Time Flies

It's been almost a month since I've last posted...apologies for my tardiness :) A lot has happened over the past month. I returned home for a week, had a great time catching up with family and friends and when I blinked, it was time to return to Melbourne. Work-wise, the temporary consultants ran into visa issues - basically, my company's legal department found a loophole visa to put us on, but the Australian government fixed the loophole. Which means a trip back to the states for all of us until our legitimate work visas process - God only knows how long that will take :) So I'm Atlanta-bound once again come the end of this week...

My second month in Melbourne has given me the chance to settle in a bit. I've since switched hotels, which has put me in a nicer flat closer to work. Still a beautiful city view! Work has really ramped up, all of our team resources have been thrown at one big project.

I've managed to get back into my running routine, now that the days are getting longer and warmer. I ran with Lane a few times on St. Kilda Beach (about 20 minutes by tram), and Carson and I have developed quite an intense routine with the hopes of running a few Melbourne races. We might even run in the Melbourne Corporate games in November, where basically 25,000 Melbourne employees participate in a weekend's worth of 20+ games/sports for charity.

I've enjoyed getting to know many of my co-workers outside of work. Australians are quite active, and now that the weather is warming up and Spring is in the air (although it is not uncommon to experience four seasons in one day), being outdoors is a requirement. I've been doing a bit of rock-climbing, and we've even been go-carting a couple times now. Once indoor, once outdoor in mini-Nascar race style. I've even tried my hand at golf, when Lane's boyfriend Justin was here on holiday for two weeks.

Of course, we've enjoyed other outtings as well :) The bloakes here are bloody good fun! And it seems as though there are always excuses to go out and have a good time - birthdays, going-away parties, you name it, we'll drink to it.

I leave you with parting knowledge that I've accumulated during my glorious but brief stay in Melbourne. May I present to you, Aussie translator:

• How'd ya pull up? = How did you feel this morning after a long night of drinking?
• Taking the piss out of ya = Making fun of you
• Bloody good bloake = Nice guy
• Holiday = Vacation (of which each employee receives a mandatory minimum 4 weeks)
• Have a go at it = Try it
• Chicken schnitzel parmiagiana with capsicum and chips = Fried chicken covered in tomato sauce and bell peppers, side of french fries
• Thongs = Flip-flops
• Pot of beer = The tiniest glass of beer you have ever seen in your life
• Jug of beer = Pitcher of beer
• Coke spider = Coke float
• Kiwi = Native New Zealander
• Sheila = An attractive girl
• Bogan = Australian Aboriginal

Cheers!!!