Activity category should include about a MILLION things, I have been SO busy the last couple of days!

Tuesday morning, had an orientation session at the Work and Travel Company offices, at which we were informed and advised about hundreds of things to do with job seeking, accomodation etc. After the session, had so many forms to fill out and things to register for. I registered on their online site, uploaded resume details and stuff like that. Boring forms to do with a bank account and tax. I will be taxed 45% at first, then goes down to 29%.. bummer! Think I can claim some stuff back at theh end, like taxes and some expenses and some superannuation gumf that I understand not at all.

I now have an Aussie sim! Had a couple of teething problems but all now seems to be working as it should.. have texted and phoned and everything!

After the orientation, I went to the university of Sydney to meet prof Ross Coleman, as arranged. It was all very organised, they often have volunteers there, it seems. My official title is a 'fieldwork volunteer'. There are approx 15researchers in the department, working on a range of marine and ecological issues. Some are PHD, some are higher and some I'm not quite sure. All are REALLY excited about their particular bit, which is great! Many are doing fieldwork at the moment (collecting specimens, counting, measuring and some manipulating etc).. fieldwork operates on a roughly week-on week-off basis, due to the tides (no work can be done at high tide during the day!), at a range of points around the Sydney coast.

When they are going out into the field, they put in a request for me and I will be given a schedule every fortnight of which days I will be going out with whom.. so it will be mostly fieldwork, wading around in NSW waters, scraping stuff off rocks and measuring. Yay! I love doing that stuff I even have my own little office space to keep my 'dry' clothes in for when I come back from the field sopping wet and filthy.

So it sounds awesome, perfect. Nothing for the next few days, but I have to go in on Friday for a 'research meeting' of the department.

After my meeting at the uni, I walked 40mins all the way back to the WTC office to do more online registering stuff. In the eve, went out to a pub where you buy a drink and get a 'meal' free. first cider scince I left home and it was PERFECT! Talk about total first pint refreshment, it just hit the back of my tongue, like "ZING" and I was in heaven for a moment!

Sophie and Grace are here (girls from the Thai experience). My accomodation huntings may be very much eased by the possibility of a bed in their 4-bed room in Surrey Hills for $100/week, in a big 22-room house, so sounds very social and good. Have alternatives though, going to see another room-share tomorrow near the uni, for the same price but only a 2-bed house and sharing with a random :S

I applied for 4jobs online today! Mostly barista/coffee shop stuff. Also got my medicare card, I have got SO much done! And am totally knackered as a result. Going to crash tonight and watch the free movie at the YHA.