Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Saturday, September 1, 2012
These last three years in Australia have been amazing on different areas and well... different on certain other aspects.
Australia gave me personal satisfaction towards my work as I am working with a group of smart and capable people motivating me to deliver my best most of times; even though my personal life has taken a severe change and the company culture has been changing towards a more corporate/ less creative environment.
Another thing I noticed (and I couldn’t appreciate it when I was in Venezuela) was how close some of my friends really are to me... and when I talk about friends I am referring to the real friends, those that remembers the best of you out of the hard/awful times.
Finally it brought me internal peace from those last seven years in Venezuela (and a few more in here) of charged tribulation, tension and uncertainty of the direction of the country, my relationship and work.
Internal peace brings clarity of judgement, allowing me to see things clearly looking back in time so I can reconsider past behaviour and how I reacted to some of it. It enabled me to self discovery to find spots of improvement instead of plain self critic.
Up to this point, I want to expose something very personal I have found of myself over the last couple of weeks. I am not the kind of people trying to be friend of everybody as most of times I felt I couldn’t communicate with others effectively, wondering constantly if people understood what I was trying to say; making me a very stubborn and insecure person trying to cope with the rest of society just to blend in (regardless to the reasons of why this insecurities took place in my head and my heart). So... for me it was extremely difficult to recognise love or concern others felt for me.
The relationship friends develop over time are not subject of discussion between the members of the friendship; they just know you could count on them for anything in times of need and the friendship is never put under the microscope to find the little cracks, to later on exploit it to tear it down... If they do, they are not your friends.
So based on that definition I got to admit... I was a pretty lousy ‘friend’ as I was constantly evaluation people around me in terms of how much damage they could do to me (psychologically) if I let them get in my ‘comfort zone’... but eventually you meet people that really likes you and wants you to see it even though you might try to push them away as you feel vulnerable as you start caring for them.
To me, these special people were four friends I meet over several years that I meet in primary school or university.
To all four of them I tried to convince to come Down Under with me. To all four I invested a considerable amount of time to explain to them the benefits of moving here as I was trying to decide the path I wanted to follow and how I wanted this people to be part of my life. Sadly I couldn’t convince them all; one of them lives in Denmark and the other still lives in Venezuela but struggles to take the decision as she is pretty close to her family.
But two of them decided to take the leap and join me in this marvellous adventure. At least I wasn’t going to be moving for long by myself with any extended family.
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| They are not as close as I would love to... Hello finger... give me a big hug! |
But I knew I couldn’t move to Australia without more contacts or support from other people and what’s better than finding a common goal to relate to others?
That’s how ‘The Aussie Neighbor’ and this blog were created, or at least the reasoning behind the impulse of sharing ideas over the Internet with strangers/anonymous/mates/friends; I wanted to meet new people with goals in common to myself (at least common enough to envision a life in the Land of Oz) and feel connected to something a bit bigger than my lonely journey.
That is how I met my new family and friends... that is how I got to open up to others without judging them in terms of how much I was going to suffer in case of misunderstanding (because I do care about people around me and their interactions).
These people were an essential part of me when I need them the most. They decided to support me even though I was shutting down; grieving my problems while failing to comprehend how it all went down that path... and it was when I understood the phrase:
“Remember that the darkest hour of all is the hour before dawn”
Despair and fear blocks your sight but even though everything looks grim, your friends will help you out to stand on your own two feet while dawn starts to show its true colours.
To all of them: the new and the old ones thank you!
I am truly and deeply grateful of having such great people around me.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Since March 19 a couple of things have been an emotional roller coaster, especially when I start to think of beautiful things such as our (Venezuelans) natural places, weather, food, mates, family and the list goes on and on...
So I tried to get out of focus every now and then, hit youtube and start watching bunch of videos related to Australia, series, movie trailers... and all of the sudden I get to the “up” movie trailer (Pixar upcoming CG movie – which looks more than cool) and I started wonder... If I could, by any chance, get one job spot in Pixar once in Australia... Who knows, uh?
Then I watch one “behind the scenes” related trailer and decided to watch it... next to it, my heart went pumping hard, beating with emotion and at the same time sadness...
Maybe, if you watch the trailer you will understand a bit more...
