My first visitor in Sydney

I’ve only been here for two and a half weeks and I already have to tour my first visitor around Sydney. My former coworker and co-unemployed from Hood & Strong, Amin Namakian, decided to do his last leg of his tour from Japan to China to Australia before heading back to the bay area…and because he gets a free stay at our house!

The same day he arrived, I got my Medicare number. That means I can go to a primary doctor, do physical checkups, go to the emergency room all for free! Whew!!! I didn’t have insurance for almost a month since leaving Hood & Strong. So I’m glad I didn’t get sick. That’s the nice thing about their Medicare here. They’re very generous. Although if you need to get an eye check up or go to the dentist, you will need to purchase your own insurance (companies don’t usually provide insurance to their employees so most people buy their own insurance). But Medicare will pay a portion of your cost for going to these doctors. Nice!

Anywho, so I took Amin to Darling Harbour (I’ve never been there myself), took the ferry towards Circular Quay, walked to the Sydney Opera House then went home. We walked around Norton St (the street just around the corner from our house) and checked out the night life. Amin liked the area.

Next day, we went to the Blue Mountains to see the 3 Sisters. I would associate the Blue Mountains to our Grand Canyon in Arizona. The place is just amazing. The theory was there used to be water below the mountains and the 3 sisters used to be 5 spikes. Overtime, they crumbled and broke off. In a few years, one will fall off. Then another. Then there will be none. The tale of how the 3 Sisters came about was that these three sisters were turned into stone by a witchdoctor because they were not allowed to marry the men they were to marry. Unfortunately, the witchdoctor eventually died and so the sisters never came back to life. That sucks! After the blue mountains, we went to the small town of Leura while waiting for Natasha who went bushwalking at the Valley of the Waters. I’d like to go hiking one of these days back at the blue mountains to see more of it and to see the beautiful waterfalls. One of these days.

We got back to Leichhardt (by the way, we learned that Leichhardt is not only the Italian Community here but I guess its also were the lesbians live….yikes! Not that there’s anything wrong with that). We all had dinner at the Universal Hotel (hotel really means a bar and restaurant around here) for less than $10 steaks. I got the rump steak…I didn’t know that meant an ‘ass’ of something. But it was good! I’m not really a steak person anyway…mama, did you guys use up the Ruth’s Chris Steak house giftcard? Better use it now and get a taste of what celebrities eat. Avoid chicken for now because of the bird flu.

After dinner, Amin and I went to check out Newtown where they have lots of cafes, bars and restaurants, too. (FYI for me next time: take the bus on Norton St and get off at the corner of Norton and Paramatta. R on Paramatta, L of Railway St and find the Petersham train station ahead. Take the train towards the city and get off on Newtown station). We went to Kelly’s Sports bar to watch a soccer game then went to Zanzibar for some drinks. This was a nice one. Inside the bar, there were a couple of women wearing ‘3 minute angels’ T-shirt who were giving massages to anyone. We found out that these women are all over the city giving 10-15minute massages and collecting a charge to whatever the customer felt the service was worth. Amin got one. Overall, Newtown is a nice hang out place. More people are dressed down in this area compared to Norton St (maybe because they’re Italians???).

Next day, Amin and I went to check out the Powerhouse Museum (another place I haven’t been to). Since it was raining that day, we couldn’t really go to the zoo or the beach. Then we went to Chinatown to look at some cheap stuff. I didn’t buy anything…still on a budget. I saw Easy Way (the boba place) but I resisted myself…still on a budget. That was about it for the day coz it was raining all day.

The following day, I had a few interviews with a couple of recruiters and a company called Verisign (I’m sure you are well aware of this company. When you make payments online or log on to some secured websites, Verisign is the one that authenticates and provides the security). For some reason, the interviewer and I got to talk about sports in the bay area. Coz he’s been to the bay area (including Silicon Valley as I assume that’s where Verisign is). I mentioned to him that the Niners and the Raiders had won their respective football games and that I am rooting for any bay area teams. He says, “did you say ‘rooting’? How long have you been here?” I said two and a half weeks. It took him about 30 seconds to explain to me that ‘rooting’ is a slang word that means having sex. We had a good laugh about it. Cool guy. Good company and that job seems interesting. I just hope they offer it to me…only after I approve that the chocolate candies (Tim Tams) he offered me are good. Apparently, a candidate accepted a job because he liked the free Tim Tams around the office…I’m sure he was just kidding.

Michelle's 2xth bday at 'Pancakes on the Rocks' - great pancakes!!! - on Oct 25, 2005. This is also the last night before Michelle goes on her chocolate and nuts diet and Natasha's diet on sweets. Me, I get to eat all the chocolate leftovers at home!  

