Christelle in Australia

September 20, 2004

Job Interview

Yesterday I took it easy. I was very tired because of the late night out. I just watched a lot of television and got stuff ready for my interview.

Today I woke up at around 7h15 to get ready for my 9h30 interview at Select Education. They are a temp agency that recruit people to work in childcare. I arrived with 10 minutes to spare. I wanted to take the 8h30 bus but somehow it never came! I had to wait until 8h50 to catch the bus to the city. I first had to fill out my details in their computer database. Then, a lady came to ask me a few simple questions about my work history and myself. She also asked things like: "What would you do if a kid got hurt" or "How do you deal with a child that has behavior problems?" I answered the questions to the best of my knowledge, I think I did alright. After filing out some paperwork and giving her two references to check out, I was free to go until 12h. I asked my boyfriend to call me on my mobile so we talked for a few minutes. After, I went to a food court and had a yummy hot chocolate. Then I just walked around browsing in shops, looking at what they have. Prices are similar to back home and products also. Except back home it's time for Autumn fashion and here it's all Spring stuff! At 12, I had a sort of training session where a lady explained everything about how the agency works, procedures for getting paid as well as tips for working with children. At 13h20 I was on the bus back to Balmain. I stopped at the supermarket to get a few things I was craving: Nutella and cheese. I also got a cesar salad for lunch, Pringles and some juice. All together, 15,25$, which is comparable to what I would have paid back home, if not cheaper. I will have to call the temp agency later this afternoon and see if I can get some work as early as tomorrow!

September 21, 2004

Yesterday and Today, More Job Interviews!

Yesterday morning I took it easy watching television. At around 11h30, the temp agency called to offer me my first day at work cooking for little kids. I was too late returning their call and missed on that opportunity! At 13h45, I left to go meet the owner of a Balmain shop where I could possibly get a job. The meeting at 14h went pretty well and the lady said she would call me back today to tell me if I can be of use in her shop. Haven't got any news back on that yet. After the meeting yesterday, I went to the supermarket (Woolworths) to buy things for the meal I was going to cook. I enjoyed seeing what kind of products they have here. Back home, I cooked dinner "Boeuf Africain", watched Survivor and planned my trip around Australia (originally wanted to go in November, but will have to be December now).

Today I am going to the city at 14h30 to register at another temp agency, this one supplies workers to businesses (like reception, office work, etc). I don't really feel like doing that work, but if it is the only thing I can get for now then I'll take it!

The Tea Party (Canadian band) are coming to Oz! They will be in Sydney on November 28th at the Enmore Theatre!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2004

First Day of Work

First, lets go back to yesterday. I went to register with a second temp agency, called Hudson. Their office was very big & modern/contemporary looking. It had a bit of a cold feeling to it. I did typing/MS Word tests but their printer was broken so I could not have my scores!! ARGH! I am registered with them, but for now it is only a back up, as I would rather work with kids than in an office (kids are more lively, more real contact with Australians). After, I went to the IEP Office to get my mail. I had received my Tax File Number, which is needed for taxing purposes. They said it would take 28 days, but it came after 14 days. I went to bed at 22h30 to be ready for my first day at work!

Today I went to work! It was in a childcare centre in North Sydney. To get there for 9h, I left at 7h50. I took the bus to the Queen Victoria Building downtown. Then, I walked to the City Hall train station. I bought my return train ticket to North Sydney train station (5,60$) and then figured out which platform I had to get to using the TV screens. It was fairly simple. You have to put your ticket in the machine when you enter and leave a train station. At the last part of the trip, the machine just keeps the ticket. I arrived in North Sydney with a few minutes to spare so I walked down to the water to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House from the North shore.

September 23, 2004 continued...

Then I went to the childcare centre. I got a quick tour of the kitchen and then it was time to cook! I prepared what they call "morning tea" (a snack) which was bananas, oranges and crackers with cream cheese and vegemite (yeast spread that Australian love...). After, it was time to make lunch. The menu had potato salad, pork meat balls and courgette. Took me about 2 hours to get that all ready. Desert was easy, just yogourt with apricot (from a can). I also started to prepare "afternoon tea" which was just sandwiches. They asked me if I had something for tomorrow, Friday, or if I wanted to come back. I gladly accepted their invitation. Tomorrow I'll have to make Sheperd Pie!

Back in the city, I went to Woolworths supermarket to buy a sandwich. It was very crowded to I had to wait a while in line! Then I went to Select Education to bring them my completed Tax File Number sheet, so that they can take off tax from my pay at an ok rate and not the almost 50% rate when you do not have a Tax File Number! Then I came back home.

September 24, 2004

Second Day at Work

Today was my second day at work. I got asked back at the same childcare centre so it was a little easier because I knew the routine and where things were. To answer a comment posted in my previous story, the centre takes about 40 minutes to get to from my home in Balmain, so it is not that bad! But I allowed 1 hour for travel to make sure I got there on time. At the center, I made morning snack and the fruit for the afternoon snack, then started on the sheperd pie (which is just like a dish we have back home called pate chinois. It is made out of corn, then a layer of meat and a layer of mashed potatoes. But this one was a layer of meat, a layer of mashed potatoes and a bit of cheese on top). It was quicker to make than the meatballs from the previous day so I took it easier and watched the kids play a bit also (I had nothing left to do!). At about 13h10, I asked if there was anything else I could do. The lady said "no, you may leave." So I asked her if I should put 13h10 or 13h30 (time I was supposed to be finished). She said "13h30, it's not your fault if your competent". I thought it was funny. So I left 20 minutes earlier. Back in Balmain, I watched TV and planned my trip across Australia, which will now probably happen end of november/december. The lady at the temp agency also called me to schedule me in for Monday at another childcare centre, once again as a cook. This time, it should be easier though... She said that they are catered for and I would only have to reheat and serve the food.

September 25, 2004

Just Around Balmain and Jamie Hutchings/Screamfeeder Gig

Today I stayed around Balmain. After taking it easy in the morning, I went out to find a fax machine to send my timesheet to the temp agency (in order to get paid!) I finally found one in a business centre with computers/Internet and it cost me 2.20$! What a rip off... The next time, I'll try the post office and I hope that will be cheaper. After, I brought my paper back home and left to take a few pictures of Balmain. I also stopped by the market on the church grounds and bought a few nice Balmain greeting cards. My camera's batteries ran out and I had not brought the spare ones so I came back at the house. In the evening, I went to a gig at the Annandale Hotel (12$). I saw Jamie Hutchings (singer from Bluebottle Kiss), Electrico (young band from Singapore) as well as Screamfeeder (from Brisbane, Australia). It was a nice evening out!