Just as a note... THE NOTE... Venezuela isn’t that “very remote and weird place in South America” but the Amazonas is. And it was also weird that one of the 7th natural wonder is one of those places “you would never know it existed”... Turns out Venezuela has one of the oldest grounds on earth (1.7 billion year old) called “mácizo guayanes – escudo guayanes” (or Guyana Shield) being the base of the South American plate, underlying in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname and Guiana. And as part of this formation, the highest water fall on earth with more than 970mts of free water fall.. Angel Falls.
If you ask me what I am leaving behind in order to get access for a better future... I will be leaving very few things because the meaningful things are kept in my heart (my family, my mates, my memories). But not going to deny it, it hurts.
Till next time.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Part of migrate, is the constant wondering of: “How my family or mates are going to visit us?” or “Do they want to visit us every now and then?”
Well, obviously it will be more frequent the other way around. You having to visit them every now and then, planning your family holidays to go back and meet the old buddies and catch up. But, in my family this Australia life is causing some kind of curiosity. My mom is asking about the weather or what kind of goods she could buy, presents and stuff, or even how do the people look like...
So I decided to look deeper into the requisites for anyone who wants to go for visit and the result was a bunch of different visas or permits that anyone could get easily and I break it into three (3) different posts (each according the type of visa provided by the department of immigration.)
Well, obviously it will be more frequent the other way around. You having to visit them every now and then, planning your family holidays to go back and meet the old buddies and catch up. But, in my family this Australia life is causing some kind of curiosity. My mom is asking about the weather or what kind of goods she could buy, presents and stuff, or even how do the people look like...So I decided to look deeper into the requisites for anyone who wants to go for visit and the result was a bunch of different visas or permits that anyone could get easily and I break it into three (3) different posts (each according the type of visa provided by the department of immigration.)
The sponsored family visa is designed to allow people overseas to visit their family living in Australia. The applicant for this visa must be relative of an Australian permanent resident or citizen willing to sponsor them. The sponsor must ensure the Australian government that their guest will leave the country before the visa expires. Support is provided to the sponsor by the visa decision-maker. This visa costs US$100 and has to be lodge by the sponsor.
The requisites for this permit are:
- Be outside of Australia.
- An adult (over 18 years old) permanent resident or citizen has to be the sponsor settled in Australia, with no unsuccessful attempts records in the last 5 years.
- Applicant must be healthy. So medical examination is required. Health insurance will be requested but isn’t mandatory.
- Applicant financial status proves.
- If the applicant is underage, must present a parental permit.
- Fill and send the required forms. [More info]
Does this visa have any other benefit?The granted visa could provide a stay up to 12 months (several circumstances may apply), and it is highly possible to be granted because your sponsor acts like a backup in some cases (and has the obligation to make you leave the country). The visa should be granted faster than the tourist visa.
Cons?
- The visa can’t be extended, so you will be requested to leave the country at the end of the maximum allowed term.
- Is valid for one entry only.
- If you want to apply for the visa again, you must be overseas.
- Can’t work. Can’t study. Only visiting.
- Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before travelling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
- A security bond may be requested if there is a possibility that the applicant do not leave Australia when the term is done. The bond will be refunded once the visitor leaves the country and it variates from US$ 5,000 to US$ 15,000 or (depending on the case) any other amount.
Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (tourist visa).
How to: visit Australia (ETA permit).
The
tourist visa is the one you want to use when you are visiting Australia for a holiday, recreation studying (up to three months) or even visiting family. With this visa you may do anything in the term of 3 three months except working and it cost US$ 100.00.
The requisites for this visa are:
tourist visa is the one you want to use when you are visiting Australia for a holiday, recreation studying (up to three months) or even visiting family. With this visa you may do anything in the term of 3 three months except working and it cost US$ 100.00.The requisites for this visa are:
- At the moment there are no health requirements to request this visa.
- Character requirements. You got to request the police checks as prove of your good behave.
- Financial requirements. You got to prove you have enough money to go back and forth.
- Children of underage. You need to have the common permits from your parents to travel.
- Passport.
- Plus a form, which you may want to take it online or if you prefer send it by standard mail.
Does this visa have any other benefit?Well yeah, in case after a couple of months in Australia you want to stay a little longer, an extension can be requested to the migration department, in some cases the extension could be up to 6 months.
Cons?
There are some remarks which you have to review just in case you are sure you want this visa to be the one to use.
