Just thinking..

Since I've got here and started my job I have found that I get asked a lot what Ireland is like and what I miss from home and I have found myself giving answers even I wasn't really expecting! So today I'm going to do a post on what I miss from home and, for the sake of balance, what I love about Australia (so far!)
What I miss, barring the obvious of my family and friends because that really goes without saying!!

1. My dogs. At home they annoy me at the best of times. They walk in front of my car, eat my clothes if I'm not paying them enough attention, run into the house and never listen. And I honestly want nothing more than a big cuddle with them or to throw a ball in the garden with them (a ball they will not bring back I might add!) This is so true of me that I have honestly been dying to cuddle anything that can bark and happens to walk past me!

2. My car! My beautiful car! I miss how nice it was to drive and how great it was. Having to rely on trams is driving me crazy! I miss the independence of having it! I know Conor's car is there for long spins which is great obviously, but Mon-Fri it is unseen by me! Ha! Here's a pick of my lovely old car after my friends decorated it simply because I left it outside of their house! Sound!
3. Irish goodies and food. Like twister ice lollies, fanta (it tastes different over here!), Burger King, Fox's biscuits, Lyons's tea, salt and vinegar Hunky Dory's, red lemonade, goldslagger (I've yet to find a pub that has it!), 
For all my giving out about missing Irish things, we actually ordered stuff from Taste Ireland's website this week so lots of Irish stuff is on it's way to us as I type! I can not wait to have some Lyons' tea with a proper Irish fry up! :D 

4. Penney's. To put it simply, there isn't really an equivalent over here! There is K-Mart and Target but they don't get stock half as often so it's the same stuff all the time and it's actually not as good as Primark stuff, or half as nice! Even shoes over here can be very expensive. No such thing as 7 euro sandals over here ladies so stock up before you come! Ha!



For all these things that I miss I of course have things that I love about Australia!
1. The lifestyle. At home the weekend is when you do stuff like go for dinner or go for a drink after work. Over here its any night of the week. It doesn't have the whole living for the weekend and live to work mentality that we have at home. Australia's work to live and enjoy themselves in between and it is the right idea! I love it!!
As well as that there is more to do over here and we find ourselves saying 'oh such and such is on, will we go?' whereas at home we would have just not bothered due to money or laziness. I know myself that when we go home now I will be much more likely to just say ok lets do it when something comes up, or at least I hope I will!

2. The beaches and the weather. Obviously I was aware coming over here that they would be amazing but I just have to mention them because well, they're amazing! Did I say that already?? Everywhere here is so well maintained and rubbish free, it's a massive change from Tramore beach at home!!
3. Living with Conor. It sounds very gay doesn't it! If my friends read that they will bust themselves laughing but I have to say I really am enjoying it. For all his snoring and messiness we have had great fun so far and have been getting on really well and have just settled into it so easily. I know that it is not something we would have done at home, especially considering our money situation at the best of times and the fact that we both liked living with our families.
4. Meeting new people. I know you technically do it on a daily basis but I mean at home you have your friends and you tend not to go outside of your group massively but over here it is like starting over again which is pretty cool, whilst being a touch daunting at the same time! Obviously I'm not saying you forget your friends from at home, no way but it's nice to make new friendships with people from a few different places!


So obviously I know the benefits of being in Australia right now seriously outweigh a few home comforts and my pups but I was just thinking about it so decided to blog it down, sure why not! I know myself that I want to live in Ireland and be around my family and friends when I'm older, something I actually wouldn't have said when we were leaving in Feb but at the moment I am most definitely going to enjoy my good dose of change and see what else Australia can bring me!
I'm really enjoying the job I started and the girls I work with are lovely too which is always nice. Life is good!!


Amy :)

Finally did it and booked our flights! Woot!! February 14th we are outta here and on our way to Sydney!! I'm not sure I've stopped smiling yet!! Think we spent ten minutes just staring at the confirmation of booking!!


So our journey is 24 hours 35 mins with Etihad and goes from Dublin to Abu Dhabi, and after a two hour stop-over, Abu Dhabi to Sydney!! And we got a night time flight which we're pretty happy with because the majority of other flights were early mornings which would probably have meant we wouldn't have slept much!! Or at least I wouldn't, he could sleep on a bed of nails!!!!


So that's the biggest thing checked off our list, now just to sort bank accounts and travel insurance. The latter of which we have started looking into. My cousin, who is already on her working holiday, has warned me to check with the insurer that you don't need a medicare card as well as your policy as they do not give them to people from the Republic of Ireland and your insurance is invalid over there without it! The main culprit for this is Multitrip.com, as they are an English company they do not mention this problem for Irish people as English people can get these cards. Consider yourselves warned! So I reckon I shall be calling companies after checking out the quotes online, just to be sure!


Also a friend of mine recommended Nab bank, as they do accounts for people on working holiday visas so gonna have a look at that tonight. I'm sure I'll have to sort this for Conor too though so may as well wait until I have his passport to do them both together... Typical young fella!!


Then that's pretty much everything sorted, besides our going away nights, which are turning out to be more hassle than I thought!! I DO NOT want a going away party! I am not the first person to leave the country, nor will I be the last so don't fancy making a big deal, but, I do want to see my friends and family before I go. And Conor has to have a night for his friends and for his family too so we'll have to coordinate in some way or other, around a couple of other things, like his last gig, another friends going away night and a christening in my family!! Fun!! It's going to be a busy few weeks!!


Can not wait now.. Did I mention it's only 36 days?? Oh god that's so soon.. Need to get my ass in gear!!
Eeepp hope you're ready for us Australia!!

Amy :)

Just realised....

I've been ranting on about Oz and never once mentioned my reasons as to why I am going?! Whoops! So basically I have just finished my degree in Criminal Justice Studies, but as I live in Ireland where jobs are very scarce for graduates I have to go elsewhere to make use of my education!! And as I'm from Ireland I have decided I am well overdue some serious sunshine.. Hence choosing Australia!!  

That being said I am actually working at the moment, and this is actually the second part of my motivation to go away! Don't get me wrong I love my job but I know if I don't go away now I will stay working there till I eventually crack!! It's a little depressing around Waterford at the moment too, as a lot of shops are closing and a lot of people are out of work, but some people seem to relish in the misery! We have countless people coming in saying that they have heard we are closing, some women actually saying 'Oooh I have it from a good source that ye are going the 15th of January' or 'should I buy these if ye are closing? I mean I won't be able to get a refund'. Ridiculousness!! And very unfair on people who work there to have to listen to.

So yes, there you have it! I want to work in the area I studied in and I want to get away from the misery that seems to surround Waterford at the moment!! Reason enough if you ask me!!

Amy :)

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

My first post!

My first post, how exciting! Ha!
 So at the moment I have just recently been granted my working visa for Australia. It is only a one year visa at the moment, but I am planning on extending it to the second year if all goes well! Have yet to read any of the emails I have got about my visa or even open my VERY thick letter full of information! It seems like a lot of effort! Laziness I know! I will read it on my next day off (I think that is Sunday!) I am excited for it but I think I will feel surreal about it until I book my flights and have a concrete date. At the moment I'm not too sure what my plan is about where I'm going to go, or even who I'm going with so until I know that it will all stay up in the air I suppose!
So all that is left for me to do is say Hello!! And join in next time when my life may actually have a bit of clarity! Or at least my plans!
Laters Ladies and Gents!


Amy