Happenings

Weather

It was the worst week I have ever had.  Last week’s weather was driving me crazy.  40-44 degree celsius for the whole week.  Non-stop sweating although stayed indoor, unless the air conditioner is switched on.  Go for a sauna, you will know how it felt like.  According to the news, 18 people died because of the weather.  The government started the campaign for preventing skin cancer as well.  You can see the advertisement on the buses.

Don’t let your time in the sun catch up with you
( Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing 2008 )

People are advised to wear sun protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible, apply SPF30+ broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen every two hours, wear wrap-around sunglasses, put on a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face and neck, and also seek shade.

Chinese New Year & Australia Day (26 January 2009)

Coincidently, this year’s Chinese New Year fell on 26 January, same as Australia Day.  Thus, it was a public holiday.  One day free.  Despite nothing to do at home, we decided to walk around Docklands.  We just walked around, window-shopped and took photos.  That is what we usually do.  After that, we went to the Shrine of Remembrance.

Shrine of Remembrance

After Shrine of Remembrance, we thought of going to the Royal Botanic Garden.  However, we decided to go back as we were hungry without our lunch.  We dined outside that day to celebrate Chinese New Year.  Headed right back to home after our dinner.  That was how we spend our Chinese New Year away from home.

Living

We live with pinch and scrape.  You will never understand unless you stay with us.

1. Buy cheap groceries
   We always search for the offered things to buy.  We just bought a bag of carrots for AUD 1 only.
2. Bring our own lunch to work or study
   Eating outside is expensive.  We cook every dinner, thus, we can bring the left-over for the next lunch.
3. Wash clothes twice a week
   That is equal to once a week per person.  Save electric and water.
4. No fan, no air-conditioner
   Fan is not provided, and we are not going to buy as well.  Natural wind, that is enough.  Will only switch on the air-conditioner when the weather is hot (exceeds 30 degree celsius).
5. Seldom at home
   Landlady and JT will not be at home during day-time.  Thus, when I am off, I will go to the university, wait until JT’s class ends.
6. No unnecessary things
   Never buy unnecessary things.

We cannot avoid the transport tickets.  It is an offence to travel without a valid ticket, and penalties of up to AUD 500 are applicable if detected travelling without a correct, validated ticket ( Metlink, 2009 ).  International students are not eligible to buy concession tickets, that is the Victorian laws.  If our universities had campuses in other states, we definitely will move to the state which has cheaper expenses.

If we knew we never shall have done this or that, everyone will be perfect.  The plane has departed, we cannot stop the plane unless we want to jump off and fly back to the origin.  Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:1-14