Kia ora from Sydney

I'm in Sydney! in the City Library, if I look left out the window I can see the harbour bridge.

The reason I'm here is quite interesting. Basically I discovered on Friday that in the interview I have tomorrow (for a English school in Japan) they have a general knowledge test - and it is on grammar. Most of you that know me will know that grammar is probably one of my strong points (except of course for the odd bit of Huntly english like bro, dude, wicked, budget, etc) however apparently they ask about complicated stuff like past present tense and non-countable nouns etc. Stuff we don't even learn at school. So I have come here to revise that sort of stuff, as well as emailing etc.
(You will be entertained to know that I had spelt emailing wrong - "emailling" and have since fixed it up. LOL)

One such email relates to... Being accepted by the school I interviewed for several weeks ago! They have sent me the paperwork (to Hamilton NZ) but require it back by the 6th of September. I don't get home until the 4th. Therefore I have emailed to ask if I can drop into their offices in Brisbane when I go up there (I go tonight until Thursday night).

Another reason was I had thought about emailing a school that has an office here in Sydney, however it would would be a bit hard to work in if they did want to see me, as I would only be available on Friday and Saturday, and their recruitment thing is 2 days, probably not on those days, and besides my mate has taken Friday off so we can go to the Blue mountains. Also knowing I have a job, the desperation/motivation isn't there so much.

Went to Canberra this weekend. Despite reports to the contrary it actually is really cool. They have a huge museum, a tower (like the sky tower) on a hill, a wicked as war memorial/museum, and of course the old and new parliments. the best thing is that they don't seem to charge the earth for attractions - the Telstra tower was only $4.50 (compared to the $18-21 that Sky City in Auckland charges - thieving casino - see a previous blog) and old parliment house was about the same, whereas the other two things were free. Nice.


Haven't seen much of Sydney yet, except the Opera house by night - but so far it looks wicked. Hopefullly I will get to see a bit today after reading up on grammar.

Anyway better leave it there, I am using this computer, internet, and printing for free due to the "payment system not yet being installed" and should be limiting time to 30 minutes. However no one needs it so I have been sitting here for about 3 hours. They may not appreciate a non-Australian, non-taxpayer (in Australia) freeriding so I will end here.

Check out the photos.

JT

Auckland, Rotorua, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane

My beloved Hamilton (Yeah Right) is missing my presence during the weekends this month, the weekend before last I was in Auckland for my interview, this weekend just been I was in Rotorua, on Friday I fly to Sydney, hopefully get to go to Canberra for the weekend, go to Brisbane for my interview during the next week.

Where do I start?
Last Thursday - had a wicked feed courtesy of ICANZ - or should I say the "New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants" - which is what they have rebranded themselves as, and courtesy is probably not the right word for it - considering the fees I pay to be a member I deserve a good free feed... Anyway it was delicious, meat (always good) honey-glazed veges (nice) etc, held at the Stadium (no wonder our fees are so expensive). Sat at the same table as the CEO. Felt like a bit of a fraud, considering that I aren't working as an accountant and only an hour earlier I was in my Gilmours uniform dragging around a pallet...

Rotorua - was cool. Expensive but cool. I went down on Friday night (should have been early afternoon - but needed to sort stuff out. At least Dr Phil and his tv buddies can't be blamed this time around.) Meet up with some friends in downtown Rotorua - via going to the Lava bar's Doctors & Nurses party and being tricked into a "blood pressure test" which was actually a muscle stimulator - resulting in me being covered in beer - however I got a free shooter out of it, several "2 for 1" drink coupons, and dried off with a hairdrier by a "nurse". Sounds a bit hotter than it was. She was pretty, but it was purely platonic.
Saw the buried village on Saturday, and went to see Chess the musical that evening. On Sunday went my friends' church, had a quick look at the lake, the park that steams (the free one in the middle) and to the luges.

The big news is that I get to go to Brisbane as well as Sydney. I was going to Sydney for an interview with a school in Japan - however they cancelled it due to lack of interest. I had already booked my tickets therefore I asked that we come to some compromise so I didn't waste my flight - they came back to me and said come to Brisbane and we'll reimburse you for the costs to change your flight(s). I worked out it is cheaper to fly domestically between Sydney & Brisbane and keep my flights in and out of Sydney the same, rather than changing them to be Brisbane instead of Sydney. This works well, as I get to see both cities and my friends that are in both of them.

Anyway its late. I have been naughty lately and haven't had as much sleep as I should for various reasons eg partying it up in vegas (aka Rotorua) and last night trying to watch the DVDs I got out a week ago and hadn't managed to see.

Next entry should be a good one.
Kia kaha.

Towers, motorways and parking buildings

Hey team,
not a lot to report, except I went to Auckland this weekend and had an interview with a Japanese school. It wasn't a bad experience I guess. Just getting up early was, and not having breakfast until 10.36 (when McDs refuses to serve the breakfast menu).

I also caught up with friends, and went up the Sky Tower. Previously I had refrained on moral grounds (Sky City owns it - Sky City is a casino, casinos steal dumb peoples money.) However considering I have already parked twice in the casino at Hamilton (once for my CA exam, and the other because I was late, had gout, and Hamilton is bad for parking) I figured it wasn't such a crime anymore.

Anyway, something to look forward to is my trip to Sydney, for an interview with another Japanese school company, followed by a break, visiting and staying with my mate there.

Still don't have any comments from people. I need to self-promote some more I think!
Laters

Several steps closer

Hey reader

Just a short post, celebrating the fact I actually managed to make some progress on Japan. Made 2 applications this weekend, and also emailed 2 friends over there, AND emailed the consulate office in Auckland for info on getting a working visa. And also looked into the British consulate and found out what I wanted to know - have to be 31 or under, and 2 years only working holiday.

Yeah, thats about it folks.