Free Day in the City

If you haven't got a job yet, you find ways to tour the city for free. So on Monday, Oct 24th, I spent the whole day without having to pay anything including my lunch (well, technically, I paid for it but they were leftovers from the other night).

Here are some sights that were free:

1. Hyde Park





















2. St Mary's Cathedral















3. Other sites along the way (Queen Victoria, Centerpointe, Art Gallery Rd, Didjeridoos)
















4. Art Gallery of New South Wales (NSW)
























5. The Domain and Royal Botanical Gardens - the botanical gardens is huge and I was getting tired so I only covered probably 1/4th of the area. Will have to explore some other time...









6. Museum of Contemporary Arts (too bad I can't take any pictures inside)

The end.

Acura Vigor - SOLD

Thank you mama and Carlo for helping me sell my car. Buy yourself some tapioca express with fried squid/chicken. Hehehehe.






My car for nearly 14 years...Acura Vigor 1992 with approximately 120,000 miles. It served me well with multiple trips to Las Vegas and LA, my commuter car during college and work.

Since we're at this subject, I saw a Holden car dealership along Paramatta road today. Back in the Philippines, my lolo/grandpa used to own a Holden car. One of a kind...at least back home during that time and probably til now. I found out today that Holden is an Australian maker under Chrysler, I believe...FYI, Mike and Carlo. But my lolo's car was sold eventually. The buyer turned it into a sportscar, a la thunderbird with a spoiler and a tv inside. I think I liked the original version better.

Chinatown

Natasha called in sick on Thursday so she accompanied me to Chinatown for me to check out and get some "cheap and cheery" food (as Prap would say it). Chinatown - Sydney is just like any other chinatown in the US, just like San Francisco. Mooncakes, buns, egg custard pies, mochis, etc. And of course, their version of Tapioca Express/boba milk tea...called Easy Way. It seems to have been a fad here about the same time as in the bay area. Carlo, my brother, thought I might not be able to find a boba milk tea place here so I had that as my last supper before I left the US. Within 9 days of arriving in Sydney, I found one. And now that I know what its called, I seem to notice more and more of it around the city and everywhere. Nice! Makes me feel at home...hahahhaha!!!

After having lunch in Chinatown, Natasha walked me through the surrounding area. There was Hyde park where they had more of the 'Art and About' exhibits. And the St Mary's Cathedral next to the park, one of the older Catholic churches around here and the main church for significant events. (This is where the St Mary's Cathedral choir belong...which I saw perform at last Sunday's mass). Per Natasha, the British inhabitants erected their Anglican Church in the middle of the city. When the Catholics wanted to build their own, the Anglicans gave them the piece of land between the dumpster and the area where people with diseases where quarantined. That Catholic church is St Mary's Cathedral. If you see it today, it is surrounded by a beautiful park (Hyde park) and lots of trees. On the other hand, the Anglican Church is now surrounded by buildings and businesses where lots of traffic and people pass by everyday.


Since I've arrived in Sydney, its been cloudy and rainy. This day was not an exception. After checking out Chinatown, I went home with no umbrella and lots of plastic bags to carry. Once I got off the bus, I just realized that I forgot my house key in my room. It started to rain very hard but good thing the bus stop was shaded. What to do, what to do??? I went at the back of our house, left all the stuff there, and went back to the city. At 6:30pm, I am to attend a Taize at St Patrick's Church with Mitch and Natasha. It was only 5pm when I got to the city...and it was still raining. Good thing I've been observant of the area for the past few days and I knew there was a Four Seasons Hotel next to the church. So I lounged, used the restroom, and hanged out at the Four Season's lobby for about an hour before I met up with Mitch and Natasha at the church. Sosi!!! Hehehhee.

Saturday, we went to IKEA to buy more furnitures (table, drawers, and a mirror) for my room. My room is getting there. After that, we went to Sydney's Olympic park (used during the 2000 Olympics), took some pictures, watched a cycling event, and checked out the Aquatic Center where lots of Australians won medals for swimming (ie. Ian Thorpe, the "Thorpedo"). Went home, had dinner at "Gioia" with the gang, and went to the cinema to watch "Pride and Prejudice." (Note: the Italian film festival is being celebrated here in our Italian neighborhood of Leichhardt from Oct 13-30).

So far, things have been eventful here at my stay in Sydney... but need to get a job soon!

Sydney Opera House. This is the real thing...how surreal!!!  

Carlo, you didn't think I'd find a boba place here, huh? In 9 days, I found one in Chinatown (where else?). Its called Easy Way. I ordered Jasmin Milk Tea. 

