So I completely underestimated how uncomfortable starting a new job can be. I have worked for Experian for over 13 years, and thought I knew so much. Not so much. This has been the roughest week so far as I try to get into a new work routine and the boys started going to a new daycare center. They miss their friends and teachers at Highlands Academy as much as I miss my "mates" at Experian. We knew we would experience home-sickness, and it has started.
The Syndey Experian offices are in a very nice 30-story building in North Sydney. We have just under 100 employees on two floors of the building and we're planning to hire about 30 - 40 more people as we ramp up a new credit bureau. The Melbourne office has about 250 employees, and it sounds like I'll get to visit them soon. I feel so cosmopolitan when I put on my commuter shoes (flip-flops) and take my dress shoes on the bus each day.
We are realizing how spoiled we have been living in the US. There is a different level of urgency, customer service and technology. Matt has been experiencing this as he attempts to coordinate utilities and other services. Matt: "Australians are the most pleasant incompetent people I have ever met."
Slugfest 2012: "They're a formidable foe. They have a brain the size of a grain of salt but unfortunately I can't figure them out" (Matt Hatterman). This weekend he is mounting a full-out counter-offensive. It's like Eisenhower planning the D-Day invasion. Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Photographic proof we are indeed in Australia
There's a wonderful zoo just a "hop" down the road. Grey is finally convinced we are in Australia since he has now seen a kangaroo.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
It was a good day
For me at least. Matt started the day by getting out of bed and stepping on a slug at 1:00 am on his way to work. One had infiltrated our defenses (which consisted of sprinkling table salt around the perimeter of the house). That was about 16 hours ago and I'm still laughing about it (until it happens to me of course). His description of the experience: "I almost puked". He now has his flip-flops stationed right by the side of the bed. A couple people told us to try little cups of beer - they love it and drown in it. Those people don't know how expensive the beer is here. We're listening to the people who told us to use salt.
We took the bus to the city and to my new office building. I'm going to love it. The bus stop is a 2-minute walk from our house. The public transportation here is really good (note, this is coming from someone who has never used public transportation). The buses are timely, plentiful and clean. It's about a 10-15 minute drive in and a walk literally across the street to my building. We didn't go into the Experian offices since we had the kids so more on that next week. I'm just really impressed with Sydney and how safe and clean it feels.
We also walked up to the boys' daycare so they could meet the teachers and kids and get a feel for the place. It's located right across the street from Charley's school and they are about a 10 minute walk from our house. After coming from a country acreage, the thing we like most so far (besides the weather) is the walking distance to everything we need -- five to ten minutes to shops, restaurants, gym, library, hair salons, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. So far, we don't think we'll have any problem down-sizing to one car.
And finally, the final one-third of our air shipment should be here tomorrow. It cleared customs today. It contains a brand-new 42 inch plasma TV. It was a good day. G'day!
We took the bus to the city and to my new office building. I'm going to love it. The bus stop is a 2-minute walk from our house. The public transportation here is really good (note, this is coming from someone who has never used public transportation). The buses are timely, plentiful and clean. It's about a 10-15 minute drive in and a walk literally across the street to my building. We didn't go into the Experian offices since we had the kids so more on that next week. I'm just really impressed with Sydney and how safe and clean it feels.
We also walked up to the boys' daycare so they could meet the teachers and kids and get a feel for the place. It's located right across the street from Charley's school and they are about a 10 minute walk from our house. After coming from a country acreage, the thing we like most so far (besides the weather) is the walking distance to everything we need -- five to ten minutes to shops, restaurants, gym, library, hair salons, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. So far, we don't think we'll have any problem down-sizing to one car.
And finally, the final one-third of our air shipment should be here tomorrow. It cleared customs today. It contains a brand-new 42 inch plasma TV. It was a good day. G'day!
Finally, some photos
Leaving Lincoln, getting comfortable on Virgin Australia, family fun at Darling Harbour (we stayed near here the first five days in Sydney until we could get into our house), improvising without our toys (those are "Little Swimmer" motorcycle helmets and "random crap from the pantry" guitars), loving the beach, and tired out from loving the beach.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
American Pie
Visited the US Embassy today (aka Costco). Hallelujah! Home of American made mayo, ketchup and much much more! Seriously, Matt and I were high-fiving each other over the giant tubs of Best Foods Mayonnaise. When he saw the over-sized bottles of Hershey's chocolate syrup, he sang a tearful rendition of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA". This isn't an exaggeration. They don't sell these things in the local grocery stores.
