The Last Hurrah

Most, or all, of you know that I (Melissa) was offered a job just over two weeks ago with a healthcare organisation. In an effort to keep some separation between our personal and professional lives, I won't mention the company by name on this blog since the blog can be viewed publicly. I'm very happy and grateful to have found a job where I think I'll be able to make a difference in the lives of people, build on my marketing skills and, most importantly, work at a place where the people seem really nice and the company provides a lot of training. Hopefully I'll enjoy this work and the people as much as I did in my last role before travelling.

I start my new job tomorrow. We decided to take advantage of the extra time together before one of us starts working. Since Klas and I loved camping during the three months that we toured around Australia, we bought a new tent and spent three nights in Port Stephens, which is a few hours drive north of Sydney. We had a nice, relaxing time walking, reading on the beach and seeing dolphins and penguins. While it wasn't our last camping trip forever, it was our last trip for this two-year adventure.

I've been asked how I feel about starting to work again. I'm very fortunate to have found a job that I wanted but I realise that ultimately it's a means to an end - at some point we need to earn money to live and continue doing what we like to do. I'm a little bit anxious because everything will be new. I worked at my last place of employment for eight years so I knew the people, the culture and what was expected of me. I learned enough about the company and people during the interviews and my own research to feel like this was the right job for me but I felt like I was on the show 'The Bachelor' throughout the process. I applied for the position; went through a screening process with the recruiting firm to see if I was appropriate for 'the show' or interview process; had two interviews where I felt like I was on the dates where the women try hard to show their personality, communicate their feelings and make the bachelor fall in love with them all while the bachelor doesn't show his true feelings because he doesn't know who he will pick until the end; introduced them to my 'family' as they called former bosses for reference checks; and waited anxiously to hear the final decision. Finally came feelings of jubilation when I found out they had picked me. After all of this, there is still so much that I don't know about my 'new family' but I will learn and things will work out for the best...they always do.

I know I'll do the job well and will get on well with the people there as long as they're nice. I also know that it will be a big adjustment to be away from Klas. We've been together 24/7 for just over two years. OK, we haven't done everything together the last six months since we've been in Sydney as we have spent time separately with our friends and playing sport. However, we've been together most of the time except for four days when I visited my cousins in London while Klas stayed in Sweden with his family. We'll get used to the routine of working again but I'm sure I'll miss being with Klas, especially in the beginning. I expect that soon a company will realise that they would be lucky to have Klas on their team and we'll both be busy adjusting to this new stage of our lives.

Happy Birthday to Me!

If you know me well then you know that I love my birthday. Last week I was at a luncheon with some old school friends who were complaining that they had just had another birthday and now they were one year older. I understand that maybe they don't want to get older but I don't understand why they don't want another birthday. In my opinion, birthdays are the only day when it's just my day so I love celebrating it with friends and family and getting what I want "because it's my birthday." Poor Klas, this year he had to hear the excuse "because it's my birthday" for the whole weekend since February 28th fell on Saturday.

I turned 32. I haven't celebrated my birthday at home in Australia since I was 17. I started my birthday weekend with some pampering at the hair dresser on Friday afternoon. Then in the evening I went with my wonderful neighbours Penny and Lauren and my Mum and Eunice to The Dolphin Hotel for drinks, dinner at Kylie Kwong's (chef on TV in Australia) restaurant called Billy Kwong, and dancing at The Colombian Hotel. It was a fun girl's night. Klas went to play poker with his floorball friends...but that wasn't all that he did...read on.

     

  

On Saturday, Klas took me shopping for my birthday in Paddington. After several hours of walking around and having a nice lunch, I had practically given up on finding something that I liked that was decently priced until I entered the "last store" (how many times has Klas heard that while we've been shopping?) for the day. Chantal B was such a cute store with a French owner who brings clothes home from France and Italy. After loving so many dresses that I had tried on, I picked my birthday present and couldn't help but give the owner a kiss because I was so happy with my present and her lovely personality. If you live in or visit Sydney, you must check out this store.

After a wonderful day with Klas, I got ready for dinner. The plan was to pick up Mum, Aunty Lisa and my cousin/brother, Rafe, at Aunty Lisa's place. I had asked Mum to keep the location for dinner a surprise since I had already known about some of my presents. For once Klas wasn't ready quite on time but his reason of an upset stomach wasn't totally out of the ordinary. Little did I know that he was just hanging out in the bathroom, killing some time, since I was actually ready early.

Finally we set off, arriving at Aunty Lisa's place about 10 minutes late. Aunty told me that Mum and Rafe were out the back looking at her new patio furniture. "Oh, I haven't seen it either. I want to see it. When did you get it?" I walked through the house quickly and Aunty opened the back door to a backyard full of old friends from school, tennis and travelling - it was an awesome surprise. Klas had helped the previous night to start setting things up. I thought Mum had been at work on Saturday to deal with some problems that occurred during the week but she was actually working with Aunty and Rafe all day. Two of my tennis friends, Angela and Emilie, had played everything very well as we had been on the phone that day organising dinner for Sunday night.

It was such a nice evening. I was exhausted on Sunday with all of the excitement. The weekend was topped off with lunch with my Grandma and Grandpa.

Thanks to many of you for my birthday wishes on email, the phone and Facebook. It was such a fun weekend. What a great way to start having birthdays in Australia again. Only 363 days until my next birthday!

                       

6 Days Left to Apply for 'The Best Job In The World'

     

Pictures: This could be you at the Great Barrier Reef

For our Australian friends and family, this is probably old news. However, for our overseas fans, if you're looking for a way to visit us and Australia for 'free' and do something totally different for six months, then check out the following site for a way you can do it.

