Busy Business

All right, as promised, I'll now give a little bit of a summary of what has come to pass in the last two months or so.

As soon as I got back from Tasmania, I started hunting for a job. Every single person in Wagga Wagga NSW has my resume. I spent weeks chasing people down, using all of my phone minutes on local calls, begging people to hire me with no avail. What the problem was...I suspect I will never know. All I knew was that I didn't have enough money to stay here and pay for next semester, let alone the following years. I knew I had to figure something out...and pretty fucking fast.

So, one day, during a tasting class for wine and grape science (it was red wines...with the Pinot Noir that tasted like Shiraz! G'Damned Australians!), I was walking to the toilet and nearly killed myself slipping on a piece of paper. I picked it up in a huff and took a look at it. It was a job ad for an internship in Oregon. I remember immediately thinking "Holy shit, I can go home. And work in a winery. And best yet, I'll be PAID!" On a whim, expecting no results, I applied for the internship. On a whim, also expecting no results, I surfed winejobs.com to see if there were other vintage internships available. Turns out...they're everywhere! I applied only for west coast internships: if I was going back to the states, I was doing so no where near my home. This adventure has to continue.

The next hurdle to clear was with CSU. I wanted to know if I could study by distance (DE) even though I wouldn't be able to do residential schools in September. I need to stay in school for health insurance reasons and because if I don't, I know I will struggle to ever go back again. So, I chatted with my pal Chris and he told me that I could most likely continue to take subjects by distance ed (DE) and do things onshore in the States.

So I waited. Was I going to get anything? An internship? Within two weeks, I had three offers on the table, each of them better than the other in some respects, but each worse than the other in some respects. I ended up choosing an internship in a place called Quincy, WA. Near Seattle! I need to be there in the beginning of September, and it looks as though Mom and I will be driving the CRV cross country. Woop woop!

I don't know if it's the right decision, but I know I am poor as all hell. Who knows! I'm just ramblin', tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can! (Points if you can name the song and artist!) I plan to come back to Australia after the 1st of 2008. When I'm at home, I'm going to begin applying for other jobs here and getting my visa switched to a working visa (much more complicated than it sounds!). I'll be back!

So, yea, a month and some change left under the southern cross, then onward!

That is the very annotated and short version of what has been going on. Now you are up to speed!

Down to The Wire

So, my visa came through last week. Today, I shipped my boxes to Mel filled with shoes (to the tune of $150!) and as far as I see it, I can't turn back now. Half of my most stylish shoes are well on their way to Australia, and I intend on retrieving them. In person.

So, I've got to get on that plane and go. I've also been assigned residence at Charles Sturt, which is a load off my ass. Now, I just need to pay for housing. My accommodation is all the way across campus from where I will be taking class. But, that's okay, more exercise for me!

So, on my flight from Rochester to NYC, (JetBlue Flight #27), I am with the Mitchell's! Alison's parents! Rock on, I love them. I am so super pumped. What luck! :-)

But, my nerves are shot. Scott told me just to "put some panties in a bag and go". If only it were that simple.

Beginning of my last week at Ferro tomorrow. Oh those boys...how I adore them and will miss them so.

Fox Run going away party Friday night at the Wagner. I think it may have started out as a secret, but the cat didn't stay in the bag for very long.

My cup really does runeth over. I get choked up when I think about leaving. This will be tough. Good thing email is cheap!

The above picture is of the occupants of Creekside 23 on the night I found out I got into Charles Sturt. April 12th, 2006. That night was interesting for more than one reason. Jennie is holding the bottle of champagne that caused the worst hangover of my life.

Cheers!

Fist Pump

MY VISA WENT THROUGH! And I just booked my Sydney hotel reservations and my train ticket from Sydney to Wagga.

Now I can actually start putting things in my suitcases. :-)

Surprise!

So, my physical and x-ray for my visa are completed as of this morning. Presently, a film picture of my chest innards and my entire medical history are on their way to Washington, DC to be evaluated by an embassy staffer to see if I am fit to enter their country. Scary thought, huh? I was in Washington this weekend, I should have stopped in to light a fire under some people's butts!

I was just watching President Bush on ABC and I still think he's a giant shit brick. I'll look forward to being on a different continent than him and so help me god, if he visits Australia, I might go to wherever he is and spit at him. Dude needs to clean it up and start listening to his people, the mass of which are finally wising up.

Anyway, I was just cruising the CSU page because someone finally sent me my log on, and it turns out...I have classes! I don't know when they meet, but I have them! Here there are:

BCM206	Structural Biochemistry	TUT	W	8
PSC214	Plant Physiology	INT	W	8
WSC111	Grape and Wine Science	INT	W	8
WSC210	Sensory Science	TUT	W	8

I'm pumped! 4 lab sciences! Too bad I don't have anywhere to live. I'll be living in the lab anyway!

They're cooking Watermelon Gnocchi on Top Chef. Those crazy gourmets.

Cheers,
C