- You can’t work. At least not a paying job. Voluntary is accepted. It’s ok; you surely don’t want to use a recreational visa for working, are you?
- Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before traveling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
- If you are planning anything longer than 3 to 12 months (case to by studied) you should start thinking about this visa doesn’t fulfil your requirements.
- Takes a couple of weeks to be approved. The visa requirements are checked at Howard, Tasmania, so it might take a while before you know if you get on of these. If your country belongs to the common wealth or to the European Community you should check the ETA permit which is way faster and cheaper.
For further information read this: Immi website
Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (ETA permit).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).
Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (ETA permit).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The 
ETA permit is a visitor permit designed for those who are outside Australia and wants to visit Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation and some studies or training, but it is exclusively for citizens (or passport carriers) or the following countries [click here]. You will be charged for US$20.00 to cover the service use.
The requisites for this permit are:
ETA permit is a visitor permit designed for those who are outside Australia and wants to visit Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation and some studies or training, but it is exclusively for citizens (or passport carriers) or the following countries [click here]. You will be charged for US$20.00 to cover the service use.The requisites for this permit are:
- Be outside of Australia.
- At the moment there are no health requirements except if you are going to have studies at a class-room environment in which case you will requested to get a chest x-ray examination.
- Have a valid and listed passport.
- Each family member must request their permit.
- Fill up the online form.
Does this visa have any other benefit?
Except that the permit is valid for multiple entries and almost instantly approved... No. This visa is pretty much flat. You get it quickly, and you get it for visiting, that’s it.
Cons?
- The permit can’t be extended, so you will be requested to leave the country at the end of the maximum allowed term.
- Can’t work. At least not a paying job. Voluntary is accepted with some limitations.
- You may be requested to have medical examination.
- Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before traveling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
- Even if you are from the list of allowed countries, you got to be legally clear. If you have convictions then you have to apply for a tourist visa, the ETA will be automatically rejected.
For further information read this: immi web site
Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (tourist visa).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).
Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (tourist visa).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The same day of the VA’s client cocktail we planned the farewell party of Melanie, David, Luisa and Roberto. The voted menu was Pizza and the provider was an excellent restaurant near the block’s corner… 14 pizzas was required to fulfill the appetite of the guests (and the hosts of course which is me, hehe) plus the common snacks and beverages… Soda, beer, some wine, water, etc.
After odd 2 hours I got the incoming call of Victor and the surprise was on. My close mate Raúl and I planned to start a video conference with him (which currently is living in Perth) to give some motivation to the take off… more hope and less sadness to the moment.
Sort of at the end, I made public the launching of the blog’s forum and old forum renovation into a single forum of Latin-Americans (for now, anyone is welcome). The forum is hosted on freeforums.org (excellent services) and the url is: http://aussieneighbor.freeforums.org. This forum is the product of new ideas with the old community GotoAu hosted previously on Yahoo Groups... Just on step closer to community.
I am not going to extend so much on chatting…
Images speaks better than words.
After odd 2 hours I got the incoming call of Victor and the surprise was on. My close mate Raúl and I planned to start a video conference with him (which currently is living in Perth) to give some motivation to the take off… more hope and less sadness to the moment.
Sort of at the end, I made public the launching of the blog’s forum and old forum renovation into a single forum of Latin-Americans (for now, anyone is welcome). The forum is hosted on freeforums.org (excellent services) and the url is: http://aussieneighbor.freeforums.org. This forum is the product of new ideas with the old community GotoAu hosted previously on Yahoo Groups... Just on step closer to community.
I am not going to extend so much on chatting…
Images speaks better than words.
Well… I am going to sound repetitive because this post was already written not so long from now. Anyway, the past Sunday (April 13) was the VA’s client cocktail (VA stands for “Viva en Australia”) and again 450 people filling up the room wide long.
The last time, the cocktail was pretty flat (I meant desserts and drinks) but the issue was solve at this new encounter (thank you god!)… The comment might be shallow but since the cocktail start at 11 am and ends nearby the 3 PM you pretty much understand why something to get the belly distracted is a must.
This time the reunion was in presence of Michael Booney (director of Southern Cross Alliance) and gave us a brief lesson of aussie slang, most of the slangs I have already hear it but is great to hear it from him because is a funny guy and knows how to earn your trust with few jokes. After the jokes was the perfect moment to get serious and start talking about more interesting topics such as the aussie education system or a medicare’s sum up.
