or.... Happy New Year!
Since I am working tomorrow and will no doubt need every minute between work and party to get ready, I thought it best to blog in early. I don't really have all that much to talk about, except perhaps a few of the great things that have happened this year.
Let's see... 3 of my closest friends in the world all turned 21, which made me feel old, but was spectacular fun anyway. I have grown even closer to them this year than last and am so excited to get stuck into 2011 with them (Jess and Ali in Bali, and Steph in Melbourne to start with!). Dave and I made it 3 years this October, which also put into perspective the fact that we will be apart for 21 days straight next Feb... something we haven't come close to doing in well, over 3 years. I'm pretty sure I'll be ok, with my visitors and being in a foreign country and all, but I can tell he is getting worried. Chin up love! Two of my other close friends got engaged this year! Again, making me feel old, but I am so thrilled for them! I got to spend majority of the year in a fantastic job at my old primary school with some of the greatest friends/co-workers, and then was given the fantastic opportunity to change into my new job and make amazing friends there as well. I think I've really had some good karma this year...
It's kind of hard to remember all the stuff that's happened this year, hell it still feels like June to me! But I couldn't be happier that this year has flown (for obvious reasons, ahem...). I've taken a huge leap of faith this year by organising this trip. I think all of next year will hang in the balance of whether it goes well or not. And there are still plenty of ways it could go wrong (none of which I will actually write/admit to because i'm too superstitious like that...). But at the end of the day, this is my last probably chance to take an adventure like this. I'll be too busy doing things to make a living. Next year is my last year to do things to tick off those little boxes on my own personal to-do-list. After all that, it'll be about other people too. Which isn't a bad thing, I am just utilising this window of opportunity. Hopefully, I am utilising it well.
I have exactly 32 days until I fly out. So tomorrow night when everybody is celebrating the New Year, I will also be celebrating my one-month mark to departure! Hoorah!
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Happy Proclamation Day!
I've been looking forward to today for quite a while. Nope, not the 25th. I mean today, the 26th- Proclamation Day in Adelaide, Boxing Day in the other states. And no, I hate cricket so that is not the reason I promise. But I doubt I'm alone in saying that today is definitely a winner of a day.
Sure Christmas is great. Catching up with family and friends, having some drinks and eating tasty food all day- it's almost always a good combination for my family anyway.But the 26th is the day we can all just relax, sleep in, nap on the couch get over the hangover, eat left overs, get out the gifts and really enjoy them... Yup, it's just as good as Christmas only without the stress of driving and remembering everything and making sure everything runs smoothly. The pressure is over, and now we can all just veg out. There is a resounding "ahhhhh" throughout the house.
Now that New Years is only a matter of days away, my trip is also approaching very quickly. 36 days to be exact! I think I might spend these couple of days off organising some of the smaller stuff so that it doesn't all creep up on me at the last minute. I got a great tip from one of my Mum's best friends (I might as well call her my second Mum really) which is basically a whole drawer dedicated to "Bali Stuff" so that when it comes to packing the luggage, you can just empty the drawer in and you're all done! I reckon I have a spare drawer that I can use... thanks Inge! :)
The boyfriend and I also just bought ourselves a brand-spanking-new camera for Christmas and thanks to the tips my fantastically talented Aunty Paula has been passing down (and the recommendation for the camera itself) I'm starting to feel kinda confident behind the lens. I hope I can keep learning about it so I can take some decent pics in Bali, and you'll all be able to see them on here. 'All' pretty much meaning you Mum...
All for now. I hope everybody had a really great Christmas and stay safe for the rest of the holiday season! xx
Sure Christmas is great. Catching up with family and friends, having some drinks and eating tasty food all day- it's almost always a good combination for my family anyway.But the 26th is the day we can all just relax, sleep in, nap on the couch get over the hangover, eat left overs, get out the gifts and really enjoy them... Yup, it's just as good as Christmas only without the stress of driving and remembering everything and making sure everything runs smoothly. The pressure is over, and now we can all just veg out. There is a resounding "ahhhhh" throughout the house.
Now that New Years is only a matter of days away, my trip is also approaching very quickly. 36 days to be exact! I think I might spend these couple of days off organising some of the smaller stuff so that it doesn't all creep up on me at the last minute. I got a great tip from one of my Mum's best friends (I might as well call her my second Mum really) which is basically a whole drawer dedicated to "Bali Stuff" so that when it comes to packing the luggage, you can just empty the drawer in and you're all done! I reckon I have a spare drawer that I can use... thanks Inge! :)
The boyfriend and I also just bought ourselves a brand-spanking-new camera for Christmas and thanks to the tips my fantastically talented Aunty Paula has been passing down (and the recommendation for the camera itself) I'm starting to feel kinda confident behind the lens. I hope I can keep learning about it so I can take some decent pics in Bali, and you'll all be able to see them on here. 'All' pretty much meaning you Mum...
