The other day I went to get my hair done, don't worry Mom I had a 50% off voucher, and it was all done and I went to pay with my debit card. I got declined. My immediate response to the girl was, "oh there must be something wrong with your machine." So we tried again. I got declined for the 2nd time. Alright so I guess there was nothing wrong with her machine, so I'm thinking to my self, "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" so I give her my cell phone and tell her I will be right back. I am running franticly down the street thinking to myself, oh my gosh this can't be happening to me.
I get to the Commonwealth ATM, insert my card, enter my PIN number, and press Balance Inquiry, and press display balance on screen. My heart is racing at this point. My balance is now displayed on the screen..."Available Funds $44.07" OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! thats all I can say at this point. I repeat to myself many times, "Oh my gosh I only have $44.07 to my name!" This has never happened to me before in my entire life, what am I going to do. At this point there is nothing much I can do.
I walk back into the hair salon and whip out my Canadian credit card, and said "this should cover it" APPROVED! That was the greatest moment of my day! I walked out of the hair salon.
I'm walking to catch the bus home and I just can't get over this, I called my friend Drake and told him. He said "Oh don't worry we have all been through it, I've had zero dollars to my name before" I'm thinking to myself I feel like such a loser, like seriously I have $44.07 to my name. I start thinking to myself, well I am travelling across the world, I did arrive with a backpack on my back, I'm young wild and free, I have 2 jobs and there are people in a much worse situation then me right now. I'll deal with it!
I really can't get over this still once I arrive home. My mom works at a bank and she is always monitoring my accounts, sometimes I get a call, "Jenn, I think you should watch your spending, your account is getting a bit low." I always loved the times where I would check my account and $200 extra would just appear. Being across the world, on my own, and having no one monitoring my account has been quite the experience and now I really appreciate what my parents have done for me financially.
Now the joke is, "What would you do with your last $40?" I went to Macca's with my friends Lauren and Rohan and enjoyed a nice Macca's feast as some comfort food. For desert I took up $6 and said "How many sundaes can I get with this." The girl told me I could get 3, and I replied saying "Sounds great I'll have 3" I of course shared with Lauren and Rohan.
Later I sat thinking, I am living in one of the best places on earth, I am making my dreams come true, I am lucky to have the opportunities that I have, Life is Good!
Don't worry about me though Mom, I have a nice fat pay check coming my way!
9.29.2010
9.23.2010
tis the season to be jolly.....already?!
So I was at the mall today and I was at a department store called David Jones, and I saw the store directory that said "Christmas Shop Level 1". I said to Kait "Oh my gosh they are getting ready for Christmas already?" I mean it's only September 23rd and there are Christmas trees on display in this store along with ornaments and all the other fixings!
This also made me realize that this will be the 1st Christmas in 22 years (my whole life) that I haven't been with my family! That is just so weird to me. I will already be well into Christmas Day before it even reaches Canada. My brother will have to wake up all alone and open his stocking. We usually get up so early and rush to the living room and grab our stockings because that is the best part of Christmas, our Mom is the BEST at stockings!
This will also be the the 1st Christmas I have had that isn't white. I mean to me Christmas is 3 feet or more of snow on the ground, the traditional tree that we cut down in the bush out by my house, decorated with well what used to be all of my brother and my ornaments we made in grade school. My Mom put a halt to this a few years ago and now the tree is decorated in matching bulbs, beads and lights. It always looks so beautiful!
As I grow older I have to accept the fact that I won't always be able to make it home for Christmas, also in the industry I have chosen to start my career we work on Christmas, so Christmas to me will turn out to be just another day in my life.
9.20.2010
for the love of travelling
“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese
I came across this quote surfing the internet. Since I have been travelling I have found all of these things to be so true. Strangers can become your best friends. Nothing is familiar to me; the culture is different, the food is different, the language is the same but there are some very distinct differences. I have learned to love these differences. The friends that I have made and the people that I have met are great people but none of them will ever be the same as my friends and family at home. My home on Lake Kashagawigamog will always be my home. I will always remain proud to be a Canadian. Travelling is what I love to do, I come across new experiences everyday and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to travel. Everything that is new and different to me I adapt to and learn to love. I am a chameleon. Travelling is my everything!
