Brisbane/Melbourne November '07

Tuesday, November 6th ‘07

What a day this have been! It started off with a phone call from Angela the HR of James St Market (where I work). Apparently, my boss isn’t satisfied with my work and I’m fired. No explanations, no reasons, noting! I thought everything was going well my supervisors was often telling me how good I am at my job. I then decided to go to walk to my dance class. I’m not a happy camper! Can’t believe I was fired just like that! The class went well spent half of it teaching Leigh balboa. It was the highlight of my day! Walked back home (can’t afford the bus anymore) and have decided to leave Brisbane. I think it’s time. I’ll go somewhere else in Australia and see if I can get work elsewhere.

Anyways, as I was waiting for Drew, I felt huge pain and collapsed. Thank G William was there to break my fall. He called the ambulance twice and an hour later still hasn’t arrived. I cancelled it and William called a cab! What a day this have been. Add this to everything that has been happening lately. This is not good, not good at all. I now know that the one person I can count on in Brisbane (else than myself) is Drew that is on his way here. William was great also bringing me here. He panicked while I was calm, just in pain. He still came with me to the hospital.

I’m at the hospital and I called my mom. She just said to go home pack and come back to Montreal. There’s no way I’m doing that. I’d feel like such a failure, like someone who abandons the minute things go bad. I’m not that type of person and I don’t think I could face myself in the mirror if I went back to Montreal now. I’m staying in Australia but it’s just time for me to leave Brisbane. I told the nurse that Drew’s my boyfriend so they would allow him to stay with me. It’s so nice of him to be here. I really need to be held tight and comforted which is exactly what Drew’s giving me at this moment. Sooo grateful and can’t stop saying thanks. Well, thanks Drew!

Saturday, November 10th ‘07

Life has a weird way of kicking you in the butt to then pick you up and put you back down afterwards it just hits you with unexpected surprises. This trip has been full of ups and downs as well as unexpected events. No matter how low I’ve felt or how much pain I sometimes suffered, I’m grateful I came. With all that has happened, my dance classes with Leigh was comforting even though we spend half the time goofing around. It’s just the type of de-connection from the world I needed.

Just the other day as I was at a friend’s place and I got a call for a job interview. I rushed there but didn’t think I would get the job also that I’m not much of a “fashion” person. I solidly decided to move to Melbourne hence I bought myself a plane ticket. I’ll be leaving on the morning of the 21st. I then learned there will be a lindy exchange on the following weekend. Sweet! I so intend to attend. Since my ballroom classes, I’ve been dancing at lease 3-4 days/week and it feels so good. Yesterday, I went to the swing shack as it’ll be my last. I had such great dances, I could feel my getting better. It was an awesome night.

This morning, I got called to work, I told her I had another job but she still needed me for the day, cash in hand. I need the money so I took it. Was going to go for classes with Leigh but money’s a bit of a priority at the moment. So right now, I’m at a retail store giving fashion “advise” and this is so not my type of clothes. It’s more Kristina’s style. Hey, money’s money! I won’t be doing this for weeks. I’ve got 11 days before I leave Brisbane for good, at lease on this trip.

I might say I was very lucky to have Kristina as a house-mate. Though we are very different and have different values, we get along very well and care for one-another. She’s been the best friend I’ve had on this trip and we’re really sad to leave each other. I think THIS is the good time for me to leave. Our Colombian house-mate is always drinking or drunk, he produces more dirt than Kristina and I combine and doesn’t do any house work. I spoke with Aloka and she wants to start a list of “house rules” have I mention she doesn’t really live up stairs. I’m glad I’m leaving. I don’t want William as a house-mate and sounds like Aloka’s back to her craziness. Besides, it won’t be the same without Kristina.

Have I told you about the morning I got up and wanted to go to the bathroom and William was passed out on the toilet bowl drooling on his undies at his ankles. It took me forever to wake him up and get him to move.

My leaving so soon is unexpected and I have to think about packing, stuff I want to keep things I want to get rid of ect. I was not prepared for this at all. It makes me feel quite weird. I loved the stability of having my place and I really got used to living here. Ah well, that’s life!