All for now. I hope everybody had a really great Christmas and stay safe for the rest of the holiday season! xx
Monday, December 6, 2010
It Ain't So Different...
Weather-wise today. Lightning, thunder, rain...and it's not that cold. Increase the humidity and add some of that 'rotting blessings' smell and I doubt it'd be much different in Bali right now... or so my dashboard tells me. It also tells me I have 55 days. :)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Silly Season
Surely I'm not the only person who is starting to wonder where the year has gone, right? Geez, it only feels like a couple of months ago we were celebrating the new year, and now the year is almost out! And there is no need to explain just how crazy things get in December... Something I had slightly forgotten during my hiatus from retail. Something I can see becoming an issue in the not so distant future.
The store has been reasonably busy, but you can always tell when the silly season is approaching by the carparks. On the one hand, they are usually maxed out, and the only spot you can get is really far away or you drive around in circles waiting for somebody to leave. It hasn't quite got to this stage yet, but I'm sure it will. I did see a different kind of indication today though- or lack of indication it would seem. I went to get my lunch today, and a guy with his young daughter went to cross the road. A four-wheel-drive pulled out from a side road and turned even though he hadn't indicated and, although he was going slow enough to let the man and his daughter across, the dad came back out onto the road to abuse the driver. Nice parenting champ.
Yep, the silly season has definitely begun. But I've never really hated the whole Christmas thing, in a working sense. In retail the days are so busy that your days fly by, and besides the crazies who think you can perform magic and fulfil all of their half-assed, last minute requests, most of the customers are happy enough because, hey... it's Christmas. And in OSHC Christmas was always fun, as you'd expect, because of the kids. If anything, it made me realise that Christmas' at home are now a little bland. We, the 'kids', are no longer kids by most of the classifications of the term, so the hype of the day is kind of lost. But the plus is we can all drink together, and it's days off for all of us this year. Can't complain at all.
Christmas also means extended hours and additional shifts for casuals like me, which is doing the Bali savings account a lot of favours already. I paid for the bond/deposit of my villa last week, which was very exciting. Besides actually getting there, most of my trip is organised now! And with 57 days to go still. I've probably forgotten something really important... murphy's law (refer to post last month).
Dave 'shared' my blog on facebook today while I was at work, which was really sweet, but I thought it best to repeat this: I do not expect anybody who stumbles upon this blog to find it interesting. Awesome if you do, but at this point in time, its just another outlet for me to be excited and write lists and stuff. I expect the better postings will actually come while I am in Bali (here's hoping), or at the very lease, and I quote, "so that my mum and dad know I'm still alive". Depending on the internet connection and how often I can be bothered, I will try to upload photos and write about what I'm doing so that people who want to know don't have to wait for personal emails and stuff.
Well, that's it for now. :)
The store has been reasonably busy, but you can always tell when the silly season is approaching by the carparks. On the one hand, they are usually maxed out, and the only spot you can get is really far away or you drive around in circles waiting for somebody to leave. It hasn't quite got to this stage yet, but I'm sure it will. I did see a different kind of indication today though- or lack of indication it would seem. I went to get my lunch today, and a guy with his young daughter went to cross the road. A four-wheel-drive pulled out from a side road and turned even though he hadn't indicated and, although he was going slow enough to let the man and his daughter across, the dad came back out onto the road to abuse the driver. Nice parenting champ.
Yep, the silly season has definitely begun. But I've never really hated the whole Christmas thing, in a working sense. In retail the days are so busy that your days fly by, and besides the crazies who think you can perform magic and fulfil all of their half-assed, last minute requests, most of the customers are happy enough because, hey... it's Christmas. And in OSHC Christmas was always fun, as you'd expect, because of the kids. If anything, it made me realise that Christmas' at home are now a little bland. We, the 'kids', are no longer kids by most of the classifications of the term, so the hype of the day is kind of lost. But the plus is we can all drink together, and it's days off for all of us this year. Can't complain at all.
Christmas also means extended hours and additional shifts for casuals like me, which is doing the Bali savings account a lot of favours already. I paid for the bond/deposit of my villa last week, which was very exciting. Besides actually getting there, most of my trip is organised now! And with 57 days to go still. I've probably forgotten something really important... murphy's law (refer to post last month).
