I don't know which is worse: finally having to acknowledge Ruthie's whining about my motorcycle's exhaust pipes being too loud or surpassing the acceptable "noise" level for Australia ("for a motorcycle built after February 1985 - 94 dB(A)"). Today at lunch, I borrowed a coworker's decibel meter. I measured 92 dB(A) at engine idle and 106 dB(A) at higher engine revolutions. Damn.
Looks like I'll have to figure out a way to make my motorcycle quieter before I send it on its merry way across the world. Baffles? New exhaust pipes? Return to stock?
In the mean time: T-42 days until I'm supposed to start my new position [and T-30?? days until Ruthie starts her official unemployment]. We'll see if those count downs actually stick. I got my first draft of my orders today, so at least we are on the right track.
-EP
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Boba
This time last week, I had just filled my need for boba. Bubble tea courtesy of my favourite place on VCU's campus: TT Lounge.
Ruthie's enthusiasm for Australia has been on quite the upswing lately. [Contrary to two or three weeks ago, she was on the opposite end of the spectrum: nervous and stressed.] Perhaps true to our characteristics, I, on the other hand, have been much slower and steadier in developing my excitement. Until Ruthie calmly pointed out that with the heavy Asian influence on food in Melbourne, perhaps it is likely I will have easy access to bubble tea. That, my friends, might have been the tipping point. Who needs a place to live when you've got boba?
-EP
Ruthie's enthusiasm for Australia has been on quite the upswing lately. [Contrary to two or three weeks ago, she was on the opposite end of the spectrum: nervous and stressed.] Perhaps true to our characteristics, I, on the other hand, have been much slower and steadier in developing my excitement. Until Ruthie calmly pointed out that with the heavy Asian influence on food in Melbourne, perhaps it is likely I will have easy access to bubble tea. That, my friends, might have been the tipping point. Who needs a place to live when you've got boba?
-EP
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
To infinity and bey... well, just Oz.
18 April 2011
“I have considered your offer of assignment as described in the 18 Feb 2011 memo; I have discussed it with my supervisors here in the program office, and discussed with my supervisor at the home office. I willingly and gladly accept the terms and implications of my pending assignment to the Australian MoD.”
Just over one month ago, I sent that statement. Just over two months ago I received a memo with my name [albeit misspelled] next to a country. I had been selected.
The way I presented the news to my mom:
“Well I finally heard back about the assignment: I’m not going to Japan.”
“Oh. Are you disappointed?”
“Kinda, but not really, since I’m going to Australia.”
In October 2010, I applied for an exchange program through work, requesting to be sent to any one of a small handful of countries for a year. After working with some of the people involved in the decision making process, I spent the months of December and January thinking I waiting to be told if I was going to go to Japan or not. And then, out of the blue, I get the memo stating I have been selected to go work with Australia.
So, sometime in July, Ruthie and I will be zipping up our luggage, and boarding a flight to Australia. When in July has yet to be determined. Where in Australia has been narrowed down to Melbourne.
-EP
PS. The date of 18 April was when I decided I was going to start a blog and wrote out this entry. It took me this long to come up with a less than suck title.
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