A Venezuelan wacky guy living his Australian dream

More than a year ago, my visa application was submitted to consideration; so I can be able to live, grow and work in Australia, the Thursday morning I receive a call from my case manager saying:

This video is the more accurate description of how do you feel the following minute and seconds after receiving the grant letter. Or at least, it was for me.

A year ago I wrote a post saying how cool the DIAC web site was providing a tool enabling any aspirant / applicant to check their case requirements and some additional information... The truth is (and I started notice this fault later on) almost 6 months later my case didn’t had any update; even when I sent every requirement requested on the web page months ago, the case didn’t had an update and I was worried because I didn't wanted to fail to complain any docs.

Took me an email (I know, an email haven’t killed anyone, but...) to get information related to my medicals. So I started to wonder... Doesn’t the DIAC know how to link up different data sources? Why does my information needs to be in the case officer hands to get some update? Why haven’t they thought in a tracing workflow of some documents giving even more information to the case and reducing dramatically silly inquiries?

As computer scientist and program manager I know these things are quite possible and easy to implement and even though, DIAC doesn’t have it one year later (or more) from the tool's release date; somehow disappointing. From my point of view, someone at http://www.immi.gov.au development team said “lets create a web page so people can check their statuses regarding to their stuff... but how the information will be filled in with different departments data (as the Health Operation Centre) or institutions isn’t really our biz... They will find another way to deal with it!”; creating a very limited tool (maybe that's the intention).

Hopefully someone from the Department of Immigration And Citizenship will read this post and do something about it (please do not deny my visa application because of this constructive critic =P... Seriously, don’t) creating a better experience for those waiting to have any request from our case officers or just to determine if our requirements are fulfilled. Please don’t get me wrong, is a great thing to have at least a small piece of information from our cases, but it might work much more for DIAC as well to determine what’s left without having the officer scanning and searching the folder for pieces of paper or notes.

Those applicants looking for more information... The Query Application Status could be very tricky and out of date at times unless you have a case officer already working on your case or you being very annoying.

Why?... What? Didn’t I tell you? I had to move to an apartment in the Caracas CBD (which isn’t that glamorous as the Sydney CBD by the way...) meanwhile my family moved to a town called “Sabaneta del Hatillo”, a satellite town of Caracas.

The thing is, I didn’t pictured moving elsewhere but Australia. The truth is, I had to move here... At first (I must onfess) did not like the idea of moving to a dangerous place as the CBD, but didn’t had a choice because my parents house will be too far from my office and I really had to start going by my own (when is related to self hosted or living alone with my wife).

So, how is everything? A lot better than expected... With several painting layers and tons of work started to be our home; not too big, not too shabby but ours.

Funny thing, the packing and unpacking had pretty good consequences, lots of garbage were throw, useful clothes gave away and some research about how to save space (which you might read, link is above), but even with all those preparations we didn’t even give a thought on... “What will we need for the apartment?”

The Sundays night (March 1st, our first night in the apartment) we didn’t had enough to have a decent dinner... Thankfully a couple of sandwiches were the solution and during the entire week fill up our food stocks. But Murphy’s Law is always working... with the apartment done (or almost done) we got a letter from DIAC saying “a case officer was assigned to your application... you are requested to sign and send over the form 1281 before March 31, 2009”. Amazed and confused, didn’t give the proper credit to my eyes and read again... and again... and again. “Woohoo! We have a case officer!!!” said jumping, and with the same impulse took the cell phone called my wife, as soon as her voice said “Alo?” my mouth said “we have CO!!! We have CO!!!”. My co-workers should have been thinking “this dude gone crazy or what? What’s all that fuzz?” but the matter of fact is, the closure of my visa application and a final answer is getting closer, a sweet feeling after 15 months when my application got to DIAC.

The last couple of days, my family started moving out to what is going to become our house. My wife and I will be moving somewhere else (to an apartment which will be closer to my work), 

so packing up became our most frequent activity during nights and weekends; to be honest I didn’t think moving was so exhausting till now. Anyway, packing up things made me realise how much space I was wasting when clothes are being put in boxes or even in bags; there is so much space filled with unneeded empty space which I could be using in a better way.

Looking on the Internet and chatting with mates some information popped: “vacuum storage bags”, How didn’t I think about it before? So we got some of them from the local hardware store or market to try it on.

We bought the Space Bag’s vacuum storage bags pack (3 pack bags: one 68x98cm and two 60x80cm) to try it on; if the results were ok we will come back to bough a bunch more to send clothes to Australia via the post office. As we haven’t watched these bags ever, we also bought a Ziploc’s 10 bags pack in order to make some comparison between both designs and behaviours.

