Story of My Life

I'm joining the blog everyday in May challenge this month. As you all know, I've been pretty slack with blogging consistently recently, so I thought this was a great way to get back into it. And she gives prompts everyday, which means I don't have to rack my brain trying to come up with something to say :D

Today's topic: My life in 250(ish) words ( I apologise for the photo's of photos :D)

I was born May 7th, making me a Taurus (the same as my mum), and an autumn baby. I swear though, I should have been a spring or summer baby like my younger sister who was born in September two years later.

My mum and I before my christening

Wasn't I cute?

We lived in a small country town in NSW Australia until I was 10, then moved to a bigger country town. I spent lots of time outdoors, climbing trees, playing sports, swimming in dams, riding horses etc.

My parents, sister and I when I was about 10  (sorry it's on it's side. It wouldn't rotate!)

When I was 16, I did a 2 week exchange to Japan with my high school, where I lived with my Japanese host family, went to school and toured what we could see of the country. This started a lifelong love affair with travelling the world, and seeing, and experiencing, as much of it as I can.

Taken from my window in the plane

I graduated high school in 2004, with plans to go to university to be a lawyer.

My year 10 formal with my 2 high school besties

In 2008, I spent the Christmas break in South Lake Tahoe, working at Sierra at Tahoe ski resort, where I spent 3 months working, learning to ski and snowboard, ice skating, meeting lots of people, and generally having lots of fun. I fell in love with San Francisco and saw the Grand Canyon for the first time.

While I did go to university, and start a law degree, I graduated in 2010 with a Psychology degree.

My sister and I at my graduation

I also did my personal trainer's course in 2010 and loved it.

In May 2011, I traveled, once again, to the USA, this time on a Contiki trip from LA to NYC and absolutely loved it. I met so many amazing friends, tried so many new things, saw my first baseball game, and has an absolute ball. I fell in love with New York City and would love to go back

Then in June 2012, I moved to Vancouver Canada for 6 months. I fell in love with the city and the people and made some great friends. I went to a Supernatural convention where I had photos with the cast, saw the car, met some great people, and laughed harder than I had in ages. I would get back on a plane to go there in a heartbeat if I had the time and the money.

Me and 'baby'

Gastown

Halloween candy

Me and Jared (Sam) and Jensen (Dean)

I also got my first (I say first because there will be more to come) tattoo while I was in Vancouver.

Now, I'm back in Australia, and at university, studying to become an exercise physiologist. I did my first color run this year (loved it), and I'm also currently doing my open water scuba diving course.

So glad I have friends as crazy as I am

The end result of my first color run

Well, that's it. For the minute anyway. I'm sure there are so many more exciting things to come

D!

Wasting Time

So, I am super bored. I've been sending in job applications for nearly 3 weeks, and I've been walking the streets asking about work, and so far I've heard nada. Nope, not a thing. Not a phone call, not an email, not a text message. Not even an automatic email that says 'thanks but no thanks'.

And I don't know anyone. I thought living in the youth hostel would allow me to meet people, but no one was overly chatty while I was there, and those that were were just passing through. Sucks. So, not only do I have not much to do, but I have no one to do it with. *sigh. I hate feeling like this. Mum said to me today that maybe I need to apply somewhere other than Vancouver. Maybe. Or maybe I just need to go home. Not sure.

Anyway, so today I said 'enough with the job applications!' I slept in, which was nice. (I've been having trouble sleeping). And I had a nice long shower (I almost slipped over, damn shower over baths!!!), and called my mum. We talked things over and I kinda have a plan. Sort of. More like an outline maybe?

Anyway, after talking to her, I decided to catch the bus out to Kit's beach and wander around out there. I didn't take a water bottle with me and I totally should have. I assumed, like at home, there would be places to buy water from across the road. But no. Across from the beach is parkland, and while it's very pretty, there's no water. Silly silly me.

So, I wandered around Kit's beach, through the parky type areas, down along the water to Burrard Bridge, then turned around. I wandered along Cornwall Ave until the bus came. By this point I just had a headache, so I couldn't be bothered to walk. I got off at Broadway, and wandered up and down that street. I was looking for a hat. I can't believe I didn't bring one with me!!! Anyway, I wandered up and down. I looked in many stores, and couldn't find anything I liked. Hat wise at least.

But I did find this:

It was sooo good. But after this I definitely needed that bottle of water. Which I found. Then, in the last store I went in to I found my hat:

Ignore the hair, I have no idea what it's doing.

So, I took lots of photos today, got loads of sun (yay for the sun and warm weather), walked and walked and walked, and now I just have a bit of a lingering headache.

I've eaten dinner already, so I think I'm going to download a Leverage episode, maybe a Vampire Diaries or Supernatural episode, get ready for bed, and watch them. I want to be asleep before 2am (which has been my norm lately). It's driving me nuts that I can't sleep.

