Volume I

G'Day Mates!

Well, It's been a whole week here in Oz and it's chocked full of
excitement! Yes, that's right!

I arrived here at 7:30 in the AM, sweat right through customs and
immigration - cause I didn't have my visa in time, so I entered as a
'visitor' only... and then, got extremely ill with some sort of flu
for a bunch of days... I'm still fighting it to this day... but now I
can walk and not fall over!

So, with that said, I've tried out the Australian Health Care system
and I'm still not a bit sure about it... First, They didn't issue me
any Rx... nope. Here I am practically in tears from the hurt of my
sore throat... and he sent me out the door on my way home to stagger
the whole mile back. :( Sadly, I only got worse first, then
better... BUT the chemist ROCKS... they have OTC drugs with
Codeine!!!!!

But now back to the heath care system.... Going to the doctors is
awesome! They don't shuffle you in... and shuffle you out - like no
corporate America here! It's not some flashy white thousand doctor
corporation - no, it's just two ladies and a desk attendant at the
front in a little house on a street... it's quite warm and nice and
reminds me back to the days where i only paid 45 dollars to see the
doctor when I was 10.... now, I only paid 59 AUD for the nice doctor
to tell me to it's just a virus and there's noting that can be
done.... ah , well...

TV - absolutely nothing on all the time... Right now there's 'strictly
dancing'' they're uncovering the dancing 'myths' from different
movies... think that celebrity dancing show that was out not too long
ago and well, give it a better set with better graphics.... and you
got it... So, with TV sucking, I've taken up a lot of reading. :)
Reading is good and never boring!

Australians LOVE their coffee - you cant walk down a street without
finding a pretty good coffee shop around - and Starbucks... on my way
to getting my visa the other day - I passed 3, so yes, it is here...
as is running water and electricity... but the mom and pop coffee
places outnumber the corporate world. :)

From what I've seen, every moning, there's no smog - I can see the
city - I'm in north Sydney about 5 miles from down town (or as Aussies
call it the CBD) I can take in a deep breath of air and hold it
without coughing... there's no haze.... it's just so nice.

Work - well, today was my second day - I blew up a computer. Yep,
that's right... POW... right in my ear - I couldn't hear out of it
for a few hours and now it's just a bit muffled... see, the problem
is... America is rated in 110 and Australia uses 220... well, no one
adjusted the computer specs for 220 and when I plugged it in, I blew
up the power source... That's okay though, its covered under
warranty.... scared the crap out of me though... the worst part was,
my co-worker was so calm about it i nearly thought they were going to
send me on the next flight back to the US.... Nothing like some good
old wholesome stress!!

I guess that's all for now. I've got lots of toys to play with at
work...

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