April? May? : The visa trip

Had to go to the American Embassy in Melbourne to apply for a J1 Visa. Got there early and so was in the first lot of people to go up. Really wasn't a big deal, but I'm sure if I'd been a smart-ass or she'd been having a bad day, it could have been.

Went to visit Bob in hospital, got to see Belinda which was great. Lost my drivers license somewhere in Melbourne. Anyone finds it, give me a call.

That morning, dad and I did the Queen Victoria Markets. Bought a light jacket, which I don't think I even took to KSA with me. Got the best brunch from this little bakery kinda shop next to the markets. It better still be there next time I go to Melbourne.

Went for a ride on the loop tram, which actually does a square, but was really good for giving a general idea of Melbourne's layout and heritage. Had a few issues with catching one back from the markets, mostly due to the fact that we couldn't decide which side of the road would be the best (ie first) and hence did a lot of running in circles (squares) when we saw trams coming. Very very funny morning.

Had further issues with trams when we tried to go shopping at the outlet places I'd heard about. Stupid woman told us the wrong tram, so we had a nice little tour of obscure parts of Melbourne. And on the way back, were treated to some extremely colourful language as it was peak-hour and all the high-school kids were on their way home. That was fun too.

Then went to Adelaide for the pre-departure orientation. Kind of a waste of time, in a way nothing can prepare you for a trip like that. I think everything they said was true, some of it irrelevent that they totally stressed, and some things they said in passing that were pretty important. It was good to meet other people in the same situation (some without camps yet) as a kind of validation: I'm not crazy to be doing this, it's fine. Or I am, but at least there are other crazies here with me.

And of course, the obligatory trip to Harbourtown to spend some money.

Dec, Jan: The waiting game

So I had been promised a placement within like a month or something.

January 25th (I think) I got a call to say they had found a place for me! Yay!!! At some place called Kutshers Sports Academy, in upstate New York. Like in Dirty Dancing. All pretty with the hills and activities and stuff. Yeah, that's the place.

Then I was promised a contract in a few weeks. This did not happen. I was not happy. I wanted some proof to say I was going. (As I found out, this was not really the way things happened. One girl got to camp a day or so late as she'd only just, like the day before, found out she'd been accepted there. Crazy.)

I also had to get a passport and visa.
The passport was no problem, got a photo taken, stupid bitch at the photo shop got all narky with me cos I asked a few questions so if I look shitty, it's cos I was. Neece was there the day it came, I'd forgotten about it but she was quite excited. So I could leave the country. Cool.

November-ish 2004

Applied to IEP (International Exchange Programs) for a job as a summer camp counsellor. All kinds of fees and forms to fill out, but I had been thinking about this for a long time, and this was definitly the right time.

Had to have an interview (over the phone, thank god) with a guy named Stuart. I even remember the time, 10am. And then some random woman calls me at like two minutes to. Get the fuck off the phone, I'm waiting for a call here! Anyway, Stuart did call (and get through) and we proceeded. Mostly going through my application and clarifying things, then a few scenario-type questions: what would you do if... kinda things. Like I'm gonna say I'd join in with a few pot-smoking campers. On the whole, all was well.