Hello again!

To all my loved ones:

First of all, I'm sorry if my lack of blogging has caused any of you concern or worry. Although I've continued to face new challenges in the past two months, life in Perth has become the full adventure I expected it to be. Unless you've ever moved away from everything you know and love, it's difficult for me to put into words what it's like to start over - or at least begin a second life. The best way I can articulate it is that it's hard to live two separate lives at once. My blog-less weeks, brief email replies, non-Skyping and calling, shortness in IMs, and complete absence on Facebook weren't planned. By becoming more grounded here, I haven't been able to keep one foot on each continent/world/life... I gradually got both feet here, and now I'm off and running. Please know that I still think about all of you - home, friends, family, kitties - each and every day - and that every single thought and message you send my way is received and whole-heartedly appreciated... and for every time I don't respond as quickly as you hope I will, please know that it's because I'm having the time of my life here!

As you might imagine, a lot has happened for me in the past two months. I bought a scooter (red one, slow and easy to ride, her name is Ruby); I moved to a new house (two fun roommates - a gal from Perth and a guy from Southern California - beautiful area with lots of green leaves and clear water); I've been through culture shock and back; I'm learning to sail (I've even been out racing, gotten rope-burn, but not sun-burnt); I've gone on a few dates (don't worry - I'll still be home for Christmas); and it now takes more energy for me to remember the *American* way to spell things! I haven't done any traveling, but there's so much still to see and do here that I've yet to feel restless. My job is becoming more and more of what I love and less headaches and adjustments. I'm meeting some amazing people and earning lots and lots of "it-would-only-happen-to-Macie" stories to share when I get back.

There are so many aspects of my life in Perth that are finally blossoming, but I'm most excited about my work. I truly know that I'm in the right field and that I'm making a significant impact on individuals, classrooms, and teaching/learning pedagogy. I'm making a lot of great contacts, and I've even gotten offers from people who want to give me a significant boost up the ladder whenever I'm ready to take my next step. Next week, I'm starting a course for 7th-10th grade girls called "Digital Storytelling"; I'm going to show them how to use several different programs to make movies, pictures, music, and get their creative genius flowing. Even if I'll never make it as a professional filmmaker, I love being able to incorporate these sorts of passions into my work!

Next on my list are getting my SCUBA certification, learning to surf, and taking some weekend trips through Western Australia. There are a lot of great diving spots and wine regions here - always good motivation to travel! :)

I'm trying not to count down the weeks till Christmas - I can't believe how quickly my first few months here have come and gone! I'll do my best to get back into an email and Skype discipline... even if it's less often than we'd like.

I love you all very much, and will be back before we know it.

A Sense of Purpose

From 24-30 August

Last week, at "Professional Development Day", I was asked to give a 40-minute presentation to all of my new co-workers. Imagine, barely one month into a new job, having to hold the attention of relative strangers - many of whom could already be certain they don't need to hear what you have to say. It was daunting, to say the least. Even though I was just a segment of a two-hour presentation by the IT department, I had the biggest segment. After the whole thing was over, my boss told me that everything we'll be doing in the next six months (and had been doing for several months prior) was riding on that presentation... I was glad he waited till *after* I spoke to tell me that!

In the days that followed, I had innumerable teachers and support staff tell me how informative the presentation was and how excited they are to start using the technologies we discussed. (I won't go into too much detail about the technologies we're using at this point, but I'll explain it all in the near future!) It was heartwarming for me to be in the midst of teachers who are willing to adapt their teaching styles to meet the needs of their 21st-Century students - "Digital Natives" as they are sometimes called.

Shortly thereafter, Apple (the computer company) sent some of their educational experts to visit both schools. Even though I've only been employed here for a few weeks, I was exceedingly proud to hear them say that we're doing everything as best we can, especially for being on the bleeding edge of educational technology in Australia. I was proud for the schools, but I was also proud of the work I know I have/will contribute to the mission of educational technology. It was very reassuring to hear experts talk about how much they would love to work for one/both of the schools if they could. Too bad I beat them to it! :)

Most important, though, was the *combination* of the response from teachers to the PD day presentation and Apple education's response to the schools' technology initiatives. It helped bring me a sense of greater purpose as to what exactly I'm doing here; it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day worries and lose track of the big picture. I'm feeling much more confident in both the work that I'm doing and the significance of my work here. In my heart, I know that this combination was the final answer to my perpetual question: "What the heck am I doing here?!" Words cannot describe how much stress has been relieved by having a more tangible sense of purpose in my work!

