Living in Melbourne

Wow. What a slacker I am! I have not posted since I first got to Australia. I've probably lost all you readers and you probably thought I got lost somewhere in the outback. I am alive and still in Melbourne.

(Flinders Train Station)

When I first got here I found it quite difficult adjusting to a new culture, a city, and trying to sort out work and a place to live all at the same time. Yes I have done this before many times, but what I didn't anticipate was how expensive it is here, and a bad exchange rate for the American dollar didn't help. I didn't leave with as much money as I'd hoped, but I needed to go, so I just cut my losses and went.

(Yarra River and Melbourne City)

When I first got here, finding work was difficult and a place to live was even more difficult. I guess when you live in a city that constantly rates high on the list of most desirable places to live in the world, you get this problem. After three weeks, I finally found a place to live and a job at an Asian restaurant called Gingerboy. I worked about 6 weeks there, but wasn't getting too many hours so I had to look for something else. Luckily a spot opened up at my friend Angelo's place of work. I got hired there as a bartender and am currently there. It's called the Emerald Peacock and is a really busy cocktail bar in downtown Melbourne, a pretty sweet gig. (www.theemeraldpeacock.com).

(Central Business District)

One of my best friends from Montana, Mark, has also joined me down here on working holiday, he got here a month after I did. He got a job working as a bar back at the same place, so that has been really fun. I like working there, but it is really hard work! I like it though and I am meeting lots of cool people and having a bustling social life again.

(St. Kilda Beach, South Melbourne)

This week Mark and I got a new flat and we are moving to the downtown of Melbourne! Its a really nice place and a bit expensive, but we can walk everywhere now. Its one the 8^th floor of an apartment building and has a balcony with a nice view of the city. We're so excited. I've always wondered what it would be like to live right down town in a city.

(Australia Socceroos vs. New Zealand All-Whites match before the World Cup)

Fall is in full swing here and the leaves are almost all off of the trees. Winter is setting in and the days are short. It doesn't get super cold here, but its like Seattle, a damp cold which gets right through your clothes.

(Flagstaff Gardens)

So Mark and I are going to stick it out in Melbourne for a while until we can save up enough cash to move on. Not sure where we're going to go next, but up North to Queensland and the Great Barrier reef are surely on the list. I hope to post more often now, sorry for the long absence.

R

Melboune, the Seattle of Australia

Well I made it! After a surprisingly easy 14 hr flight over the pacific, I have arrived in the city of Melbourne. I flew a new airline (started in 2007) called V Australia, a new sector of Virgin America. They are a 4-star airline and were excellent in terms of comfort and service. This, coupled with a new Boeing 777 made the long flight surprisingly smooth. I was very impressed.

Melbourne is the Seattle of Australia. The city center is full of lush oak trees, lots of brick buildings and a fair share of graffiti. The streets are loaded with restaurants, cafes, and coffee bars. There are bars, lounges and clubs tucked around every corner which project the strong music and arts vibe here. There are even small alleyways full of small restaurants and bustling walking paths for a nice European feel. I have been surprised, however, at the amount of litter here as compared to the cities of NZ or Canada, which were immaculately clean. Not sure why Aussies like to litter.

Transport is very good here, with a collection of trains, trams, and buses. It's quite expensive here, which is to be expected for a city, but it's balanced with a high minimum wage (around $16/hr). People are generally pretty nice here, for a city, and there doesn't seem to be the overworked, grouchy frowning types that are so frequent in the US cities. The populous is very young here, lots of young professionals. The main industries here are banking, administration, business, and civil engineering.

I am staying temporarily with a friend here until I sort out a job and a place to live. I have been applying for lots of jobs here in renewable energy engineering at the moment. If that doesn't work out, I sense that I will have no trouble finding bar work here in one of the million cocktail bars they have around. The cocktail culture is very strong here, probably the best I've seen yet in the world. Mixology is king and everyone loves going out for a nice tasty drink, so I will be right at home for that!

I've been enjoying some of my favorite little things that I missed from NZ like really good ginger beer, edam cheese, excellent breads, and marinated green lip mussels. It feels so good to be back in this part of the world again, hearing the accents and sayings that they have. I feel a little like I came home.