Dave 'shared' my blog on facebook today while I was at work, which was really sweet, but I thought it best to repeat this: I do not expect anybody who stumbles upon this blog to find it interesting. Awesome if you do, but at this point in time, its just another outlet for me to be excited and write lists and stuff. I expect the better postings will actually come while I am in Bali (here's hoping), or at the very lease, and I quote, "so that my mum and dad know I'm still alive". Depending on the internet connection and how often I can be bothered, I will try to upload photos and write about what I'm doing so that people who want to know don't have to wait for personal emails and stuff.
Well, that's it for now. :)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Curriculum and stuff...
So I'm flicking through some old textbooks I found at the library about ESL frameworks and whatnot so that I can get some good ideas for the school once I arrive. But curriculum planning is sooooo hard! I don't really even know where to start. Everything is justified before its even stated. I know it's important to plan long term, now tell me what to plan!! This is going to take a bit longer than I had anticipated...
Another photo to keep me motivated...
Another photo to keep me motivated...
Pretty-ing Things Up
I just realised how much nicer this all might be if I added some pictures. Even just one or two between posts. Here's a little something to get the ball rolling. :)
Experience, Experience, Experience.
So, the last few weeks have been some of the best ones of the year. I've been in my new job for 3 weeks now, working around 35-40hrs a week, and it's brilliant! I'm loving close to every second of the day, from the simple stuff, to the customer stuff, and then there's the other staff/friends stuff. Everybody there is so much fun and really nice! Not that I didn't love my old job, because I did- and the staff there became very good friends of mine. I think the difference is that we are more like-minded at JB's. I mean, I'm still the geekazoid who tries to crack stupid jokes or knows just a little too much about ancient history, but rather than feel like a complete outcast, I just feel a bit quirky. Maybe even in a good way. Work is fun, and I am loving going there every day, even if it's filled with crazy red pill customers (traffic light 'pills', a little trick I picked up from my old, old work to describe just how painfully awful a customer is).
But wait, this isn't a "Rave about how awesome my new job is" kind of blog. It's about Bali, and my going there more to the point. Don't think for a second that I've forgotten about that in amongst all my work shifts. Nope, it is right there in the forefront! This week has been an especially important week as well with two pretty landmark moments occurring. First of all, I got in contact with the owner of the Villa in Ubud and settled on a cost and...wait for it... I have made my deposit! Yep, Villa is now firmly confirmed. Well... I hope. Please refer to blog titled "Murphy's Law" to remind yourself of my own superstition about jinxing myself and whatnot. Plenty can still go wrong, and I am totally aware of that. As is my mother, and that is another story all together, but for the most part she is very supportive. Now.
The second most amazing thing that has happened this week is the even more firmly confirmed addition to my "Bali Visitors" list. One of my oldest friends who I have happily kept in contact with for quite a while now has made the decision to come to Bali while I am there and she will be sharing the villa with me for a week! I am so excited that she is coming, and as an overview of my month, I will literally only be alone for 7 days! Considering I was at one point looking at doing 21 days straight with nobody from home, this is quite a difference. Perhaps all those conversations I have had with friends that I've come out of thinking, 'I just bored them to death with all that shit about how connected to Bali I am', yep, perhaps those conversations aren't quite so boring! At least not to everyone. But obviously not all the credit goes to me and my innate ramblings, the country itself has a bit to offer. The spa treatments seem to do quite a bit of pulling in this case.
One of the other main reasons why I am so excited to have people coming to stay (besides the fact that my friends/the boyfriend are just super amazing people who I love spending time with) is because I love experiencing places with difference people. I have been to Bali with the boyfriend twice already, as I may have already mentioned, and it's been great both times as I'm sure it will be again, but I am especially looking forward to seeing Bali with my other friends too- just to see what they enjoy, what they really take out of there experience and thus alter my experience. Maybe it sounds like I'm a bit of a sheep- you know, I'll enjoy what ever they enjoy, but that's not really how I mean it. I enjoy seeing other people enjoy things. It's simple in many ways, and I guess it's why I really love kids and teaching- without the satisfaction of making a difference, teaching would be an impossible gig. But that's the honest truth; I know I am going to enjoy eating at some really great restaurants, and drinking some amazing cocktails with the twins, but I also know I'm going to enjoy some great sights and enjoy a lot of culture and art with Elise, then really relax at the end of my trip with the boyfriend. And you know what, having just said that, even if none of that actually happens I'm sure each of these amazing people' will give me a different memory of my time spent in Bali. And THAT is what I'm looking forward to. Yes. I finally got my point across. Now I've kinda forgotten where I was going with this post in general.
