Itsy, Bitsy Spider

It's been a couple months since our last post. A lot has been happening, and we intend to write about as much as we can recollect. As there's no place better to start than the beginning, we'll start there:

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. In the days leading up to Halloween, Steph got the scare of a lifetime. She was at school, leaning against her classroom door while her students worked diligently on their assignments. She was on her way to deliver the attendence to the office (hub) when something caught her eye. A Huntsman spider was slowly crawling along the door frame toward her elbow. Upon spotting this hairy monster she went into a slight state of shock. She did not scream, cry or run away. Terror stricken, she calmly and quietly stepped backward and sat on the hallway floor staring in awe at the largest spider she had ever seen. If she was alone, who knows how long she would have sat there staring silently? Luckily a fellow science teacher, unphased by giant spiders, came to her rescue.

Camping in the Outback?

The primary function of a tent is to shelter a camper from nature's hasher elements. Among other qualities, tents usually need to be compact and lightweight, so they can be easily transported under human power. As such, Typically tents are made of nylon or polyester; a durable, lightweight material. One thing a tent is not is soundproof - it doesn't even muffle the sound. But time and time again, this make-shift home fools us into believing that whatever is inside is completely cut-off from whatever is outside.

Wicked!

Growing up near the Stratford festival, I have had plenty of opportunities to attend many theatrical performances of all varieties during my childhood. Some I enjoyed, others I did not. Although, in my opinion, musicals rarely disappoint. The costumes, the singing, and the dancing just scream pure entertainment. In the fall of 2010, Steph and I had scheduled a trip to Stratford to watch a play. Because of the exceptional reviews, we went with my family to watch Peter Pan. This was not a musical performance, and it did not meet expectations. I can remember turning to Steph during the intermission and half-heartedly saying, "It's not bad, eh?" Although I couldn't even convince myself that I was enjoying it much and quickly broke into laughter.

From the Archives

The other day I came across a draft of a blog that I had meant to finish and post. It was about a weekend trip to Albany that Steph and I had taken in early June. We felt it was still worth sharing and have done our best to recollect those early days of June in order to polish the draft version. So with no further ado, please sit back and relax as we take you on a journey into the past...

Would You Rather...

Would you rather be lost in the wilderness alone, or lost in a sea of people on a busy city sidewalk when nature calls? I would prefer to sort things out in the wilderness. Searching for that perfectly fallen tree and fresh leaves is a much more appealing scenario then using a seldom cleaned public restroom. At least in the bush there is never any worry of running out of leaves, and if the worst were to happen, there are no human witnesses. Being caught on a busy city sidewalk is an entirely different matter.

Nippy Weather

On Saturday mornings, Steph and I have gotten into the habit of exercising at Fitness First, followed by a visit to the Subiaco Market for fresh fruits, vegetables, and breads. Often times, I prefer to extend the length of my workout routine to the point at which Steph no longer finds exercising enjoyable. In those instances, Steph scoots over to the market while I finish my workout. I later meet her outside of the market to help her carry our fresh produce and loaves of bead home. On our most recent visit, I had a most unpleasant encounter with a mannequin.

Owling is a 'Hoot'!

The transformation of our apartment into a poorly maintained menagerie could certainly be cause for complaint. However, we've managed to stay upbeat and positive. Following my sister's (Caleigh) blog has helped put things in perspective. She has spent her summer travelling with MedOutreach through Tanzania, Africa. The group is comprised of four doctors, two dentists, and two nurses (Caleigh is one of the nurses) all of whom are students from the University of Western Ontario. For many people living in Tanzania a few critters or a leaky faucet would be the least of their worries. It's been very inspiring to read of her humanitarian efforts. In addition to lending a helping hand to the Tanzanians, she has been able to partake in some tourist activities too. She ran (and completed) her first marathon at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and later has plans to return and climb the mountain. Just recently, she sent a message via Facebook to Steph describing her upcoming plans. The highlight of the message is what she has in store once she reaches the summit. She is going to plank on Mt. Kilimanjaro's peak!

Part of the Ecosystem

One thing is for sure; our apartment has character (or should I say 'characters'). In many ways it's just like any other home: walls and a roof to separate the 'outside' from the 'inside'. But the difference with our apartment is that our apartment is lazy. It has all the fundamental tools, but lacks the motivation to apply them. Or maybe it's too friendly and doesn't want to be exclude the outside from the inside. Whatever the reason, our apartment plays by different rules. Rain is allowed in the apartment, but only if it drips over the toilet; the odd insect invades from time to time, but must remain undetected by the humans unless prepared to suffer the ultimate consequence; and extreme temperature fluctuations are expected. We've learned to accept and appreciate our apartment's unique sense of purpose and play by its rules.

