Melbourne

So, ive been in melbourne nearly a week now and return back to sydney tomorrow in the afternoon (hopefully in time to play some squash at night). I have to say melbourne has suprised me in many good ways.

When i use to live here (1999-2001) i was underage and didnt really venture much into the city or really give 2 thoughts about visiting museums etc. But now since travelling and trying to keep the "think like a tourist in your own country" mentality i have come to a stark relisation that melbourne is cool, or 'chic' hahaha.

The city is amazing, the architecture is very modern and different, its all very well organised and sign-posted, there are numerous mueseums some which are even free, amazing number of cafes and little restaraunts and much more! I have to say, a lot of my melbourne friends said they spiffed up the city for the commonwealth games.......which i guess was really helpful for melbourne. It was the same for sydney with the olympics, we got more stadiums and organised a bit too.

The only real problem with melbourne is the weather. Its farkn cold. I look on the news and see that its 30 in sydney or even just 24 ......and here its like max 20 (with a FREEZING breeze). No chance to wear shorts and thongs basically. But then .....because of the rediculasely bad weather, the art scene and other things i feel are more dominant here. Its such a cliche thing to say melbourne has more 'culture' but its just true. Weather affects alot of things, its the same with Perth and isolation.

The other parallel i can draw on the entire Sydney versus Melbourne rivilary is the differences between Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo in Brazil. Sydney and Rio have the obvious beauty (beaches, weather etc) whilst Sao Paulo is the 'culture' capital of Brazil and definately isnt nearly as pictureqess as Rio. Well enough of the comparisons.....

My sister has not had her baby yet. And she looks far too comfortable to be popping one out any time soon. So i shall go back to sydney emptry handed so to speak. However, she and jason (with the newborn) will come to visit us up in sydney for christmas including dad. So it shall be a complete solomons affair around xmas time. Something which doesnt happen to often because we all seem to be in different countries all the time. We're a 'international family' ...i guess thats a nice way to put it.

Things i have done since being in melbourne:

• Met up with Larry who also volunteered in Cusco with me!
• Met up with Samantha (the last time we met was in amsterdam & the greek islands..hahah crazy times)
• Randomly bumbed into Lina on good ol' Chapel St (she actually lives in Sydney...go figure)
• Met up with Shinnaz! who had a cool house warming and go to see a lot of my other high school ppls
• Chilled with Danni.M too which was really cool. We always seem to get on really well and chat about the most random stuff
• Visited a few museums in the city including one hosting the pixar exhibition (which was very informative)
• Did a few walking tracks around where my sister lives
• Went shopping!! (haha yes i bought more clothes here then i have in 2years whilst in sydney)

So yes, my overall time in melbourne has been very positive! I believe i shall visit melbourne again with Angela if she comes to Australia around the end of the year. I really want to come here in the proper summer....when its hot enough to visit the beach.

Whilst here, work called me too, so i shall be starting on tuesday....when i get back. As they say 'back to reality' hahaha...im looking forward to seeing if work has changed much, because a lot of my old friends have left...so we shall see how we go.

On other totally irrelevant news, how farkn bad was Australia's loss to bloody England. That game made me so angry, we played like SHIT. I feel people should spit on the team when they arrive back home from the world cup. hmmmm maybe thats a little harsh....but farkn hell, we lost AGAIN to england!!....HURT Johnny Wilkonson ffs. Target him, break him. Thats what rugbys about. Arhhhhhkkkk, dont get me started.

Changing the subject.

I have also accumulated a large about of books which must be placed in the 'to read' pile. Also Danni gave me a list of like 15 other books to put on the same pile, so im all booked up for the time being. Hahhaah geddit....'booked' up. Arhhhhhhh...........(pity laugh is still appreciated, ta).

When i get back to sydney and back in the routine there are many things i need to do still, including getting into some sort of basketball team, continuing some type of spanish study, researching about obtaining a Dip Ed. (Diploma in Education). If i havent already told you, thats what i want to do. Become a teacher. Yes its a big decision....and i have been thinking about it for a while now, but i decided i should at least look into how long it shall take etc. The age group i would want to be teaching would be primary school students. I dont think i can handle High school students....but i guess it would be good experience. The reason for not teaching high school students?? well i think thats quite obvious, i said to mum, 'i know what i was like at high school and i dont want to teach people like me!'

So yeah.....big decisions....big choices....big news?...well its not really that big of a news, but it does help me in the direction i want to go with that thing we always seem to get caught up in, life.

Dont you love that question...where do you want to be when you grow up? hahaha classic, grown up? I dont know if i will ever be grown up. Like i do have some older qualities i think, but then again i still ride a BMX at the age of 24, I dont want to get married till im like 30, i want to do more travelling and treking....there seems i want to still do a lot more before i 'grow up'. At least my parents dont pressure me too much these days. I think they understand im a lil crazy and wont be 'settling down' too soon. Its funny....because im the youngest...and now all the other simblings are settled to a certain degree, i guess they are waiting for me. Its only normal for them to want me to be 'secure & safe' and i shall be.......but not now, i dont want to be. Hmmm maybe i shall never be secure & safe in their eyes...but hey, thats just who i am, and people always change.

Anyways its getting quite late here, i slept at James's last night after drunken mario kart till the wee hours of the morning. I love that. Theres not many people who have that nerd instinct and love playing computer games all night whilst drinking. But Shinnaz is one of them and i love him for it. We also played a bit of topspin after everyone left/went to bed. But i do have to say i smashed him in topspin and all areas of Mariokart (including battle mode [undefeated], Time trial [racing only on the 1st ghost track] and Mario GP [won every race except the last because he quite at that time].

So yes, ANYONE who wants to challenge me, especially in Battlemode....please leave me a message on here or on facebook..............................mariokart was my childhood. I should note that i am talking about SNES Mariokart, not Mariokart 64...where i would be easily defeated even by handless kids under the age of 6.

Time to cruise, Fiji and South Africa are playing in the RWC at the moment so i shall check that out before retreating to my bed to read Wilbur Smith's "River God" an interesting novel so far.

Nighty night.

Joely Woley.