Fastest Job Search Ever

Short and sweet update this time! First off, on my last post I said that I was going for an interview, and after meeting with a potential family on Sunday I got a call on Monday asking if I could come over the next weekend to have a playdate with Theodore (Teddy) and to sign a contract!! I couldn't even believe my good luck. I reactivated my profile on the au pair website for less than 3 weeks maybe and got the perfect match! It has worked out so well because I won't have to worry about searching for a family while I'm travelling! I will be leaving all my belongings in Asquith (where I am now) while I'm in Asia and then when I get back I will be moving to the eastern suburb of Bronte!!

Bronte Beach (I stole this from the interwebs)

Bronte beach is two beaches over from the famous Bondi Beach. The beach is a super quick 10 minute walk from the house. So you better believe that I will be spending all of my time there, come July. Technically it will be winter here when I get back, but I really don't think it's going to compare to Oregon winters at all. The average temperatures for Sydney in July are about 17 degrees celsius so like 62 degrees fahrenheit. I'm still very bummed to be leaving all the wonderful people here in Asquith but I am excited to be close to the beach, and a lot closer to the city.

I can't believe I've only got 4 days left with these adorable boys. 😩 The boys have been fighting a cold this last week so their noses have been so leaky and they have been crankier than usual. On the plus side of them not feeling well, it means they are more inclined to be SUPER cuddly. So I'm not even slightly mad about it.

Secondly, I'm happy to announce that I have been declared a real Aussie!

Okay not really but some random lady at the hardware store said that I am officially an Australian now. Bunnings is the hardware chain here in Australia they would be comparable to Home Depot or Lowes in the states. And on the weekends most locations have something called a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle which is fundraiser where different organizations sell sausage sandwiches to raise money. We went on a day that was supporting the SES which is the State Emergency Services. According to the slightly-bogan-over-excited-SES-lady, Bunnings Sausage Sizzles predate and is more Australian than Tim Tams & Bondi beach (and one other thing but I didn't understand what it was). Essentially, a sausage sandwich or 'Sanga' is a butterflied sausage inside two pieces of plain white bread with a sh*t ton of butter spread on each side & grilled onions on a sinlge napkin. Then you have your choice of ketchup, mustard, & barbecue (or all of the above).

Not what I would call a delicacy but it has that awesome taste of something that's come off of a well used grill and who wouldn't want to grab a portable bite to eat before getting lost in the aisles of a hardware store? (ps. a bevvy is a beverage)

On the very same day I also watched the Dish. Which, if I found funny, also meant that I understand Aussie humor and can officially consider myself acclimated.

I've only got ~4 days left here at the 'Squith before I head off on my trip to SE Asia next Monday! I've been so busy packing up my room and trying to plan out what to pack in my backpack. Anyone who's travelled with me, anywhere, knows that I am an aggressive over packer... I think when I went to Orlando in November I packed 8 or 9 pairs of shoes for a week long trip. Minimalism is a foreign concept for me but I already know that I don't want to be carrying so much crap around Asia for 2 months on my back so I'm gonna give it my best. Anyone have any suggestions for things they wished they packed for SE Asia or maybe some things they wished they hadn't brought? Let me know!

That's all I've got this time, I told you it would be short!

Hope everyone at home is enjoying the start of Spring! And Happy Anzac Day to everyone here in Oz.

Love,

Aivi