Time will tell for what happens in the next month or so. I have a best mate from the States set to join me in April, embarking on his first experience living abroad, how exciting!

Well, that's all the news for now, next update I will include some photos of the city. Ciao.

Down to the Land of Oz

As many of you know, I have finally gotten things in order to move down to Australia and I will be leaving on the 28th of February! I got a 1 year, working holiday visa that allows me to undergo any kind of work down there, as long as I switch employers after 6 months. The idea is that Australia wants you to come and travel through their fine country and be able to work to supplement your long-term travel.

I think more Americans should take advantage of working holiday visas and have more long term experiences abroad. I have heard that the Australian government gives young Aussies a break on international tickets to promote travel and many other countries encourage this sort of thing for young people too. In Great Britain, for example, a lot of young people take a year of travel abroad and they call it a gap year. New Zealanders do a similar thing, they call it an OE, overseas experience. When I was in New Zealand, I met several German travelers just out of high school, going on their year long traveling experience before enrolling in a university.

In slang, everyone down there calls Australia "Oz" for short. I found this fitting over the last year as I was working hard to save up money to go there: working and dreaming about going to the Land of Oz. It's nice to have that light at the end of the tunnel and something to really work toward. I always need that. Quite different from one year ago when I was so set on going to Italy, but I never made it back...yet.

I chose Australia instead of going back to Italy for several reasons, but mainly since the visa is only for 18-30 yr olds, and this is my last chance. It was also made more sense logistically since they speak english, I would be working legally, and I already know the culture from my NZ experience.

So keep tuning in for more updates because I expect this blog to be way more active and exciting as I talk about my experiences in Oz!

Montana Rock Quarry

On New Year's Eve day, my mom and I took a trip to an abandoned rock quarry. Our mission was to get some rock for our new fireplace at the house. Apparently, this rock quarry was only in operation from 1928-1929 and then again briefly in 1937. It's called the Vermont Marble Quarry and produced Montana Black and Gold Marble for buildings all over the Northwest.

(Vermont Marble Quarry, MT)

The Quarry is nestled between two rocky ridges at the South end of a mountain range. The landscape, history, and the current weather there created really cool aura and made it a neat place to look around. It was a bit windy and cold which really added to the feel of the barren landscape. It reminded me of being in New Zealand. As we poked around, we found some old quarry excavation equipment as well as some really cool rocks. I thought I'd share with you a few pictures from our fun day.

(Rock Quarry and close-up of rock: Montana black and gold marble)


(An old boom used in part with a huge cable to saw the rock)


(Small rocks and large marble blocks, like the one Michelangelo used for David!)

100 Things I am Grateful For

I think 2009 was a tough year for everyone globally and for me especially. I began the year excited about getting back to Italy, but as the year passed, I found it hard to save money and it didn't happen. I'm still leaving for Australia, as soon as I get my working holiday paperwork through. I've heard from several people, astrologers and articles that 2010 will be a great year. To start a new decade, I decided to write a list of 100 things I am grateful for. What are you grateful for?

Some of them are just plain simple, but as you read the list, you will be surprised how many of the things spark a good memory and make you feel good. Imagine what life would be like without any one of these things. So here's to a soon to be great 2010!

100 Things I am grateful for, in no particular order:

Health
Family
Friends
Intelligence and wisdom
Willpower
Ability to be responsible with money
Travel
Different cultures
Languages
Music
Musical instruments
Singing
Artistic ability
Creativity
Ingenuity
Art
Architecture
Dancing
Movies
Photographs
Fashion
Science
Education
History
Sleep
Keeping a journal
Nice people
Supportive people
Role models
Girls
Love
Kisses
Hugs
Sex
Sunshine
Natural beauty
Ability to heal- physically, mentally
The unknown, what's yet to learn
Compliments
Holidays
Colors
Water
Food
Beer
Wine
Spirits
Coffee
Tea
Fun
Parties
Humor
Modesty
Ability to relax
Patience
Our senses
Soft things
Exercise
Swimming
Smiles
Animals
Comfortable chairs
Internet
Phones
Airplanes
Computers
Email
Ipods
Electricity
Appliances
Batteries
Glass
Automobiles
Flowers
Oceans
Plants
Fresh air
Snow
Fire
Ice
Rain
Clouds
Trees
Mountains
The seasons
Different climates
Memories
Peaceful times
Free time
Freedom
Fishing
Skiing
Hiking
Camping
Showers
Warmth on a cold day
Air conditioning
Chocolate
Hair
Dental care
Health care