Sunday, November 18th ‘07

In the past few days, I’ve had tears running down my cheeks at random times. All these past events just took a toll on me. A couple days ago, I learned I had to pay 200$ excess to the insurance for the burns on the carpet. This was not the type of news I needed to hear. I did plea to the landlords hopping they could split the cost with me. To my surprise, my plea was heard and my “wish” was granted. Every time I think the “bad stuff” is gone, something else arises and in someway, I’m just waiting for the next bad thing to happen. I’ve been trying to get a pass for MLX (Melbourne Lindy Exchange) but they don’t seem to get my e-mails so the only way I can get in touch with them is thru myspace. I’m too late to get some housing but at lease I’ll get a weekend pass.

When I had decided to leave Brisbane for Melbourne, I just couldn’t believe this was the end and I was leaving Brisbane for good. I really thought I’d be staying here for another 2 months or so. It felt quite weird, had to book plane tickets, a hostel, look at the stuff I had and sort out what I would keep/sell/give/throw out, feels a bit like when I leave Montreal. This house has been my house for 4 months now, I was used to it, used to Kristina and crazy lady, had some friends over, had my mom over, I was just LIVING there. I was, ‘cause today I moved out and now I’m staying at a friend’s place until Wednesday when my plane leaves. After feeling weird about leaving, the past few days it just felt normal that I’m leaving. I’ve been feeling quite nostalgic today, walking thru the city, Kristina left just a couple hours ago and I already miss her.

She surprised me today, I so totally did not expect that. As we were about to say are goodbyes, she gave me a B-Day gift to open on D day, a week and a half from now. I really never thought she would do something like that. I was speechless! I’m going thru so many different emotions, it’s hard to describe. It’s like the end but also the beginning, it’s the same journey just a turn in this adventure. I really can’t wait to see what’s in store for me, how will Melbourne treat me… I’ll just have to wait and see. For the moment, I just have to enjoy the 2 last days I have left in Brisbane. It’ll be a long time before I come back here, I recon.

Tuesday, November 20th ‘07

Last day in Brissy! Started off good, Leigh and I went for breakfast in the Valley before class. It was really nice to spend some time with Leigh outside the school. He is so cool and such a sweetheart. As I thought, my mom called and she spoke with him. :D It was very enjoyable. I went to the group class that always ends up being a private. Deliah was my teacher and I love it ‘cause she focuses a lot on my frame, it is really hard to go from a swing frame to a Latin/Ballroom frame. She’s very hard on me but it helps a lot. Then, I had my very last private with Leigh. I didn’t see time go by at all. This was the last time I’d see/dance with Leigh for a very long time. I’m pretty sad about that, and I truly hope we’ll see each other again some day. As I walk back thru the city to my friend’s place, I realize that I don’t feel as nostalgic as I did a couple of days before. I think I just can’t wait to move on. I’m ready to go. In about 12 hours I’ll be on a flight to my next stop… Melbourne.

Thursday, November 22nd ‘07

I feel very lonely today. It’s cold and I’ve got noting to do until the dance at 8:30pm. I’ve just decided to go to the city and explore Melbourne. I’m so lonely that I don’t even feel like walking around but I’m doing it as I have noting else to do. I’m really not in a traveling/tourist mood. I just feel like going back home. I’ve gotta resist the urge I have to take the next flight to MTL. I have to stick it out. I think about the job search I’ll be going thru and I try not too. I just have to enjoy my exchange weekend. I really don’t know how much I want to start looking for a job again.

Worst comes to worst, I’ll go to Asia. I have to, after all the vaccines I’ve taken, it has cost me over 400$ for the consultation, the hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and malaria vaccines. Lots of money to make sure I don’t die in Asia. I miss my sweetheart Leigh, it was just part of my life seeing him 3-4-5 times a week.

