Hello everybody,

So this is my first diary all the was from (very) sunny Oz!!

It still hasnt sunk in that im on the other side of the world!! Its crazy! Sam said it took her a few months to realise that she wasnt just on a wee holiday, so im waiting for the realisation to kick in. My first week has been good fun. Jusy been getting to know everyone really. Most people are really nice because everyone is in the same boat, being away from home etc. Its funny because its a way of life out here not to know where you are going or what you are doing, which im slowly getting used to. Everyone is constantly talking about where they might go etc. And then all of a sudden they have hired a van, quit their job and are half way to Cairns!!

When i arrived i was pretty tired for a few days. I thought i would be fine, but ended up going to bed at like 8pm for the first few nights!! Becasue Brisbane isnt on the coast they have created a fake beach. Sounds aweful, but its SOOO nice. Ive been down there a few days. Its called the South Bank. (so you can look it up on google earth papa!! :-) ) On Monday i went and opened an Australian Bank account and registered with a few agencies and did alot of important things. So for the rest of the week I have been just chilling out really. What a life!!! I registered with a really good recruitment agency today tho so im hoping ill get some work soon. I could get bar/restaurant work straight away but id rather hold out for some reception stuff as its way better paid.

On Wednesday night we had a TOGA party!!!! (Photos coming soon!!) It was really good fun and helped me get to know everyone a bit better. So im going to recycle my toga sheet and use it for halloween!!! Im going as a butcher!!! So i bought a chefs hat and a big (fake) butcher knife! And lots of blood obviously!!

Tonight im meeting Sam after work and going out for a few drinks in the Valley which is a nice little area about half way between our hostel and the city. So that should be fun. We were planning a trip on sunday to some island to do snorkelling and sand sufing and loads of other fun stuff, but i dont know if thats still happening??

Now the big gossip!!!!.........

We are leaving Brisbane next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are going to do a van relocation, which means that we will be taking a van back up to Cairns for a rental company. They give us a little petrol money because they need their vans back from people who have done 1 way rentals to Brisbane. It works out alot cheaper that hiring a van or getting the greyhound. There are about 9 of us going and it will take about 5 days, so we sleep in the vans in safe spots along the way. The6y are special campervan things so should be pretty funny. The main reason we are going up to Cairns is for work. There is alot of farm/fruit picking jobs which are quite well paid up north and everyone needs money so badly!! So im going to do that for a few weeks to pay for my ticket to Thailand in Jan.

Mine and Sams plans after that are SO up in the air. We dont know what to do or where to go!! BUT... thats seems to be the best way over here....... just make it up as you go along!!

I tried to upload pictures today but my camera ran out of batterey so ill put them up tomorrow.

Gonna head on and get some lunch now.

Let me know how everything is back home.

Lots and lots and lots and lots of love

KIM xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx