Perth-fect.

It's about that time again... we've never been able to stay put in this country for too long. We started off our journey with four nights at "The Ritz for Backpackers" hostel, then onto the dirty, smokey sharehouse that was "Jessica House" for a couple weeks, then switching it up to the other side of St. Kilda to Carlisle Street where we shared a slanted room and fought off mice each night...

It seemed like in January we finally got it right. We moved into this adorable little house with two of our best friends and a fantastic new one. We have hard wood floors, a washing machine, single beds and duvet covers that don't smell like mold and dust. We have brand new silverware, pots and pans. Ah, the joys of closet space and big, open windows. This house on McIlwrick street is tucked safely away from red light stops, and the creepy inhabitants of Carlisle. We have a front porch, and a back patio with a bbq. Down the road is a perfect little place for coffee and fantastic stores for food and clothes. We have it good.

But, to stay true to our backpacking bones, we are packing it all up and trading it in for an unfamiliar city in a secluded part of the country. And to make things all the better, we're driving to this place. So come a week from today, two American girls, a Canadian boy, and an Englishman will be squeezing themselves (and all their belongings) into a Safari car and making the 37 hour trek to Perth.

Let me put this in perspective for all my Americano friends out there. The drive will be roughly (if not longer than) driving from Ohio to California. 3,700 kilometers aka 2,300 miles. Oh, and we're taking 5 - 7 days to do it.

Bring. It. On.

We just needed a change of pace. A new city to find our favorite running paths. An unfamiliar block to discover the best cappuccinos. New faces and a new atmosphere. It's not like we're sick of Melbourne... that's not it in the least. It's just a bit too worn in for us now. We know it like the back of our hand and we're searching for something different. But it's not good-bye forever, we'll be coming back here before we depart in September. Regardless, this city will always be our first.

More details to come about our road tripping itinerary and the big move! T-minus 7 days and counting...

Who knows, maybe I'll finally learn how to surf? :)

xoxo

Em

5 Steps for the Unemployed.

Greetings to all of us who have had a little too much down time recently and, ummm, not enough ways to "prosper financially". Yikes... that didn't sound as positive and uplifting as I wanted it to... this blog is dedicated to everyone who knows what it's like to fight the constant battle of job searching and the countless hours of being unemployed!

Ever since being back from the States I have had the opportunity to find out what it is like to be a college graduate, and jobless. Thankfully, this is the first time I have felt like this in two years. Would you believe me if I said that I'm just doing this for the "life experience"? No? I don't think my parents will believe me either.

Anyway, just thought I'd shoot out a "how to survive in Australia (or any place, really) with limited resources and all the time (okay, 3 weeks) in the world" guide. It's a five step process so bare with me... okay, deep breath, ready - go!

1) Asses your assets. Figure out how to budget your money, and don't let yourself go over that budget. I know it might be tempting... and I admit, after eating peanut butter and jelly's for 4 days in a row I did succumb to take-out once or twice. But be mindful! If you go over your budget one day, figure out how to make it up the next. Be smart, and be cautious with your money. It doesn't last forever, and calling your parents up asking for a loan is wayyy worse than suffering through that cheap bowl of cereal for the second week in a row.

2) Make the most of little things. Try and find activities that don't cost much (or anything at all) and get excited about them! Whether it's daily walks, afternoon tennis with friends, or blogging. Having hobbies will make your time go by faster, and give you more of a self worth. They'll also allow your mind a break from constant "job worrying" and let you relax for a little. It'll give you something to look forward to each day and allow some recreational structure to your lifestyle.

3) Start thinking "what do I really want?" Slowly start focusing on the things that really matter to you. It's easy to get distracted with a whirlwind of work... and it's even easier to 'put off today what can be done tomorrow'. Now you don't have anything but time! What things make you happy? Go back to the basics and then start a plan to jump start those ideas. I'm going to be super cheesy and quote Up In The Air, "Anyone who ever built an empire, or changed the world, sat where you are right now. And it's because they sat there that they were able to do it."

4) Get back in touch with friends and family. This is a great time to start sending all those emails and letters you've been wanting to for months. Getting in touch (and staying in touch) with other people is crucial. If you start hibernating and secluding yourself you know you're headed in the wrong direction. The best way to get jobs is networking. So while you're catching up over coffee, see if anyone has any job ideas or positions they know of. You'll be surprised to see how many people are willing to help you out.

5) Keep yourself moving. As I said above... have hobbies, talk to people, start planning, be smart. These are all aspects of the most critical part of being unemployed - never remain stagnant. The more of a sloth you become, the harder it is to get back to your fast-placed, energetic, go-getter self. Be active in all parts of your life, mentally and physically. Don't lose the drive and determination otherwise you will be less likely to accomplish your goals. Rarely do people just "fall into" positions. They work for them, in one way or another. Whatever you put out in the Universe, you get back. Remember that.

I've recently been trying to incorporate all of these 5 points in my daily routine. I've been exercising, resumed blogging, gotten those emails and letters sent, redid my resume, started a list of potential jobs in Perth (yeah, we're moving again...), and finally sat back to think what am I doing here and what do I really want? Just an FYI, those questions are definitely the hardest thing to overcome about being without a job. Starting from scratch and building up... more difficult than it sounds.

Well, even though Patty and I save our coins to pay for our daily (which has turned into weekly) coffee, and my new diet is actually working since I can't spend money on tons of junk food, and we've resorted to hours of Scrabble instead of going out... we know it'll turn around eventually!

The thing about making it big and doing it fast, is that invariably the first steps will be small and slow. Which oddly, for many, is the same reason they don't take them.

So let's cheers our hypothetical glasses (because let's be honest, we can't afford to fill them at the moment) and toast to the small steps that will lead us to the bigger things we want!

This is a different sort of free I had in mind, wasn't it?

xoxo

em

"But Darlin', I'd Still Catch a Grenade For Ya.."

Ryan Bingham: How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV... the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home... I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office... and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks. - Up In The Air

I've written, and rewritten this post for a while now... and I still can't seem to find the words I need. It's just that... well, I have been feeling a bit blue recently. It's an uncommon emotion for me and one that I really dislike. But, it's here nonetheless and I don't think talking to you about this will do any good. I don't think you'd understand. And I think you'd just shut down. You see, I've noticed a very apparent distance between you and me. It's been going on for a while, and I think it is just getting worse and worse. Effort is definitely lacking in some places, and as we both know... cross-the-world communication is sometimes a real hassle. It makes me really sad to think about how there were times where I couldn't imagine going for months without talking to you... or not seeing you for over a year. I really feel like I've tried to maintain us... I think you're worth the heaviness. We've shared years of secrets, negotiations, compromises, and at times (I admit) - arguments. But we've also shared so much more - amazing, hilarious, spontaneous, ridiculous moments. Don't you think those alone are pretty special? Boo, my heart breaks a lot when I dwell on this too much.

I just want to let you know... that even if you're comfortable with letting this die out, I'm not. I was looking through some photos the other night and I can see why we've been friends for so long. I hope that a mutual effort springs from somewhere and we can get over this hump that you might not even know exists. But no matter what happens, now and in the end...

"darlin, i'd still catch a grenade for ya..."

xo