Aussie Aussie Aussie

Oi Oi Oi!!!

I became an Aussie citizen today! Cousin Michelle came with me to Parramatta...she was my supporter/photographer. Hehe! Thanks, Mitch!

I lodged my application for a passport the other day. At first, I went to the Post Office and I was turned away coz I didn't have an appointment. The second time around, it got rejected coz the lady said I was showing my teeth on the photo. Plus, there were some minor handwriting errors on the application and I had to re-write them again. And, I forgot to bring my Aussie Certificate...the proof I'm a citizen. Geez! They made it so easy for me to pass the written test but so difficult to apply for a passport. So I will be going tomorrow for the third time. Wish me luck!!! I need a passport before I get out of this country. Otherwise, I might not get in without hassle.

Sounds like a Seinfeld Episode v1

I had a Seinfeld episode last week.

I went to the restroom at this pub and the lady next to my stall was like, "Hey, I don't have any tissue in here. Can you pass me some?" And I see her hand trying to reach at the bottom of the stall. I wasn't sure at first if I should give her some. But I rolled some tissue and handed it to her and making sure I don't touch her hand (eww!). Then she says, "that isn't enough" in a sort of angry way. And I was thinking, geez lady, I was just trying to help!!! Anyway, she realized later that her daughter was actually on the other side of her stall, and not on my side.

Nappy Change

We had our assessment in our childcare class for nappy changing...on a dummy.

At first, our teacher had to demonstrate a step by step procedure on how to change diapers. In simple terms:

1. Get all the stuff you need and set it next to the changing area

2. Put paper towel on the nappy change area

3. Put the baby on the nappy change area and never let your sight out of the kid

4. Put your gloves on

5. Take the diaper out

6. Wipe the area from front to bottom

7. Take your gloves out and put it around the dirty diapers and throw in the garbage

8. Put the new diapers on

9. Wipe the baby's hands

The whole class made mistakes everywhere. Two moms had to repeat the procedure coz they didn't follow the right directions. One student took her eyes off the kid (automatic fail). One had their dirty hands all over the new diapers (I think that was me!). Everyone was nervous even though most of the students have done it before or they are already moms!!!

Two Concerts in One Day

I went to watch the symphony at the Opera House for the Bugs Bunny show. They played the cartoons in the big screen while the symphony played the background music.

After the show, I went to the Sydney Entertainment Centre to watch John Mayer. After the concert, all I played on my iPod for days and days was John Mayer. Talk about overplay.

Symphony and Rock Concert in one day.

80s Flashback

I was hit by a double dose of 80s flashback! I went to the 'Tears for Fears' and 'Spandau Ballet' concert this weekend.

I enjoyed TFF more as I knew more of their songs (i.e. Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout, Head Over Heels, Woman in Chains, and more). I thought I knew a lot of SB's songs but I only knew these: Gold, True, Communication, Round and Round).

Abseiling

The day after the horse races, we drove to Glenworth Valley, about 1.5hrs from Sydney (around Gosford area) and tried abseiling. New experiences for me this weekend.

It was really scary at first especially when you get to the ledge and you have to support yourself by putting one hand behind your back and supporting yourself (of course, someone is belaying you, too).

We started off at 6m, then 15m, and last was a 23m height with a cave down below. It was fun!

Check that off my list!!!

Races at the Royal Randwick - Autumn Carnival 2010

I got 10 tickets to watch the horse race which was sponsored by my company, David Jones, at the member's lounge. I've always wanted to check out the races where you get to dress up and bet on the horses. And so we did! I spent about $40 and got about 50% ROI. Not bad and we enjoyed it! Got the tickets for Free!!!

McDonald's after Good Friday

Just like last year, after fasting and eating no meat on Good Friday, we drove to McDonald's at midnight for a midnight snack. I think we'll make this a tradition every year now. He he.

When I first arrived in Australia, my coworker kept saying that she went to Mackers for breakfast this morning. I never knew what Mackers was. We called it Mickeydees (if that's even how you spell it) in the US. Or McDo in the Philippines.

Surprise Bday Party!!!

Grace organized a surprise birthday party for Michelle one Sunday. She made sure Michelle was gonna come before she invited everyone else. Well, everyone else showed up except for the Guest of Honor.

Childcare Playsession

I've been taking a childcare course at TAFE since February to get my certificate. This past Saturday, we had a playsession and we learned to make playdough and paint from scratch. Its so easy and cheap to make and most importantly, fun for kids and adults.

Here are the recipes:

playdough

cooked:

2 cups plain flour

1 cup salt

4 tbsp cream of tartar

2 tbsp oil

2 cups water

colouring (add color to water before pouring to mixture)

mix ingredients together and cook gently over low heat. stir all the time until it thickens.

uncooked:

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 tbsp oil

2 cups water

colouring (add color to water before pouring to mixture)

mix ingredients together. add flour if dough is sticky

PAINT

cornflour paste

add 2 cups cornflour and stir a small amount of cold water and mix til smooth, watery consistency (kindda like milk)

carefully and slowly add boiling water stirring continuously until thickens. mix til smooth paste. add color

ENJOY!!!