Tomorrow I'm going to send in more job applications, and try to work out where to go from here if I get nothing by the end of the month. Maybe take a few day trips to Whistler etc. Maybe head out to see Niagara Falls? Well see.

Cya

Moving House!

So, today I moved out of the Youth Hostel, and into my house. Well, basement suite anyway. But, it's more of a home than the youth hostel, so I count it as a win.

It's in Kitsilano, just across the bridge from downtown Vancouver (technically the West End, but semantics). About 15-20 minutes by bus to get from the bus stop across the road to the skytrain station in Burrard St. It's a great spot and it seems like it'll be a great place to live.

Kits beach looking across to Downtown

After moving in (what little I had, there's not much in a suitcase) and unpacking said things, I set off to find a grocery store. Luckily there's a Safeway a few blocks up the road from me, and a fruit/veggie place across the road and down the block. I walked to and from Safeway, and I won't be doing that again (the walking home part) when I'm laden down with bags of groceries. What was a nice walk to the shops was a horrible walk on the way back. The bags were heavy and made my hands hurt. 

But, I now have groceries, so I won't starve to death :D It was cool, overcast and a little windy here today. I'll have to go for a walking tour and take some photos to post on here. And reply to some emails.

Still job hunting. Hopefully something will come through soon though. It's Canada here today, and I was going to head into Downtown and have a look at the Parade but I didn't. I did get up for breakfast with my youth hostel rommie and have a Canada Day breakfast before I left though.

Well, off to bed. Hopefully I can start to explore a little more tomorrow.

Job Hunting Sucks

Well it does. I've sent out dozens of resumes and cover letters over the last 2 weeks and nothing. Nada. Zip.  And I know 2 weeks isn't a long time to be job hunting. And I know people who have worked over here and it took them a month to find work but I WANT A JOB NOW!!!!

Ok, now that I've got that out I feel better. 

A little.

I just want to be paid. I hate dipping into my savings all the time just to buy stuff. And I want to be able to afford to go to a gym, or kickboxing, or dance, or yoga, or all 4, but I don't think I'll be able to do that, even once I get a job. My rent is $150 a week, so to be able to pay that, and eat, and still have some money, I'll need to work about 40 hours a week.

So... 

Good food it is. 

I went looking on Robson St yesterday. Not for anything in particular, just to get out of the Hostel, and into the sunshine. (Yes, the sun was out, it was magnificent.)I found lots of shoes I'd love to buy (I'm loving all the colour that's out at the moment), but (and you'll be very proud of me), I didn't buy a single pair. Even with so many pretty things on sale.

So, I was in a good mood. The sun was out, the shops had sales, I was happy looking. All was good.

Then I went into American Eagle. I love this place. I don't know why, I really don't. I found it when I lived in South Lake Tahoe (I shopped in San Francisco). And they had a sale on as well. (I think just about every store does atm). So I wanted a pair of shorts. Not short shorts, just shorts. Plain, denim shorts. And maybe a few shirts. A pair of 3/4 jeans. The usual. So I found a few things I liked. And then I headed into the dressing room.

BAD IDEA!!!!!

I knew I have put on weight since I got here. I haven't been eating that well and I haven't really exercised. I mean, I've been doing some walking around, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator, but I haven't done some serious exercise since before I left home.

So, I pulled on a one shoulder shirt. I like it. I bought it. Now I'll wear it when I lose a couple of kgs. I don't need to lose a lot, it fits as is, but it will look a lot better when I lose a little bit. 

Then I pulled on the shorts. In a size 12. AND THEY DIDN'T FIT!!! Could barely pull them up past my thighs. I think they were laughing at me as I contemplated the zip and button. There was no way I was going to get those shorts done up, and if I did I better not move. Not even breathe. So I took them off and 'threw' (as in hung them back on the hanger, and then slammed the hanger on the hook). 

I was annoyed with myself by this point, so I grudgingly tried on the 3/4 jeans. They're boyfriend, so they're supposed to be baggy. The 12's fit. In fact they were a little loose. So I tried on the 10's. They fit too. Cue a little bit of smiling. Until I looked at myself in the mirror. The pants only emphasized (to me) how much weight I have to lose. Baggy jeans look good on thin girls. On me... not so much.

But I bought them. And I'm wearing them as I type this. They are comfortable, which is what I need right now. But, they did highlight that I've let my eating get out of hand again. And that I need to exercise more. So I guess that's a good thing? Right?

So, as I sit here, typing this, and looking at more job vacancies, and sending resumes (I can multi task) I am eating baby (organic) carrots (from this fruit and veggie market on Davie St that I love), and some strawberries. My bottle of water is sitting beside my laptop. (I may use the laptop cord to strangle the guys who are yelling and laughing at the top of their voices like they're in a noisy pub, not a quiet dinning room). 

And, I've been making lists too. Goals lists if you will. Goals for the month of July. Goals for the next 6 months. Plans for if I stay, and plans for if I don't. I am nothing of not organised. 