In the meantime, I've been trying to balance my zeal for my job with other aspects of my life: social, house-hunting, and the occasional sleep cycle. It's not in perfect balance yet, but I can already tell that it's improving! :)

"Like Online Dating"

From 17-24 August

After settling the last bits of red tape (drivers' license, health insurance, bank accounts, and then some), I could finally focus my energy on day-to-day concerns, such as finding a permanent place to stay. An all-campus email failed to give me any leads to anyone renting or looking for roommates, so I have resorted to scouring online ads and real estate postings.

As much as I would love to live by myself, I quickly found it to be relatively unaffordable. If I wanted to get a vehicle and/or take any vacations, it would be financially risky for me to take on most apartments by myself. Hours after perusing online "roommate wanted" ads, I figured that it was a lot like online dating - except with more severe consequences if I screw it up and get stuck with someone(s) that I end up not liking!

I've looked all over the place, met all kinds of people, and have amassed many "it-would-only-happen-to-Macie" stories in the process. I haven't settled on anywhere yet, and I've even felt a few heartbreaks when the people/place I really liked chose someone else as a roommate. It's actually reminiscent of DePauw's sorority rush (for those of you who can relate). I can tell I'm getting better at asking the important questions and not wasting time with people I know I won't be able to live with... akin to mock interviews, I suppose. Most importantly, I've learned not to rush the process. I've got a safe place to stay with a roof and a bed, and I'm not moving until I'm sure it's the best thing I can be doing! And, in case you're wondering - the boarding house option is still on my radar - but is not topping the list at the moment.

I'm keeping my chin up and keeping my standards high on the living situation. From living abroad before, I know that my daily environment strongly affects the quality of my experience - and I don't want to mess this one up!

(Re)Building Social Networks

From 10-17 August

As I've said before (and can probably never say enough) the hardest part of "starting over" is rebuilding the social networks and support system I'm used to having in the US. I've felt very dependent on the generosity of relative strangers as I've tried to rebuild my social circles, saying "yes" to most opportunities that come my way - trying to find my "crowd" in Perth.

Lucky for me, everyone whom I've encountered in Perth has been very kind; I've been very fortunate to meet some wonderful people and experience the city from a variety of perspectives.

Brace yourselves: I've been out on a few "girls' nights", one of which even included nail polish. I'm also finally meeting enough people to go to dinner or see a movie any night of the week. Even though Perth is a full-blown city, its residents consider it to operate on "small-town mentality", so socializing with co-workers is generally not the best idea. I can't help but laugh, now that I think about it... Imagine moving to a new city/country/continent for a new job, and then try to create a social life that is not connected to your work. It's been long in coming, but so far rewarding. I've made friends with people in different departments within the school, but also outside of the campus - a huge accomplishment!

Finally feeling some progress in my social life has relieved some of the stress and homesickness. Of course, I know that friends here will never take the place of what's at home, but I have to remind myself not to limit or label these relationships as temporary, even if I consider my residence in Perth to be temporary. That was my greatest mistake in Paris - withholding myself emotionally from forming deep friendships. If anything, it is the friendships I've forged so far that have made this transition easier as time progresses.

K.O.ed

From 03-12 August

Sometimes, when tough things happen, it's easiest to sit on them for awhile before sharing them. I know my blog has sounded mostly positive so far, but the truth is that this "migration" has been as fun and exciting as it has been challenging and heartbreaking. Now that I'm mostly past the hardest parts, I feel more comfortable writing about them - a testament to the fact that I've pulled through!

In an already-stressful week, a fight with a roommate broke down my house of cards; I moved out for a few days so I could decompress a bit. That time was filled with immeasurable kindness on the part of my host, and after a few quiet nights, I was back in action... almost. In the 10 days that followed, I picked up a cold, the flu (not swine flu, thankfully!), and, lastly, an eye infection... in both eyes. I was tired, stressed, sick ... that perfect storm that doctors always warn us about in winter. Mostly, I was taking an emotional beating: I spent lots of time home from work, but still getting lots of "to dos" from work. There was the lingering stress of fighting with a roommate, feeling like I didn't have much of anywhere else to go, and - worst of all - I didn't feel that I had my good friends or family close by to help me through. I was also stressed about being too sick to take care of my remaining red tape tasks: getting health insurance, finding permanent lodging, setting up a phone and credit card, getting my own wheels for transportation, etc. Not to mention that I was still waking up in the mornings and asking myself, "What the heck was I thinking, moving to Australia?!"