Here you will find some pdf documents (warning, on Spanish) with the common topics of these cocktails.
- http://www.vivaenaustralia.org/establecimiento/salud.pdf
- http://www.vivaenaustralia.org/establecimiento/educacion_vzla.pdf
- http://www.vivaenaustralia.org/establecimiento/tramites.pdf
- http://www.vivaenaustralia.org/establecimiento/vivienda.pdf
- http://www.vivaenaustralia.org/establecimiento/empleo.pdf
And of course, some photographs of the moment.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Everyone knows what a farewell party is. A couple of your closest friends gathering together to say goodbye / trip to those how are starting a new journey. As I said before (in other post named “meeting new people”) the idea of organize reunions are to meet new people; but in this parties the idea is to get even more close with those whom you want to become neighbor of.When you start the migration process you start feeling a bit lonely and out of the planet, not many people share your same ideas and realities; so a way to deal with it is to find more friends, share your picture and open up your mind. But this isn’t enough, you need to find those whom fulfill you somehow, whom you feel comfortable with and as the time goes by you start to have some connection and friendship.
The same thing happened to us with other couples and families way ahead of us in the process and we could not let them go ahead without a proper reunion and “have a nice trip and see you soon…” the good see you soon.
Those with a path already walked invited us to share a night with them, something small but nice, just family and closest friends, it was our first farewell party, saying goodbye to Ricardo and his family as well to Jea, and it was so nice that we started the feeling to organized something alike. The first experiment was the Reinaldo’s farewell on hooters (also mentioned in other post). Everything was ok and another date was set to another reunion, another friend on its way (Victor and Betzy family).The Victor’s family farewell party was hosted on my house. It started Sunday at 10 am and ended Monday at 1am, all day menus was subs sandwiches, beer, coke, snacks, etc. It was amazing the quality of the people… everyone took anything to the party, it didn’t matter so much what it was, but at least something to eat or to get distracted made the reunion memorable and thanks god the party showed exactly how I wanted to say goodbye to these dear friends. Again at the end of the party another reunion was set; same place, same channel (hehe, Spanish way to say same hour, location and conditions) this time was Moira’s family (my dear and liberated Moira, Alfonso and Guille).
The Moira’s family farewell was planed Saturday morning till Sarvo (Saturday afternoon) but again the night came, everyone chatting and having a great time. This time menu was meat and chicken skewers, “guasacaca pico e’ perico” (a sauce made with advocado, onions, tomato and parsley finely chopped and mixed with a little bit of pepper and salt) and cassava with milk cream sauce. It was simply magnificent and hopefully they liked it.
In the end, another party was on its way and the arrangement was to organize these parties once every month to say goodbye to our closest friend and those you are on its way to become close.
If you want to organize this kind of reunions all you need is.
- Proper clean location, not too cold, not to hot.
- Chairs… Unless you want to torture your guests you need chairs for them to rest. Tables are not required unless you’re menus requires it.
- Background music isn’t required and in some cases, will be not desired. In our case wasn’t necessary.
- Flexible menus… It means, if you are going to prepare food, make different flavors, variety is the key point to make everyone happy.
- Plenty of snacks… the people is going to be more distracted than hungry and need something easy to eat but constant. Snacks will do it. Bring some nachos, cheese balls and stuff like that. Try also some sweet but remember, sweet will be over first, so keep it out side of the stares until you know everyone invited has arrived.
Plenty of drinks… this is vital, have sodas, water, beers, ice… everything needed to have a nice refreshing drink made in less than 10 seconds because people will talk a lot… and we you talk a lot you mouth turns into a hot and dry desert.- Reservoirs. Other key points are the reservoirs because you don’t know exactly how much time the reunion will take (unless you start kicking out people out your home). Have anything for an emergency in case you ran out of food and your guests are a little at the expectation of something to eat.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The last few days, my wife and I had been going to a bunch of reunions saying farewell to some friends and talking about our life plans.