I have to thank my Mom & Dad for taking me travelling from a very young age and opening my eyes up to what is really out there. Without them I wouldn't have found my love for travelling. I thank them so much for all of the travelling that I have been able to do.
This picture was taken at Curtis Falls in Mount Tambourine
Why no I am not an American or an Irishmen
On a daily basis I constantly get asked if I am an American. I mean to people across the world maybe the accents all sound the same. Some people from Canada ask me if I am an American, common get a grip we have the same accent!
This is how it goes...I start a friendly conversation with someone and then they feel me out, I can see them doing it, and then clear their throat, and all confidently they say, "So where in America are you from?" and I reply with "I'm actually from Canada." and they say, "Oh I'm so sorry I know that is quite offensive to you." I reply with oh don't worry, I am a Canadian." and then some say oh yes I should have known now from your sincerity and friendliness!
Or sometimes I shut them down and say actually no I'm not an American and they get all excited and guess again. "Oh you must be from Ireland!" now it's funny to me. Let's play the accent guessing game!
I tell people, you can call me anything but an American.
Just a little something I find humour in while travelling so far away from home!
This is how it goes...I start a friendly conversation with someone and then they feel me out, I can see them doing it, and then clear their throat, and all confidently they say, "So where in America are you from?" and I reply with "I'm actually from Canada." and they say, "Oh I'm so sorry I know that is quite offensive to you." I reply with oh don't worry, I am a Canadian." and then some say oh yes I should have known now from your sincerity and friendliness!
Or sometimes I shut them down and say actually no I'm not an American and they get all excited and guess again. "Oh you must be from Ireland!" now it's funny to me. Let's play the accent guessing game!
I tell people, you can call me anything but an American.
Just a little something I find humour in while travelling so far away from home!
9.17.2010
Life's Simple Pleasures
Today I went back to Byron Bay. It is my favourite place so far in Australia, and although I haven't seen much of Australia yet, my plan is to travel a lot in Australia, I still believe that Byron Bay will remain high on the list.
Byron Bay is the cutest little town I have ever been too. I would more or less describe it as a hippy town. There are so many interesting shops with a lot of interesting things in them.
I saw a "Fairy Lady" today. She sat and drew you as a fairy...how cool is that?!
I went back to the lighthouse lookout. It is some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth, and yes I'm pretty confident with that statement. This time I walked down to the beach, boy that was a hike!
It wasn't that sunny of a day but hey its just another day to enjoy. I was at the beach and I was looking out into the ocean and I saw dolphins. They were just playing around in the ocean jumping and showing off. As I stood there and took it all in I wondered what it would be like to be a dolphin. What worry do they have? Well I can think of one...who is going to consume them for a meal, but I could be someones next meal too. All they do is just play in the ocean together and create a show for us to watch. How amazing!
When I was on the beach watching this I asked some woman in a red bathing suit if she could kindly take a picture of me. Of course she could, have you ever come across someone who isn't willing to take your picture? So we had a but of fun she took some shots of me and I returned the favour. As I was taking pictures of her she was more interested in getting the dolphins in the background. She had mentioned to me that she had just finished swimming with the dolphins. This woman was... I actually don't think I have the words to describe her. I think eccentric would be a good place to start. She was so excited about her swim with the dolphins and as I was taking pictures of her she was in the ocean calling the dolphins. She was such an incredibly happy woman. All these little things in life that can make us so happy. We get so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to think about life's simple pleasures that can bring us so much joy. I really wish that I could have sat and had coffee with this woman because I believe that she would have an incredible story.
Today was my 2nd time to Byron Bay and the next time I go I think I'm going to take the bus there for the weekend, stay in a hostel and go and do something where I can enjoy life's simple pleasures. I need to take some time and let my mind be at ease and not always be thinking of what I am going to do next and just take a minute and have my mind at complete ease. Life is too short to rush through it.
I have really been neglecting my journal lately because I have been so busy, but I have actually been so busy doing nothing. I go to the beach with some friends everyday it seems or just hang out. It's about time I take some time and head to the beach alone with my journal in hand.
I was made fun of at one time by writing in a journal. I became a little hesitant to write in it and also tell people that I had a journal. I felt the need to write in a journal, its the only thing that will truly keep secrets, and not talk back to you. I found this book today called "global gypsy" it is about a man who travelled the world and while he did so he wrote in his journal, took lots of pictures and living by these quotes he came across. I feel very proud now to write in a journal, I love it in fact and I will never stop writing!
I am also very excited today because my good friend, Kelly, just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I am so happy for her and Cody. You guys will make such amazing parents. Don't forget to sit back and take in life's simple pleasures because before you know it your little guy will be starting his first day at school! I can't wait to meet Hayden, so weird to think that I will be meeting him when he is just about 1 year old.
All my love from Australia
xo
Byron Bay is the cutest little town I have ever been too. I would more or less describe it as a hippy town. There are so many interesting shops with a lot of interesting things in them.
I saw a "Fairy Lady" today. She sat and drew you as a fairy...how cool is that?!
I went back to the lighthouse lookout. It is some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth, and yes I'm pretty confident with that statement. This time I walked down to the beach, boy that was a hike!
It wasn't that sunny of a day but hey its just another day to enjoy. I was at the beach and I was looking out into the ocean and I saw dolphins. They were just playing around in the ocean jumping and showing off. As I stood there and took it all in I wondered what it would be like to be a dolphin. What worry do they have? Well I can think of one...who is going to consume them for a meal, but I could be someones next meal too. All they do is just play in the ocean together and create a show for us to watch. How amazing!
When I was on the beach watching this I asked some woman in a red bathing suit if she could kindly take a picture of me. Of course she could, have you ever come across someone who isn't willing to take your picture? So we had a but of fun she took some shots of me and I returned the favour. As I was taking pictures of her she was more interested in getting the dolphins in the background. She had mentioned to me that she had just finished swimming with the dolphins. This woman was... I actually don't think I have the words to describe her. I think eccentric would be a good place to start. She was so excited about her swim with the dolphins and as I was taking pictures of her she was in the ocean calling the dolphins. She was such an incredibly happy woman. All these little things in life that can make us so happy. We get so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to think about life's simple pleasures that can bring us so much joy. I really wish that I could have sat and had coffee with this woman because I believe that she would have an incredible story.
The lady in the red bathing suit
Today was my 2nd time to Byron Bay and the next time I go I think I'm going to take the bus there for the weekend, stay in a hostel and go and do something where I can enjoy life's simple pleasures. I need to take some time and let my mind be at ease and not always be thinking of what I am going to do next and just take a minute and have my mind at complete ease. Life is too short to rush through it.
I have really been neglecting my journal lately because I have been so busy, but I have actually been so busy doing nothing. I go to the beach with some friends everyday it seems or just hang out. It's about time I take some time and head to the beach alone with my journal in hand.
I was made fun of at one time by writing in a journal. I became a little hesitant to write in it and also tell people that I had a journal. I felt the need to write in a journal, its the only thing that will truly keep secrets, and not talk back to you. I found this book today called "global gypsy" it is about a man who travelled the world and while he did so he wrote in his journal, took lots of pictures and living by these quotes he came across. I feel very proud now to write in a journal, I love it in fact and I will never stop writing!
I am also very excited today because my good friend, Kelly, just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I am so happy for her and Cody. You guys will make such amazing parents. Don't forget to sit back and take in life's simple pleasures because before you know it your little guy will be starting his first day at school! I can't wait to meet Hayden, so weird to think that I will be meeting him when he is just about 1 year old.
Hayden Daniel Mills
All my love from Australia
xo
9.13.2010
Australia = Love
Well I have now been in Australia for 1 month and I am in the best place on earth! I absolutely love it here, its beautiful, the sun is always shining and I live 2 blocks from the beach! Life is good!
I can't believe it was about 1 month ago that I said good bye to everyone back in Canada. Time flies when you're having fun! For everyone who missed me its 1 month down 11 to go. OMG that scares me so much. I don't think I have enough time to do everything that I want to. I can't imagine flying home...it makes me sad thinking about that.