Aussie Citizenship

In celebration of me getting my aussie citizenship, my friends gave me a few small gifts:

1. An aussie flag

2. Top 100 Aussie songs of all time

3. My own bottle of vegemite (which I like)

4. A quiz on Aussie Slang (don't even get me started on this. I'm not even up to speed on American slang. Maybe its a good thing)

Am waiting for them to buy me the drinks...and believe me, if I had to try all the beers in Australia, it will take me forever.

God save the Queen!

Miranda Kerr

David Jones had their Winter Fashion Launch and I got to volunteer to be a seat filler / usher. You know how in the Oscars, when the audience goes to the toilet, they have seat fillers so when the camera points to the audience, it looks like the place is full? Well, some of our guests didn't show up so I sat on the audience next to top Aussie designers and celebs...I don't really know them.

Miranda Kerr is our company's ambassador and she was the opening runway model for the fashion show. So exciting!!! This is the closest I will ever be to a Victoria Secret Model.

Citizenship Test

I passed my Australian citizenship test!!! Woohooo!!!!

My Birthday Cakes!!!

I had too many bday celebrations this year. My first cake is a tiramisu (c/o Sovanni). The first celebration is with my Legion of Mary group at St Mary's Cathedral.

Then at work, they bought me a personalized sized cake (chocolate yummy cake!!! I should have taken a picture of it).

On my actual bday, Mei made such a beautiful, almost professional cake. She's been taking professional classes and taking courses from YouTube. She said she'll make my wedding cake...by then, she'll be a PRO!!!

Two days later, Mei made another bday cake for me and LJ to share for our bdays (see left picture). I cooked a Mexican dinner just for the Alviar cousins + Mei. This one really looks cute. She made two of these on one day.

The third and last cake that Mei made me is for the big birthday celebration (see right). Gosh, too much practice on me, Mei.

Symphony at the Domain

I can finally complete all the free concerts at the Domain every start of the summer season. I've done the Carols at the Domain, Free Opera and Jazz, Tropfest...and the last one, the Symphony!!!

All morning, the weather was about 40 degrees. We thought, if we get there by 4pm, there should be a lot of good spots for us to sit since the weather would have turned off a lot of people. And sure we did get a good spot. At around 5pm, it started to rain so hard!!! Ay yah!!! Bernadette and I were wearing white. We decided, let's go to David Jones (my company) to buy some change of clothes...while we left everybody else in the rain. Haha! We were at the department store for about an hour. When we finally got out and got changed, the sun started to come out. Geez!

Anyway, we enjoyed the night. Just a drizzle here and there.

More of Surrounding Adelaide

Glenelg - apparently a cool, hang out place near the beach. We went to the beach and made a sand castle. That's Noli and LJ looking like fetuses inside an ovary (probably not biologically correct) but we all thought it was funny!!!

Here's another picture of Glenelg - I think the picture on the left just ruins the whole thing. Haha!!!

Port Adelaide - nice Lighthouse! There are ferries on this port where it will take you to see dolphins. Sometimes, they would have movie nights with the lighthouse as its backdrop. Next to it is a huge warehouse which they've turned into a flea market. This is where I bought my first books of the Chronicles of Narnia. I have yet to complete my collection of all 7 books.

There's definitely more to see in Adelaide. I wish I had a few more days there.

Mt Lofty & Handorf

The view of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, from Mt Lofty.

Then we headed to Handorf, a little German town, just a few minutes away. The Germans first settled in South Australia and made this place their home with the traditional Budweiser horse carriages, a Brauhaus (brewery), shops selling cuckoo clocks, puppets, and of course, we had some schnitzels, and sauerkrauts, and beer (well, not me).

Its a cute little town that reminds of this Danish town in California called Solvang.

Granite Island, Victor Harbour

Boxing Day in Adelaide - Dec 26, 2009

Alviar cousins and I went to Victor Harbour where they have Granite Island...an island full of granite stone (you know, like the one you put on your kitchen countertop).

I would have to pick this picture of my nephew, Rafael, as the best one...standing on a big piece of granite stone. The inspiration - we were listening to Michael Jackson on the way to Victor Harbour.

Xmas in Adelaide - 2009

We spent Xmas in Adelaide, South Australia, with cousin Noli and family this 2009. We arrived on Xmas day when everything was closed. It was a ghost town, which was good! We drove around the city with no hassle.

Adelaide is where the free settlers immigrated to when they first came to Australia. It is the capital city of South Australia. It is also called the city of churches...it seemed like every block, they had a church...different denominations.

(picture was taken infront of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church)

Pulp Fiction

When was the last time you saw the movie 'Pulp Fiction' on the big screen?

We went to Centennial Park for the Moonlight Cinema to watch the movie on a big screen outdoors.  We had our picnic blankets, our food, and drinks.  We almost didn't make it.  The projector wasn't working when we got there and it started to drizzle.  Fortunately, they were able to fix the projector just before sundown and it was only a light drizzle.  The movie finished at midnight and that's when it started to rain hard.  So lucky!!!