I just hope that once I move into my house on Sunday things will settle down. I can buy food without the worry of eating it (someone took my cheese, and the leftovers of mine and Min's pizza from Monday), and I can start to exercise. I'm already planning running/walking routes and I've been looking at gyms, yoga studios, kickboxing classes, and dance studios to see what's around, and how much it'll cost. 

Good thing I don't like to party. Hopefully I'll get a job soon and meet people. I'm kinda lonely here at the moment. I miss everyone. 

Going to have an early dinner in a minute. Need a break from looking at the screen. 

xo

Canada.... I'm heeerrreee!!!

Yep, you read that right. After all my 'careful' planning, you know, having no job, no place to stay etc I'm finally in Vancouver. After all the years of wanting to get here, here I am.

I've been here a week, and I'm in 2 minds about it. When I first got here, and the first 3 days where I had a friend here with me, I was all smiles, and bouncing with excitement. I'd been dreaming of this day since I was about 13, and realised that people other than movie stars could actually live and work in another country. Most of the time the sun was out, it was still a little chilly, but ok, and I had a new city to explore.

But then Jamie went home. And I moved into the youth hostel instead of our 4 star hotel in Coal Harbour. And the day I moved was overcast. And kinda cold. And it's supposed to be summer. And no one was overly chatty in the hostel. So I was a bit down that day. And the next day. I was telling myself that I'd give myself a month to find work, and if I had nothing I'd go home. I was missing my friends and my family.

I think this was compounded because my parents had been in Europe for the 6 weeks before I flew out, and had only been home for a few days before I left, (they got home Monday afternoon, I flew out Friday morning), so it feels like a lot longer than the 10/11 (depending on the timezone) days since I last saw them.

The rain isn't helping either. I never really got it when people talked about S.A.D. I mean, I got it on an intellectual and psychological level, but until I was in a place where the sun doesn't come out for days at a time, I never really understood it. I get it now. Aussies are lucky. We get so much sun a year. We've come to take it for granted. So I think the overcast weather was throwing a wrench in my mood too.

I know, once I have a job and I'm settled things will be better, but having nothing to do all day every day is a little draining. I know, I know. You're wondering how doing nothing can be draining. Well, you know how having one or 2 days off where you have nothing to do but watch movies, and listen to your music, read, take a bath etc.. those are really good. Really nice. I love those days. Where I can sleep in, lounge around all day in my pj's and do basically nothing. Really I do. But I gave up work the beginning of May, so it's now been about 6 weeks since I've had a real reason to get up of a morning. Not to say that I loved my job, I didn't. I really didn't. But I miss having something to do. I miss knowing that for a certain period of time that day, I would be doing something. I mean, yes, I packed. And repacked. And repacked some more. Much to M's amusement. I couldn't cut my wardrobe down to only 23kg. And when I got to the airport, I had to take some out because it weighed 24.6kg. Argh!

I wish my packing looked like this.

Or this.

But it was exactly like this

And this

And I went out to dinner and lunch a few times. Had friends over for sleepover weekends. And saw movies. And had girly days on my own where I pampered myself. And visited my grandmother. But I got bored. Very quickly. 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but it's worth rehashing. I don't do well with inactivity. At all. Nope. Not one little bit.

Yep, that is me. Exactly. Bouncing around everywhere. My mum still calls me Tigger sometimes because I can't sit still.

So all this inactivity sitting in a Youth Hostel in Vancouver is doing my head in a little bit. I've kinda explored around here. I've done a hop on hop off bus tour, and seen the city. Or at least, Downtown. The city isn't the easiest place to get around if you don't know where you're going, and I'm struggling to make sense of the bus timetable. I'll get it.

Anyway, I haven't just been sitting on my butt. I've been house hunting and job hunting. Exciting. *can you note the sarcasm? And, after looking through 4 places, and applying for what felt like hundreds, I have got one. It's in Kitsilano, a really nice suburb, about 10 minutes from Downtown. Ok, so it's a street out of Kistilano, it's on 17th Ave, and Kits ends in 16th, but what's a street?

I move in on the 1st July. So once I've moved in there I can start to explore that area. I've been looking for fitness places and I've already found a gym and a dance studio I think I'll like. I'll have to go and check them out. Find out how much their prices are.

Once I do that, I'm sure things will settle down again. I think part of it was that I had nothing sorted. I had the youth hostel booked until the 1st July, but nothing after that. I have no job. I had no idea what I was doing. Now that I have somewhere to stay, I feel better.

And the sun is out today.

I'm going to keep looking for the jobs, but I'm thinking of looking for bar work when I move into the house somewhere close to me. And now I have an actual address I can put on my resume, rather than the address of the youth hostel. YAY!!! Maybe that will set me apart from the 100's of others applying for jobs too.

Off to do some more job hunting. Wish me luck. And to file back my fake nails. I didn't have them infilled before I left (I only get them for special occassions) and they're growing out to the point where they annoy me.

Ciao