I have just 64 days to go until I leave. All the work I'm doing is definitely helping with the Rupiah-saving, and with Christmas around the corner I know what is going to happen- busy busy busy at work, followed by too tired to go out and spend money. Best recipe for saving money. Just like getting dog-sick is usually the easiest way to lose weight. ;) So here's hoping that I can reach that goal I have set and really enjoy my trip rather than constantly stress about finances. Hoping.
Now that my accommodation is sorted, the list I mentioned way back in an older post is getting pretty close to finished. Flights, accommodation, insurance, smart traveller and even a decent amount of research for my teaching has already taken place. I still need to organise my visa, but other than that and saving I'm all set to go! Packing will be fun.
Anyway, this was kind of a shit post, I apologise. There is no structure today, most probably because I've spent a long weekend working and staying out late, followed by an evening today spent reading my friends incredible blog to which I have given up on even trying to match. It's amazing, and mine... well.
Adios amigos!
But wait, this isn't a "Rave about how awesome my new job is" kind of blog. It's about Bali, and my going there more to the point. Don't think for a second that I've forgotten about that in amongst all my work shifts. Nope, it is right there in the forefront! This week has been an especially important week as well with two pretty landmark moments occurring. First of all, I got in contact with the owner of the Villa in Ubud and settled on a cost and...wait for it... I have made my deposit! Yep, Villa is now firmly confirmed. Well... I hope. Please refer to blog titled "Murphy's Law" to remind yourself of my own superstition about jinxing myself and whatnot. Plenty can still go wrong, and I am totally aware of that. As is my mother, and that is another story all together, but for the most part she is very supportive. Now.
The second most amazing thing that has happened this week is the even more firmly confirmed addition to my "Bali Visitors" list. One of my oldest friends who I have happily kept in contact with for quite a while now has made the decision to come to Bali while I am there and she will be sharing the villa with me for a week! I am so excited that she is coming, and as an overview of my month, I will literally only be alone for 7 days! Considering I was at one point looking at doing 21 days straight with nobody from home, this is quite a difference. Perhaps all those conversations I have had with friends that I've come out of thinking, 'I just bored them to death with all that shit about how connected to Bali I am', yep, perhaps those conversations aren't quite so boring! At least not to everyone. But obviously not all the credit goes to me and my innate ramblings, the country itself has a bit to offer. The spa treatments seem to do quite a bit of pulling in this case.
One of the other main reasons why I am so excited to have people coming to stay (besides the fact that my friends/the boyfriend are just super amazing people who I love spending time with) is because I love experiencing places with difference people. I have been to Bali with the boyfriend twice already, as I may have already mentioned, and it's been great both times as I'm sure it will be again, but I am especially looking forward to seeing Bali with my other friends too- just to see what they enjoy, what they really take out of there experience and thus alter my experience. Maybe it sounds like I'm a bit of a sheep- you know, I'll enjoy what ever they enjoy, but that's not really how I mean it. I enjoy seeing other people enjoy things. It's simple in many ways, and I guess it's why I really love kids and teaching- without the satisfaction of making a difference, teaching would be an impossible gig. But that's the honest truth; I know I am going to enjoy eating at some really great restaurants, and drinking some amazing cocktails with the twins, but I also know I'm going to enjoy some great sights and enjoy a lot of culture and art with Elise, then really relax at the end of my trip with the boyfriend. And you know what, having just said that, even if none of that actually happens I'm sure each of these amazing people' will give me a different memory of my time spent in Bali. And THAT is what I'm looking forward to. Yes. I finally got my point across. Now I've kinda forgotten where I was going with this post in general.
I have just 64 days to go until I leave. All the work I'm doing is definitely helping with the Rupiah-saving, and with Christmas around the corner I know what is going to happen- busy busy busy at work, followed by too tired to go out and spend money. Best recipe for saving money. Just like getting dog-sick is usually the easiest way to lose weight. ;) So here's hoping that I can reach that goal I have set and really enjoy my trip rather than constantly stress about finances. Hoping.
Now that my accommodation is sorted, the list I mentioned way back in an older post is getting pretty close to finished. Flights, accommodation, insurance, smart traveller and even a decent amount of research for my teaching has already taken place. I still need to organise my visa, but other than that and saving I'm all set to go! Packing will be fun.
Anyway, this was kind of a shit post, I apologise. There is no structure today, most probably because I've spent a long weekend working and staying out late, followed by an evening today spent reading my friends incredible blog to which I have given up on even trying to match. It's amazing, and mine... well.
Adios amigos!
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