Man Down

One detail pertaining to our move to Australia has continued to haunt our subconscious. That being our VISA status. We arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday VISA subclass 417. This VISA allowed Steph and I to live and work within Australia for a maximum of one year commencing on the date of arrival. Although, this included a stipulation that, as a VISA 417 holder, we could only work for a single employer for a maximum of 6 months. Thus encouraging us, and visitors alike, to work and travel keeping hard earned Australian dollars within its own economy. Initially, our VISA status wasn't the top priority - finding a job was. Moving to the other side of the world isn't cheap.

Rainy Season

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather." - Terri Guillemets


There is a eucalyptus tree outside of our bedroom window. It's a tall tree; it rises higher than our five story apartment building. The trunk is slender and smooth. Only near its top do the branches point out in all directions sprouting thin green leaves at its tips. Generally speaking it is a very aesthetically pleasing piece of nature. The sort of thing struggling poets seek inspiration. This tree may be responsible for inspiring the next great ballad of our time, but it is also home to a flock of birds. Being generous, I would estimate the flock to include approximately one hundred birds. 

Planking and the Pinnacles

This past month has been very busy for Steph and I. I'm sure we've lost a large percentage of our audience due to our blogging tardiness. So without further ado, it is my pleasure to announce that we're back! Now, there's an entire month of news to share, so I shall start from the beginning; a very appropriate place to start. 

Fremantle Prison

One of our favourite spots in the Perth region is the southern suburb of Fremantle. It is at the mouth of the Swan River and is home to Western Australia's oldest port. The first British settlers (convicts) to arrive throughout the 19th century would have first set foot on Western Australia's soil via the Fremantle port. Consequently, it is rich with history. The streets are littered with beautiful limestone buildings, cobblestone roads, a boardwalk along the waterfront, and a friendly and lively atmosphere.

Back to School

Before Steph could enter a Western Australian school as a teacher, she was required to jump through flaming hoops and do some fancy footwork to boot. That is, she spent quite some time filling out forms, having her credentials authenticated, and patiently awaiting a response from the respective educational governing bodies.

March Sadness

Ryan not knowing what to do with his used meat skewer
while enjoying a cold beverage.

Last Friday Steph and I attended our first cocktail party. The event was hosted by the mining consultancy that I work for (Mintrex) and was attended by its employees and clients. It was held at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle. The event was scheduled to start at 18:30 and the museum was open for viewing from 18:00-18:30. We had a little difficulty navigating from the Fremantle train station to the museum and, as a result, found ourselves walking aimlessly through the deserted parts of the shipping yard. We managed to find our way, but no longer had sufficient time to view the museum's displays. What we were able to experience was enough to warrant a future visit to completely appreciate what the museum has to offer. 

Looking Back and Looking Forward

February was a blur. Despite the ferocious pace, however, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The most notable occurrence of the month was our involvement in extra-curricular activities. In addition to the Monday night Men's Basketball League, I also play pick-up ball on Saturday or Sunday mornings at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Steph is no slouch either. She volunteers as the girl's volleyball coach at Perth College. Early morning practices and away games have kept her busy and well traveled. Consequently, this month we have been much more social; slowly laying the foundation for beautiful friendships to flourish. This past Monday was Labour Day. We spent it with friends roasting an array of meats on the barbeque, and relaxing by the pool with delicious cocktails in hand. And the fun doesn't stop there. This Friday my boss is hosting a cocktail party at the Fremantle Maritime Museum. We can't wait!

No Shoes, No Shirt... Service!

One of the more peculiar things we've noticed is that it is socially acceptable to walk around in public without wearing shoes, or a shirt. This fashion statement is completely appropriate for the beach. It is simply impractical to wear shoes in the sand, or a shirt while swimming. But when the setting is the city's downtown in shops and restaurants, it is an entirely different matter. This behaviour has occurred at such a frequency that makes it highly unlikely to be coincidence. In addition, there is something casual about the way people flaunt this fashion which indicates they are not part of the barefoot running movement. These people aren't 'bare[ing] to be different'. Whatever the reason, it'll take a little while before we become comfortable roaming the supermarket isles amongst the barefooted and shirtless.

Tough Love

Australia has had a tough go the past few months with regards to natural disasters. Queensland is still recovering from the floods and cyclones that wrecked havoc on the state in December and January. Over the past couple weeks the citizens of Perth have gotten a little taste of the destruction themselves as bush fires have destroyed about 70 homes in the regions of Swan Valley, Kelmscott, and Roleystone. The investigation of the cause of the fire is still ongoing. However, latest reports indicate that an off-duty police officer may be responsible as he was operating an angle grinder in his yard during the fire ban. The recent bush fires have ignited discussions (pardon the pun) about the practice of controlled burns within Western Australia.

These Boots are Made for Walking

Since arriving in Perth there has been the undeniable urge to explore and discover. These adventurous pursuits, however, are heavily dependent upon access to transportation, especially in the remote state of Western Australia. Presently, we do not own an airplane, train, car, or bicycle. As absurd as that may sound, it's the truth. Until that fatefully day, when we purchase a second hand bicycle or private jet, we will have to rely on public transit.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

As the year 2010 came to a close, Steph and I reviewed all of the photos we had taken during our short period in Australia. We had taken a lot. We shared those photos with you in an earlier blog entitled Looking Back and Looking Forward. We would like to continue with this idea, and share a slideshow of our adventures at the conclusion of every month.

