What a day

Today was a scheduled shopping day for me, Lynn, Vien and Vans. We have been wanting to visit a factory outlet in Parramatta that sells winter clothes at a much cheaper price, almost 50% off the rack price.

Joyride
Parammatta is a suburb West of Sydney, and going there, I can either take the bus, train or ferry. I was looking forward to the ferry ride but the trip that will go direct to Parramatta from the City leaves after 12 noon, and I will be too late for my 1pm appointment with my friends. I ended up taking the bus --- it took me all of one hour and twenty minutes from Chatswood to Parramatta but I enjoyed the view. I got to see Macquarie University, the beautiful houses along the streets, great scenery, weird and funny people and so much more. It was my first time to travel that route and I would love to do it again. Too bad I didn’t have the camera with me.

Bargain
The Factory Outlet Building we went to was noticeably empty --- not a good sign. Most of the shops are close while those who have goods to sell are not really selling them at dirt-cheap prices. To top it all, Paddington Coat Factory is nowhere to be found!!! It was really a sad day for us coz we were so looking forward to our Winter shopping but we went home empty handed…almost.

There was an athletic store that had a vast inventory of shoes and other athletic gadgets that we chanced upon. I went directly to the pile of “1 for $3 or 2 for $5” shoes. I saw a size 5 Sketcher shoes in the pile but when I saw the price, it was marked down to $15 from the original $50 price. Since I am unsure of the exact price (if it was $15 or $3), I asked the cashier and he informed me it was for $3. Without hesitation, I gave him three dollars pronto to pay off the shoes. After punching the sale, he then told me that it was really a $15 shoes but he gave it to me for $3 --- “thank you Mr. Cashier!”, you made my day!

my $3 Sketchers

Near Accident
We concluded our shopping at around 5pm coz all stores are now closing (this is the downside here in Oz, shops close early… weekdays, shops close at 6pm, except for Thursday, which is a shopping night, where operating hours are until 9pm. Saturdays they trade until 5 pm, while Sunday is the worst when shopping is over by 4pm --- made me miss Manila where Midnight Madness happens every so often).

Going home, I took the train since it would be faster (took me about an hour) and safer as well.

When I alighted at Artarmon, I noticed that the train is a little far from the pathway, creating a gap. As I was walking towards the exit, a man suddenly shouted “No! No!” and another one started running towards the middle shouting “Stop! Stop!” --- signaling the conductor not to close the doors, lest the train will start moving. Another person run towards the driver and said stop. In all the commotion, I thought that someone must have fainted or tripped while alighting the train but it was worse than that --- a little girl, around 4 or 5 years old, actually fell down the train tracks. Good thing her father was quick enough to shout that people reacted and helped in notifying the train persons. The father scooped the girl from the tracks and she was just crying her heart out, her father just hugged her and everyone helped them to safety. I couldn’t imagine what could have happened to the girl if the train moved so quickly or if no one helped or if the father’s reflexes were not that good. I shudder at the thought… I felt really sad and teary eyed thinking of the worst case scenarios… The train, which normally departs a minute after arrival, departed after around 5 minutes. I just hope the little girl is now okay.

Earth Hour

Today, at 7:30 pm, we participated in 60 minutes of total darkness -- well not really total darkness coz my computer was turned on. :-)

At 7:30 pm on 31 March 2007, we are inviting Sydney to turn off its lights for just one hour - Earth Hour -to show that it's possible to take action on global warming.

WWF-Australia and The Sydney Morning Herald are asking all of Sydney - its companies, government departments, individuals and families - to turn off their lights for just one hour. It's a simple action if everyone takes aprt, sending a powerful message that we care about the future of the planet. Click http://earthhour.smh.com.au to read the rest of the story.

We took part in it and hope our little contribution will go a long way.

What a nice activity to wrap up my day. :-)

Travel Expo

Vans, Lianne and I went to the Sydney Convention Center earlier today for the Sydney Travel Expo. There was a $12 entrance fee but we went in anyway just to check out the exhibitors and the exciting places they offer.

At the entrance, we were given bags where we can chuck in the brochures we were going to get inside, and boy it was so many (the brochures) that I ended up buying a bag at a steal price of $12.

I got almost all brochures being offered (and the bag that came along with it) and was really excited to see the vacation getaways in Queensland, Canberra and other Australian states which I would like to visit with Wombat soon. :-)

I went home with a bag full of brochures and plenty of shopping bags (not the green ones anymore, yey!!!).

By the way, had a caricature of myself made at the “Incredible India”. But I was not too happy with the result, doesn’t look like me and I look old!!!


My Baguio caricature was way better, but then again, I would have wanted a not so obvious double-chin, hehe.

Overall, it was a fun bonding day with friends. Next week it would be Paddington shopping with the Ashfield girls, can't wait for it. :-)

Comfort Zone

Today is my second day at George Weston and I can't get over how good a company it is.

They have nice office, spacious pantry, freebies (bread and fruits), they use SAP and many more.

I actually did the posting for all cheques today... ang galing, and no training really. Nagamit ko ang natutunan ko sa Shell and I am eager to learn more specially SAP. Got to attend a meeting also, whcih I will be leading in the next few weeks. I want to be hired on a permanent basis here so magpapakitang gilas talaga ako,hehe.

