Two Months Down, Seven to Go

Today is my two month anniversary working at my industry training job. About a week ago I started to feel like I really know what I'm doing when I'm at work. I know where to go, who to ask and what the appropriate reaction to a certain situation is. It happened a lot quicker than I thought it would.


I'm based very much in the hospitality department at my current placement and I look forward to working in the events department in my next placement. (It's due to start on the 13th of December.) I've learnt over this time that hospitality, which involves the service of food and beverage, is not for me. I like interacting with people and learning about different types of food but I know that co-ordinating and organising is more my style. I don't feel that I'm cut out for the manual labour that the hotel/hospitality industry involves.


I have, however, met some truly wonderful people during my first 2 months. The group I work with is like a little family that has embraced me from day one and I'm truly grateful. I hope to stay in touch with a lot of them.


As far as an introduction to the industry goes, it's been a really good one. I now have a much better idea of how the things that I've learnt about at uni operate.


The last two months have been hard. I've missed my friends, my Sydney and my sleep but they've also been a great two months. I've learnt a lot, made new friends and discovered you don't need as much sleep as you think you do. I'm looking forward to discovering what the next seven months of industry training hold.

"Don’t stress about figuring out what you want to do with your life – only living life can teach you that, and you will do lots of fabulous things anyway. You don’t have to do the same thing forever – do what you love for as long as you love it, and then do something different."

I found this quote while reading Gaynor Alder's blog today. It resonated with me because, right now, I'm constantly thinking about what I want to do with my life. It's pretty much always on my mind. Should I be an event manager. What sort of event management should I go into? Maybe I should have followed the scientific route and studied nutrition. But am I happier keeping that as a side-interest? I love writing. Maybe I should have done journalism or some sort of communication based degree. Then I could become a writer and freelance from a house in Provence. But then again, a Bachelor of Business Administration could result in an MBA. Am I interested enough in business to pursue a serious career in it?

Really, I love all these things and will pursue them all, I know I will. When I figure out how to do that, I'll get back to you. 

An Officer and a Gentleman

One of my all time favourite, "classic" films is An Officer and a Gentleman. I do love those uniforms. Today was day one of a conference involving the Australian Military, including the Navy, Air Force and Defense Force. They're such a lovely group of people to work for.

Other than that, I did little else today. Need to be up early tomorrow though so, for now, I'm signing off.

Sixty Two Days

"Missing someone gets easier every day because even though you are one day further from the last time you saw them, you are one day closer to the next time you will."

Its been 648 days since I last saw by best friend. In 62 days, I get to see her again. I can't wait.

River Deep, Mountain High

I am a gleek. Wednesday night comes, I sit on the couch and I smile for a full hour. The combination of music, quick wit and interesting characters makes me, well, happy. Tonight was no exception.

(A duet by Santana and Mercedes. Amazing)

Ten Day Cycle

I discovered this little ritual while reading the lovely Laura Valerie's Life. Beauty. Laughter. I love the idea of creating short term goals for ourselves.I don't do it enough and I really should, so here goes, my first ten day cycle will include:
1. Blog
I want to blog every day for the next ten days. I want to get into the habit of recording, sharing and assessing my life. I want to be able to look back on it in years to come and enjoy reading what was in comparison to what is. So that's why I plan to blog, at least once a day, for the next ten days. No matter what. This will also tie into my November writing challenge that I'll discuss this week.
2. Finish Reading Eat Pray Love
When I first saw Elizabeth Gilbert's appearance on the Oprah show a few years ago I declared that I would never read her book. Her manner, attitude and, dare I say it, "aura" annoyed me. A lot. So I swore against becoming a part of the Eat Pray Love cult that has developed since that appearance.
But then I decided that my opinion should really be based on something more solid than not liking the author as a person so, around the release of the film, I bought the book.
It's been  interesting to say the least. I loved the "eat" part. Italy is a very interesting place and I learnt a bit. (Who new that Neapolitan ice-cream is from Naples?)
But now I'm into India and I'm struggling a bit. I'm not sure that I buy the whole "find myself through intense meditation" thing but I'll persevere. They say Bali is a lot better. Hopefully I'll be done with it in the next ten days. A proper review will ensue.
3. Stop picking my nails
It's a bad habit. Enough said.
4. Avoid artificial sugar... for ten days.
I used to be completely addicted to Coke. By that I mean Coca-Cola, of course. My body really relied on it and one day I just decided to go cold turkey and give it up. I crave sugar because I'm addicted to it. I never used to be so dependent on the sugary stuff and now that I am I've come to the realisation that I'm doing my body a serious disservice. I'll document the way I approach this particular goal and hopefully at the end of ten days I'll be able to extend it.
5. Stretch
I hardly ever do this after my runs and I really should. It's important for recovery purposes and the more distance I add to my runs, the more imperative stretching becomes. I plan to stretch during my cool down session in order to prevent blood pooling in my limbs, prevent lactic acid build up in my muscles and keep my tendons relaxed and loosened.
6. Get to bed at a decent hour
On the nights I'm not working I really want to aim to be in bed by 10pm and by doing so,
7. Develop a better morning routine
I'll be able to get up earlier if I get to bed earlier. I do believe that a good morning routine is a great way to set up the tone for the day and I want to set up an interesting one of my own.
8. Stay in touch
My dad's ability to lose touch with people has always infuriated me and now I've found myself doing the same thing. Nowadays there is no excuse for losing contact with important people. The internet, cellphones and the ever glorious skype makes it easy to drop in on anyone, no matter where in the world they are. So, over the next ten days I plan to make contact with those people I've lost along the way and stay in contact with those I haven't.
9. Watch Mad Men and love it
I've just started watching this much talked about television show. I've been wanting to watch for ages and I can't wait to watch it unfold.
10. Bake that cake
That interesting cake from Women's Health. The one that uses ingredients like "agave" and avocado. Yep, you read right, I've been dying to try it out.

I was going to be an architect, I was going to live in France

Now I'm studying to be an event manager who lives in Australia.

Funny that.