snowzilla’s Neighborhood

Well a year here in Australia is up and I am coming home. A mate at work asked me the other day if I was counting the days till I left and to his and my surprise, I said no. I thought about it afterwards and realized that I don’t really want to leave, because I love it here, but that I need to leave, because I really miss home. At the end of the day no matter how awesome this place is, it’s never the place it’s the people. And my people are at home.

So in true Vance style I am taking the long way home, beginning with a week in Tasmania, the only state I have not seen, then off to Hong Kong, and into China and on by rail. From there I will head into Mongolia and maybe Russia. I know I am nuts but hey why not?

I think I am due to be in Edmonton later June, Julyish. It’s a ways off but hey that’s the beauty of the long way home.

As I will be in China and they are notorious for their censorship of the internet my blog might not be as frequent or at all like it was when I was traveling in other countries especially with the political unrest in Tibet. So you will all have to be patient and wait just like me.

Any way stay tuned for some photos Tassy and Hong Kong.

I miss you all so much,

Vance

Well another Christmas and new years has come and gone. It was not too bad, I celebrated an orphans Chrissy with my housemates, and had a total of 15 people over. It was cool to share the holidays with a bunch of people who with the exception of one were all internationals living in Melbourne. I spent some quiet time on the beach and then ate and drank my face off.

So now you all can see my place its an old house in an older neighborhood, called Prahran pronounced "Pa Ran" I think, you can never really tell with ozzies cause they shorten everything. Oh well its all good.

I reciently checked out the Australian Open and had a good time. I have never seen live tennis before, so it was a real treat. Ill post some photos next.

Well i still love you all and miss you heeps and think, I will see you all in a few months.

Vance

Hello all! G'day Mates, and Merry Chrissy! That is my newest aussie slang. They shorten everything here for the least amount of effort, I love it. A couple others are arvo and ta other sayings are "no dramas" and "Far out" Things are good here, I am really enjoying my self. I have a new home in Prahran its kind of the equivilant of Whyte Ave. My house is really old at least a hundred I think and I share it with 6 others, thank god its a big place. It has a really good vibe and we all get along well. My job is getting much better, its the busy season so I am not bored at all , and I receintly got to go on a road trip to Mt. Gambia (I could not see the mountain, so I just kept my trap shut so I would not offend anyone :) It was great a real cool small city in South Australia. I helped replace 19 furnaces in a retirement village for Lennox. It was a great expierence as I have changed many furnaces over the years and to do a few here and see another way of doing things was great. While being so close to the coast, I got a couple of dives in one fresh water on in  3 connected lakes  with a limestone bottom, and # in the ocean diving for Crayfish (rock lobster) what a blast it was really hard to catch them, but I got one. And since I was working with the Lennox Technical guys, I got the chance to sell myself a bit for a possible promotion into the tech support department. They had asked me plenty of questions if I was interested in doing more work like what I was doing with them, all I could say was YES YES YES. So who knows what the new year will bring but I am a bit exited. I also have done a few side jobs for cash installing air conditioning for people. I love the cashola! I have also had a few moments to sit back and reflect on the last year and think about stuff, and and be thankful the the success that this adventure has been. I really threw myself to the wolfs here in a few different ways, and it really looks like I have come out on top. And I could not have done it with out all of you. Many of you have supported me in such different ways in the last year, and I love you all so much for all the encouragement and talks that we had. Well I am off to bed now and get ready for Friday so that I can spend yet another weekend on the beach in the sand and ocean chillen out.

Peace...

Vance

Well it’s been a year, since I have left home. The miles that have passed my eyes and the days are almost uncountable. It has been an emotional as well as an internal journey, for me. As I have spent many, many days and hours reflecting on my life and many of the choices I have made. And for the most part I believe I have accomplished most if not all of what I set out to do. I had a few skeletons in my closet that rattled and distracted me from time to time. They have been evicted. And some semblance of peace has found me. I have learned a few important lessons on how I was treating people. And to some extent I now admit I was running away, not entirely sure what from but I have some good ideas that for now will stay private. I had an opportunity to do an online personality test the other day and I was blown away, by the results. For years, I was a very heavily weighted ENTJ on the Meyers Briggs test, on my latest test; I am now a well-rounded ESTJ. This is a significant change in my mind. Looking back at things that I have done in the last while I can now really see how I’ve changed a bit. It’s kind of cool.

