THANH & GHI'S FIRST MONTH IN MELBOURNE


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Asia » Vietnam
May 23rd 2008
Published: June 4th 2008
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FINALLY ARRIVING IN MELBOURNEFINALLY ARRIVING IN MELBOURNEFINALLY ARRIVING IN MELBOURNE

The first glimpse at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.
Thanh and Ghi's first month. A thousand first experiences. We stopped counting after the first week.

They have settled in remarkably well and are extremely happy. Ghi and Thanh had a week and a half to get their bearings before they commenced their training at Mariana Hardwicks. Their week is now quite full and includes English lessons two nights per week taught by Lifestart volunteer, ESL teacher Lee Dib. ( Thank you Miss Lee for helping!)

It is winter in Melbourne so getting used to wearing layers of clothes, singlets, gloves and scarves is so very different to life in Vietnam.

As are flanelette pyjamas, hotwater bottles, carpeted centrally heated rooms, thick mattresses and doona's, a kitchen with endless gas and water you can drink straight from the tap, hot water showers, dishwashers, met cards, pampered poooches that have their own wardrobe of clothes, refrigerators, shoes and socks and not flip flops, Melbourne trams, traffic lights where you have to wait for the little green man before you cross the road! supermarkets with their huge variety of goods, shopping centres that are like little cities, soooooooooo many cars, the price of everything being at least 10 times more
MOLLY, GHI THANH & KARENMOLLY, GHI THANH & KARENMOLLY, GHI THANH & KAREN

Marelyn who took this photo completed the welcoming group at the airport.
expensive than in Vietnam, lawnmowers and houses that have lawn to mow, lots of trees, parks and gardens, motorbike helmets that cost $1,000 and big motorbikes that cost more than a house in Vietnam, zero degree temperature, free public toilets- no peeing in the street, underground train stations, buskers and street performers. The list goes on and on however I think you can imagine what a big undertaking this is for them both.


I have only just realised that many Melbourne suburbs are like little " ghost towns" there are hardly any people on the street. Ghi and Thanh both asked "where is everyone???" Compared to Vietnam that has a constant life force on the street all of the time, Melbourne really is very quiet.
Ghi loves the fact that we have lots of native birds in our back yard every day, he said that this is not a familiar sight in Vietnam.

I hope that the photos ( there are 35! ) will paint a good picture for you of this very memorable month in wonderful but chilly Melbourne.

Lots of Love from Karen.
www.lifestartfoundation.org.au

P.S. I still need help with getting some tables
UNPACKINGUNPACKINGUNPACKING

Ghi unpacks and settles into his new room at Karen's house
organized for the Lifestart Foundation Dinner Dance and Charity Auction on July 26th. If you are able to be a table captain please let me know.

Donations for the Silent Auction would be gratefully accepted. Can you get these into us asap please.

Enjoying the blogs?? Forward them on or subscribe those who you think would be interested in Lifestart Foundation's work.......it's free!


Additional photos below
Photos: 36, Displayed: 23


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THANH'S BEDROOMTHANH'S BEDROOM
THANH'S BEDROOM

The black and the brown poodle's are KoKo and Mel. Thanh's new buddies.
GHI & FATHER PETER HANSENGHI & FATHER PETER HANSEN
GHI & FATHER PETER HANSEN

Ghi relaxing after the long flight and catching up with his good friend Father Peter Hansen.
MARIANA HARDWICK BUILDINGMARIANA HARDWICK BUILDING
MARIANA HARDWICK BUILDING

Ghi and Thanh's place of employment is a fabulous building in Sydney Road, Brunswick. Melbourne.
FOOTSCRAYFOOTSCRAY
FOOTSCRAY

Thanh, Karen, Peta ( Lifestart Supporter ) and Ghi after a bowl of Pho in Footscray.
N.M.I.TN.M.I.T
N.M.I.T

Lunch with Chris another Lifestart supporter. Thanh and Ghi visited N.M.I.T and looked at where Chris who is an ESL teacher works.
R.M.I.T ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYR.M.I.T ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
R.M.I.T ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Meeting up with R.M.I.T student Simone. Thanh and Simone met last year in Hoi An when Simone was part of the R.M.I.T project that is collaborating with Lifestart on a soon to be completed building design
SUSHI FOR THE FIRST TIMESUSHI FOR THE FIRST TIME
SUSHI FOR THE FIRST TIME

Lunch in Swanston Street, Melbourne. The Sushi wasn't really a hit but they are having a go at most things.
THE YARRA RIVERTHE YARRA RIVER
THE YARRA RIVER

The very same river that Birdman jumped ( flew ) into.
SOUTHBANKSOUTHBANK
SOUTHBANK

Thanh loved the Carousel.
ELIZABETH STREETELIZABETH STREET
ELIZABETH STREET

Ghi loves the BIG bikes!
FIRST DAY OF TRAININGFIRST DAY OF TRAINING
FIRST DAY OF TRAINING

Thanh pictured at her work station on her first day of training.
A FANTASTIC WORK SPACE- WHITE, LIGHT & BRIGHTA FANTASTIC WORK SPACE- WHITE, LIGHT & BRIGHT
A FANTASTIC WORK SPACE- WHITE, LIGHT & BRIGHT

This is the first time Ghi had the opportunity to use an industrial machine.
A VERY WARM WELCOMEA VERY WARM WELCOME
A VERY WARM WELCOME

Ghi and Thanh have been made to feel very welcome at Mariana Hardwicks. On their first day all of the staff took a break to welcome them. They celebrated with a cake, welcome banner and balloons, it was lovely for them!


4th June 2008

Good Luck Thanh and Ghi!
Good Luck in your new jobs. Great to see you both again - Sorry we will be back in the UK for the Dinner! With love and bet wishes, Rachel, James, Jake, Helena and Sam xxxxx
5th June 2008

A huge welcome to Thanh and Ghi..... I hope you have the most wonderful time in Australia. Stay nice and warm :)... Ana xxx

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