Everyday I'm hustling

And that means the ole job hunt. There's not much more in life that I hate more (except maybe getting my fresh white-tee dirty in the first 5 minutes it's on) this process has 2 phases worthy of dread:
1) update your resume to sound like an amazing-you that has generic (without sounding generic) statements to qualify you for any and everything.
1a) make multiple versions of this (ie: serving, admin, personal assistant, and general) because let's be honest- it can't be THAT generic and we all know I have an assortment of past employment to reference. Ha!!
Oh yeah and finally 1b) send this out to a billion different ads from online (with a customized (yet so boring) cover letter EACH time keep in mind) to put your name on a list somewhere for a job (or a scam*) that you don't even know if you want, and will probably not call me back until I already am hired somewhere else!
And 2) humble yourself to door knocking at every business in town: asking if they're hiring, being told no, leaving your "CV" anyway...
Or being told "yes" or "maybe" and then talking with a manager briefly (which silly as it sounds I was rusty for that too! "what are my strengths as a server?" uh... "the people" what was that?!? FAIL)
Or maybe if you're really lucky you'll get asked on the spot to do a "trial" (by fire it must be short for)
This happened to me at the 2nd cafe that I walked into.
-Have I mentioned how serious they take their coffee down here?!? If you think the States (or San Diego) is overrun with Starbucks... There are literally 5 coffee shop/cafes in a block here. So it's not about crank it out commercialized style. It's about the roast and the pour (I guess. I'm not a coffee drinker at ALL)
so let's resume: Me- "Are you guys hiring?" Guy- "You wanna come around the bar and make a couple drinks right now?" My Inner Voice- "NO" but what comes out of Me- "sure"
At this point I'm totally faking it (and sweating) because it's been three years since I've frothed any milk or pulled espresso shots, and even then it was very casual (I pretty much taught myself) so in case you haven't guessed yet- I bombed it :( LOL one cappuccino and one latte: I poured them out of order, the capp was too wet (let's forget about coffee art!) and the latte came out as what he called a "flat white"
He kindly gave me a second go with the milk (he did the shots) and this time I was flustered and turned the frother more on when I was going for off! and burned it. He showed me the proper pour, had a small teachable moment (which was nice), shook my hand and said "better luck at the next place" MIV- "next place ha- I'm not doing that again!! Where's the opportunity for on-the-job-training?!?"
Needless to say, when a restaurant told me they mainly need bartenders and would like me to do a trial on sunday my excitement over a job prospect is rather dampened by the reality of my inexperience behind a bar :S
to be continued..................

*

sure, I'll just get a western union account!

I've found the fountain of youth

Really! And it's just across the street.
Yup. Today I felt like I was 15 all over again by strapping in on the right side (but the wrong side) of a car and then driving down the left side of the street. Oh buddy, did all those anxious nerves and excitement come flooding back with the fear and freedom of driving.
         Now, I've been in training for this occasion from the very moment I set foot in this town and constantly found myself on the wrong side of the crowds on the sidewalk. And that led to the very difficult effort of looking to the right before the left (the urge to "just glance" still lingers) when crossing the street. The next phase was biking: I was on the road with traffic, navigating turns etc. and admittedly felt pretty confident about my adjustment. But getting behind the wheel was a whole different story! And it came about a lot sooner than I was anticipating. It was definitely for good reason- I got a place to live- so getting my luggage, surfboard, bike, and a bed (from Australia's craigslist= gumtree) was NOT an option for the train and ferry combo required on public transport.      
      So my plan was to go down to the Hertz and hire-aka rent-an SUV by the hour and count on my American Express extra-insurance-coverage-for-rentals if things went bad :S Then my gracious host, Eric, offered his green machine (a Mitsubishi wagon) AND a short training ride-along. So I'm grateful, but also nervous (no amex cushion). We took off on a short 10 minute trip and more than once did I hear Eric say "whoa" under his breath. So what if I was hugging the curb a bit (and all the parked cars there) isn't that still better than charging over the centerline into oncoming traffic!?!?! Ha.
and apparently the Aussies are even relaxed in their driving, because as I pulled up behind a car at a red light in an appropriate San Diego fashion/distance Eric gave another "whoa: that's too close!" All in all, I did fine until he expected me to parallel park at our destination. that was a mess!! I didn't even know which mirrors to use or how to crank the wheel or anything- it was quite ridiculous and I abandoned the effort when  the car was still only halfway in the spot, about 1.5m from the curb.
           After that Eric set me up with TomTom and sent me off on my merry (and tense way) It was about an hour drive with busier roads, tolls, tunnels, freeway, bridges, construction zones: the whole bit. I think it was also a drive with some scenic views but because of the aforementioned items I didn't really get to take much notice. I arrived safely, with a slightly stiff neck and am proud to report that I did it (and the return trip) without anyone honking, flipping the bird, or having to slam on their brakes. (Well, truth be told- that last point may be false, I only had a glance in the rearview mirror so I can't be sure but I didn't hear the brakes or see smoke so let's just say it didn't happen)
So now I'm in my new room at my new place with a bed frame and nothing else. I once again considered hiring a car for my furniture and mattress pick-ups. When I called the local ute place (aussies term short for utility vehicle) she informed me it's a manual transmission truck. And I thought, I'm not yet ready to drink from that fountain again....

