Departure and arrival

Everyone who knows me knows that I like to party. All I can say is, scrap my birthday I think I may just have to emigrate to a different country every year as I have never celebrated so much than in the lead up to my departure to Oz. Gosh, anyone would think that all my friends were glad to see the back of me!

As the final days in England came to close and I had said all of my ‘goodbyes’ it still didn’t feel like I was actually leaving for a long period. Saying bye to the little ones (Kari, Nari and Marley-Moo) and KoKo was the hardest as they didn’t understand and I knew I’d be missing out on vital things like first steps and words - from the kids that is. My loved ones sent me off in true style though, with an amazing party, excellent food, extensive gifts, copious amounts of rum and positive vibes. If I didn’t already know, I do now - my friends and family are truly amazing.

The journey started on 29 February (leap year day; superstitiously a lucky day to start something new) yet didn’t end until 2 March. Everyone knows the flight to Oz is a LONG one - this trip totaling 26 hours. The first flight wasn’t bad as it was a night flight but the second was a drag. The best part of the journey was the stopover in Hong Kong. That airport has to be one of the best in the world with free WiFi and every single shop you can imagine. I somehow resisted buying anything (I had my eye on a pair of Gucci sunglasses but managed to walk away!) but couldn’t pass up on some authentic Chinese noodles.

On arrival into Perth, at 8am, the temperature was already 25 degrees. Apparently the heatwave was the week before when temperatures soared to over 40 degrees! I’d like to point out that the season is Autumn. A taxi from the airport to the city takes around 30 minutes and costs about $40. Richard, the landlord, met me and Suzanne at what would be our home for the next 8 weeks. He was an older gent with a calm nature - I hope that he remains like this! I’d secretly been feeling really apprehensive about the apartment as Suzanne had trustingly left the house hunt to me and the website where I found the place didn’t have a lot of pictures. It is also really expensive so I was hoping it lived up to the description...

Our apartment is a two bedroom, two bathroom, two balcony(!), converted warehouse in a secure complex in Northbridge. It has some minor faults, like the knobs on the cooker don’t work properly and the outside bulbs have gone but overall it’s great - a perfect retreat after long, job-seeking days. Northbridge is a hub of restaurants, bars and clubs and home to China Town! It is about a 15 minute walk to the CBD and there is a bus from the end of our road that takes us to Scarborough Beach which is about 20 minutes away.

Having stayed in Northbridge previously we are very familiar with the area - we already have a favorite Chinese Restaurant! Traditionally in Perth, Sundays are Dim Sum Sundays and so we embraced local tradition on our first Sunday and plan to continue to embrace this. If I was looking like a boiled dumpling before I can only imagine that before long I will look like a fried one (same shape, only suntanned!).

The first week was a set up week. We trudged through town, back and forth to the bank, the tax office and the Medicare centre to lay down the foundations of our Aussie life. Within a week all these things were done and we’d arranged interviews at three separate recruitment consultants to secure some much needed employment.

Finally, it was Saturday and what better way to conclude our first week of being Aussie’s than with a BBQ and so off we went...