Settling in Australia, Part I

Bloody hell, I took ages to update this, but here it is, the second bloody post of... well you know.

I have wanted to write about the settling process, since arrival to its current state, but errands, bureaucracy and laziness other stuff have prevented me to do it.

So here we go. This post contain revelations that may change your life forever, so please use those bullshit PC disclosures used on the TV and read with discretion. And always remember, your mileage may vary (YMMV).

We came from Venezuela (from now on Venecostan) and the trip is a bit long. We were sitting in the flying tube for 24 non continuous hours, had to wait for transfer in Chilestan and Kiwistan, traveled in time (don't laugh) and then finally arrived to Melbourne, Victoria, Ostraya. Hell yeah.

Well, the first thing, the very first thing you will do after landing from that plane, calling your relatives which may have no more nails in their fingers waiting for news, paying the hefty taxi bill -don't worry, the driver will look surprised at the over 9000 bags you brought and landing in the place you're going to stay is... SLEEP. Oh yes, forget what those other blogs and your migration agent said about running to get TFN, Medicare, driving permit and other stuff just after getting down the plane. You need to sleep and your family too, also it must be noted that it is highly possible that the local clock says 13:00 and your body says 2:00. 

But don't get too cozy in that bed, because the work starts the following day. 

Your first problems after landing here are 1) getting a phone, 2) getting a identity.

Since it's highly possible that you transferred your money here in advance, you have to go to the bank. But not to any branch, but the one they told you in the letter they sent you. Bring your passports, people that is registered in the account and those letters. Also, on top of the cash and access to your $$$, you will need the account statement they will provide you. It will be helpful in the future, make some copies and save them.

After that, go a get a cell phone and an interwebZ connection. I'll play a beloved superhero character here and tell you that without a phone no one can contact you, but it's true. You will need it for receiving calls from real estate agents and companies you have applied for a job.

For that, there's plenty of choice. Get used to it, down here there's choice for everything. You will have to choose a provider which may be Telstra, Vodafone, Optus, Virgin Mobile, 3, Boost, Dodo and who knows what else. Then it's cap plan or pre-paid, and after that the phone model. You will find a price war competition going between them (the Coles vs Woolworths one was worth seeing some months ago) so do your homework in advance, or better yet, not.


If you're arriving from Venecostan, please leave your Blackberry sickness behind. Thank you.

The interwebz connection is not for posting on Facebook, tweeting, seeing pr0n, updating your blog (or making a new one), no, you've got more pressing matters right now, like looking for a place to live and after that, a job.

Why looking for a place to live is a pressing matter? Hell, because unless you have Paris Hilton's levels of money, staying in a serviced apartment, backpackers place or a hotel can get bloody expensive, and fast. 

Also because here, your address is part of your identity. Bloody important then to get a place to call home again.

You will start your home search in sites like realestate or domain. Any of them are good.

On part II, I will go deeper into the house hunting process.

First Bloody Post

And what kind of title did you expect? LOL.

Anyway, welcome to another bloody blog about... well, read the title. I felt the urge to write this because I haven't found many blogs telling about the experience of migrating into Australia. Really.

And you may be wondering why did I chose that nice name for a blog. Well, I copied it :-D. Yes. See when I entered the first or second time to a Melbourne supermarket, I saw a brand of bottled water that seemed like a joke, but it wasn't. You can see it here, it's pure genius. And then I thought... ummm my blog should be called along those lines, and so I did. 

About my name, it was given by some friendZ in an interwebZ forum once I moved down here. Very appropriate I must say. So again I thought, I might use that...

And here we are. I'll write mostly in English, which is NOT my mother tongue, so feel free to point any grammar or spelling mistakes. Avoid flaming, because I had to sell the flame retardant suit to come here. I may try to do a Spanish version, but not so sure at the moment.

So as the BBC points in some programs (before Top Gear or that F worded chef), relax, don't get offended and have a laugh... whenever possible.

Thanks for reading.