I have explored till my hearts content, for now, I will still travel in the future, but not to this extent. I finally feel the travel bug has been reasonably contained. I really have a feeling of settling down in one place for a while, and it feels good.

I have met many interesting and good people along the way and am grateful to every last one of them, for all they have shared and taught me. Every step along the way my guiding spirit, put the right people to walk beside me on my journey. I have been well taken care of. I thank God for that.

I have experienced love and loss in that order, and all the pain that goes with. Although things are still up in the air a bit on this one, change could still occur. This one was the hardest of all for me. It still pains me. All those that know me, know that I have not been in love for many years, seven to be exact, and that this was a very huge step for me. I have always been looking, but you all know how scared I was. Especially after my last long term relationship almost destroyed me. I only wish I would not have taken so long to return my feelings to her. Never put off telling someone that you love him or her, never. Things might have been better if I hadn’t. I was a fool to wait so long. Darcy, you really, really touched my heart, like no other. I really got you and I know you got me. I am truly sorry I did not warm up sooner to you. I still have hope.

I have successfully moved back into a real life situation from backpacker mode, it was a bit rough, but I did it.

I have a home nothing special but it is 300m from the beach, it’s a small flat shared with 3 others. The location is great I can walk to everything I need, groceries, pubs and public transport all in 5 min. I have found two great places to sit and meditate where I have found much peace, nearby.

I have a good job, working for Heatcraft Australia, a division of Lennox International. Sound familiar to anyone? For now I am in an inside sales position. And it’s not too bad. My mates that I work with are great they treat me very well and I think I am fitting in, just fine. There are a few cool perks the boss buys lunch once or twice a week, and I am learning heaps about refrigeration. It’s a great job just wish it was a bit busier or physical. Oh well its different and that’s what I wanted.

I have a small group of friends, Ryan an Aussie guy from Sydney, Hanna an English girl and Isaac an English bloke as well. We all met at the guesthouse in St. Kilda and remain friends. Despite my previous comments on English girls Hanna is all right. We usually hang out on the weekends and watch a few movies. Go to a pub, or club for one or two, and a small dinner mid week.

My car is falling apart but still running. I have it illegally registered in Queensland but nobody seems to mind, cause I can’t afford the $1200 repair bill to rego it here in Victoria. I am hoping it lasts a while longer; I can’t buy a new one just yet.

And I seem to have a future here, if I choose to take it. Now I am sure that you all are wondering what my future holds in relation to me coming home. I have to say that as of late I am extremely homesick. Thanksgiving was really rough, and I am not looking forward to Christmas alone here either, and when I talk to you all on the phone, facebook, or email, my eyes get all teary. I love how much you all still care about me, sometimes that’s what keeps me going. So thanks so much for that. But two things are keeping me here for the next few months for sure. First my budget. I don’t want to come home broke and the flight is heaps, and secondly, I still feel that there is at least one thing left for me here to do, experience, receive, or work through. This is a tough one, it’s just a feeling, and to base an important decision like this on a feeling requires a real leap of faith. This is a leap that I have taken before and will take again. So unless something major happens I am here for a bit. I think. It’s not a perfect decision but it’s the one I have made for now. And it might change depending on the next few weeks, I just don’t know. I don’t fancy coming back home and asking for my old job back. That is less than appetising. But maybe not that bad who knows I am not sure yet. I do know that I could really use a few big hugs. Oh well only time will tell, what is to come for me. All I am certain of is that I have put myself out there for change, and much has changed. And I continue to keep myself out there and see what will happen.