I came to fully appreciate that this is different from studying abroad in Europe or going on a service trip in a third-world country. There is no built-in support system, no host family, no pre-planned hotel rooms, meals, or side trips. Staking out as an independent adult is much harder than walking into a host family and school/work schedule that is well-defined. My employer has never had anyone on my working visa before, so I struggled with "surprise" after surprise, feeling like I'd already given up enough to get here and "why didn't they ... before I got here?!" And when I felt like I needed to take deep breaths and count to ten, I was faced with the fact that it's a lot harder (read: overwhelmingly difficult) to just pick up the phone and call someone in the US to get their support.

In retrospect, I realize ways I could have avoided most of these stressors - laying off my email and phone would help with work, having more faith in the people around me who I now know certainly would've helped, being patient with everyone else's learning curves, and coming to terms with the fact that no one can fix my feelings of homesickness or the difficulties of "starting over" - they're part of the package deal. In all fairness, all these things would've been less overwhelming if I could have encountered them one at a time, but life just doesn't work that way! :)

From where I am today, I can use this time as a reference point of my lowest lows so far: emotionally, situationally, and professionally. I've also realized that I use words like "hate", "tired", and "$#!^" most often when I'm sick. I was more relieved to recover my positive attitude than anything once I started feeling healthier.

That's not to say that everything since then has been easy. It's just that now, I have a small luxury of a reference point to which I can say, "Well, if I made it through that, I can certainly make it through this."

Getting My Bearings

Since my last post, I've done quite a bit of sight-seeing and learning my way around town. I've also learned my way around the Australian Tax Office, the Medicare Office (national health care), and a few insurance offices, as well. I can't remember the last time I felt like more of a grown-up.

Last weekend, my boss and his family (aka my "host family" - they've been such a wonderful support system for me here!) took me through King's Park. Check it out on Google Maps - satellite view - for an idea of how immense and beautiful it is! We went up the treetop walkway, which gave me a really great view of the Perth skyline and the rivers that cross through it. It also has an amazing botanical garden with all the natural flora of Australia. It was set aside to make sure "that generations from now, Australia's children will know what their country looked like when it was first settled"... or something poetic like that. In any case, I know I'll be using some of the trails there for a good hike or jog!

During the workweek, I found out that health insurance, 401K, and taxes were all going to be more complicated than I initially expected. Life is full of surprises! Lucky for me, I've gotten some help from the school and lots of invaluable support and advice from my co-workers. Just a few more things to do, and the end of the red-tape-tunnel will be in view!

Meanwhile, I've also been scouring the different suburbs to get an idea of where I might like to live. I have a very generous offer to stay in the girls' boarding house, but I'm a bit hesitant after several years of living alone in Indiana. I also haven't spent much work time at the girls' school, so I haven't gotten a clear idea of what they're like, either. I've looked at some really neat (and expensive!) apartments in the area, including one where you can see and hear the ocean from the front balcony. Even if I don't end up living right on the beach, it's neat to be living in a city where it's at least an option!

This past weekend, I was generously invited on a boat trip up the Swan River, which helped to cement my bearings of the city. We floated up to the east side of the city, and then ate at a very ritzy/well-known hotel (at least, all my co-workers seemed jealous). After the ride back, I even got to check out some really great restaurants and clubs. I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this place!

Pictures borrowed from TripAdvisor.com and haveyouseenuslately.org (really interesting photo blog of world adventures!)

A World of Difference

I don't care what anyone says about Australia being similar to America in culture and language; it's a whole different world down here.

The past week or so, I have been adjusting, adapting, and improvising.  I didn't waste any time getting down to the beach or in the ocean (even though it's "winter"), but the rest of it has been a lot of work!  I've been learning new words (at least 15 every day, I'd guess), resetting my temperature and distance guesstimates for the Metric system, memorizing a new public transit network, trying to say my vowels differently, and, oh, yeah, starting a new job.  The best part is that I haven't even had a run-in with a car by looking the wrong way when I cross the street!

