemispheres and countries...
Advice anyone???
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
New Week in Oz
Bare feet... they walk around, even in formal dress, with bare feet sometimes! Into restaurants. In the streets. Sober, sometimes, even.
Asian food... if you don't like it, you're not gonna be satiated. Most food is Asian. I'm in heaven.
r,
Full length sun dresses are very much in fashion.
Unfortunately, so are rat tails and mullets. Seriously. You have no idea. HUGEly popular. WEIRD.
Went to check out a room in a mansion in Pipers Point, Rose Bay today; THE most expensive neighborhood in the country. Where Tom and Nicole used to reside. Bedroom views the water, house comes with sailboat, pool in backyard, gourmet cook roomates, huge wine cellar. Hmmm...
NUTS: one roommate is from my home town of Napa. CRAZY.
Beautiful and inexpensive fast ferry ride back to Circular Quay. Almost like Sausalito to SF but shorter. To me, more famous: Opera House and Bridge and all... but then again, I grew up under the Golden Gate and Dad works in the TransAmerica Tower, etc. Grass is always Greener?
Green is my theme!
Asian food... if you don't like it, you're not gonna be satiated. Most food is Asian. I'm in heaven.
r,
Full length sun dresses are very much in fashion.
Unfortunately, so are rat tails and mullets. Seriously. You have no idea. HUGEly popular. WEIRD.
Went to check out a room in a mansion in Pipers Point, Rose Bay today; THE most expensive neighborhood in the country. Where Tom and Nicole used to reside. Bedroom views the water, house comes with sailboat, pool in backyard, gourmet cook roomates, huge wine cellar. Hmmm...
NUTS: one roommate is from my home town of Napa. CRAZY.
Beautiful and inexpensive fast ferry ride back to Circular Quay. Almost like Sausalito to SF but shorter. To me, more famous: Opera House and Bridge and all... but then again, I grew up under the Golden Gate and Dad works in the TransAmerica Tower, etc. Grass is always Greener?
Green is my theme!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Manly Beach
Sunday, January 18: Amazing dim sum lunch (and stalked by a chinese dragon) then up to Manly Beach for a day of volleyball. Or beach. Water is pretty warm! Manly is THE volleyball place to go. Note to self. "I'll be back"
Learned about the merits of "Goon" from a local and a bit of other Aussie slang. Yes, Goon is Box Wine, after you removed the box. Just carry the bag. "Goon Sack". Then when you have finished, you blow it up with air and use it as a pillow where ever you inevitably end up crashing...
"Fair dingum" = you know it / true dat / yup i agree
Finished in Waloomooloo for B-Boy-T's birthday. Re-met some familiar faces. Starting to feel like I have a life and friends here. Early night to bed...
Learned about the merits of "Goon" from a local and a bit of other Aussie slang. Yes, Goon is Box Wine, after you removed the box. Just carry the bag. "Goon Sack". Then when you have finished, you blow it up with air and use it as a pillow where ever you inevitably end up crashing...
"Fair dingum" = you know it / true dat / yup i agree
Finished in Waloomooloo for B-Boy-T's birthday. Re-met some familiar faces. Starting to feel like I have a life and friends here. Early night to bed...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
January 17
Saturday: Everyone is telling me they found me the perfect job -- http://www.islandreefjob.com/
I'm heading to a BBQ at Coogee Beach now. Unfortunately, it's not looking much like a summer day right now. Rain may be heading this way. But I'm anxious to check out Coogee -- as it might be a place to consider living.
Tonight, most everyone I've met here, we're all trying to meet up in The Royal Botanic Gardens for part of the Sydney Festival: Gypsy Queens & Kings. Can't wait. Hope we don't get rained out though.
http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2009/EVENTS_BY_DATE/_item/event/FESTIVAL_JAZZ
I'm heading to a BBQ at Coogee Beach now. Unfortunately, it's not looking much like a summer day right now. Rain may be heading this way. But I'm anxious to check out Coogee -- as it might be a place to consider living.
Tonight, most everyone I've met here, we're all trying to meet up in The Royal Botanic Gardens for part of the Sydney Festival: Gypsy Queens & Kings. Can't wait. Hope we don't get rained out though.
http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2009/EVENTS_BY_DATE/_item/event/FESTIVAL_JAZZ
Friday, January 16
I head to Manly Beach on the ferry today. Meeting a Dartmouth alum I found on LinkedIn that may have some job leads and advice. Will be great to find an alum down under and make a new friend. The ride over is gorgeous. About 30 minutes, past the Opera House, leading away from the famous bridge, through the harbor and up the coast.
The guy is great, he's been here a year, and is investing in start-ups. Great tie in to my work in New York for the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network. I've inquired with the college how many Dartmouth alums are in Oz and they will send me a list in order to get a club here started. I have found 2 more VCs as well so I wonder if we can have a DEN Down Under... DENDU.
I take the scenic Manly Beach walk around, soaking up the vistas. Then head back to CBD to meet up with NYCA friend and her new work mates at THE IVY. I am able to gain entrace (posh club and door people) despite my flip flops. Phew. We then head to Darling Harbor to CARGO (amazing views), followed by BUNGALOW 8. A decent NYC night for a Friday in Sydney in Summer.
The guy is great, he's been here a year, and is investing in start-ups. Great tie in to my work in New York for the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network. I've inquired with the college how many Dartmouth alums are in Oz and they will send me a list in order to get a club here started. I have found 2 more VCs as well so I wonder if we can have a DEN Down Under... DENDU.