Interviews

Monday, Oct 17th, I had my interview with recruiters from Robert Half Int'l (my former employers). It was good to know the recruiter, Brian Schroder, was an American from Wash, DC and understood where I was coming from. Next day, Tuesday, I had another interview with a different recruiter, Mark Smith, from people2people. This same day, RHI already had set me up with 2 company interviews on Tuesday afternoon. It went well and it seems they liked me (Mitsui and Downeredi). But I guess with the type of company, type of job, and environment I wanted, it wasn't a match. Oh well. Four interviews within my first week here was not too bad.

Tuesday night, michelle and I hosted a dinner for 9 people (me, michelle, andrew, tita terry, melissa, husband kelly, cameron, kim, and boyfriend anthony). Relatives of tito frank taracatac and the family that michelle lived with the past 2yrs. Tuesday was soo busy for me with 3 interviews that day then coming home to prepare meals for 9 people...i almost burnt the salmon and mash potatoes. but they liked it anyway. hehehehe.

Wednesday, my one week anniversary in Australia!!! I went to visit tita terry's place at the Rocks. Nice area, the older part of the city...made out, of course, rocks! strolled around the rocks, circular quay, and sydney opera house with tita terry and kim. very surreal! can't believe i'm seeing the harbor bridge and sydney opera house close up! went to the customs house library, saw art and about exhibit outside, and a man playing the australian aboriginal didjeridoos.







i'm getting used to the bus system in the city now, where to get off and where to get on. funny thing happened. so after the tour of the city, i got on the 440 bus. after a few stops, lo and behold, guess who gets on the same bus. mitch!!! hahahaha. i was calling her name and she was surprised...who could be calling her from the back of the bus. on the same trip back home, i saw another guy who i rode with on the same bus that morning! how small can this city be. the other day, i went to the grocery store (woolworth) and i see andrew buying his groceries, too. i was calling his name and he was surprised...who could be calling my name with an american accent. YES, i have the accent over here. i'm the foreigner. i'd like to keep it that way to keep me distinct and different from everybody. Even the interviewer said, "i assume you're not from here because you have a different accent." moa! i wonder if we sound funny to them???

here's a quote that i saw on the art and about exhibit today (slippers/thongs painted by different people and attached to each other to form a huge whirl):

dance like nobody is watching
work like you don't need the money
and love like you've never been hurt

here's the real quote by mark twain:
Dance like nobody's watching;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Sing like nobody's listening
Live like it's heaven on earth.

Cheers!

My First Weekend

Friday night, I made dinner for 4 (me, cousin michelle, andrew, and natasha)...sort of a test run for tuesday night's dinner with tita terry and family. I made salmon, baked veggies, and mash potatoes. They were impressed...including presentation-wise! naks naman! galing no? After dinner, we all stayed up late preparing the food for the housewarming party on Sat. I made some potato salad and my secret recipe (cream cheese jello....see, i know how to cook and make some desserts, too!). kala niyo, di ko alam. I learned how to make buko pandan dessert...c/o Mitch.

Saturday, people started to come in around 5pm...starting with Father Ants (anthony) to bless our house. Lots of people came...michelle and natasha's friends and coworkers. I met new people. A couple of them were accountants (karla and bernadette) and were competing to sell their companies for me to work for. So to be fair, I'm passing my resume to both. I'm so lucky I got here at the right time. Accountants, besides nurses, are in demand right now. So any of you accountants who need a job (but i'm sure we don't lack that in the US), move here and keep me company. Let's see how many people i can remember from the party: me, michelle, andrew, natasha, father ants, bernadette, gaby, jasmin, kim, stephen, hans, karla, another michelle, ingrid, mikaela, sam, lisa, ebony, brenda, michael, silvi, stephanie, another natasha, ana...i think that's abt it (maybe missed 1 or 2 people). I did pretty good with the names! we served so much food but were almost gone by the end of the night. The party was a success but too much work! That night, I learned a few things about Australia: (1) most people only have 5 channels on TV. In fact, one morning, I turned on the tv and i flipped to only 5 channels. When my cousin arrived from work, i asked her if there's something wrong with the TV...hahahha...so i learned that pretty much you only get 5 channels here...sucks! unless you get cable. but i made sure they had desperate housewives here coz i've missed a couple of episodes of season 2...fortunately, australia is still in season 1...so i can predict the future and let them know what's gonna happen. (2) CA - chartered accts are equivalent to our CPAs in the US. They do have CPAs here, too, but they are lower than CAs. That's good to know coz when i tell them i'm a CPA, they might think its the lower level of acct. (3) they have boba/tapioca drinks here, too....somewhere in chinatown. so i'm gonna have to look for that and get me some! so that's just some of the things i learned that night...in addition to crossing the street by looking to your right first and making sure i get on the right bus on the other side of the road otherwise, i go home the opposite way (because they drive on the other side of the road). i also measured how much my ideal weight limit is in kilos as opposed to pounds (i still don't get as to why the US is still in the english system while everywhere else is in the metric system). miles to kilometers, gallons to liters, US dollars to Australian dollars....so much to learn but a great experience indeed!