I've noticed that I'm tired in the same way I was when I studied abroad in Paris - it takes extra energy for basic things, like conversation, or trying to figure out where I'm going.  If I were just here on a vacation, I know it wouldn't take such effort.  However, since I'm trying to assimilate and commit these differences and changes to memory as I go, it's a lot like being in a classroom all day - *a lot* of learning to do!  At the end of most days, my tired brain just shuts off and can't absorb any more.  

The good news is that I've done this move-to-a-foreign-country thing before, so I've got a stash of tips and tricks to help me through.  I've been watching a lot of Australian TV to help me get ahold of the accent and vocab, reading the local news online so I can keep up with conversation, and testing my Metric guessing skills whenever I get a chance.  I think the scariest thing is trying not to make a fool of myself in the workplace.  With different slang and prepositions, I'm always second-guessing myself and learning new things!  I'm also doing my best to hang out with my housemates, Mark and Suzy.  (I'm staying with them temporarily till I figure out where I want to/can afford to live.)  Learn by doing!  It is frustrating, though, to have learn things all over from the beginning.  Sometimes I feel as helpless as an infant, having to constantly ask for help for even the simplest things.  I'm sure this is compounded by starting a new life and a new job all in the same short week.  :)  The most challenging thing of all is starting my social life over and having to build a new support system from the ground up.  I'm making good progress, but I've still got a ways to go.  All things in due time!  (This is what I have to tell myself many times every day - patience, patience.)

This weekend, I am enjoying lunch at my boss' house, and I will be making my debut in the weekend social scene... I'm not entirely sure what it will entail, but I'm going to hang on for the ride!  

Gluten-free Heaven

A productive morning led to a joyful afternoon yesterday in Perth.  

After doing the boring chores such as bank accounts and buying a laundry basket, I spent several hours in a combination of grocery stores.  There are gluten-free options *everywhere*!  And I don't mean, "Oh, isn't it great that they have a few bags of gluten-free spaghetti for those unfortunate souls?"  They have multiple brands, grains, pastas - everything!  And tasty gluten-free bread!  Plus, the restaurants seem to have a consistently good grasp of gluten intolerance, and I'm no longer limited to salads, potatoes, and unseasoned meat when I dine out.  It's fabulous!  A little café around the corner even had gluten-free toast as an option for their array of sandwiches (and mine was delicious, by the way).

On top of all that, it's just nice to have fresh meat and produce.  Being such an isolated city, most of the meats, vegetables, and even many of the fruits are grown locally and organically.  There's not much of a sticker shock from my usual pricey groceries from Indiana, either.  

Last night was another quiet evening.  Since my body clock starts to slow between 5 and 6pm, by 8pm, I have to find something to do on my feet so I can stay awake till 9 or 10.  To celebrate my continued off-hours cycle, I took a nap and got some "Gourmet To Go" Seafood Risotto.  Fast, inexpensive, and oh-so-filling, I was grateful to have fresh seafood and gluten-free goodness in the comfort of my PJs.  Thankfully, it's a bit out of walking distance.  If it were any closer, I could easily see myself eating there two or three times a week!

I made my gluten-free "porridge" (aka oatmeal) this morning, and took a moment of silence to appreciate the fact that Australians process their organic oats separately from wheat, barley, and rye - so I can enjoy my winter oatmeal breakfasts again!  Hooray!

I'm looking forward to this lower-hassle gluten-free lifestyle.  :)  In the next few days, I'm going to tackle the famed pizza shop down the road.  Hopefully they'll have gluten-free crust (or let me bring in my own since it's a neighborhood shop).  

First Day of Work?

My first full day of Perth was supposed to be spent resting, unpacking, and setting up my life.  Instead, what started as a welcome breakfast at 8:30 turned into a full day's worth of meet-and-greet, strategic planning discussions, HR paperwork, and more.  It was exhausting!  I'm excited to start work, but I quickly realized that I need to get myself set up *outside* of work before I get busy with the 9-5 grind.  

I got to meet a lot of great people yesterday, from the Headmaster of Scotch to my supervisors and colleagues, the HR lady, several administrative assistants, and more.  There's no way I'm going to remember all of their names.  ;)

I toured where I'll be working at both schools, too.  It's not exactly what I expected, but both environments have a lot of unique things about them that I'm looking forward to.  I'll write more about them later as I start actually working there.  

One pleasant surprise was my meeting with the HR lady yesterday.  She is refreshingly competent and helpful, and showed particular concern about the challenges I'll be facing due to the international move.  (Apparently, they're hoping to have more international employees in the future, and I'm a "pioneer" on campus.  Me, a pioneer?  Haha... Who'd have guessed?!)  She gave me all the paperwork, but she also gave me the scoop on the really important things, like how to get the best bananas and apples at morning tea.  

My bags arrived in the morning, but I didn't have a chance to start unpacking till the evening.  I'm almost done now, with just a few more socks and toiletries to sort out today.  It's a relief to start getting organized.

 I had an amazing and much-needed dinner at a place called "The Albion", where you can order your meat from a butcher window and grill it yourself or have them cook it for you... not to mention the amazing "salads" bar (which included actual salad, plus "pumpkin" aka squash, rice, couscous, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more.  Hallelujah!)  Any of you who come to Perth should expect to eat there!  

Today I'm setting out on my own with a map and enough change to catch a taxi or bus back.  I expect to be lost a few times till I learn my way around.  I'm also planning to get my mobile phone, bank account, and a few groceries so I can start cooking for myself.  If I'm back this afternoon, I may even have time to go for a run on the beach and a swim in the ocean!

The Long Journey Down Under

My preparations for this journey included an inflatable pillow, about three weeks of eating Mexican and South American cuisine, driving almost 4500 miles across the Midwest, and lots of help from my friend Pablo to get all my stuff relocated from Crawfordsville to Bloomington, St. Louis, Goodwill, or Perth.  None of it really prepared me for the travel.

My first stop was a one-day layover in San Francisco to collect myself and have one last stateside hurrah.  I didn't get to see my cousins while I was in town, but my friend Andrew was gracious enough to let me sleep for hours on end and take me out for pupusas and a brunch restaurant with a "Make your own Bloody Mary" bar.  Overall, a successful endeavor.

My flight from SFO to Sydney was nice - I even got "upgraded" to what used to be a Premium Economy seat on Qantas.  Still economy service, but a bigger chair - with a footrest and fuller recline!  I slept through most of this journey, waking up only for my gluten-free meals and bathroom breaks.  Lucky me.  :)

Once in Sydney, I started a long day of unfortunate occurrences.  One of my bags didn't make the flight.  I got delayed 45 minutes waiting for/reporting the lost bag.  I missed my subsequent flight to Perth.  Ninety minutes later, I was booked on the last flight of the day to Perth, but I had to make it via Melbourne, and that flight left in 30 minutes.  I stood in line for 25 minutes waiting to pay my "extra baggage" fee for the third time, and finally made it through security and on to Melbourne.  Eight hours later, I was in Perth, watching the luggage conveyor go around and around without producing yet another one of my bags.  Thankfully, my friend Mark was there to help me load what was left of my baggage.  I've been told that my experience was an exceptionally bad one for Qantas, so don't fret if you're planning to come visit.  

I spent the rest of the first day cleaning up, eating a good meal (including kangaroo - which is delicious), watching Transformers 2 (to beat the jet lag), and eventually curling up next to a space heater and a four-foot teddy bear.  Pictures to come.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get here!  This adventure is slowly sinking in as reality.   Please follow along and don't forget to post some comments or shoot me an email to let me know you're keeping up from across the globe.  :)

Australia - The Beginning

I'm heading down to Perth, Western Australia for a chance to live and work outside of the U.S. again.  Oh yeah, and they basically created my dream job for me.  

"So, how did a young woman stuck in an Indiana cornfield find a job in the most isolated city in the world?" you might ask.  Good question. 

This all came about through a series of great coincidence, if you want to call it that.  I met the right person at the right place and time (this would be my friend Mark, whom I met at an Apple conference in San Francisco last year).  After I finished my Master's degree last December, he helped me polish my CV and sent it up the ladder at a school called Scotch College in Perth.  Although the battle for my working visa was tedious, everything else came easily and smoothly.  

A few short months after submitting my CV, I have arrived in Perth and am ready to begin my next great adventure!