In this month that I have been here so far I have been at complete piece of mind, and found this person inside of me that I love! So carefree and not a worry in the world. I mean why stress about things that are our of your control. I have just been living it up here and not worrying about anything. Rolling with whatever comes my way!
I have had humm 4 jobs but they are all a bit of a joke so I just don't show up the next day. I am feeling that it is becoming the time to get a bit serious and find a job. It sucks, I don't want to have a job at all but there are certain things in life that I have to suck up and this will be one of them. I have to realize my potential in life and chase my dreams. Theres no better time then NOW!
I have met a lot of really amazing people from all over the world. Each one of them comes with a new story. Its all starting to come together here and I'm getting a new life of my own without any direction from anyone except me! I love finding my own way through things and figuring it out for myself.
I have done some really cool things since I have been here; day trip to Byron Bay, weekend in Melbourne, while in Melbourne went to a few local wineries and did some tastings, trip to the zoo to meet some new animals, day trips to different beaches, moped adventures with Kait and we end up 2 hours from home on an empty tank of gas, seeing Michele has been amazing I missed her so much and living it up at the beach body boarding in search of the perfect wave. I AM GOING TO LEARN TO SURF, but that involves money, and I need a job to get money so it will come soon! I have a new friend Drake, he is so hilarious and absolutely ridiculous. We go out together a lot and have a ball, laughing about everything and everything. We usually go out for a drink and that drink turns into a couple bottles of wine and some interesting shooters. Regardless we are having a ball! We went out last night to my new favourite bar, Melbas, and laughed so hard it was uncontrollable. Telling the stories this morning was just as funny! I asked some man at the bar last night if I could "borrow" $2 from him because I needed another bottle of wine. Yeah I probably needed it like a hole in the head. He "lent" me the $2 and life was great again!
I have quite a few tales to tell about my adventures here. I'll let them slip in time!
Kait, Line and I are a great trio we get along great and laugh together until we are crying or our abs are burning. Bed time here is so hard because Kait and I have our beds pushed together so we have more room for fun activities in our room and we go to bed and laugh so hard I get a 2nd wind and can't sleep. We really want a set of bunk beds but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.
I really get scared at times that I won't be able to see everything that I want to see in Australia. I only have 11 months left, and I can only have this Visa that I'm on once in my life. I have to make everyday count and never look back on the coulda shoulda or wouldas. I think I am going to go up North and farm for awhile. I need to do 90 days of farming to extend my Visa. I have heard that its very hard work and long hours and not too much pay but hey what do I spend money on when I'm on some persons farm slaving for them?! I might as well take this opportunity and go with it because I would rather open a door then close one.
Anyways thats my life in a bit of a nutshell! There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about home, family and friends. You will all see me again and just remember time flies when you're having fun!
Love from Down Under xo
I can't believe it was about 1 month ago that I said good bye to everyone back in Canada. Time flies when you're having fun! For everyone who missed me its 1 month down 11 to go. OMG that scares me so much. I don't think I have enough time to do everything that I want to. I can't imagine flying home...it makes me sad thinking about that.
In this month that I have been here so far I have been at complete piece of mind, and found this person inside of me that I love! So carefree and not a worry in the world. I mean why stress about things that are our of your control. I have just been living it up here and not worrying about anything. Rolling with whatever comes my way!
I have had humm 4 jobs but they are all a bit of a joke so I just don't show up the next day. I am feeling that it is becoming the time to get a bit serious and find a job. It sucks, I don't want to have a job at all but there are certain things in life that I have to suck up and this will be one of them. I have to realize my potential in life and chase my dreams. Theres no better time then NOW!
I have met a lot of really amazing people from all over the world. Each one of them comes with a new story. Its all starting to come together here and I'm getting a new life of my own without any direction from anyone except me! I love finding my own way through things and figuring it out for myself.