I take the scenic Manly Beach walk around, soaking up the vistas. Then head back to CBD to meet up with NYCA friend and her new work mates at THE IVY. I am able to gain entrace (posh club and door people) despite my flip flops. Phew. We then head to Darling Harbor to CARGO (amazing views), followed by BUNGALOW 8. A decent NYC night for a Friday in Sydney in Summer.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
January 15
January 15: Drats! The company won't accept my 456 Visa Business Activities. I'm getting a huge run around. They won't accept the Student Visa either. My only option is the 457 Company Sponsored Business Visa but I have to pay for it myself upfront. Hmmmm... I called the personnel agency they recommended and that angle doesn't work either. I'm contacting lawyers and friends and advisers. There must be a work around. They need a visa solution from me today or they offer the job to someone else.
I gotta get to the beach sometime. It's summer in Sydney. Why am I spending all day on the internet in CBD?
Lesson: Yah, they don't know the term "downtown" -- it's Central Business District.
Gotta get this visa "sorted". Not organized or fixed but ... sorted. Very popular word.
4pm: was a beautiful hot sunny summer day, and I was regretting not being at the beach. But as I sit here outside the cafe writing on the computer under an umbrella, the thunder cracks, the sky opens and it begins pouring. Still a perfect temperature anyway.
In the miracle category, I ran into my Mauritian friend today. He's celebrating a new job and a new approved apartment. As he overheard my visa situation as I'm dealing with the company he called "a friend" for me. The guy says that the company will cover my visa ... suddenly ... with a few contacts. Whoa. I gotta see this. On second thought, no thanks. Sounds sketchy. Let's just see how it plays out. I tell the company let's do it, I'll cover the visa if they sponsor. I'm waiting to hear back.
But speaking of real miracles, I'm sure glad I wasn't flying out of LGA to Charlotte today! Damn geese.
I hear from all my new Sydney friends today -- they feel for me. That's nice to have support. I think they're equally excited for me to get a job and stay here.
The day closes with no final answers. I have to wait for their decision on how to proceed. Sucks it got so complicated. The B-Boys are now taking Chinese classes in the evening and they pick me up after and we head to Kings Cross to "Deans 2", a quiet, artsy spot. I get to learn a few Chinese words here and there as they practice. We ask what happened to Deans 1. We think it burned down.
It's a 2 Handstand Day. Was one, but nice finish.
I gotta get to the beach sometime. It's summer in Sydney. Why am I spending all day on the internet in CBD?
Lesson: Yah, they don't know the term "downtown" -- it's Central Business District.
Gotta get this visa "sorted". Not organized or fixed but ... sorted. Very popular word.
4pm: was a beautiful hot sunny summer day, and I was regretting not being at the beach. But as I sit here outside the cafe writing on the computer under an umbrella, the thunder cracks, the sky opens and it begins pouring. Still a perfect temperature anyway.
In the miracle category, I ran into my Mauritian friend today. He's celebrating a new job and a new approved apartment. As he overheard my visa situation as I'm dealing with the company he called "a friend" for me. The guy says that the company will cover my visa ... suddenly ... with a few contacts. Whoa. I gotta see this. On second thought, no thanks. Sounds sketchy. Let's just see how it plays out. I tell the company let's do it, I'll cover the visa if they sponsor. I'm waiting to hear back.
But speaking of real miracles, I'm sure glad I wasn't flying out of LGA to Charlotte today! Damn geese.
I hear from all my new Sydney friends today -- they feel for me. That's nice to have support. I think they're equally excited for me to get a job and stay here.
The day closes with no final answers. I have to wait for their decision on how to proceed. Sucks it got so complicated. The B-Boys are now taking Chinese classes in the evening and they pick me up after and we head to Kings Cross to "Deans 2", a quiet, artsy spot. I get to learn a few Chinese words here and there as they practice. We ask what happened to Deans 1. We think it burned down.
It's a 2 Handstand Day. Was one, but nice finish.
January 14
January 14, Wednesday. A lovely lunch with a local and still visa hunting. I have a job offer pending a visa. I’m this close to living here. Weird. Wow. Ha!
I splurge. Sensibility (I have some???) says so. I pay $200 for an appointment with immigration lawyer. Unfortunately my $30 phone call with Australian Immigration told me nothing. I’ll expect more from this and if it gets me my job, with out a marriage to an Aussie, then it’s worth it. Of course, I know it’s not corporate America when, in my first 5 minutes of the interview the Sr VP and VP suggest that I could “just marry an Aussie” to get my visa and work for them. Sure. In all my five days here. Well, then again, the security guy from the Opera Bar last night would have, I’m quite sure.
****!!!!! Oh Happy Days -- I find I really can get a visa that will [mostly] work for me! It's a 456 Business Activities Visa
Lesson: Most travelers here are on work/holiday visas which everyone told me I could get. Unfortunately due to my dashingly youthful good looks, I exceed that qualification by … well… years.
I call the company and tell them, “I’m all yours!!! Australian Idol, here I come!!!”
So, I’d call it a 5 handstand day.
I splurge. Sensibility (I have some???) says so. I pay $200 for an appointment with immigration lawyer. Unfortunately my $30 phone call with Australian Immigration told me nothing. I’ll expect more from this and if it gets me my job, with out a marriage to an Aussie, then it’s worth it. Of course, I know it’s not corporate America when, in my first 5 minutes of the interview the Sr VP and VP suggest that I could “just marry an Aussie” to get my visa and work for them. Sure. In all my five days here. Well, then again, the security guy from the Opera Bar last night would have, I’m quite sure.
****!!!!! Oh Happy Days -- I find I really can get a visa that will [mostly] work for me! It's a 456 Business Activities Visa
Lesson: Most travelers here are on work/holiday visas which everyone told me I could get. Unfortunately due to my dashingly youthful good looks, I exceed that qualification by … well… years.
I call the company and tell them, “I’m all yours!!! Australian Idol, here I come!!!”
So, I’d call it a 5 handstand day.
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