I just want to let you all know I love everyone of you, and miss you all so much,

vance VANCE

Well I am updating again it will be months before any of you see this for I am sure you have given up. As I was saying before, its been a tough slog here. Way harder than I thought it would be. I spent too much money had a shit of a time finding a job. But I finally did it. I took some advice from my good friend John and worked hard, got a little lucky and I am now working as a CSR for Heatcraft Australia, a division of Lennox Industries. It pays resonably well, and I am not bad at it. As it is an inside sales position, as it is in my industry. There is even early talk of me moving to another position in a few months. I am not sure about this yet but hey who knows. I finally moved out of the Guest house I was staying in and moved into a smalll flat, near the St. Kilda beach. Its really cool being near the ocean for once in my life. I have been running most nights, along the shore and its been really good for me as I have had much on my mind as of late. I hope that I am near a realy big change in my life, bigger than the move. It is challenging me in every way possible, but could be the best thing to ever happen to me. If all goes well you will soon know. My fingers are crossed , I hope my nerves can handle the wait. But dont you worry about me I will be alright.

Now Lets chat about Melbourne, It is a very cool city. Big for one just shy of 4 million. The place has many areas just like Whyte ave and all just as cool. I have driven on the indy track here it was funny in my station wagon! There are so many cool alley ways with grafitty I will be posting them tonight if this computer works. And so far its not! Oh well What to do Kathmandu. Living in St Kilda is very cool I cant seem to go for a walk with out shaking my head at somthing or someone strange. Its a real Bohemian place.  I have a couple friends that share the same intrests as me mainly photography. I think Ryan and Issac and I are going to be good friends. I went to a poker game the other night at a coworkers place it was fun and Aussie, I sucked badly oh well. Only $10 in the pot. But thats it for my social life, since I have moved out of the guest house, my social life took a huge hit. Oh well now I just have too much time on my hands to think about stuff, and more stuff. Oh well.

Ok the computer worked so time to sign off and upload.

I miss you all and love you heeps.

vance VANCE

Well its been almost two months here. Melbourne is the place I have chosen to stop for a while and return to somewhat of a "normal" life. I have not beeen in one place this long for a while. I have traveled many days thru many countries and 1000's of Km to get here. On many busses, trains, boats, and planes. And now a new chapter of my adventure is starting. I have been looking for a job for the last while and its been a bit tough, as the building industry is a bit slow now cause of the rainy winter. My money was running out and I was a bit scared and depressed. I have been doing a little work in my guesthouse for a few free days of accomidation, and thats helping a bit. I got a job at a moving company, to pay the bills till something better comes along. It sux real bad, my back has never been so sore, but it is an interesting look into the lives of the average Aussie and see how they live. Some homes are a bit scary but some are super cool as well. Some are dirty and some are as clean as a hospital, just like home. :) I have traveled around town a bit gone out a few nights and partied it up. Melbourne is a great place, everyone said I would like it, in St. Kilda the subburb that I am staying in right now. There is a cool place called the Espy nearby, its free to get in and always has great acts on stage no matter the night of the week. There is a great jazz bar down the road. A good friend from Thailand Jason took me out on the town several Saturdays ago, and we went to this bar in a back alley that was made out of an old shiping container, the bathrooms were in a shipping container as well and the seats and tables were pallets and shipping boxes. Too Cool. I found one place called the Croft Instutite it had beekers and graduated cylanders everywhere, and other scientific things. A great atmosphere. I am still looking for a place like New City i have a few hints on where a place or two might be. Ill keep you posted on that. The weather is alot like Vancouver, come to think of it Vancouver is alot like Melbourne, if you need a comparison.  

So last week I finally got a job, i think, I have been verbally hired and I am just waiting for the Sydney head office to get me some paperwork to sign and then i get a start date. So its not for sure yet but I sure hope so, I really need a sence of normalcy.  Getting back to a normal life is a good thing I think I really need a schedual and a sence of accomplisment espically since i am in one place and can't count getting up as an accomplishment any more :) i plan on giving Melbourne at least 3 months of time to sus it all out and if all goes well I will stay. If not Brisbane and Darwin are a close second and third place respectivly.  I also think looking for work in the mining industry is also an option. I have been thinking about home alot lately and really miss all you all! And I will come home for a visit some time in the next year. Unless I tuck my tail between my legs and run home sooner. I hope that does not happen unless you all want it too! Or maybe I will end up in Dubai if I dont like it here, I hear there is heeps of work there as well! So thats my story for the last while, as soon as the weather gets a bit better I will go photo taking and so you all a bit of this really cool city.

Cheers for years,

Vance