Disorientated

Do you ever wake up for a really heavy sleep, or dream, and find yourself wondering where you are? You open your eyes. Your surroundings seem blurry to you because your eyes haven’t adjusted to the light. When you do finally “come to” you wonder “where am I, what day is it?” You think you know where you are, but there is a part of you that is just unsure. You feel funny, disorientated, and unsure for those brief moments. Then once you realize where you are, reality comes back to you.

I have felt this way many times, and many times recently. I can remember dreaming that I was back home, in the house I lived in from the ages of 5-10. My room had been the old office, but was transformed into my room, once knews my brother was coming. The way I had my room set up, I had the head of the bed against the back wall. Along that same wall, to my right (if you’re lying in the bed) was a door to outside. The door to get out of the room was on my right side as well. But it was further down, on the right wall side. But I remember a few weeks ago, I woke up, my vision was a little hazy. I was dreaming about my old house, and when I first woke up my eyes, I thought I was back in this particular house. I first thought “what am I doing here?” I had forgotten that I was in fact still in Australia. It took me a few seconds to realize where I was.

There have been many incidents where I’ve woken up, and felt disorientated. It’s not just when I’m having a dream of being back at home. Sometimes, I won’t remember what I’m dreaming, but I’ll have slept pretty heavily. But when I wake up, I always feel like I’m back home in the states. I think I’m back at my sister’s place, or back with my parents. I think I’m at home, because I feel comfortable, among the disorientated feeling. But after a few brief moments, I realize that there is someone sleeping beside me, and that brings back to reality. Sometimes I am happy to be back to reality, other times, I wish I was in the disorientated realm.

-current mood-TIRED, I think I slept too much.

Kobe Bryant

I was reading some headlines a few days ago online, and came across the article about Kobe Bryant. I’m not a fan of him. I personally think he’s a pig. Not only a pig, but I think he’s very arrogant. But nonetheless, he’s an amazing basketball player. Since moving to Australia, I haven’t really been keeping up on the US sports. But I read the article where he had 81 points.

81 points in a game, that he alone scored. That number can be the number of points in a total game, scored by many players. Kobe is amazing, and I often wonder how he got so good. I often wonder how certain people can become such great athletes. Is it genes, is it practice, is it a combination of the two? Are there other elements to be added into the equation? Every game, he seems to have such a successful run. Many may compared Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordon, and if that’s the case, that is a big feat…to be greater than Micheal Jordon.

With Kobe Bryant playing for the Lakers, he’s helped contribute to a number of NBA championships. With how great of a player he is (and talented many may say) would one speculate that he’s a one person player? Or is he actually a team player? I do remember when Shaquille O’Neil was on the Lakers team, and the combination of them two, along with the other Lakers, contributed to the championships. This brings me to the question of “would you want to play on a team, where there was a clear standout?” Or would you rather play on a team, where there was more team involvement, and not a clear standout, if it meant working harder? I bet the Lakers feel great about winning 3 championships (I think), but what if you were a team member who was on that team, but hardly played. Would you still feel like you deserved to have won the championships?? Does Kobe KNOW that he was a major role in winning those championships? And do you think that he thinks of himself as a team player? Or is he as arrogant as I think he is??

-current moo-UNHAPPY that Brokeback Mountain isn't playing in any theaters nearby.

Australia Day

For those who may be interested (since it’s a national holiday…here is an explaination behind Australia Day. Thanks to Australia Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for the information. Sorry, but I had to do some research on the holiday myself.

Australia Day is Australia's official national day, January 26. It commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on that day in 1788.

Celebrations
Australia Day is a national public holiday. For some years the holiday was held on the closest Monday, to provide a long weekend. It is now held on the actual anniversary, however should this happen to fall on a weekend, a public holiday is still held on the following Monday.

Australia Day is marked by civic celebrations around the country, including Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards for outstanding achievement. Air Force air displays are held in some capital cities. Citizenship ceremonies are also held on Australia Day.

Fireworks celebrations are held in many towns and cities around the country. The Perth Lotterywest Skyworks display is billed as the largest Australia Day celebration in the country, with more than a third of the city's population lining the river foreshore for the display.

Two significant events in the Australian music scene occur on Australia Day - the Triple J Hottest 100, usually celebrated by fans with a barbecue and party, and the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out music festival.

Criticism
Some Australians are indifferent to the celebrations and treat the day as just another holiday. For a minority of Australians the celebrations arouse dislike; some comment on how the arrival of the British to Australia affected the Aboriginal people of the country and some term Australia Day "Invasion Day," regarding it as celebrating Aboriginal subjugation. In recent years, acknowledging the unlikelihood of changing the day to "Invasion Day," some Aboriginal people have also celebrated the day as "Survival Day," thankful that their ancestors were not completely wiped out by the newly arrived settlers. See also: Day of Mourning, Survival Festival.

Suggested changes to the date
Some have suggested making ANZAC Day Australia's national day, or changing to January 1, commemorating 1 January 1901 when Australia's six colonies federated into one nation. Each of the alternatives raised also pose problems — ANZAC Day because many war veterans believe that it is their day, and that it is also a public holiday in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, while 1 January is already a public holiday and is in the middle of the Christmas holiday season.

Many supporters of the continued use of Australia Day as Australia's national day point out that 26 January commemorates an actual historical event, similar to ANZAC Day, Bastille Day in France, and July 4 in the United States.

-current mood-TIRED, it's been a long week.

I got the job!!!

