Tonya's blog

20 January

What a whirlwind of a week. Orientation was really fun and I got to know everyone in my class. We will be spending A LOT of time together so this was just a kick off really. Friday we took busses to the Mt. Eliza campus which is about an hour and a half away. It is a really breathtaking executive campus on the beach and we had a long and interesting day. When we got there we had a big formal lunch and as we were sitting down to eat it was brough to my attention that my roommate was missing and that she had missed the bus! I mean, I thought she was on the other bus!! She eventually made it but I felt so bad that she got left behind. We were split into teams and handed colored t-shirts for the day of activities. I was on the blue team. First up was the sandcastle competition in which we needed to build something "Australian". My team built a giant crocodile which actually turned out to be quite cool except for the leg I made that was the wrong shape and facing the wrong way (got harrased quite a bit for that actually). The other teams made maps and roos and stuff like that. Here are some pics...

MBS

1st Prize!!! Crock Sand Castle

Then later in the day we had three rounds of trivia plus a bonus speed round. Then they announced the winners of the trivia and sand castle compeititions and the blue team took first prize!!! We got medals and our pictures taken. LOL LOL It was actually quite fun to win :-)   (you can see the "leg" i made up above... - yup its doing the robot)

Then we had dinner and drinks and came back later that night. I did have a chance to take some pictures at sunset...

Sky and Ocean

Mt. Eliza

Mt. Eliza

Bus ride on the way home

There are more pictures on flickr FYI

Tonight my friend Barney drove me to a meeting. When all is said and done with making coffee and cleaning up I was there for three hours. I hung out with a Catholic priest for a bit which was very calming and the location of the meeting was right in the woods with the most beautiful surroundings. I wish I had my camera.

5 things I learned yesterday and today

1. Crocodile Dundee is highest grossing Australian film in history (Happy Feet is coming up swiftly behind it though...)
2. Aussies use something from Europe called "rhyming slang" - i.e. going to bo peep means I am going to sleep, and basin of gravey means baby - I AM NOT KIDDING - Please see this link... B/C I just can not with it
3. Australia is one of the only countries that is completely self-sufficient without having to rely on imports and exports
4. I will not have much free time once class starts on Monday - no, seriously
5. Bethany got accepted to CORNELL!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to bed
Ciao xo

15 January

OK, sorry for the delay but there is lots going on here! I moved into my new apartment on Saturday. I am living with Kerrie. We rented a car with our friends Dave, Leonor and Santiago and moved ALL our luggage first. I don't have a wide-angle lens so this is just some of it... Can you?

Moving

Then we went to Ikea (oh what fun.. not really). That took about three hours trying to remember all of the things you need to set up an apartment. Even though it is furnished we still needed to get plates, pots, pans, utensils, sheets, pillows... Believe me when I tell you the list goes on and on. We were unpacking and setting up till very late Saturday night. Sunday I did laundry, went grocery shopping (very very interesting - took two hours) and tried to settle in a bit. All weekend there was alot of "do you know this brand?" "does ANYONE know ANY of these brands?" etc. Funny how none of us really wanted to buy products that we don't know but when you flip over the packaging it is usually a sub-brand from one of the top companies (i.e. Colgate, P&G, Heinz). I found some very good things. My new favorite thing is called "sandwich pickles" which is basically mustard and and sweet relish mixed??!! There are lots of spreadable things here. I haven't been forced to eat veggamite yet - so all that fear was a waste of time!

The highlight of the weekend was when Kerrie drove through stop signs and said they were optional in Singapore. She was the only one experienced with left-hand side driving so we all strapped on our seatbelts and hoped for the best! She did a great job though.

Last week was Pre-week and all week we met in the cafeteria for coffee at 10am everyday to meet new people just arriving. We were like the welcoming committee by that point. Herman works in the cafeteria and made the MOST DELICIOUS MUFFINS for us every day. I love Herman and his muffins!!!

Herman!!

Today was the first day of Orientation. Our class, according to the dean, is one of the most diverse MBA classes he has ever seen! He has been the dean at many different schools with some of the top international MBA programs and thinks we are an amazing mix from around the world. We are all really excited to be here. My total class size is about 57 and we will be broken up into syndicates in the weeks to come.