Old school pumps. $60 for half a tank ($/liter) EVERYTHINGS different

I can fly, I can fly, I can fly

And no pixie dust required either, but also no never-land time freezing affect. Yup, I turned 30 and went flying to celebrate. Ever since 'soaring over california' at disneyland park I've wanted to go hang-gliding. Well. that. and ever since I no longer have the dreams of childhood when I would fly down the stairs and right out the front door (why do flying dreams stop?!?!)
So on the big day I took a flying leap, right off a cliff in stanwell park (one of the most beautiful areas to do it I've been told)
The sensation is awesome! It's peaceful, but also loud/windy at times and exhilarating. We did a few loops and swoops and I even got to steer for a few tricks after a mini-lesson (sadly, we had the go-pro camera turned off for those moments) It's something I would do again and if I needed a lots-of-gear-and-practice hobby (which I don't) I would LOVE to be able to fly on my own someday. But admittedly I'm happy to be a ground traveller- just like my days at sea, this flight put a slight quease to my stomach :S

ok- I think I'm ready. But look at the views behind me!

that's my effort at 3-0

touch down

Joy. battlefield. opposites.

Oh the joys of navigating a new place!! I'm not good at my old places so, this is an extra challenge! Being on two wheels gives opportunity to arrive faster and also get lost faster. Today (I'm still not sure what happened) I found myself (I believe) on the FREEWAY!! On my bike!! Not cool! It didn't last long before I managed to get off but I saw signs for 80 speed limit and was really feeling bad about my day! (I guess as I look it up it's not actually all that fast after the conversion but my mind doesn't think in kilometers yet so it was still unsettling.)
I find it an amazing thing about being new in a place alone- how many times in my day I can cycle thru the ups and downs! The mind is a battlefield that's for sure. Cuz I do one small thing stupid (like still have my shoes on my feet as I use my last two two-dollar-coins for the locker key before my surf) and all of sudden  the whole thing seems like a lost cause or something dramatic. But then being out in the water I felt for sure this is love. Yet after that I has to get back on my bike to do more wrong turns and discover the whole route is uphill!!!.... This is definitely an opportunity for growth- God help me!!

Think I've got the hang of this oppositeness enough with walking to hit the streets (with a bike)
Until I stop doing double takes at cars thinking a young child is driving or something, I'm not ready for four wheels and that whole car opposite everything! 

Today I learned

There's a certain joy and anxiety of a traveller, that you never know what to expect behind each door that opens to you. Here were mine today arriving in Wollongong:

WELCOME TO "DICEY RILEYS" literally that's the name

1) the carpet and creaky stairs were kinda fun  to me, I don't know why

2) room #6 was alright I suppose

3) the bathroom, well, let's just say that made me rethink EVERYTHING

At least it was dead. I think....

FortuneBuilders has me spoiled on the Hilton. And here I am in hostels- good thing this one is above a pub, I may need some liquid courage just to sleep :S

So Here I Am

 first class







loaded to the gills

First Glimpse

Wanda

I suppose you feel less
stupid wearing this because
everyone is, but is's still
not comfortable!

This morning I set out for a mini triathlon- not actually of course because I'm neither a biker nor a swimmer- but because I wanted to go for a run and am still a few days out of socks and shoes to let my recent foot ink finish healing. And so I took off on a new adventure (and let me again congratulate myself for completing the trip with no turn arounds) it's about a 10 min ride (partially bike path) and I arrived to a new beach called "Wanda beach" which is more north of the Cronulla beach I visited on day one. I regret that it was an athletic outing so I didn't being my camera to capture all the action. (lucky for you I took the time to look up images on your behalf) It's a summer Sunday Morning here so that means little nipper training (sorta like san Diego's jr lifeguard)  the beach was packed and I didn't even know what was a safe path to take my run but no one scowled at me too much so I guess I did alright. These kids are all ages, even littler than you would think and I had a good chuckle over some of the small-fry antics.

There's both Boys and girls in separate competitions but u can't easily tell- Plenty of boys wear speedos and they all have a little tank and cap on (based on age group I guess) so the one group wearing hot pink threw me for a loop that they were boys ha! So they are doing swimming races, beach runs, paddle outs and what not that was a great fun of competition and reminded me of elementary field day! I doubt back in the states things like that aren't around any more for risk of a child "feeling bad" for losing or some hogwash
Also an interesting new sight on a beach was a karate class?!?! They were all dressed in their white uniforms and were wet- I think it was something like performing some of the balances and moves at the waters edge competing with the force of the shore break was the idea but I really don't know! 
There was also maybe a small surf competition (guessing by the tent and the few surfers in one area)
I saw the most potential in a wave today and some of the best rides of all the places so far. Of course that may be more conditions than location, but regardless it raises my hopes for surfing down here :)
So after observing all of this on my semi rocky-sand run I had a quick dip myself (putting the tri in my Athlon) it's funny that they really crowd all the swimmers between two flags about 50 meters apart (I'm converting) one must really be aware to not bash someone else because nearly everyone is bodysurfing in to the beach, can't say as I love that part, nor do I understand it- they have a heap of volunteer surf patrols on top of paid lifeguards and still they run a system like that!
Oh well. Next will be a board rack for the bike and to get down there myself!