::jumping up and down with joy:: So I got the job. I was just about ready to start working at my other job. I had just clocked in, and was about to meet with V, so we could discuss what I was going to be doing, when H rang. I guess T (the one who I had the interview with) is no longer working at the place. She told me she was going on holidays for 2 weeks, but H said that T was no longer with the company anymore, or something to that affect. But H, did a lot of jargon talk, and eventually said they had checked all of the references I had given them on Friday. She said all of them gaving glowing references for me, and that they were offering me the position. I then said “I’m so excited” after I had accepted the offer. She then proceeded to tell me that she would be sending out some contact information stuff, as well as the information they’ll need for payroll. But I start on February 6th. So that gives me a little time to relax, even though I’ll probably be working a few shifts still at this other place. I reckon they like me too much ::smirks::

My job title is a “personal financial consultant.” I am working for a state trustees law firm, that is run by the government. People are appointed by the state who are no longer able to manage their own funds. People who have mental health disorders, and other disabilites, would be the sort of cliente I will have. And my job, is to pretty much make sure that their expenditure (sp) doesn’t exceed their budget. There will be times where I will have to buy and sell property, have to go to court for tribunal hearings, and there is a lot of paperwork involved. That is pretty much what I’ll be doing, is paperwork all day. This will be a big change or me, because I’m not really used to a desk job. But I’m hoping that because I’m working for a law firm, it may then pave way for some other opportunties for me, down the line.

But I can hardly contain my excitement right now. I’m so relieved, and it seems like everything is coming together the way it should. So thank you to all the support I’ve gotten with this job search. I appreciate the emotional support and all the wonderful positive words of encouragement.

-current mood-OVER THE MOON!!! I finally got a full time job, and this makes things a whole lot easier for us.

Still no word about the job

So, am I freaking out too quickly? I know it’s only Tuesday, but I haven’t heard back from the job people. I do know, that yesterday, they rang V at the place I was working at, to have her give me a reference. She rang me today, to ask if I could work tomorrow. I told her not a problem, it’s extra money. But V told me they rang her yesterday, and she said she gave a great reference. I know the job place has to ring the states, so I can imagine they may have had a little trouble figuring out the time difference. But I just hope that that is what is holding up the process.

Last night I was in bed thinking about how much stress my life has had in the past 6 months or so. Pretty much, since July, it’s been nothing but stress. If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing. We spent so much of our time stressing out about immigration. And now that that is all over and done with, you’d think the stress would go away. But now I’m trying to get a full time job, and that adds another element of stress into the equation. I know how hard it is to be an Aussie and try to get a full time job, I’m a foreigner, and trying to find a job as well. I don’t have a lot of connections. I had one, that brought me to the current job prospect. ::shaking head:: I may be jumping the gun..but I do ask that people keep positive thoughts circulating my way, in hopes I find out that I DID get the job, tomorrow. I know most people don’t work on Thursday because of the holiday (Australia Day) so having to wait another day, it’ll be agonizing for me.

-current mood-WORRIED, as usual.

5 strange things about me

Tag...You're It!!!

RULES: You must post a blog entitled "5 Weird Habits About Me" or "5 Strange Things About Me" and post the names of 5 people you would like to tag in turn. Don't forget to include a copy of the rules, and then list 5 weird/strange truths about yourself in the blog. Each person you tag must in turn post a blog including the rules, the names of those they choose to tag, and their 5 things

Strange thing #1: I wear earplugs to bed every night. I started wearing them because of my partner being a horrible snorer. But regardless of whether she snores or not, I keep them in my ears. I have kind of trained my body and mind to NOT sleep, unless I wear earplugs to bed.

Strange thing #2: Australia is the third country that I hope to get citizenship from. S. Korea was the first country of citizenship, because I was born there. Came to the States when I was 4, lost my Korean citizenship, became a US citizen. After I’ve had permanent residency for 2 years I hope to get dual citizenship with Australia and New Zealand. If not, this will yet be the third country I’ve permanently lived at.

Strange thing #3: When I first came to the states, I used to steal fruit and veggies from the fridge. Because I was very mal-nourished and probably only ate rice, the food here was a new surprise to me. I was afraid of what my parents would say if I asked for more fruit and veggies..so I’d steal them from the fridge. How my mum found out, I kept the carrot tops and apple cores under my bed. I was a good thief, but I guess not a very smart one.

Strange thing #4: Growing up, my brother (adopted, but not biological) and I pretended we were twins. Because we were both Asian, and about 10 months apart, people often mis-took us for being twins. So we always played up on it to strangers. Now, there’s no way you’d think we were twins. ::smirks::

Strange thing#5: Growing up, I hated my room looking the same. So every 3 months or so, I’d re-arrange my room. Because I had a big room, there were many different ways I could have changed the room. And after changing the room around, I always felt a sense of relief and excitement. Ahhh, the things that makes one happy ::smirks:: I’m still like that today, but can’t change my room so much now. But we try…

Victims to be tagged…If you haven’t already been tagged of course, and hopefully you still read my blog ::snickers:: And please note, for those who I DIDN’T pick, it isn’t because I don’t like you as much..lol. I just had to pick 5, and I picked 5 people that I wanted to find out strange things about them..lol. And thanks to AngelicScarz for tagging me!

*Rainey

*Ath

*Sheri

*Jenna

*Nenee

So type away ladies!!

-current mood-I just feel "average"

Sunburnt feet and palms

I was out sunbaking today, though it was too hot to stay out too long. As I was baking in the 20 minute increments, I could feel the sun beating on the soles of my feet. As I felt the sweat forming on my body, I thought “why don’t the soles of our feet, or the palms of our hands get sunburnt?” I began looking at my hands and feet, and came to the conclusion that just maybe there is a different protectant layer of skin on our palms and feet. I know the skin feels much more coarse, or is that just because I have a lot of callouses (sp)? But all I know, is I never have to worry about putting sunscreen on the soles of my feet or the palms of my hand. Any educated guesses as to why??

-current mood-RELAXED, even though it's 105 F outside.