OF COURSE as soon as we arrived this morning they pulled me and a few other students aside and we were told that they had selected us for a photo shoot with the dean!!! I mean I would have dressed differently and wore more makeup - but what can you do. So within the next month or so I should be in some brochures and on the school website. CAN NOT. LOL
I told the photographer that he better have photoshop and he better know how to use it.

Then I went to the IT department and made nice - they had to help me set up my printers and I told them that won't be the last time they see me...

More campus pictures

We were told to bring our digital cameras tomorrow so I am assuming I will have some good footage to share.


5 Things I have learned since January 9th

1. NO ONE knows what a dryer sheet is... I have no choice but to use a liquid named "Cuddly" (someone send me some bounce please!!!!)

2. When ordering Turkey in any other country I suggest you learn the metric system - I will leave the rest of that thought to your imagination

3. If you go to the movies in Australia, Singapore, Germany etc. be prepared to select your seat when purchasing your ticket, and don't think people aren't checking because they are

4. People really do eat Cats in China

5. Truncated verbiage is cool everywhere



Coming soon - feral cat family pictures!

Nighty Nite.
xo

9 January

Looked for housing again today. We think we found the place to stay and might sign leases tomorrow. Together we will be taking a total of 7 two-bedroom apartments so with our collective bargaining powers we were able to get the price down. Tonight we made tacos here at the Graduate House and had dinner for 12. We are meeting at 4pm tomorrow to make the final decision on housing... Stay tuned!!

Santiago_Tonya_Alex_Anson

IMG_0583

Today I learned...

1. In Germany people wear wedding rings on their right ring fingers.

2. Australia once had a prime minister (1967) that went missing after he jumped in the water for a swim. Not only did no one care that he was never recovered but the media didn't cover it AT ALL.

3. No one in Australia has heard of UGGs. It is an American company that was started by an Australian guy. No UGGs. Yay

4. Cairo is apparently a VERY cheap place to visit (make mental note)

5. People from all parts of the world know where Rochester, New York is... FASCINATING

7 January

Well I am still waiting for my other bag to get here... I went to another meeting tonight and there were about 50 people there and plenty of women so I feel better now. They caught wind that I was from "America" and asked me to qualify which is part of the meeting structure here. They just call on whoever they want to. One girl was really nice and she walked me home. She works at Ikea here in the city and said if we need any furniture she can hook us up. Today was sort of cold and windy so we were pretty lazy after breakfast but went and got some food at Safeway. I am already learning so many new things so I will spread the love...

The top 5 things I learned today

1. In Germany, apartments and houses do not come with kitchens. You have to buy them seperatly and transport them. When you move you take your refrigerator, cabinets, stove (literally everything) with you. When you move in there are walls and a sink only.

2. Here in Melbourne you should not be fooled when getting on an escalator headed down as it will NOT stay as stairs (insert Mitch Hedberg joke here) but will turn completely flat which will greatly increase your chances of sliding at full speed while wearing flip flops.

3. Gum is illegal in Singapore. It is a highly punishable offense if you try to bring it in or out of the country and/or try to sell it anywhere in the country. It is not, however, illegal to chew it.

4. Thank you (as in, thank you for the ride home from the grocery store today) in Mandarin is "xie xie" pronounced "syeh-syeh" (phonetically - she she)

5. A 7-11 franchise in Melbourne will set you back 1 million USD and the 40 stores here in Melbourne are all owned by the same two Indians

Cheers

6 January

Two of my suitcases arrived tonight and the other one should be here tomorrow. Today I found a meeting. It was weird. It was held in the basement of a haunted bookstore. Hmmm... Will try a different one tomorrow. The coffee is amazing, as everyone said it would be, and I am in love with the sushi wraps. I am so happy to have all my clothes and books now! Yay! I have only taken a few pics but to check out more pics go to my flickr page b/c I will be posting the majority of them there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88915546@N00/