The obvious thing to notice when we unpacked the Space Bag’s products was the leak proof valve at a side of the bag, where it is supposed to be attached the vacuum cleaner. Its internal design consists on fins (at the valve’s base) preventing clothes fabric to stick the duct’s air input and a piece of flexible plastic which generates the valve void effect by avoiding the air to go back once is pumped out.

Today was the national consult, querying the people if they wanted to have Chavez as president undefined amount of times. The journey went by with a series of small irregularities, confusing information and over exposed power by the government; but all that matters are the results of these inquiry “Do you want to expand the citizen’s rights by giving more power to the popularly elected president, allowing him (or any of the national figures) to be elected undefined and consecutive amount of periods – Yes or No”.

The results were: Yes 54%, No 45.99%

At the moment all I can feel is frustration, sadness and concern. Frustration because I can’t believe, nor understand how ignorant the people are people think or how they just ignore mayor issues affecting the society (thanks to anonymous on making me remember not to be a despotic person and to respect others by not disqualifying them - I can't become what I am trying to leave behind)... And applies for any country in the world really; it doesn’t matter if you live in a first world nation or the third; foolishness, stupidity, and comfort takes first place most of the time in people’s mind before general well being... Maybe this is the main reason why the world is in danger and about to lose sustainability for the human kind.

Sadness because in Venezuela some of my happiest, dearest moments (till I get to Australia and get my babies) were created and holds part of my most important treasure: my family.

Finally, concern because the amendment approval is the first step to full oppression, endless human right violation, and society’s destruction... I never thought I would ever have to chance to see my birthplace to sink the way is going to.

Ironically also points out a comment related to Australia saying:

Being positive... I learned something about Australia. Being realistic, there is no better description for the upcoming years for Venezuela.

Without the whole political conversation (I don’t want my blog to become a political factor) I find complete absurd the fact that we (Venezuelan’s) have the commitment to vote again, to once more say “We don’t want Chavez forever in the power!”

Even though, I am preparing everything to go and vote for my option (guess what I am going to vote) in company of my family members; my wife already departure to her family appointment as well. So, all that matters now is the people’s participation in the process. Thankfully I won’t miss the frequent voting sessions once in Australia.

When you really know about the caring and loving someone had on you?

Is precisely the same day when says goodbye and never comes back.

Last night I got to my parents home after working all day long and I bumped them, tears flowing out and everything in their hearts shatter. My dog, my companion in adventures, games, resting, relaxing… my bro was dying because of a renal insufficiency, produced by a negligent vet… It crushed my heart to see him crying with the pain and I could not help it but to hug him as much as I could.

Sasher was a very special cocker spaniel… And I am not saying it because was mine; I hear it from tons of people who got to known him. Mine very special and loved dog which gave us his 200% of happiness, joyful and peaceful; even when we felt bad or sad or just distracted… The shiniest house’s light. 

He was such a kid, picked us at his first month of life leaving his barely owner and since then was part of the family… more than just some dog and more human being or civilised than many persons walking earth. Seriously, was special and I am already missing him so much...

Fought against dead till today’s 4:00AM when his sorrows got calmed and passed away, leaving us unforgettable moments. Today my family members buried his rests to our house’s garden... Right under the araguaney’s tree shadow, set up some stones on it, to honour his life and to have him close of our protection and caring. Writing this post (as well as the other notes in the other two blogs I have) was extremely hard and many didn’t understood my feelings; some people said “you got to have a pet to understand what others feels when they die” but the truth is Sasher was no pet, was my little furry brother.

Kind of late, yet on time. This New Year eve we spend it with our family (my brothers, niece, nephew and my brother’s in law family) enjoying the last moment of a very stressing year waiting for any news on the visa, the financial crisis and everything else bothering the planet (not to mention the emperor’s craziness related to his undefined re-election and how to control every Venezuelan’s destiny).

Me and my wife wish you the very best in this upcoming year. Let’s do our best to work out the financial crisis and fix up the most of our common daily issues. We leave to you a picture that my “family” (very dear friends – almost parents) took at the Sydney harbour and the video of the Sydney New Year eve 2008 – 2009.

And another Christmas has come, and we are still here in Venezuela. Being honest this Christmas has been a little too sad for us, because we haven’t had enough feedback from the DIAC or from our migration agent (assessor) and this time should be more than 100% sure these are the last holidays (Christmas and New Year) we spend with our family in a long time (unless the department of immigration and citizenship has another surprise for us with those last-minute-migration-changes). At the moment, we try to very best to enjoy our old family members and the newest members as well (or even more).

Anyhow, we wish you the very best in this night and merry Christmas.
Cheers