Speaking of food, I should note that we have not tried the vegemite yet. There is a jar of it in our pantry courtesy of a care package from my new boss but we haven't tried it yet. I'll be sure to let you know.
Good news! Two thirds of our air shipment arrived this week. It was like Christmas Day opening all those boxes of our own stuff. The last ten boxes are still in quarantine. It's starting to feel like a real home around here though.
Matt has been working third shift this week as he continues to support his US accounts. The unusual sleep schedule is starting to affect his normally laid-back demeanor. It doesn't seem to help when I remind him its temporary.
Next week is the last week of "vacation". Then, the boys will start full-time daycare and I will start my new job. Charley will be home with Matt for a couple more weeks. School starts for her on the 31st of Jan. The kids are all doing really well. Grey insists we are not in Australia though because he hasn't seen any kangaroos.
Oh, and we caved and went and bought a portable air-conditioner on the one day it was in the 90s. A "mate" walking through parking lot as we were shoving it in our trunk called us soft. It worked though. It's been in the 70s ever since!
Speaking of food, I should note that we have not tried the vegemite yet. There is a jar of it in our pantry courtesy of a care package from my new boss but we haven't tried it yet. I'll be sure to let you know.
Good news! Two thirds of our air shipment arrived this week. It was like Christmas Day opening all those boxes of our own stuff. The last ten boxes are still in quarantine. It's starting to feel like a real home around here though.
Matt has been working third shift this week as he continues to support his US accounts. The unusual sleep schedule is starting to affect his normally laid-back demeanor. It doesn't seem to help when I remind him its temporary.
Next week is the last week of "vacation". Then, the boys will start full-time daycare and I will start my new job. Charley will be home with Matt for a couple more weeks. School starts for her on the 31st of Jan. The kids are all doing really well. Grey insists we are not in Australia though because he hasn't seen any kangaroos.
Oh, and we caved and went and bought a portable air-conditioner on the one day it was in the 90s. A "mate" walking through parking lot as we were shoving it in our trunk called us soft. It worked though. It's been in the 70s ever since!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Feeling Sluggish
Woke up this morning to a fat, slimy worm type creature making its way across the kitchen floor.
Bonnie: What the hell is that?
Matt: Oh. Yeah. We have a slug problem. There were about six of them in the kitchen when I got up this morning.
Bonnie: Well, how are they getting in here?
Matt: They don't have a skeleton. They can get through about anything.
Bonnie: Well, you're going to have to do something about this.
Matt: I don't know if there's anything you can do. I think you just have to live with it.
Bonnie: I don't see that as an option.
Matt: I suppose I could get us a mongoose or something that eats slugs. But then you have a mongoose running around.
So besides slugs, our biggest challenge right now is that we still don't have our air freight. Apparently the customs department has more holidays than what are listed as "public". Each of us has one suitcase that we have been living out of since Dec. 19th when we moved into my sister's house. We basically wear the same outfit every four days.Not a big deal right now but I'm really going to need my clothes before I start work on the 16th.
It's starting to get warmer. We've been told that January and February are the hottest months so we're a little concerned about how this whole no air conditioning thing is going to work out. Going to buy fans today.
Bonnie: What the hell is that?
Matt: Oh. Yeah. We have a slug problem. There were about six of them in the kitchen when I got up this morning.
Bonnie: Well, how are they getting in here?
Matt: They don't have a skeleton. They can get through about anything.
Bonnie: Well, you're going to have to do something about this.
Matt: I don't know if there's anything you can do. I think you just have to live with it.
Bonnie: I don't see that as an option.
Matt: I suppose I could get us a mongoose or something that eats slugs. But then you have a mongoose running around.
So besides slugs, our biggest challenge right now is that we still don't have our air freight. Apparently the customs department has more holidays than what are listed as "public". Each of us has one suitcase that we have been living out of since Dec. 19th when we moved into my sister's house. We basically wear the same outfit every four days.Not a big deal right now but I'm really going to need my clothes before I start work on the 16th.
It's starting to get warmer. We've been told that January and February are the hottest months so we're a little concerned about how this whole no air conditioning thing is going to work out. Going to buy fans today.
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