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.