I have done some really cool things since I have been here; day trip to Byron Bay, weekend in Melbourne, while in Melbourne went to a few local wineries and did some tastings, trip to the zoo to meet some new animals, day trips to different beaches, moped adventures with Kait and we end up 2 hours from home on an empty tank of gas, seeing Michele has been amazing I missed her so much and living it up at the beach body boarding in search of the perfect wave. I AM GOING TO LEARN TO SURF, but that involves money, and I need a job to get money so it will come soon! I have a new friend Drake, he is so hilarious and absolutely ridiculous. We go out together a lot and have a ball, laughing about everything and everything. We usually go out for a drink and that drink turns into a couple bottles of wine and some interesting shooters. Regardless we are having a ball! We went out last night to my new favourite bar, Melbas, and laughed so hard it was uncontrollable. Telling the stories this morning was just as funny! I asked some man at the bar last night if I could "borrow" $2 from him because I needed another bottle of wine. Yeah I probably needed it like a hole in the head. He "lent" me the $2 and life was great again!
I have quite a few tales to tell about my adventures here. I'll let them slip in time!
Kait, Line and I are a great trio we get along great and laugh together until we are crying or our abs are burning. Bed time here is so hard because Kait and I have our beds pushed together so we have more room for fun activities in our room and we go to bed and laugh so hard I get a 2nd wind and can't sleep. We really want a set of bunk beds but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.
I really get scared at times that I won't be able to see everything that I want to see in Australia. I only have 11 months left, and I can only have this Visa that I'm on once in my life. I have to make everyday count and never look back on the coulda shoulda or wouldas. I think I am going to go up North and farm for awhile. I need to do 90 days of farming to extend my Visa. I have heard that its very hard work and long hours and not too much pay but hey what do I spend money on when I'm on some persons farm slaving for them?! I might as well take this opportunity and go with it because I would rather open a door then close one.
Anyways thats my life in a bit of a nutshell! There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about home, family and friends. You will all see me again and just remember time flies when you're having fun!
Love from Down Under xo
9.08.2010
Meter Maids
Okay so during my first weeks here I saw these girls walking up and down the streets with bags full of dinky little tourist things; keychains, magnets, things to keep your beer cold and all sorts of junk.
These girls were dressed in all gold and looked ridiculous if you ask me. So I kind of looked at them and laughed a bit and moved on.
I kept seeing them and seeing them and then they asked me if I wanted to buy a beer kozy and I was like "um no thanks I'm good" and moved on.
When I went home I asked the girls what the deal was with these girls dressed in gold and selling thing was all about. They told me they were "Meter Maids" like I'm suppose to know what those are.
So a few days later I was out again and got approached by one of them and I was like "oh god, what does she want to sell me now?" I declined her offer on the keychain she wanted to sell me but I asked her what her job was all about.
Meter Maids were introduced to the Gold Coast, hence why they dress in gold, in 1965 by Bernie Elsey to help beat the bad image created by the installation of parking meters on the tourist strip in December 1964. It was a controversial promotion, using young women dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras, who strolled the streets of Surfers Paradise feeding coins into expired parking meters. These girls work on commission only and the money that they make they put in the parking meters so people don't get parking tickets.
Whether it is a good idea or a bad idea I still think that these girls look ridiculous.
These girls were dressed in all gold and looked ridiculous if you ask me. So I kind of looked at them and laughed a bit and moved on.
I kept seeing them and seeing them and then they asked me if I wanted to buy a beer kozy and I was like "um no thanks I'm good" and moved on.
When I went home I asked the girls what the deal was with these girls dressed in gold and selling thing was all about. They told me they were "Meter Maids" like I'm suppose to know what those are.
So a few days later I was out again and got approached by one of them and I was like "oh god, what does she want to sell me now?" I declined her offer on the keychain she wanted to sell me but I asked her what her job was all about.
Meter Maids were introduced to the Gold Coast, hence why they dress in gold, in 1965 by Bernie Elsey to help beat the bad image created by the installation of parking meters on the tourist strip in December 1964. It was a controversial promotion, using young women dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras, who strolled the streets of Surfers Paradise feeding coins into expired parking meters. These girls work on commission only and the money that they make they put in the parking meters so people don't get parking tickets.
Whether it is a good idea or a bad idea I still think that these girls look ridiculous.
And this is what a "Meter Maid" looks like......
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