In the very first reunion with Raul, we were talking about how easily was for anyone to connect with others doing the very same process. This thought was exposed by himself because of his encounter with another Venezuelan family in a pizza place... They didn’t knew each other, only knew both family were doing to same long process and they were planning to talk for dinner time, but as the night went by, the chatting became more deep and satisfactory; they were fully exposing themselves, their life, plans, even their perceptions and thoughts regarding to the current government and how things should change for everyone, Australia… And the key on all this is we are all doing the very same process,
so it is easy to match thoughts, hopes and even expectations. Well the very same thing happened during the evening; Raul just did the very same thing opening his own feelings about his job and even family attitudes. The entire night he, my wife and I keep going on and on about so different topics, it was a very pleasant feeling being chatting with a mate about our worries, wishes and hopes… The very same feeling when I am around friends that I know for years; except in this case, we have being talking for months instead.
The second reunion was shortly after the agency client cocktail (on the previous post); it was meant as a farewell party for two families intended to go to Sydney at the end of this and upcoming month. Everything started a little cold, because all of the sudden three strangers came in the room (those were us arriving at the party) but the ice went down five minute after that. Little by little the same process of exposing yourself as you are came out to play the connecting cases between families. The party initially was supposed to last for about 2 or 3 hours, but it took 6 hours when someone said “Hey, I am a little tired and I think I’m going to rest, who was the time?... What? 1:30AM???? Gosh, time flies!”
Everyone was so comfortable in such a charming ambient that none of us realize the time. Thanks god the party was nearby and took no time to jump into the bed, but reminding what a pleasant feeling again, engage our beings... it just feels as a family…
In the very first reunion with Raul, we were talking about how easily was for anyone to connect with others doing the very same process. This thought was exposed by himself because of his encounter with another Venezuelan family in a pizza place... They didn’t knew each other, only knew both family were doing to same long process and they were planning to talk for dinner time, but as the night went by, the chatting became more deep and satisfactory; they were fully exposing themselves, their life, plans, even their perceptions and thoughts regarding to the current government and how things should change for everyone, Australia… And the key on all this is we are all doing the very same process,
so it is easy to match thoughts, hopes and even expectations. Well the very same thing happened during the evening; Raul just did the very same thing opening his own feelings about his job and even family attitudes. The entire night he, my wife and I keep going on and on about so different topics, it was a very pleasant feeling being chatting with a mate about our worries, wishes and hopes… The very same feeling when I am around friends that I know for years; except in this case, we have being talking for months instead.
The second reunion was shortly after the agency client cocktail (on the previous post); it was meant as a farewell party for two families intended to go to Sydney at the end of this and upcoming month. Everything started a little cold, because all of the sudden three strangers came in the room (those were us arriving at the party) but the ice went down five minute after that. Little by little the same process of exposing yourself as you are came out to play the connecting cases between families. The party initially was supposed to last for about 2 or 3 hours, but it took 6 hours when someone said “Hey, I am a little tired and I think I’m going to rest, who was the time?... What? 1:30AM???? Gosh, time flies!”Everyone was so comfortable in such a charming ambient that none of us realize the time. Thanks god the party was nearby and took no time to jump into the bed, but reminding what a pleasant feeling again, engage our beings... it just feels as a family…
(At the celebration)Third time charms, Reinaldo’s farewell party was meant to happen at the Hard Rock Café, Caracas… But when we all got there, noticed some kind of private party inside, full of teenagers… With the people keeping on coming we decided to change to the crossing location (Hooters) waiting to other to arrive
… And soon the talking was on; some new cases were on the table and the same feeling and charming environment fill us up making the farewell less sour and creating sweet memories of every one of us as the night went by. Near 12:00PM, the entire party met at last (a group of the party’s members did not receive the notice of the location change, tactical issues on the planning, ha ha, thanks god everything was pretty much close) until 1:00 AM when the waitress told us very gentle “Do you guys wants more beer?... No? ... Mmm, Sr. we’re going to shutdown the place… unless you want to stay to sleep in here is advisable for you to pay the bill and move to someplace else…” Ha ha, again we were so comfortable with ourselves that no one noticed we were the only customers left in the entire place.Later, coming back home, we were doing some thinking about why these connections happen so fast till we pin pointed it. Many factors would or could came into play to make the families to take the decision of migrate, but they will become your neighbors or backup in an emergency or just the more family alike members around the corner in the not so distant future; far from the lands which were for so many years our home. Having a family look-like mental picture is just unavoidable.
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