The Best Job in the World

Tourism Queensland is offering the chance to work as an Island Caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef for six months for AU$150,000. What do you have to do? All you have to do is blog about your experiences and clean the pool, i.e. pick up something in the ocean if you see a piece of paper floating by. Tourism Queensland will send a schedule to you and you'll get to try all sorts of things.

Applications close in six days. To apply you have to fill out an online form and upload a 60-second video about why you are the best person for the job.

Maybe Klas or I should apply...just kidding Mum, we're not going anywhere for a while.

Good news

After some self reflection this morning about the job hunting situation (see post below), today turned out to be a good day. I spoke to one of my old bosses, J.J., for the first time in two years. Even though we've traded emails, I couldn't believe how long it had been since we had spoken - you know it's a true friend when you can pick up so easily from where you left off. Then I also spoke to Steph in NY. So the conversations were great distractions from thinking about my interview on Wednesday.

The good news is that I got a nice phone call at the end of the day today...I don't have to wait until Monday to find out whether I'm going to have the second interview as the recruiter told me that the managers loved me even though my answers weren't as well-structured as some of the other candidates. I have to take some tests next week and then the second interview will take place the following week. I'm really excited but I need to keep my emotions in check.

By the way, since I've talked about myself a bit these last couple of posts, you're probably wondering what's going on with Klas. Klas had a job offer early last week but turned it down because it was a longer commute than he wanted. I'm glad he's sticking to what he really wants even though it's tough at times. Another recruiter emailed him today to ask if he'd be interested in a couple of companies. I guess things are moving in the right direction for both of us on the job front. Whatever happens, the most important thing is that we have good family and friends and a roof over our heads.

Testing My Patience

Picture: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial - I found this picture and knew it was familiar to me from my visit to Washington D.C.

One thing that I've said to people is that I've become a much more patient person because of our travels. For example, while living in America, I had become used to short lines (except at Disneyland) because no matter what store I was in, as soon as there were more than three people in a line then another worker would open up a register and the line would shrink. If this didn't happen, I would become agitated about waiting as would the other people around me. Now, especially after travelling through France and Italy, I can wait in line all day. I feel like I have all the time in the world - in some ways I do since I am still unemployed - so I wait patiently in line.

However, this job hunting thing is definitely testing my patience. I had a job interview on Wednesday morning. The job is with a great company in their animal health division. It's definitely the type of job that I'm looking for as the leaders seemed warm and personable, the mission is to help animals which in turn helps people so the work would feel worthwhile and the marketing is right up my alley since it's business-to-business service marketing.

I had my first interview with an external recruiter two weeks prior. I waited over a week to find out whether I made the shortlist and then another week for the interview time. My interview on Wednesday went for just under two hours. I was exhausted. It was tiring to be "on" for so long - show my personality, give structured answers, sound intelligent and recall work experiences in detail that happened years ago. 

I think the interview went well but I won't know until Monday whether I'll be asked to interview in the second round as they are currently finishing up the interviews in the first round. They will give feedback on the interview then so in the meantime I keep going over and over the interview in my mind, wishing that I didn't say certain things and said other things instead. 

Many of you know I'm like an open book, often saying what is on my mind. The recruiter advised me to give structured answers while making sure my personality comes across. Well, I don't know if my answers were structured enough but they definitely saw my personality. I keep telling myself to stay confident and they'd be lucky to have me, "That's who I am so they can take it or leave it." However, deep down, I know I'm thinking, "I hope they take it."

Shop at Coles on Friday

My last post was about how hot the weather has been. Well, two days ago it was the coldest day in February in Sydney in 17 years. While it rained hard last night for a short time, I thought how I wished that rain would go to the state of Victoria. I think the bushfires in Victoria have become international news. It's sad to watch families and communities torn apart. 

If you're in Australia and would like to do something to help, then you can do your weekend grocery shopping at Coles tomorrow (Friday) and all of the profits will go to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Getting Back in Shape...Trying

Sand dunes at Cronulla

It's been hot, hot, hot here. Every day we hear on the news that "Today is going to be another hot day, tomorrow will be even hotter." After living in Chicago where most homes have central air conditioning and heating, we're finally starting to get used to living without those systems like many other Sydneysiders and keeping the place cool by leaving the blinds closed and the fans on. I'm not complaining; it's just a different way of living.

The good thing about having summer at the beginning of the year is that I think it is easier for people to stick to their new year's resolution of getting back into shape. This was also one of my new year's resolutions so I've been running and swimming a lot more. After 18 months of tasting and eating lots of good food while travelling, it's time to get the extra weight off. It's nice to exercise outside, especially when we have so many beaches in Sydney where we can exercise and cool off. I took the beaches for granted while growing up here. Now I'm having fun exploring areas that I wasn't very familiar with when I was younger.

Yesterday morning I went with my friend Elissa to the sand dunes near the beaches at Cronulla. Up and down, up and down. I had to walk most of the time because it was so hard. Hopefully one day I will be able to run up and down like everyone else. There were so many people in their various training groups at these sand dunes - crazy people! The best part was the swim at the beach afterwards.

Up and down the sand dunes

This morning Klas and I went with Mum and Aunty Lisa to do the 7 km Bronte to Bondi Coastal Walk. It was so beautiful - beach after beach after beach. We rewarded ourselves with a swim and breakfast afterwards. 

Half way: Aunty Lisa and Mum at Bondi Beach

How cool is the position of this lap pool as it overlooks the beach and ocean at Bondi?

Heading back to Bronte

It feels weird to talk about hot weather when our friends and family in the northern hemisphere, particularly in Stockholm, London and Chicago (no Kylie, I know you think Houston has been cold but that's nothing :-)), are dealing with snow and freezing temperatures. Oh well, think of the nice weather you can look forward to in a few months.