Walking in Melbourne’s CBD, I don’t feel the excitement I usually have when I’m somewhere new. At Mackers, frozen waiting for time to go by ‘till it’s time to dance. At lease starting tomorrow, there’ll be some MLX (Melbourne Lindy eXchange) stuff to do daytime as well. Melbourne is definitely a big city, there’s more trams than busses. There’s a free tourist tram that’ll take you around the city with useful info. Public transport fares are more expensive than Brissy as well as MTL. It has a very European feel and some small “hidden” charming streets. I understand why people like it here but I miss Queen St mall. Queen St mall is the life of Brisbane, a St where people meet up, shop, eat, take time to live, it’s where the youth hang out, the assemble place of the goth, emo and punk. It is just so lively.

I really gotta stick it out, there is noting I will gain from going back to Montreal. I can do this, I just have to bring my spirit back up. I can’t just quit not like this. God I’m cold! It’s really cold today in Melbourne. Feels like fall in MTL.

Wednesday, November 28th ‘07

Just had the best weekend! MLX was awesome! I meet some great people mostly from Melbourne and Perth but I also met some Tassies and Kiwis. I really had a blast, I definitely needed this. I spent most of my time with Perthies I meet during the Vintage Shopping tour on Friday. I danced a lot but also mingled a lot which is what I needed! I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning (9am) and barely slept but it was all worth it. Oh yeah!!! I’m staying at a swing dancer and it’s nice, I have my own room and don’t have to worry about rent.

There’s a grocery store next to his place and they have some “umbitekook” (most likely misspelled) this breakfast cake I had in the Netherlands, they also have this Italian pastry I remember eating in my childhood and have been looking for, for years now. I’m so glad. Things are definitely better and my spirit is back up. I haven’t started to look for work yet (yes but not seriously), didn’t want to bother during MLX, I hung out with Perthies on Monday and today’s my B-Day so just really haven’t taken it seriously. I really have to start soon.

We (Perthies and I) went to see a band with an organist and Kevin, one of the Perthies is an organist and loves the organ. I spent a fair amount of time with him he’s really sweet just sad he doesn’t live in Melbourne. On that night, the bar was full and he wanted to see the organist play so Sarah (a Kiwi) and I stood further where we could talk and blues dance. As we were talking, a guy grabbed my ass, I turned around and told him off, didn’t take long that he left.

I’m really happy about the few last days and I have a good feel. I’ve made some friends and I don’t think it’ll be hard for me to find work. Things seem to go well but I don’t want to be excited about it just yet as per my past experience in Brisvegas. I already have a couple of things to look forward too which is also pretty good. I’ll be going to Madame Dynamite tonight do some more swing dancing.

Thursday, November 29th ‘07

Today, I went shopping at the Victoria Market with Renee and I had loads of fun. I created myself a new style black and white stripes and sculls. It’s pretty nice! T’was a great day! Afterwards, we went to meet up one of her friends and we got food before going to CBD to dance. Had a blast! We then ended up at Daniel’s (a swing dancer) place for drinks. He’s hosting 2 Perthies. We ended up sleeping there, 5 people in a one bedroom bachelor apartment, it was pretty cramped but cool.

Friday, November 30th ‘07

Woke up, Daniel and Renee where gone! T’was me and the Perthies Jack and Ruby. We chatted for awhile. Jack is quite mature for an 18 year old. I really like him, he’s cool. I’m meeting with Renee this afternoon and I’ll be going to her friend’s (Daniel yes, another Daniel!) place that will cook us dinner. He and his flatmate (Michael) tend to “fight to wear the skirt” as Renee would say. They both like to cook and they fight to know whom will be cooking. I dig that! The meal was wonderful and the guys really nice. Their apartment is really nice and clean. I’ve been offered to stay there and take Michael’s room while he’s gone (for about 2 months. What, living with 2 guys that are clean and loves to cook!?! Anytime! This’ll be nice. I’ve been staying at Tom’s (a swing dancer in his 50’s) and he’s been really nice but I’d feel better with some 20 year olds. I had a great time! They have a piano and both play it. This is some kind of a different universe for me but I love it. With all the chatting, it got really late and I ended up staying overnight.