Is it still called work if you like it?

I got a job! Well had a job… for a weekend. After dreading the first day of work, I figured it was not worth my time. If I’m only in Melbourne for awhile, why waste my time doing something I absolutely hate. One should never get stuck in the cycle of just doing something because it’s there. It’ll be worth it to take the time and change your job or your life and enjoy it instead of living every awful day just because the sun has risen. I don’t want to live each day as same shit, different day.

It’s funny here. Everyone dresses very casual in jeans and sneakers but is very VERY stuck up. I talked to someone who got fired from his job (same place I worked) for forgetting to bring the pepper shaker to a table. Most people in cafés try to look like they’re not trying when they are desperately sweating to make everything perfect. They’ll dress very scraggily in jeans and Vans but then wouldn’t be caught dead putting the silverware on the wrong side. And if the waiter spilled some coffee on the saucer, he would need to get you a whole new drink!!

I have found worked in a lot more relaxed setting. I have become a math and science tutor! Oh and of course dog walking on the side. This is a lot better work that I actually enjoy! And wow, does Australia pay well! I through my ads up on Craig’s List and Gum Tree and let the customers contact me!

Not so sweet and a lot more salt!

A lot of meat pies, schnitzel, fish and chips, and hamburgers with beets and eggs on them. Everything is less sweet especially their juices and chocolates. Though, they do not hold back on the salt and Vegemite proves that! Milo is the popular hot chocolate and Tim Tams are the Oreos of Australia. Once again, Sushi is EVERYWHERE and there’s a fair amount of Indian restaurants. No Mexican restaurants whatsoever. “Spicy” here is not spicy food. No one has heard of a quesadilla or breakfast burrito. Few tortilla chips to be found.

We’ve eaten soooo much kangaroo! We’ve had kangaroo sausages, stir fry, taco salad, chili, spaghetti, ect. It’s very lean and must be cooked correctly because you shouldn’t eat it undercooked and it gets really tough when it’s overcooked. Kevin, Logan, Ron, Cole and I have had many family meals together. The castle mates helped me cook for 14 people one night! We had butternut ‘pumpkin’ lasagna with salad and cinnamon apples on ice cream. Cole and I share all of our food and take turns buying groceries. It’s very handy having him around because he always cleans my plate when I’m full which turns out to be about 75% of the time.

Here's the Castle Mates!

From left to right... Cole (my roomie and I knew him prior to the Aussie adventure), Kevin (from Cal Poly), Ron (Aussi), and Logan (also from Cal Poly)

Pot luck dinners are not very big here. It’s considered rude to make your guest bring something over for dinner. Though, in general, most people don’t hang out at their house or eat home with guests. The culture involves a lot of going out for coffee or dinner. Melbourne is famous for their coffee which is very delicious. They do not do normal coffees though. No drip coffee or anything. They have a whole slue of new espresso drinks I’ve never heard of before. What the hell is a flat white or a short black??

I'm a bum!

Since I’ve been in Melbourne, I’ve been grungier and dirtier than I’ve ever thought possible, and that’s saying a lot! I bought a beanie so I can cover my hair and shower less. Half our lunches come from free food from random clubs on campus. We have started dumpster diving for food. We’ll go to the back of grocery stores and jump in the huge bins to grab all the food they threw out that day. This will be anything from candy bars to strawberries to bread. On our first trip, we got 30 kg of potatoes! Thankfully there were 6 different households so no one was stuck eating potatoes for days! We’ve also discovered “hard rubbish”. Every couple of months, each neighborhood has a large trash pickup. Every home puts all their unwanted furniture, bikes, tools, pictures, and whatnot on the curb. You name it, they’ve got it! They put it out on Sunday and the trash man doesn’t come until later in the week. People now search the neighborhoods rummaging through junk to find things to salvage. We scored some Halloween props (pick axe, saws, and a hoe) and some awesome, retro posters for our room.

Religion... in general

Religion

Joshi asked us if we wanted to go to church on Sunday. Both Cole and I, neither of us religious, were very skeptical. With some thought, we decided to give it a go. YOLO (you only live once)! It was very surprising to see how laid back everyone was. People were jumping over the pews, everyone was dressed in this or that, half the people had beanies on, and it was a very relaxed scene. The service was… well, a service, but the cookies and the company made up for it! Afterwards everyone chills and talks for half an hour to an hour. Every person was so friendly and wanted a good, casual conversation. We’ve continued going, but really only for the people and to hang out after.

...in general

It’s interesting how many people seed themselves in religion. I’ve met some people that I NEVER would have guess were extremely religious. The viewpoints I use to have are different now. I see why people go to church and pray. I’m still not religious, but I understand why people are. It’s constant. It’ll always be there. It’s like that cigarette in the middle of work. Life is chaotic, customers are annoying, and other workers are bugging the shit out of you. On your five minute break you are able to slip out of reality and into relaxation with every puff. It is always the same and it’ll always be there for you. It’s the little bit of hope that you need to get through the shift. (Don’t worry Mom and Dad, I haven’t started smoking, but it’s a great analogy.)

Religion gives people a purpose and it explains the unexplainable. Even if you have the power within yourself, sometimes you need think the power in someone else’s hands to be able to retain it. That’s God’s will. The strength will always be within you, you just have to find it. Don’t take the bible literal for it is just guidelines to be a better person and to better your life. Religion helps people see the good in others even when they mess up every once in awhile.

Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times. Develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.

~someone that I should quote, but I don’t know who that someone is