I am so blessed, really... Thank God talaga.

On another note, i joined the thousands of people who walked the Harbour Bridge last Sunday --- taking part of history baga. I can't upload my pix kasi bagal internet ko, ieew.

Sa multiply ko na lang sa Friday. :-)

Yun lang...

My First Two Months

I’ve been in Australia for two months now, how time flies really, didn’t even realized that it was two months already since I boarded that Qantas flight from Manila to Sydney, two months since I carried the almost 50Kg of luggage with me from the airport to Martin Place Station, hahaha.

I will try to summarize all things I did in those two months:

Number of Days unemployed (Jan 12 not included as it is my arrival date): 2 days
Number of Employers: 2 (will be three starting Monday,hehe)
Number of Agencies registered : 3 (New job, new agent )
Number of interviews with possible employer: 4

Modes of transport to office (including time spent traveled):
First job: Walk to office (10 - 15 minutes leisure walking)
Second job: Train to City (20 minutes train ride)
Third job: Train and Bus to North Ryde (2 minutes train ride, 20 minutes bus ride)

Number of attractions visited: 3 --- Botanical Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Aquarium
Number of Events watched/attended: 3 --- Queen Mary II visit, Australian Day Celebration, Mardi Gras Parade (but this Sunday, I will join the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk and the Hill Song Recording concert, ---something to look forward to).

Number of Barbecue’s attended: 0
Number of Picnics joined: 0
Number of Beers drank every Friday: 0

So, judging from above, it seems that I haven’t toured much of Sydney yet!!! Well, I have my reasons: I am waiting for Wombat and I really don’t have the time to go visit the wonderful places I read in the travel book that I bought. My first three Saturdays was spent looking for a house, the next Saturdays were spent packing/unpacking things, assembling things, preparing for the housewarming etc… Now, I am going to Uni so not much time left to do all the “tourist-y” stuff. I would have toured Sydney had I not found a job so quickly but I am not complaining, it is very rare that a migrant like me is this successful in finding a job. Yes, I turned down a lot of offers simply because I do not want the job being offered or the pay is not that big. But in my new role come Monday, I hope it is what I expected it to be. It’s a very large organization, a big manufacturing company, an Australian icon. I hope I can make it there.

:-)


p.s. this Sunday, I will be attending two events and I will be uploading lots of pix next week, magbabago na finally ang pictures ko sa Friendster at Multiply,hehehe.

Untitled

Im not feeling well these days, palagi ako nakakaramdam ng lungkot--- siguro kasi i-na-anticipate ko ang pagdating ni Wombat. At siguro rin, masyado ko iniisip ang work ko (or the lack of it come Monday).

I really would want a job where i can make use of what i learned back in the Phils...

Haay, stressed out na ako sa dami ng calls and interviews pero at the same time, ayaw ko din ng mapapasubo ako into something i really dont like...

basta lam ko si God na bahala sa akin... I know He has plans for me and all I need to do is trust in Him.:-)

63 days

Haven't posted any of my recent stories here, our internet is soooooo slow. We used up our allotted Gigs due to heavy download in Feb. We'll have faster connection next week, yippee.

Anyway, just a run down of what i've been up to:
1. started my new job last Tuesday;
2. Called my Agent last Wednesday saying I dont like the job
3. Went to Uni for my tax subject;
4. Requested by client to stay in the job until i get another job (planning to stay only on or before 16 Mar, with or without a job,hehe); and
5. WOMBATS GOT A VISA NA, yipeeeeeee.

Can't wait to see him here... 63 days to go... [big grin on Gracy's face,hehe]....

Estudyante na naman

Ang impulsive ko talaga. Kanina lang, mga 3pm, habang nasa trabaho ako at kakatapos lamang makatanggap ng mejo madami-daming tawag mula sa aking Agent, naisipan kong mag enrol sa Unibersidad. Naisip ko kasi na sayang din ang tumatakbong oras, wala naman akong gagawin, di rin naman ako makakagala kasi wala akong kasama. Kaso, mejo may kamahalaan ang tuition, AUD1,100. Wala akong pera ngayon at wala na akong trabaho sa Lunes pero napagisip isip ko, kakayanin ko pa naman mabuhay at mag aral, nga lang di ko muna mababayaran ang Daddy ko...

Ang enrolment ay nagsimula na noong Enero pa, pero ayon sa aking kaibigan, di daw mag sasara hanggat di nagsisimula ang klase. Tumawag ako sa Sydney Uni at nagtanong kung pede pa ako mag enrol. Ayun, sabi sa akin, pwede pa daw.

Pag uwi ko ng bahay, nag log agad ako sa internet at nag enrol.

Estudyante na ulit ako.
Im poorer by AUD1,100 pero lam ko mababawi ko din eto balang araw. Eto ang paraan para masabi ko ka aking resume na "studying towards CPA" na ako.
Simula ang aral sa a-Otso ng Marso --- sa isang linggo na pala yun. =)

Sa kabilang banda, dami na naman offers sa akin para sa panibagong trabaho, kaso parang ayaw ko muna, pahinga muna ako ng isang linggo. Pero kung yung trabaho ay nasa City, tatanggapin ko na kasi mas malapit sa akin yun pag punta ko ng skul...

Yun lang. :-)