Friends waiting Down Under

Even though there's a bunch of Estonians travelling down to Australia, including some of my best friends - which is great, I'm also looking forward to making new friends and meeting new people Down Under. Especially Ashish and his girlfriend Arpi, a nice and friendly Indian couple from Brisbane. Can't wait to see them! I remember some long talks with Ashish a few years ago when we were both 'committed' to our university and studies, and could only dream of travelling down to Australia (or to Europe for him). But sometimes dreams do come true! Ashish and Arpi are about to leave for a vacation in the UK and the rest of Europe, and we are just a short step away from our Aussie experience. That's bonzer! :)

Australia, here we come!

From: eVisa.WHM(at)immi.gov.au To: Me
Date: 18 Aug 2006 02:33:24 +1000
Subject: Visa Grant Notification

This is to advise that you have been granted an Electronic Working Holiday Visa, Subclass 417, on 17 August 2006.

As the visa grant notification was received, I decided to write my resignation at work. I'll now be waiting for somebody to come and take over my post and my last official working day is scheduled to November the 3rd. That's less than 3 months and 3 more paydays - I guess it's time to start saving and find my piggy bank! It means less shopping, less big parties - oh, no fun whatsoever till we arrive in Brisbane. That's a challenge! :)

Just married! Viva gli sposi!

While I'm preparing to leave for Australia, some other great events 'interfere'. I had an amazing weekend in the Finnish countryside (Nurmijärvi) where two of my good friends decided to join their lives in a holy matrimony. As it was my first wedding to attend, it felt very special. It also brought together a lot of old friends from all over the world and was a perfectly planned event where everybody had so much fun. And with the pride from Finland and the groom from Italy, you can imagine the funny mix of people that came together on that special day. I could go on writing about how the Italian guests arrived late at the church or how we all got drunk of the famous 'vino italiano' :) And I'd probably spend hours on telling the story but wouldn't manage to put it in words anyway. It was a fantastic experience and an unforgettable day. Auguri & onneksi olkoon, Matleena & Ivan!! 12.08.2006

WHV Application

So today is the day! After long discussions about going to discover the land of leaping kangoroos, cuddly koalas and scary crocodiles, we applied for the OZ visa online. Me and Ann.. but we are far from being the only ones planning a working holiday in Australia. Tiit and Jarno, two of the greatest friends of us, are about to take off on September the 19th. That's about a month before us - enough time to see how things are going to work out for them, so we won't jump into the unknown :)

Anyways, we've just taken one step closer to a year off in Australia.. the first step, the crucial one :) And compared to the hours spent on the monologue "to go or not go", applying for a WHV (Working Holiday Visa) was a piece of cake. 15 minutes for the application form online and another half an hour at the medical centre to undergo the required health examination which was practically just a 5-minute chest x-ray. That's it, just gotta wait for the application to be approved now :P

Why Australia?

You probably think 'great, I've got your point, you need some time off' but why Australia? Why that Lost Continent below the equator where probably everything is upside down :)

Here are a few reasons:

1. WHV - Working Holiday Visa, which provides young people with opportunities to work and travel in Australia. Estonia was the 19th country to join the programme in May 2005.
2. Because Europe has been discovered criss-cross and Egypt is the utmost place I've visited so far and Italy the farest country where I've lived so far.
3. Because school is over and I have no other obligations whatsoever to keep me here. We aren't talking about the job, right? Because this can be done anywhere :)
4. Because at least 3 of my best friends are heading off towards the same direction.
5. Because.. let's not forget to mention the extraordinary nature and rare species, paradise beaches, good weather, friendly locals and great cities.. But that goes without saying.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~ St. Augustine