I'm finally back online!!! After moving into the apartment, we didn't have internet access since the complex charges $27.50/day. Crazy expensive!!! Getting cheap internet seems to be a challenge in Melbourne and wireless even more so. It's easy to get internet access and wireless in the US, but here...they don't seem to be as technologically advanced...so the internet is more expensive. We finally got approval from my company to get prepaid mobile broadband, so I'm glad to be able to get online while at home. I've got limited access while at work..but I can't be surfing too much at work! :)
Work is interesting. Our office is inside my client's department store, so I was expecting a nice place...but it's much older than I was expecting. The client facing side of the department store looks nice, but I think there's room for improvement for the office environment. There's actually a slight bug infestation in the area I am working in...probably from a flood they had a couple of weeks ago...yikes! It was a little disturbing at first, but I'm starting to get use to it...I just swat at the bugs when I see them...hehehe. They are moving to a new building in April...so I'm definitely looking forward to that since everything will be BRAND new...looking forward to the new chairs since the chair I have now looks like it was picked up from a dumpster and rolls in a funny way.
My clients are really good to work with. There are two ladies that I've been dealing with everyday and they are very nice and funny. I can see we will have alot of fun on this project...they are already talking about taking me to see the Australian "football" game where the men play in short shorts! I've been told that I would enjoy it very much...they even mentioned getting me a calendar of the men...oh la la...can't wait! :)
I'm really liking Melbourne so far. The food is great...though I've only been eating Asian food since the area I am in has soooooo many Asian restaurants. The Asian population is big here. I need to go find some good Australian food...not sure what that would be...but definitely need to go find some lamb! I think I will need to try the vegemite spread...I smelled it and it has a very strong odor...almost like fish sauce! It's made from yeast...sounds so odd but I hear it's tasty!
The people are really friendly and I love the accent and the words they use! I think my two favorite words right now are icy pole (for popsicle) and piccy (pronounced pic-key...for picture)...those words just sound so cute! I'm sharing my southern side with the aussies as well...my clients keep laughing at me since I use the word "ya'll" from time to time. One of the ladies think it's funny that I'm Asian with an American accent...seems perfectly normal to me! :)