My First Art Show

Seven months back now, I finally made the effort to participate in an art show, which has always been a goal of mine. I have loved art my whole life, beginning by drawing dinosaurs as a kid. I continued art while growing up drawing lots of sports figures, skiers, and cowboys, or pretty much anything I was really passionate about at the time. Through high school I took a few classes which increased my skills in drawing and painting, but focused on realism. At the time, I hated abstract art and didn't understand it. After I got to college and started to become more intellectual, I started to like abstract art and used it as sort of a rebellious escape from my left-brained engineering studies. It was in these years that impressionism and abstract art became my favorite. I started to create whimsical art full of passion and developed my own techniques. Then, during graduate school, as seems to always happen, my art side went by the wayside for a few years always begging to be brought to the surface again.

Finally, after returning from Europe last year, I found the enthusiasm and time to once again get back into it. An old friend of mine from high school art class, Jay Crider, and I created an art club here in Helena which we called the Illuminarti. Since high school, Jay had pursued art as a career and developed a style all to his own. He has since become one of my favorite painters and inspirations because his painting are AMAZING! He combines the subject matter of Picasso with the painting style of Van Gogh, which are my two favorite classic painters. Please check out Jay's website here.

Our group had some great times together, all having the similar motive to regularly keep art in our lives. We entered the Spring Art Walk here in Helena last April and it was quite a push for us to actually have a deadline. I sort of enjoyed the pressure and was thankful for all the support I got from my art club friends.

The day of the show was awesome. What a different experience to put something on the wall that you created for everyone to see! It was like singing or acting on stage because you are putting yourself out there. You are putting things on the wall from your mind, which can be a daunting feeling--things that came from your experiences, your interpretations, your subconscious. It was truly satisfying to achieve a personal goal of being in an art show at least once. It was also neat to be a part of the art world and to interact as an artist, even if it was for a short time.

A few months after the art walk, I got to participate in another show at my coffee shop. This time, I actually sold one of my paintings to one of the judges! I guess that makes me a real artist now? As promised, here's a few pictures of my art for you to see. Enjoy!

(Rocket Science: Getting back in touch with my left-brain. There is actually a lot of true science to this cartoon-like drawing. The rocket plume colors are what they use to measure temperature during testing and the curly vortex shapes in the plume are called vortex mixing. The fins on the rocket and the nozzle are there to mitigate heat.)


(Violin: I love musical instruments and how they have such sleek curves. I started this painting back in 2004 and finally finished it for the show here in 2009)


(Colossal with Key: one of my colossal characters. The look on his face could be one of innocence and asking forgiveness, or one of greed and evasiveness)


(Guitar Planko: another beautiful instrument)


(Nurture: to represent dreams and passions in life, if they are given the proper nurturing and support, they will grow, just like a plant)


(Clock Tower in Spokane, WA)


(Caught in a Dream: this is the one I sold to a Pediatrician. He said the shapes reminded him of vertebrae in your back, and the colors and friendly faces on the horses would be good for the kids.)


(Biological Father: influenced in part by the artwork with Pearl Jam's album Vitalogy)

Awakening the Blog again

After nearly a year, I have found the time and inspiration to post again. I know that I probably have lost most of my audience during my leave of absence, but I suppose that's how themed blogs go: If you don't have any relevant information worth posting, you pass on writing it. During the last few months, I have just not been inspired enough to post anything of substance as plans for going to Italy got postponed due to finances. Thus, I've just been working and doing projects around the house. I am writing now to say that plans for more travel are in my near future once again. I will continue to use this blog again and hopefully provide some insight for any overly-curious readers. I also hope to post on some cool things that did happen for me this summer, including my first art show.

