New Experiences Every Day

In the process of finding a job I feel as though I have gone into every retail store in both the malls nearby as well as the main street here in Surfers that has all the shops.  A few of the places I went to sounded promising, but then I never received a call.  It's difficult because of my visa status, I can only work with one employer for 6 months which makes me not long term which employers usually don't like.  I have been lucky considering that we are going into the Christmas season which means that people are hiring for casual workers.  One of the places I went into had me fill out another application and I met the manager which seemed like it might lead somewhere, until he told me he wasn't hiring for another 2 weeks.  Everyone I talked to in the hostel and such made it seem like it takes weeks to find a job. Ick. However, two days later I got a call in for an interview.  I went into for my interview at Rip Curl on Wednesday the 5th and got offered a job on the spot!!! So exciting.  It is literally 4 shops away from the beach.  It's amazing.  I'm going to have to take some pictures of the place so that you can see where I'm working! I love it.

That was the 5th, just a few days later on Saturday the 8th I told my roommates (2 of which are gay) that I would go with them and my other roommates to one of the only gay bars in town.  As you can imagine I have never gone to a place like that before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Who would have known it would have been an AMAZING place.  It was free drinks from 10-12 so that was a plus as well.  Everyone was insanely nice and it was a refreshing change to pace to just be able to have fun at a club instead of worrying about guys trying to be jerks.  We met these two guys who were incredibly nice.  One of them offered me a job which I later decided not to take while the other one works at the hospital as a surgical nurse while he is in school to be a surgeon.  We just danced and had fun all night.  Definitely a new scene for me, but I am SOO glad that I decided to go with everyone.  I had to stay inside most of the time because everyone outside was smoking so much I was starting to get sick from the second hand smoke, but it was totally fine because the dance floor was more fun anyways.  Lots of Lady GaGa which reminded me of Greg....telephone anyone? haha  Here is a picture of me and Mick (the one who offered me a job), Phil and I and one of my roommates Josh on the left and Phil (the nurse) on the right.  Phil and I still keep in touch and the whole group is going to try to get together again soon.

Mick and I

Phil going crazy with the camera

Josh and Phil

It wasn't like I expected (over the top and crazy), just really fun.

The next day on Sunday, I met up with some friends who I met the Sunday before.  I saw an ad on Gum Tree (like the craigslist of Australia) that said if anyone wanted to get together to play american football on the beach to just come out and play!! I played the week before and loved it (they already gave me a nickname and inducted me into the group) so I am continuing to play.  The guys are really nice and it's a great workout!! Running on the beach for hours is incredibly hard!!  After we are done we all cool down by jumping into the ocean.  NBD. haha (no big deal is what that stands for mom since I know you wouldn't know that lol) It's a really great time and it was nice to meet people that are just going out and having fun.

It's strange because I feel as though everyone here is very active and healthy.  On weekday afternoons you see parents playing rugby on the beach with their kids and I feel as though that would never happen in the states.  Weeknights are consisting of parents coming home from work, making dinner and watching tv (for the most part), but these people are bringing their kids out everyday and being outside and enjoying this place.  It's just really good to see.  On the other hand it seems like EVERYONE smokes here.  Not worse than places like Europe, but it's insane how much I see it and am around it.  I've started this cough and I think that it has something to do with all the second hand smoke that I'm around.  Then again, most of the people I'm around are from the UK so maybe that's why I think that.

Sunday is also 2 dollar days at a pub we go to called Waxys.  It's 2 dollar steak all day and 2 dollar chips (fries) as well.  It sounds sketchy, but the steak isn't half bad.  Then after 6 it's 2 dollar buds as well so everyone goes and has steak and beers.  The place is pretty big and the Rugby World Cup is going on so it's always PACKED with people watching the game on the million different tvs they have in the place.  It makes for a really good time.  We probably have 10-15 people trying to get into a 8 person booth and lining chairs up around the table as well.  It's similar to camp in the way that since I'm with these people almost all day everyday I feel close to them already.  It's just nice to be able to get together and hang out and have a good time.

So far my first 2 weeks was successful.  I found a job, moved into a room with my friends, met new people, played football on the beach (twice) and had a few nights out.  I'm starting to feel more comfortable knowing my way around and being able to start to call this place my new home.