Broken Promises

Australia Day was a grand celebration. Leading up to the day, Steph had researched various events that were organized in the Perth region. Starting in the early morning, each suburb of Perth had a free community breakfast and welcomed new Australian citizens. Throughout the day there were concerts, performances, and aboriginal dancing to keep everyone entertained. We had planned to explore the downtown festivities. From Perth's Esplanade we had planned to view an air show from 16:00-20:00 followed by a fireworks display over Swan River to end the day of celebration. As there was promise that the day would be filled with many Kodak moments, we had  pledged to share lots of pictures of our Australia Day experience.

Home Inspection

Today we had our first home inspection. The real estate agency that leased us our apartment requires periodic inspections of their properties to ensure that the tenants are properly caring for the space. This typically would not have been reason to stress. However, there was an unusual stipulation in our rent agreement. The real estate agency would forgo having the apartment professionally cleaned if Steph and I would agree to do the cleaning ourselves for a $150 reduction in our first rental payment. We had agreed to do the cleaning ourselves. So we felt compelled to have the apartment cleaned to a standard worthy of the $150 fee. Steph and I spent the majority of the previous evening scrubbing every nook and cranny of our apartment in anticipation for the inspection. It's not that we are poor tenants or dirty - sure, the odd time the apartment is in disarray, but that is purely a matter of disorganization - it's just that we are unsure as to whether we meet the generally accepted definition of neat and tidy.

King of the Jungle

Maybe it was because I had just seen The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. For whatever reason, I wanted to see a lion. Steph loves animals of all sorts, so we agreed to plan a visit to the zoo. The Perth Zoo is located in South Perth. For us to get there via public transit would require a short train and bus ride. It takes somewhat longer if you make the wrong transfers.

Interview 2

“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” – Murphy’s Law

I still haven’t heard the verdict form my interview with Wrays. In the meantime I’ve had another interview with an engineering consultant company that specializes in the mining industry. The company is called Mintrex and it is located in the nearby suburb of Subiaco. To avoid having to change into my interview attire in another parking garage or abandoned alleyway, Steph and I decided to scope out public restrooms within the vicinity of Mintrex’s head office. The day before the interview we had a number of potential targets. We were feeling confident that we had successfully established a pre-interview routine. And then Murphy ’s Law nipped us in the butt.

"Imagine your worst nightmare... Now, imagine it with wings." - Steph

Leading up to the day of my interview, I was most concerned about preparing for tough interview questions. What I hadn’t anticipated was where I would freshen up before the interview. I was interviewing for a patent attorney trainee position at a Wrays; a firm located in West Perth. It was only a short distance from where we live, so I decided I’d walk to the interview. Steph came along for the walk too. We left well ahead of the scheduled interview time and stopped at a café for a milkshake and iced coffee just around the corner from the firm. Because I sweat considerably more than the average person, I had worn a regular shirt for the walk with the hope of using a public rest room to change into my dress shirt and jacket. Like all of my plans, this was a good one – foolproof even. Because the cost of dinning out in Australia is significantly higher than what we were used to in Canada, Steph and I hadn’t treated ourselves to many meals or drinks out. We learned moments before my interview that many cafes do not have public rest rooms. Larger restaurants do, but their policy is patrons only. So I found myself in a little bit of a pickle.  Where to change?

Ouch!

This past week has been relatively uneventful. This has been mostly a result of Steph and me becoming a little lackadaisical with regard to sunscreen application. During one of our beach outings, we managed to burn ourselves to a crisp in mere minutes. The beautiful thing about a sunburn is that you only become aware of what has happened when it is already far too late. Subsequently, the following few days were excruciating. I tried to combat the pain by soaking myself in some sort of vitamin E moisturizing lotion. I do not use the word soak lightly. It provided momentary relief, but that was all.

Oh Canada!

One of the more refreshing aspects of living in Australia is the sporting culture. Whether it’s at the recreational or professional level, sports are a large part of the lives of Australians. With the warm climate people are easily persuaded to get outside and involved in sporting activities. Subsequently, sports that are popular amongst Canadians, namely (ice) hockey, do not attract nearly the same attention in Australia. The large percentage of sports news, on television or in the newspapers, pertains to statistics, interviews, and highlights in cricket, tennis, Aussie rules football, rugby, football (soccer), field hockey, netball, polo, and lawn bowling. Thus far, I have witnessed the names of Lebron James, and the like, mentioned once in the media; refreshing to say the least. Although frustrating at times, it has been fun trying to decipher the lingo, rules and strategy of these ‘new’ sports.

Snakes, Jellyfish, and Automobiles

I can’t say I wasn’t warned. Channel 10 News had run a special with the slogan: Summer is coming, and so are the snakes! But nothing hammers home the message quite like nearly stepping on a black tiger snake; one of the deadliest in the world.