Swanston St

Licence Plate

Walkway to graduate house

Meeting

Really

Dogy Delight - Meat Market

Melbun

Well kids... It is Friday night at about 10pm and I am ready to turn in. My flight was about 16 hours or so from LA with a stop in NZ. I was tired and confused upon arrival and after waiting for my luggage I only got one out of four suitcases. Basically all my "product" and no clothes. Hate. I took a cab to the Graduate House and not long after David (one of my classmates) found me - THANK GOD. A bunch of us are staying at the same place for now so we are slowly trickling in from all over the world. I went and got a new cell phone and the rates are insane to say the least so my calling and texting will be kept to a minimum (uh huh) and had to get some flip flops and shorts b/c it was over 90 degree F today. Everyone is driving on the wrong side of the road and in the wrong side of the car. I have to remember to look the "other" way before crossing. The street style here is amazing and everyone looks hip and comfortable and the shops put Barneys to shame. I mean I really think that flying here just to shop would be worth the trip.(I totally need to get a part time job) The people have been really nice so far. I got an adapter for my computer cable but was told not to use my blowdryer or it will blow up. The guy at the store said he had a girl in just last week whose blowdryer exploded in her hand. Great. Need to work on that one tomorrow. I still need a bank account and Air New Zealand said my luggage should arrive tomorrow. David (Montana) and Kerrie (Singapore) and I went to dinner - Lygon street is filled with outside cafes so we just picked one and ate there. We are starting to talk about housing, transport, exchange programs and so on. Tomorrow morning we are meeting Alex from Malasia for breakfast and we are all hoping our new cell phone alarms will indeed wake us up. I am completely delirious right now but just wanted to check in. I have some pics but no connector cord so they will be coming when the rest of my life arrives. So far the only animals I have seen are piedgons and butterflies the size of my hand. I don't think either count as an animal. You can take the girl out of New York but YOU JUST CAN'T GET RID OF THE PIDGEONS!
Oh and cigarettes are $12 a pack. This box of nicorrette might come in hand after all.
More tomorrow-
xoxo

I know your bored at work today...

This is really funny.

http://www.glumbert.com/media/consent

And... I love this

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING
THROUGH THE DESERT.
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT BUT, WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH.

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIR E A ND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE.

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, "AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WROTE ON A STONE, WHY?"

THE OTHER FRIEND REPLIED
"WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND WHERE WINDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT."

LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BLESSINGS IN STONE.

THEY SAY
IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL
PERSON,
AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM,
A DAY TO LOVE THEM,
BUT THEN AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM.

Ahh

Ok, so Tusky and I arrived safely in Reno - although they lost all of my luggage. When we were at the airport the other day I had to go out and smoke and then I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker "whoever left a cat in a bag please come retrieve it" but he was saving my place in line!
When I walked back in like 500 people looked at me like i was the biggest jerk ever.

Oh well, we are safe now. I have my luggage - it came on Christmas day and Tusky is settling in just fine. I have been getting ready for school, going to the gym, going tanning, going to meetings and relaxing. Less than a week until my final departure. I am a little nervous because every time I try to read my accounting book I fall asleep. Hmmm.
My internal time clock is all screwed up and I just sleep randomly. I figure there is no point in getting on West Coast time when I am going to be upside down anyway next week. I hope everyone had a good holiday.

xo

Monday Joke - Smile

No matter how many times I read this it makes me laugh. I'm a geek but that's OK.

How to Match Job Applicants to Appropriate Positions

Put about 100 bricks in some particular order in a closed room with an open window.

Then send 2 or 3 candidates into the room and close the door.

Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours, and then analyze the situation :

If they are counting the bricks, put them in the accounting department.

If they are recounting them, put them in auditing.

If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks, put them in engineering.

If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order, put them in planning.

If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put them in operations.

If they are sleeping, put them in security

If they have broken the bricks into pieces, put them in information technology.

If they are sitting idle, put them in human resources.

If they say they have tried different combinations, yet not a brick has been moved, put them in sales.

If they have already left for the day, put them in marketing.

If they are staring out of the window, put them in strategic planning.

If they are talking to each other, and not a single brick has been moved, congratulate them and put them in top management.

Finally, if they have surrounded themselves with bricks in such a way that they can neither be seen nor heard from, put them in Congress.

Second Life

Okay, this is the craziest thing if you haven' t heard of it yet. There is an entire online world called Second Life that you can become a resident of. You can create things, meet people, go out, buy property, play games etc. There is an interactive map, events, a unique currency - I could go on and on.
I always knew there was an alternate universe that I should belong to somehow - I just needed to figure out what it was. If you are as interesting as I think you are then you will be on there for a bit and will probably contact me with your Second Life name.
Click on this link to see what it's all about, try to wrap your head around it and good luck. Craziness I tell you.

Second_life_logo