Last I wrote, plans were in the works to save money here in Helena, MT in order to make it back to Italy. I am sorry to report that I have still not made it back to Italy, primarily due to finances. After returning from Italy, I saw first hand the effects of the economy as I had trouble finding a decent job. I found a part-time job as a barista at minimum wage, which was completely humbling and made saving money difficult. Plans for Italy were painfully put off and put off. During this period, I tried to find the bright side: this was the lowest paying job I've ever had in life, about 1/4 of the money I made as an engineer, but it's good for a person to see this, as it makes you grateful that you are able to do better thanks to education.

Summer here in Montana was fairly short as we had a more rainy than usual year, and winter came early seeing temperatures around zero F as early as a month ago. I did get some neat projects done this summer like putting in an underground sprinkler system for my mom. This spring, I also fulfilled a personal goal to be in an art show. I actually entered two shows and ended up selling one piece! I hope to post more on that another time.

So you ask, what is in store for the future? Well this has been a difficult question for me to answer and for the first time in my life, I am so unsure of the future, it is scaring me. Since I have returned from NZ, I confess that I have been increasingly feeling numb, lacking inspiration and motivation--that fire I once had.

Part of me is pushing to get back on a career track and rekindle the remnants of a career in science. Another part of me is still interested in opening a cocktail bar, or starting some sort of business of my own. All confusion aside, I have figured that moving away from the USA again is imminent. The USA and Montana are great places, but I've decided they are not the right place for me right now. So where do I go?

I still dream about NZ about 2 times a week and this would be the most logical place to go, but I want to try something different. NZ is a great back up, but I would like to find a place a little less isolated from the world, but still laid-back, stable and easy to get into. I came up with Australia. They rank really high on the livability scale, are close to beautiful NZ and also South Asia for traveling. Their economy is good and they do a lot of scientific research. I also have a few friends there trying to make a life. So I guess currently, Australia is my new goal.

In slang, they call Australia Oz. Hah, perfect. The wizard of Oz, what a fitting dream to think about: Going to Oz. So this is my new plan to date, at least for now, because you know how plans can change, especially for me! More later.

Florence, Milan and then home, but not for long...

Somehow I made it back home to the States for Christmas. A hard move, I know, to leave such a beautiful country that prides itself in art, food, and style; Italy is truly a special place. It was great to be with my family for the holidays though.

Within the two weeks I was there, I started to really enjoy the Italian culture. Every evening around 6 o'clock, the streets fill with Italians getting off of work. However, its not like rush hour in the States. They are leisurely walking around with each other taking in the views, the nice night, and checking out the newest window displays from the fashion designers. There are street performers filling the air with wonderful music, and people strolling about with a hot Panini or a delicious gelato; the place is just vibrant and alive --what a great way to bond with the people of a city. Back in the US, it seems to me that we are always in some sort of hurry or on a mission. In congested areas, people are frustrated.

(A Prada window display in Milan)

(Out in the streets of Florence)

My first impression of the food in Florence was surprisingly, not good. I soon figured out that I was eating at the touristy places that didn't actually serve authentic Italian food. I was finding lots of reheated pizza, panini, and pasta. I also found every shop had the same things.

(Some good panini)

My frustration was quickly flattened thanks to my Italian friends Mossi and Cassandra, Eva, and Cristina. They took me to pure Italian places tucked into the nooks and crannies of Florence and therefore perfectly preserved. The food at these places was excellent (ah, relief!). Italian dinner is what you would expect for a European dining experience. They eat a small portion, have some wine, talk, then repeat. Dinner can last up to 4 hours and starts with an antipasti, primera, and then a main course, and finishes with an espresso (no matter what time of night), and a small glass of frozen limoncello (a lemon liqueur).

(Antipasti)


(With my friends Cassandra and Mossi enjoying limoncello)

Milan is the industrious city of the North of Italy which is refreshingly different from Florence. You can certainly feel this when you step out of the huge train station into the thick of the city. Although more modern and spread out than Florence, Milan still glows style. Its here and Paris that all the biggest fashion shows are every season highlighting the native styles of Milan, like Prada. I spent only one night here, but was still able to see some of the sights.