sunday, we attended a latin mass. the mass on sunday was special to celebrate the feast of the maternity of the blessed virgin mary declaring that mary was truly the mother of God. Also special was because the oldest musical institution of Australia founded in 1818, the St Mary's Cathedral Choir, performed during the mass. The mass was medieval themed, nothing to do with the feast. After the mass over at the church lawns, they had a children's contest (medieval drawings, medieval costumes, etc). lots of people were dressed up in medieval times. This reminds me of halloween that's coming up soon. I guess they don't really celebrate halloween here...it is slowly coming to australia but its not the culture. so i'll miss the times i went to castro in SF during halloween or the halloween parties.

...MY FIRST WEEKEND IN AUSTRALIA. but don't expect that i'll have more stories nor will i have long ones going forward. its pretty much gonna settle down and get normal around here in a couple of weeks.

Arrival in Sydney

hello everyone,
after 14 hrs of direct flight on monday, oct10th from SFO to Sydney plus some minor delays in SFO, i'm finally down under. flight was not bad...i was able to sleep off more than 50% of flying time....magically when i woke up, Tues, Oct 11th never existed to me. I arrived wednesday at about 6:30am and did not get out of the airport until abt 2hrs later...coz i had to go through customs, long lines, inspection lines (yup, i had food!!! but it was worth it coz they're good and made by tita imelda) and bleh, bleh, bleh. and it seems like my permanent visa worked...its not a hoax. so i get out of the exit and i see sooo many people that there was no way i could find my cousin, michelle. i went out, walked around, and finally decided to ask someone's cell phone and called her. i told him i didn't have any money (AUD) with me and immediately, he said sure! called my cousin and next thing i know, i see my cousin running towards me...wooohooo!!!!

oh yea...it was raining when i arrived...i guess it was spring showers!!!

so we took a taxi...a bigger taxi than the regular ones...coz, you know, i have two oversized bags (which its worth it to mention that i went over the weight limit by abt 4lbs but the agent let me through anyway eventhough he was ready to charge me...btw, the limit is now 50lbs if you bought your ticket after sept 6th...most airlines require this now). got home, waited for our new washing machine and dryer to arrive, then we were off to downtown...not sightseeing (geez, i have 3 yrs to do that), but went to CBD (central business district) to open a bank acct, went to the medicare office, tax office, looked at some cell phones, and tried to get to know the streets, area, shopping...especially knowing where to go next monday for my interview with a robert half recruiter (my former employers back in the bay area).

so we left CBD then went back home to Leichhardt (italian community similar to north beach in SF). i had to do some shopping (soap, shampoo, etc so i can take a shower that night) and some pillows (so i can sleep that night). we had dinner at, of course, in an italian restaurant with michelle, her bf (andrew), and another roommate (natasha). now i know 3 people on my 1st day here.

thurs, michelle had to go back to work so i'm all by myself. went to a nearby shopping area (leichhardt marketplace) to get my USD exchanged...unfortunately, they can't exchange all the money i brought and i didn't want to get charged a fee everythime i go back. so i left the bank and went to woolworth (yes, they have that here...i think they closed all the stores in the western US...california, at least). i had to exchange some yogurt that my cousin bought abt 5 days ago. i'm glad they took it back and let me exchange it for another. but the item i exchanged it for was a little more expensive than the one i gave back. at this point, i still didn't have any AUD so what to do? well, i just told them i just arrived yesterday and i didn't have any cash on me. the lady behind the counter said, oh, that's ok. don't worry abt it. and the lady next to me offered to pay for it, too. Very nice people around here. then i went back to CBD (20 min bus ride from our place) and went to the bank where i had opened my account (supposedly, they had more money limits in the suburbs than in the city and the lady told me the suburb bank workers didn't like the city bank workers either). after that, i got my cell phone (vodafone). my cell# is 0404789143. i guess you have to dial the international code first (which i don't know) before dialing this. i don't get charged for any incoming calls.

then i went back to the marketplace in the afternoon, bought more stuff (ie. hangers for my clothes, lamp, drawers/boxes, etc) and started unpacking. almost done unpacking.

i'm cooking friday night (see, i know how to cook) for 4. we'll see how it goes! test run for another dinner i'm having with cousin michelle and tita/aunt terry on tuesday next week.

ok. gotta go. will catch up with you later again.

luv,
celestine