(Milan's Central Train Station)

(Milan's Duomo. The right shows the door to the Duomo and also some damage from WWII)


(Milan's gorgeous town center, with a beautiful Christmas display under the covered mall)

(A video showing the covered walking mall in Milan)

I also had the chance to visit the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Although this is really the only thing to see in the small city of Pisa, it is truly a marvel. It's so strange to see something so large and permanent like a building leaning at an angle looking like it's going to fall over. You think that it's an illusion, that it's not really leaning, but then you walk up to the base and see how far one side has sunk into the ground. Its crazy. The tower is not alone, it is neighbored by the Duomo and another building. I stopped here for lunch and had some amazing raviolis and a glass of Chianti. Ah. How relaxing.

(Leaning Tower of Pisa)

(Pisa's Cathedral)

So after some initial frustration, I found Italy very hospitable and warming with great food and lots of art. The appreciation for art is far more than back home, it is one of their main values in life, a societal perk which I have always wanted to experience. No wonder the Italian passion, spice, and fire for art and style have given the world fashion, food, Ferraris, and fine art.

(Florence)

All these experiences in Italy caused my head to whirl, to think, and start to dream. Initially, I was so excited about Italy that I was going to stay for the winter, but I realized that winter is a slow time here, there are less people, less jobs, and the weather is rainy and cold. Not to worry, however, because I've not only come home with great memories from my experience there, but I've come home with a plan. I'm going to stick it out in Montana for the winter learning all the Italian I can and saving money. Then...Italy for the summer! Florence will be my new home for a few months.

Lost in Florence

"...I now find myself wandering the narrow streets of Florence (Firenze) in a state of both awe and intimidation. Around me I hear the percussion of Italian tongues as I try to move with the flow of foot traffic on a sidewalk half the size I'm used to. You can venture off into the one lane street beside you if you like to avoid oncoming people with umbrellas, but I wouldn't advise it. Italians whiz by on vespas at a crazy speed, and buses that we would think obviously were too big for the street don't hold back either. However, I still feel safe in the street, as Italians, although at first impression appear to be wreck less drivers, they are actually very alert drivers. I sense that this behavior is a fabrication of the bigger culture here: Flowing chaos. It seems that everything is disorganized, but somehow it works and flows and sings. It is Italy."

(The streets of Florence, Piazza di S. Croce in the distance)

I am in a place of immense history, creative arts, fashion, and style. It's here that many fashion brands start and beam style to the rest of the world like a beacon in the fog. Tucany is home to Gucci, Diesel, and Giorgio Armani as well as amazing Chianti and Italian leather. I feel grossly under dressed here in the streets. I'm also very content to be in such a culture shock and sometimes I try to imagine if I'm ever wandering the same path as Leonardo Da Vinci once did, or Michaelango, or the Medici family.

(A Gucci store)

(Florence)

Florence is a labryinth of narrow streets, where a lot of the buildings look the same. You keep walking and every once in a while, the street opens up into an amazing Piazza (plaza) home to an architectural icon or two, or perhaps a sculpture crafted by one of the greats dipicting a Roman leader. One such place is the Piazza del Signorina, full of sculptures and the original home to Michaelango's David, which is now in a museum: Galleria dell'Academia.

(Piazza del Signorina)

There is also the beautiful Duomo of Florence, which is the biggest cathedral in the city. According to historical Italian law, each city has a Duomo which, by definition, is the biggest cathedral in the city, rests at the center, and also is the tallest building in the city, at least from what I understand.

(The iconic Duomo of Florence!)

(Breathtaking detail)



(Beautiful white marble)

(You can see how the Duomo is the tallest building, look at the shadow looming over the city)

After you experience the Duomo, there are several cafes you can tuck into and join the fellow residents for a scalding hot espresso, but in a lot of places here most people enjoy their caffe or breakfast while standing.

Italians seem to stand a lot. They also work a lot, some 6ohrs and 6 days a week. This came as a surprise for me as I always got the impression that everyone in Europe works less than the US. However, I just don't get the feeling of stress here, as Italians are very laid back, they don't worry as much as we do. It seems like everything is done on a handshake and there is a vague concept punctuality.

Yesterday I paid a visit to Michaelango's David. I joined several other tourists in a reverent silence as all you can do is just stare in awe. He is so elegantly poised and polished staring off to his left with a humble pride. He is amazing. I just relaxed here and took it all in for the better part of an hour. Seeing such a famous icon of art like that is quite a rush. You see him everywhere in pictures and books, but finally getting to see him in person was amazing.

More on Italy soon...